♥ * ♥ * ♥ * ♥ * What Are You Doing For Christmas? * ♥ * ♥ * ♥ * ♥

I am cooking
I love Christmas and all its decorations. I love the spirit of Christmas. I love the music. I love the food and homemade baked goodies. This year all my family will be with us on Christmas Day. When I say all my family, I mean my daughter, son-in-law, and their 4 children; my son and daughter-in-law in and their 2 children; my daughter-in-law's parents; and a friend who reminds me of my sister. (My mom, dad, sister, aunts, uncles, and cousins live in heaven.)

My first born granddaughter was born on Christmas Day. Ayla is beautiful and has a pleasing nature. This Christmas Day she will be thirteen years old. Magnus will be 5 on December 22. Angus will be 2 on January 1. Tehya will be 10 on January 5. My daughter only knows how to have Capricorn children.

My son only knows how to have Leo children. Anthony will be 6 on August 5 and Leila will be 3 on August 14.

I am very excited that we all be together and can't wait for Christmas Day. The next day we are going to the Art Institute of Chicago with the family and I can't wait for that day.

Both my husband, Kenny, and I love art and have passed that passion to our children and grandchildren. Our houses are filled with art.

It is going to be a good Christmas.

Jean T. Szabo said:

Christmas
Will be having Chrstmas early, on the 19th of December. Chemo #4 is Dec. 21st. Will have daughter and her family over for Chreistmas dinner, gifts and then off to see "Candy Cane Lane"..neighborhood that is decorated all of 4 blocks, then back to my condo for dessert. My son and wife don't keep in touch with me ... so understand how hard holidays can be. Still get gifts for the grandchildren and give them to daughter to pass them on in case she sees them. Don't understand it but know it is not uncommon that the wife tries to "rule". The last time I saw my two grandchildren from him was a year ago. They are now 7 and 8. Have 3 grandchildren from daughter that I am very close to. 17, 15, 8 years old. Already have house decorated, recovering from Chemo #3. This one is taking longer to bounce back from. Plan to finish shopping and wrapping next week, only have the 17 yr. old to go, video game, jeans and a hoody will do. Love Christmas, keep in mind the true meaning for celebrating, Jesus. Praying for peace, compassion and love for all.

We will go to church in the
We will go to church in the morning. We used to go to midnight mass, but, have decided to go to church on Christmas morning. That is the best way to start off Christmas, to celebrate the birth of our Lord.


Then, going to my sister and brother in laws for a feast and fun! There will be a house full and we can't wait to have the whole family together on Christmas.

There are so many that we draw names, but, everyone usually buys lots for the little ones, and, they are so much fun to watch opening their presents. Aww, the excitement on their faces and in their eyes.


I am wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

tgf said:

Going to Connecticut
I'm heading to Connecticut and will be spending Christmas with my son, the most wonderful-daughter-in-law-in-the world, and 2 adorable grandsons. I can't wait. I only see them twice a year ... and the boys seem to grow sooooo much between my visits. Christmas is always great fun. My grandsons are 10 and 3 and for the past 4-5 years the oldest boy and I have made it a tradition to make Christmas Pretzels ... but this year we're going to include the 3 year old. I'm sure many of you know about these but ... just in case:

Place the small pretzel shaped pretzels on a cookie sheet ... flat ... not over-lapping then on top of each one place a Hershey chocolate kiss. Put in oven at about 200 degrees for just a few minutes until kiss is soft but not totally melted. Take out of oven and place a red/green M&M on top of the chocolate kiss ... let sit until chocolate sets up ... and whammy ... a yummy holiday treat! We make tons and they are really gobbled up. My grandson thinks he does all the "work" but while he's putting the pretzels on the cookie sheet I'm madly unwrapping the Hershey kisses trying to keep up with him. Then of course ... I do the oven part. Can't wait to include the 3 year old this year!

Holiday hugs to all!

Teena

Another great Christmas
Another great Christmas recipe! Thanks Teena!

Boppy_of_6 said:

Christmas Eve!!
We will start Christmas Eve with my kids and families, my Mom, brother, sister and there families. There are 25 of us. We will eat and open presents. Then my daughter, son in law and 2 grandsons. My son daughter in law and granddaughter will go to my house and have our Christmas together. Santa will leave some gifts out there for them! Christmas Day my kids will have Christmas morning with their kids and head to their in laws for a late lunch. I generally go to my son in laws Moms house Christmas Day evening and visit with all of them. God Bless and a very Merry CHRISTmas to all!!
(((Hugs))) Janice

I love Christmas!!!!
Christmas Eve is always midnight mass, which is always so wonderful with all of the Christmas songs and with all of the candles lit. It just really puts you in the spirit and reminds us, at least, of what the celebration and true meaning of Christmas is, the birth of Christ.

Christmas day will be at my parent's home, and, what a day it will be. Lots of presents to unwrap, lots of good food, lots of card playing and laughter will fill the house.

We have a tradition of fixing pink squirrel's as a drink later in the day. OMG, they are delicious and we have done this for a zillion years.

We have already taken the food to the Humane Society for the animals and I have been helping with Toys for Tots. That is an awesome and rewarding program.

I want to take this time now, to wish all of my sisters in pink the most wonderful and happiest Christmas ever!

Merry Christmas!


Sue

Texasgirl10 said:

Christmas
We always have Christmas eve at my house. We exchange gifts with my family and make a fun evening out of it. We started doing this when my kids were little in hopes that it would settle them down a little before santa came . We will go to my parents house on Christmas day. I can't wait for that turkey and dressing.

I got my Christmas shopping
I got my Christmas shopping done! Now, I can really concentrate on baking my Christmas cookies and making candy!

carkris said:

We have christmas at my
We have christmas at my house then have to drive to my BIL's house on Christmas day. I have to work the next day so it will be cut short. i am looking forward to my daughter comeing home from school. Last year, was not so hot. spent the day in bed and couldnt eat. so thankful to be here and celebrating. I do have my gifts bough and although I promised myself, I did spend too much on my kids.
Donna I do remeber your grandson helping you last year, so nice he wants to do it again. A different christmas this year, makes me appreciate how far we have come.
Libby my Carly's birthday is the 29th, I am the 28th so appreciate the efforts you go to to make her birthday special.

Carkris: Yep still remember
Carkris: Yep still remember the hard times and praying so much for us all to have a better year next year.

I have a granddaughter that was born on Christmas Eve. Her name is Holly. She will be 6 this birthday and what a cutie pie she is. She is our youngest. We have 7 grandchildren, ages 20 to 6. Most are up north and will probably have a "white" Christmas.

Happy Holidays to all.

Hugs

Donna

susie09 said:

For sure, praying for all of
For sure, praying for all of us to have a better year and a super wonderful holiday season!

This year
I get to host so I'm having all three of my sons, daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, two dear family friends, and maybe my brother and his family. It will be a houseful and I'm really looking forward to it. I love Christmas!!

xo
Victoria

warrrior3 said:

DH and I are
so fortunate to be celebrating Christmas Eve at home with our son, daughter in law, daughter, son in law and 3 grandchildren. Part of our traditional buffet is making mozzarella en carozza (like my dad did before he passed away), stuffed mushrooms, antipasto, chicken rollatini, stringbeans marinara, meatballs, stuffed shells or some other pasta dish, etc...We will be missing my mom who passed away in June. She had lived with us for the past 3 years and absolutely loved Christmas. Christmas day our kids go to their in laws and DH and I recouperate and put the house back together. This year we may put our decorations away since we are going to FL New Years Day for a week.
Sunday Dec. 26 we celebrate at my sister in laws house with my DH's mom, sisters, brothers in law, brother, sister in law, nieces, nephews and now their children and of course our kids and grandchildren.

We finally got the snow I
We finally got the snow I have been wanting! It looks beautiful and really feels like the Christmas season now!


Jan

aisling8 said:

This year
I get to host so I'm having all three of my sons, daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, two dear family friends, and maybe my brother and his family. It will be a houseful and I'm really looking forward to it. I love Christmas!!

xo
Victoria

Thanks Susie!
Just wanted you to know Susie that your post really inspired me as to your generosity to do for others during the Christmas season.


I had so much going on then, that I didn't give back so to speak. But, I am going to now.


So, I got some of my friends together and we have been organizing a clothing drive here to get coats, gloves, sweaters, anything to give to those that are less fortunate during this winter. And, it is working!


We have lots of support from the community already and are so happy to be doing this. It really does make you feel good.


So, thank you for reminding me that others need help! I am going to do what I can.


Hugs, Kylez