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Post by anxiousmom on Dec 26, 2016 13:46:37 GMT
In light of all the weird that holidays bring out, I thought it would be nice to hear what everyone's happy moment(s) were...it can be anything, big or small, gifts, people, something that happened, whatever it was that made you glow with joy. I will share how my day started-I was up at 5:30 (I am an annoyingly happy early riser) and sat around drinking coffee and biding my time until I could wake up the boy to go to my mom's. I waited, and waited, and waited...until about 6:50 when I couldn't stand it anymore and tiptoed in to wake him up. He very graciously accepted my exuberant Merry Christmas wake up and got up not wanting to wait to open his gifts at my parent's house. It was a pitiful pile (and y'all know he had to use scissors to open the duct tape  ) but he seemed to really be happy with what he got. We decided to run by the Racetrack (huge gas/convenience store) for a caffeine fix for the run to my parents. I got coffee, he got some kind of energy drink and a cliff bar and went to pay. The sweet young girl wearing a Santa hat started ringing up the purchases, and the boy got his money out before I could. But she only rang up his stuff, not my coffee. He was worried that she was charging me separately when he was trying to pay for my coffee and said something to her and she responded 'I did it on purpose'...and gave me my coffee for free. Some one paid for our toll on the toll road. Got to my parents house and breakfast was ready to go... All this before 8:15. And the day just got better as it went on. (Including the boy who doesn't do ANYTHING before noon got to my parent's before 9:30...a Christmas miracle in and of itself. ) Life was SO good yesterday and I was constantly reminded how blessed I am with the family I have.  So how about you? What made you happy?? |
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hannahruth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,849 
Location: Adelaide, Australia
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Post by hannahruth on Dec 26, 2016 13:51:24 GMT
Just being with family and no dramas happening.
The delight on our grandchildren's faces as they opened gifts.
Arriving home after a full day out to a lovely clean and tidy house - not having to find room for leftovers, no wrapping litter about and most importantly no noise. Just DH and I in the quiet together.
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Post by austnscrapaddict on Dec 26, 2016 13:52:17 GMT
What a sweet story about your morning and your son! Those teenagers are human after all! :-)
My happy moment is that I was able to spend part of the day with the amazing man that I've been dating for a few months ( we've both been very cautious) and he met my "people" AKA- Good friends. He was a great addition to the group and helped out with my open house.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Dec 26, 2016 13:57:28 GMT
I had a really nice Christmas. We went very low key.
A Christmas funny: My dd2 (old enough to not be a believer) lost her last baby tooth on Christmas Eve. So, after Santa filled the stockings, the Tooth Fairy left $5 in the tooth fairy pillow, hanging right next to the stocking.
It was the one and only time I've ever been able to joke with the kids that Santa & the Tooth Fairy both visited on the same night.
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Post by peano on Dec 26, 2016 14:21:39 GMT
Arriving in New Orleans yesterday. Seriously, I was so happy not to have to set up a tree this year and just do minimal decorating that is color neutral and can be left up for the winter months.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 20:15:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2016 14:23:30 GMT
This has truly been the best Christmas (actually, the entire season) in years! I don't do drama, I'm too old for drama, and we had no drama! It was so wonderful for my little family to celebrate how we want, when we want, and not be ridiculed and mocked. One certain family member moving 1,500 miles away made the season stress free and relaxing; I loved it.  |
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Dec 26, 2016 14:55:21 GMT
Five of us woke up at our home Christmas morning (me, DH, my mama, and my two youngest sons) to open presents and have cinnamon rolls. Then we went to my in-laws for lunch with two SILs, one BIL, and nephew.
My MIL had organized a scavenger hunt with six different stops around the house & yard, clever clues, candy at each clue, and one present for each of us at the end under the tree on the front porch. It was crazy fun as we solved it together and ran from clue to clue. It really added a big "fun factor" to the day! When we settled in to open the rest of the gifts, it was all anyone could talk about.
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,488
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Post by lindas on Dec 26, 2016 14:59:58 GMT
DS and soon to be DIL had a gift that was for me, DH and my dad. We let dad open it and the look on his and DH's faces was priceless because they had no idea what they were looking it.
It was a home pregnancy test. We're going to be grand and great grandparents!!!!!! I can't wait for next Christmas to get here.
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Post by dazeepetals on Dec 26, 2016 15:00:37 GMT
For me, it was seeing my DS3's face from the top of the stairs as he saw what Santa brought him. This is the first Christmas he has actually understood "Santa" and we tried to hype of Santa a bit (i.e left cookies and carrots, went and saw him for pictures, etc). He just had this look of amazement on his face that was priceless.
The rest of my Christmas (besides having my DH by my side) was something I'd rather forget about (you can see my vent on the vent thread).
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Post by supersoda on Dec 26, 2016 15:07:21 GMT
Yesterday was just a nice easy day, which was much appreciated after a really tough couple of months. When the girlies were little, after a very hectic Christmas, we decided Christmas Day was just for the 5 of us, and have never regretted that decision. The teenagers woke up on their own before 9:00, which was something of a Christmas miracle. We had a lazy morning, and then headed out for lunch and a movie. We had time to kill in between, so we went to a picturesque area nearby and took goofy family pictures, because DH insisted he needed a pic to post on FB like everyone else.  We wound down our day playing goofy board games. Everyone engaged and had fun and there was no fighting or arguing all day! My only complaint--it was too hot to wear all of our new, cozy Christmas PJs. |
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Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,836
Location: Kentucky
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Post by Kerri W on Dec 26, 2016 15:09:55 GMT
anxiousmom You're so positive-I'm glad your Christmas was great! We had a really awesome low-key day. I'm thankful for this year round, but especially yesterday I was thankful that our adult kids choose to spend time with us. That they still make family a priority and that all of my kids are great siblings to each other. We've never really had a lot of bickering but I'm proud of how much they care about each other. The little things like the care they took in picking out special gifts for each other or DS1 helping DD1 pack her car and get DGS situated for her when she needed an extra pair of hands. I was thinking about this when the house was quiet last night and thought how happy and content I felt.
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tuesdaysgone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,832
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Post by tuesdaysgone on Dec 26, 2016 15:15:39 GMT
I enjoyed a simple sweet Christmas with very little drama. We began with our traditional family breakfast at Waffle House. We have about 15 family come but we sit all over the restaurant and we each leave a very generous tip under our plate as we leave. It's fun to see the wait staffs' faces.
This was followed by sitting around, snacking, and opening presents. The best part of my day was playing a marathon game of Monopoly with my grown nieces and nephews. They are all young adults now and its amazing to see what great people they are becoming. They stayed off their phones (for the most part) and it was old fashioned fun.
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Post by KelleeM on Dec 26, 2016 15:30:07 GMT
I had two high points to my day. The whole Christmas Eve/Christmas day was awesome but the highlights were the gift from dd and dgd that made me cry...a coffee mug in a pretty paisley design with Mimi on it. I cried. I got a Best Mimi Ever tshirt too but the mug was so perfect!
And ds
came to Christmas dinner at my sister's house. It has been 5 years since I've had a Christmas with both kids. Ds has been struggling with a lot lately and really didn't want to come but he did. I was so happy I cried.Â
Edited to fix errors...it was ds not dd or dh I was referring to in the last part!
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Post by terri on Dec 26, 2016 15:31:42 GMT
Love reading these! My favorite part was watching my dog open her gifts. She was so excited about each one and had so much fun ripping up the wrapping paper. We must have overdone it because she passed out last night before she opened all of them. So she will have more fun today.
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,524
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Dec 26, 2016 15:32:32 GMT
My dd is home on leave. Her gifts to me were so thoughtful. Being in the Navy has really made her grow up. I'm so proud of the woman she's becoming....not sure how that happened since her dad and I aren't exactly the best parents.
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Post by myboysnme on Dec 26, 2016 15:40:02 GMT
Last night both boys had gone out with friends, husband had gone to bed, and I sat next to my tree reading a book I downloaded on my tablet. It was so peaceful and my tree is so beautiful I can't look at it often enough. We have to put it in the living room so I don't get to stare at it as much as if I could fit it into the family room.
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Dec 26, 2016 15:43:59 GMT
DH was home with me and and OFF WORK! That never ever happens.
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scrappyesq
Pearl Clutcher
You have always been a part of the heist. You're only mad now because you don't like your cut.
Posts: 4,069
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Post by scrappyesq on Dec 26, 2016 15:49:06 GMT
I had a horrible year. This was my first Christmas without my toxic family and I didn't know what to expect.
It was the best Christmas I've had ever.
I did what I wanted, how I wanted from decorating to the food I made. I was in such a happy and peaceful mood.
The absolute best part was spending time with DH. We are working on things, and he came by just to say merry Christmas. Little did he know I did my usual gift buying for him. The look of surprise and appreciation on his face was priceless. He opened everything then spent the rest of our time talking about everything from football to my latest read (he is the only person I know who can listen to hours of me going on about witches and dragons with a straight face).
He left, I made dinner and went to sleep with a smile. I'm just proud that I made it through my first Christmas without those people and loved it.
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tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,415
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Dec 26, 2016 15:55:11 GMT
We have a family tradition of my boys opening one gift on Christmas Eve after returning home from her house. My YDS has spent every Christmas Eve of his life at her house celebrating before coming home to open his gift. My XMIL passed away last Saturday, the funeral service was Wednesday. My youngest son was very close to her. My ODS, DIL and I came home from DIL's father's house and asked the YDS if he wanted to open their gifts. YDS came out of his bedroom and told us that he didn't want to open a gift, that his heart wasn't in it. My ODS readily agreed and DIL stood nearby shaking her head in agreement. My heart swelled to see that all three agreed that this Christmas Eve was different since my XMIL had passed.
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Grom Pea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,944
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Post by Grom Pea on Dec 26, 2016 15:57:04 GMT
My kids are 4.5 and almost 2 and they kept sharing things like candy, e.g. The 4.5 year old would get a piece of candy from dh and would bring it over to his brother. Also I napped on the couch with the almost 2 year old while the 4.5 year old built his Lego set and we watched Muppet Christmas movies, it was just a nice snuggly afternoon :-)
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gorgeouskid
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,517
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Post by gorgeouskid on Dec 26, 2016 16:02:12 GMT
Mine was being able to cuddle my new niece for as long as I liked.
She's just five weeks old and a dream! BIL and SIL were happy to share her and have their arms free for the evening.
I also loved watching DS15 play so well with our other niece who's three. He's just lovely with little kids and plays so patiently. That makes me so happy.
Our family is tiny, and most events are just the three of us, and it's nice to have a full house (for us.)
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desertgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,646
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Post by desertgirl on Dec 26, 2016 16:05:40 GMT
Thank you for this thread. I love all the little stories - best part of 2Peas Refugees.
Dd somehow found the box (an old suitcase hidden under some blankets) where I keep my beloved deceased brother's hand-written poems. She photocopied two of them, picking the ones she felt were most meaningful. Framed them both. I cried when I opened them, seeing his handwriting.
Here is the short one - the other was one of his long ones so I won't post that:
"We all walk on Earth,
Under a brilliant Sun."
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Post by Linda on Dec 26, 2016 16:07:52 GMT
seeing my girls' faces when they found their BIG (small size) Santa gifts (DD16 got an iphone and DD10 a fire tablet) -neither was expecting them hearing my son's voice - we called him late on Christmas Day (on Boxing Day for him) and we all got to talk to him. This is our second Christmas without him and I miss him so much. [he's Navy stationed in Okinawa - 14 hr time difference] |
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Post by LisaDV on Dec 26, 2016 16:31:26 GMT
This year I didn't have time to wrap and hide presents. YDD knew last year there was no Santa so I just wrapped and put under the tree. So nice to not have to stay up late on Christmas Eve. Also we'd already done Christmas with both sides so the 24/25th were low key, no stress days!
Christmas Day I was at the worst of the cold which everyone else was either recovered from or on the upswing of. I spent most of the day on the couch, my ds snuggled next to me reading his comic books. When he left to go to his room, dd snuggled up. 💗
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Post by whipea on Dec 26, 2016 16:45:03 GMT
The whole day was one giant happy moment. So low stress and fun, just a great day. I think the funniest moment was when D/H was messing with the Echo and played opera. One of the parrots broke into her own rendition of opera, just belting out operatic runs accompanying the music on the Echo. This went on for about twenty minutes, so cute.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Dec 26, 2016 16:51:11 GMT
hearing my son's voice - we called him late on Christmas Day (on Boxing Day for him) and we all got to talk to him. This is our second Christmas without him and I miss him so much. [he's Navy stationed in Okinawa - 14 hr time difference] I had one deployed last year over Christmas (he missed his birthday, T'giving, New Years, and more as well). Hugs from one Navy mom to another! |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Dec 26, 2016 17:11:09 GMT
Opening up the present from DH which was the Lego Disney Castle I've been wanting and wanting since before it came out.  The man NEVER shops from a list, and never buys me anything as totally frivolous as that so I was pretty excited.  |
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Post by scraphollie27 on Dec 26, 2016 18:16:56 GMT
Our dog was the star on Christmas morning and this was her first Christmas with us so we didn't know what to expect. she found her stocking sitting in front of the fireplace and got the whole body wiggle (she's a 4 year old, 110 lb coonhound/lab) when she found a pack of balls right on top. She pulled everything out of her stocking herself (and tried to eat the stocking) and lovingly took it to her bed and spent the next hour "unpackaging" everything. I wish I had it on video!
My kids were thoroughly delightful and I'm always thankful that at their ages (15 & 18) they still play along with all of our family traditions and are grateful for everything.
Everything was happy about Christmas Day and I wish everyone a healthy and happy New Year.
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Post by Linda on Dec 26, 2016 18:21:08 GMT
hearing my son's voice - we called him late on Christmas Day (on Boxing Day for him) and we all got to talk to him. This is our second Christmas without him and I miss him so much. [he's Navy stationed in Okinawa - 14 hr time difference] I had one deployed last year over Christmas (he missed his birthday, T'giving, New Years, and more as well). Hugs from one Navy mom to another! Thank you |
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Post by gmcwife1 on Dec 26, 2016 18:31:21 GMT
I'm lucky to be able to spend Christmas with my entire family - parents, siblings/spouses, kids, nieces/nephew, etc So I tend to always have a great morning/day! This year my sister came up from Arizona and my niece and her boyfriend were here from Oregon! So no drama, lots of love and family made it great! |
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) but he seemed to really be happy with what he got.
The man NEVER shops from a list, and never buys me anything as totally frivolous as that so I was pretty excited. 
Refupea #1142