<p>downtoearth: Concentrate on getting better. That is your Christmas present to everyone this year. I agree some people are just down right rude to others. I’m not sure why some people (enter my MIL here) feel that common courtesy doesn’t need to be applied to family. I mean my kids say please and thank you to me and I do to them but my MIL is a case believe me. I don’t think she has ever said thank you to me and meant it. She never says thank you until someone else says it to me first. Oh well…</p>
<p>Not sure if the kids appreciate the Peanut tree. I know that they would be lost without it and S helps set up the fake tree every year so that I can decorate it. That has always been my tree. H first started buying me Peanut ornaments when we were dating and MANY years later I usually find at least one under the tree. Kids decorate the hodge podge tree – which is why it’s always been that way!!</p>
Funny you should mention Williamsburg – H & I had our honeymoon there; we were married on Dec. 20. At the time I was running my own business and really couldn’t take a lot of time off, so Williamsburg it was. It’s all done up for Christmas, and lots of fun. There’s this huge feast called the Groaning Board (separate tix required) which is amazing. About 7 years ago we took D & S to Williamsburg right before Christmas to “show off” our honeymoon spot. Fun all over again! The great thing, for those of us from New England, is that it’s pretty warm – but not as sweltering as it would be in the summer.</p>
<p>Seriously? What’s with the radio stations switching to Christmas music 24/7 a week before Thanksgiving?</p>
<p>We actually had a company come and do the lights last year. It was a statement in that it was the first Christmas home in a couple years (two younger kids were in Africa with my sister for 2007). Not going that route again, but Dalmost25 is bringing home the live in bf with her this year and so, while I am not completely sold on the guy, it’s always nice to have one guest to keep everyone on their best behavior.</p>
<p>I still have two birthday’s to go but whereas I used to wait until after son’s birthday dec 3 to decorate, this year I might make it part of the Thanksgiving deal. However, I really still need to clean up son’s room since when he left for college! I started cleaning it out but basically got overwhelmed and shutting the door seemed to work just fine. It’s barely the middle of the month and I already feel I am a month behind!!!</p>
<p>Of course, refreshing CC 100 times a day could be interfering. :)</p>
<p>I just find the sound of the peanuts music evokes such great memories and feelings.Waiting for the seasonal once a year peanuts specials and the anticipation. then vcr and videos came out and it wasnt the same. thats what I meant about the appreciation of the kids. but i’m sure they love to see it and the tradition. Brings a smile to my face!</p>
<p>DTE, I totally hear you, but please please allow others to “do” for you this year. Lots of people are just looking for something they can do for others at holiday time…it will be a blessing to them and to you if you will allow people to do things for you this year. (I don’t know if I could follow my own advice, but it sounds good.)</p>
<p>DTE, it’s OKAY!! Remember people always want to do things for others–and it is a gift to them from you o let them help out. They know you’d be there for them! </p>
<p>There are some completely adorable Peanuts sound and light ornaments at Hallmark this year (where I get the annual star trek/star wars stuff for DH) We all love Snoopy particularly–and I got one of these ornaments for us this year. My mom worked at a Hallmark, so we still get a 40% discount! By the way, if any of our kids are fans of The Office, there is a pretty cute sound and light ornament from the show.</p>
<p>U2 concert here next June. Presale tickets to students and season ticket holders for U of Mn football started today. I REALLY want to get tickets for H (anniversary gift). I hope there are some left!!!</p>
<p>Thats an awsome present, you should get tickets with a presale going on. cna you believe planning for June still have to get through the winter. something to look forward to.</p>
<p>U2 just played the Rose Bowl. We didn’t go, but we could hear portions of the concert from our deck. One friend who went said it was the most amazing rock concert he’s ever been to (and he’s been to a lot), and he never needs to go to another one. So he won’t.</p>
<p>They’ve started having concerts at the new Cowboys Stadium and I’ve heard that for concerts, the sound it terrible. When U2 was there last month, people in the upper decks said they could not even recognize what songs were playing! (So I’ll be passing up any concerts at that venue.)</p>
<p>NMn… I saw that too. If you have season tickets (or know someone) I’d pull the strings. Apparently it’s a moved concert (bigger venue) so a lot of tickets are already gone. I really tried to get daughter to tickets to see Taylor Swift (in October and then for the one in May) - no luck. Last concert I went to see was James Taylor at Target Center. I felt like they had put cardboard cutouts of people in Khaki chinos and denim in the audience.</p>
<p>We always cut a tree from our property. Tromping through the snowy woods is part of the tradition. We never put the tree up until mid-December however. I may do it earlier this year, just to enjoy it longer, but I sort of want to wait until S comes home. I am considering going with a much smaller one this year (past trees have generally been 10+ feet tall) and putting it on top of a large cedar chest since the room is open to the roof line above.
But if I see the right tree, it will be whatever size that tree happens to be.</p>
<p>For years and years our tradition was to go to a local tree farm the day after Christmas and cut down a tree - 12’ to 14’. That is one heavy load of lumber. Trees fell two different years…the weight of the tree bent the heavy metal stand. I think we finally bought the heaviest stand in existence, but I still insisted on tying the tree to bolts on the wall. The thing is, the local trees are pines and the branches are very soft, so we could only decorate with super light weight ornaments. Plus D and I sneezed and sneezed. Then there was the year of the invasion of the tiny spiders.</p>
<p>Oh too bad, hey and I love james Taylor he sells out around here! I went to Rascall Flatts, in sept, Darius rucker opened, (hootie) it was great! took D an friend H would not go. We have different musical tastes. Its interesting the mix that goes to Aerosmith.</p>
<p>We never did the Christmas specials on DVD or VHS. Really on purpose. I wanted them to anticipate the season and look at when the specials were on. It was always fun to have one of them tell me that we needed to watch some Christmas special and to start making the popcorn. Some family traditions I just had to carry on. I still remember sitting in my Grandfathers lap eating popcorn and watching specials. I’m sure not what he wanted to watch but it was fine with him My Mom and I lived with my Grandparents from the time I was a baby until I was 9. That was probably where my best memories come from. The things we remember. I hope that my kids will take this memory on as well.</p>
<p>I want to go to amtc’s for Thanksgiving. It sounds like a blast. I’d have to pay people to have that many under 1 roof. Rather small family here. </p>
<p>And for all…I say go with the alcohol rather than the Xanax. Gin at 10 means its cocktail hour <em>somewhere</em> and you can just salute them. Then again, a mimosa just looks like your morning OJ…right? :-)</p>
<p>I’m trying really hard to get all of the Thanksgiving and Christmas stuff done with before my kids start landing for Thanksgiving and Christmas break. I’m actually making myself nuts with lists and then upset when I don’t get everything done. Now how I expect to work all day and then do 3-4 hours of chores around the house everynight plus exercise and dinner is beyond me. I know what I WANT to do but just can’t seem to fit it all in the day. I would love to have everything done so that I can enjoy the kids being home. ARGH… Anyone else feel like the days just aren’t long enough?</p>
<p>I have been told that the returning college kids really look forward to connecting with their HS buddies over Thanksgiving break. It is only four days (less if you count in travel time). I mention this to all those moms out there that are expecting to spend all the weekend with their kids. I also am planning to spend time with my freshman twins, but I would be naive to think that they want to spend all of their time with family. I have let them know that I want them home Tday from 3 - 9. After that, they are free. I also know my twins need a few things and I will be flexible as to when I can take them. </p>
<p>I only mention this so expectations can meet reality and everyone can have a wonderful holiday.</p>
Kids decorate the hodge podge tree – which is why it’s always been that way!!</p>
Will keep trying!</p>