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Post by mikklynn on Dec 24, 2020 13:57:01 GMT
Normally we visit my parents Christmas Eve afternoon and into the evening. I always have this fear that someone will break into our house while we are gone and steal the presents under the tree, so I am happy to not have that worry. We have a blizzard outside right now, but if it wraps up in time, I might go out tomorrow for some groceries and what not, and then be home nice and early. A blizzard on a Christmas when you don’t need to be anywhere sounds like absolute perfection to me. I hope you all enjoy! It would be, if I didn't have to get out in the -3 weather to snowblow, lol. I can't wait to move into a townhome in 2021. |
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Post by peano on Dec 24, 2020 15:55:29 GMT
We live far from family so we’ve always spent Christmas with just the three of us. What’s different is our social activities. A Christmas Eve eve gathering with friends at a local restaurant, two Christmas Eve parties and then home to drunkenly wrap presents at 11 p.m. while watching Elf. My presents are all wrapped already, I’m not really doing any baking, so I have time to straighten up the house, or just futz around. I think we’re just doing noshy food tonight and then DH is taking charge of Christmas dinner.
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Post by femalebusiness on Dec 24, 2020 16:06:40 GMT
So so different. In addition to not having my dad, and not having to schlep ourselves and a ton of gifts to 4 different houses, this will be the first time EVER that I will not be eating tamales. I usually help my in laws 2 weeks ahead of time (they freeze them until Christmas Eve), and on Christmas Eve, my mom and I spend ALL day making tamales (because she doesn't believe in eating pre-frozen tamales on Christmas Eve). I thought about finding a good place to buy some - but purchased tamales are never up to par. We (DH and I) don't even know what we're going to cook at home. But we need to figure it out soon (today?). I make tamales every year. This year I didn't get around to it but I am going to make them after Christmas for New Years instead. I love making tamales and especially love eating them. |
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julie5
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,611 
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Post by julie5 on Dec 24, 2020 16:28:30 GMT
I think I already posted my reply but my Christmases went to shit 3 years ago. My sil husband screwed us over pretty bad and created a huge family rift that is still pretty for hubby and myself. 2018 was going to be awkward but then my brother died so we weren’t even in the state. Last year was awkward as we did get together and a niece was pretty shitty over her gifts from us. So I was dreading this year and put forth no effort in picking gifts I thought they would enjoy. I picked the standard stuff that’s given to my kids year after year. Then COVID ramped back up and sil (the one mentioned above) has a 2 week old baby and we finally talked sense into the family to not have a big gathering. Mil will still go see everyone but no one is coming into our bubble so I’m good. My feelings are pretty raw as the sil was my matron of honor in 2016, and now doesn’t even speak to me over something her husband did. So I’m glad to have covid to hide behind. Because my feelings don’t matter.
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Deleted
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Oct 6, 2024 23:30:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2020 16:38:43 GMT
Biggest change besides skipping extended family gatherings is telling the kids we would buy limited gifts and they would be getting cash for the rest. They weren't thrilled because they love gift opening, but I was thrilled since I love to go out Christmas shopping in a normal year, but I wanted as very few trips to the store as possible this year. I needed the mental break, too, shopping is so much work and they struggle coming up with gift lists usually. Ultimately, I think they should be happy considering the 2 youngest (teens) don't have a job.
Everything else is mostly the same although rather than a nice meal tomorrow we are doing assorted soups and fresh baked bread. Just planning a more relaxed day.
Merry Christmas everyone!
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Post by ExpatBackHome on Dec 24, 2020 16:41:34 GMT
Ours is pretty much the same except we didn’t take a small vacation before Christmas and my in-laws aren’t coming after Christmas. We didn’t go to the Christmas celebration they usually have with lights, “snowball” fight, Christmas carols, etc. But we did all our normal traditions with the 4 of us today and tomorrow (movies, Christmas cookies, Christmas pj’s, hot chocolate, etc)
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
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Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Dec 24, 2020 20:01:19 GMT
We usually go to our neighbors house for Christmas Eve, but they moved away and downsized this year. So I bought the three of us the king crab legs to have a super special meal tonight.
Tomorrow is only different in that my mom and daughter won’t be here. But we’re all ok with it. It will be a little more relaxing and I’ll stay in my jammies all day.
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moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,254
Location: Western Illinois
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Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
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Post by moodyblue on Dec 24, 2020 22:01:27 GMT
Usually I’d be busy making sure everything was ready to host my husband's family on Christmas Eve, and then co-host at my brother's for my extended family on Christmas Day.
No family gathering here tonight, and gifts have all been picked up/handed off. It may actually be good to have a year off from this family room, as there have been some frictions and splits that are affecting family relationships.
For my side of the family, this is the first Christmas without my aunt and my mom, the last of that generation. On the one hand we don’t get to be together to remember them and share memories. On the other, we don’t have to deal with a lot of stuff while missing them. There are a lot of things that I normally spent time prepping and doing for the holidays. I mailed packages in a new version of some traditions, with a note, hoping that we can maintain the family connections and traditions now that my siblings and I and first cousins are the oldest generation. I’ve gotten a good response to my note, so that helps.
This is the second Christmas since my husband died. There are lots of emotions because of this, and knowing that after the holidays I’ll have all the memories and emotions of the last few weeks of his life two years ago. The changes because of Covid are honestly easier than dealing with the presence of his absence.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Dec 24, 2020 22:31:21 GMT
I just want to wish you a merry Christmas moodyblue. Your words touched me. |
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Post by christine58 on Dec 24, 2020 22:36:10 GMT
This is the second Christmas since my husband died. There are lots of emotions because of this, and knowing that after the holidays I’ll have all the memories and emotions of the last few weeks of his life two years ago. The changes because of Covid are honestly easier than dealing with the presence of his absence. I feel the same about my dad's passing almost a year ago. So the biggest difference is my Dad is not here. Everything else is the same. We don't have huge family gatherings so tomorrow will be all the people in my bubble.. |
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cycworker
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,387
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Post by cycworker on Dec 25, 2020 5:15:38 GMT
The scale of the festivities will be/have been different, but the content won't/hasn't changed. I don't actually cook on holidays; I always go to other people. Luckily, as I am single, not dating, live alone I can join a bubble.
Different: No running around today. I did go for a leisurely drive & get a coffee from Starbucks. Beyond that I have been home relaxing all day. No heading to my friend Janna's house after church for her traditional Christmas Eve potluck.
Same today: Church.
Different: It was on Zoom. And as such, not as well attended as usual. Also shorter.
Same: Tonight I will open one gift.
Different: I only have one left at home. And I won't take it with me to my mom & Dad's. It's from my best friend, and since she didn't drive up today, we are going to open them together on FaceTime tomorrow. Or Zoom. We have to decide.
My parents normally host another friend of mine... the only friend I still have from kindergarten... on Christmas Eve. We exchange gifts & have a nice long visit. This year, they are just going to drive by & dash for the gift exchanging & it will be Christmas Day in the afternoon.
We are having our traditional Christmas meal... turkey, stuffing, potatoes, broccoli, carrots, salads. But it will be just the 3 of us. Why mom bought a full turkey vs just a turkey breast I am not sure... I think maybe my dad only likes dark meat? Regardless, I'll get leftovers out of it, so no complaints.
We will Facetime with my brother & co.
Gifts in the morning; I think during the FaceTime session the kids will open their gifts from us.
So a lower key version of our normal Christmas.
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Post by hop2 on Dec 25, 2020 11:30:44 GMT
Christmas Day is normally immediate family
Then after the 25 is usually extended family time. So this year there will be NO extended family time. Im so upset, really, I had really worked here so I could have 2 weeks client free so I’d feel like I’m not Typhoid Mary but then crap happened with DS ( who’s tiebreaker test did come back negative btw so either the other test was false or he is ‘over’ it ) and I can’t really in good faith go to another state since I’ve now seen DS
I sort of just wan to cry. I feel like I’ll never have the same opportunity to rearrange my schedule like that
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Post by yivit on Dec 25, 2020 13:37:02 GMT
I didn't have to cook Christmas Eve dinner for the first time in years. My son said a few weeks ago that he would make pierogi (not a small undertaking). Granted, we ended up with only 2 types instead of his original overly-optimistic 4, but yum. He was going to make babka too but just didn't have the time. I only made one type of cookie (pfefferneusse) and DD made an eggnog chess pie. We had a cartoucherie board set up too. Normally, Christmas Eve means any of my or my kids' friends who don't have anywhere to be are all invited and we have a white elephant. In this plague year, we still had the WE but it was just our Venn diagram bubble (DD and her BF, DS and his GF, myself and my ex from HS/college). We were all together at Thanksgiving except the GF too. Today would usually mean visiting friends and other family, but that's not happening. BTW, the hit of the WE was a desktop inflatable wavy guy.  |
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Post by candygurl on Dec 25, 2020 13:39:43 GMT
I didn’t buy as many presents as I normally do. You know when you’re shopping and you see something or add to your basket at the last minute. So I didn’t have much and had to scrounge around and see if I had any tiny gifts to put in the stockings.
And because of no family our meal will be different and much easier! Which is always nice not to slave away in the kitchen the whole day.
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