What are you doing for Christmas? (page 3)

BrendaCloutier

When I was a JW teen, on Christmas Day the thing to do was go up to Mt. Hood and go sledding or innertubing. Skiing if you knew how or could afford it. (My parents wouldn't let me learn to ski cuz I'd break a leg or something. I've leaarned to ski, and I've never broken a bone.)

Now, with Kev, we go to his parents home, a 75acre farm about 45 miles from Portland, OR. (Between McMinnville and Sheridan). Siblings and their families with 2 teenaged children each show up late morning after their home christmas morning for family gift giving and dinner.

We have a diabetic cat, so he will go with us this year. We're leaving Friday morning and coming back Sunday. Max, the cat, was in the family pix last year, and if I can get him out from under the bed, he will be again this year.

I always look forward to the family christmas. But this year the family rented a house perched on the ocean cliffs at Depoe Bay, Oregon. for the full 4 nights. The house was over 5000sf and had pleanty of room for everyone to find a spot. It was really a great time.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Brenda

PS Max's name is Maxmillian San Queue - Max No Tail. He's a Manx. When he was 10 months old, he became Maxmillian San Cuille (spelling may be off) for Max No Balls (Cajones). (I'm sure someone on this board who speaks french can correct me on this.....)

ohiocowboy

I will be spending Christmas eve here at the house with my Dog. She gets lots of presents, and lots of treats, and she even knows when it is time, and I let her open gifts and cards throughout the evening. Yes, she actually tears open the packages herself, and goes crazy when she sees it is a new toy. She runs around with it for a few minutes, then comes back to see what she is getting next...Spoiled Rotten Mutt, but wouldn't have it any other way. She even has her own little Christmas tree filled with Scooby ornaments and doggie bones, and I help her decorate it by holding her paw to place the ornaments. I also love to listen to Christmas music, and will have that playing non-stop. The evening will be finished off nicely by a nice glass (or 6) of wine....

Christmas morning I will cook a nice big breakfast, followed by the Mutt opening her remaining presents, and then I will take her out for awhile. If it is not too cold, we will go to a prehistoric dried riverbed which is about 45 mins. from here, and let her run around while I collect fossils. Then we will come home, and have a nice dinner, followed by another glass (or 6) of wine...

Elsewhere

Valis, thanks man!

Kat -- I thought elsewhere was going to come to seattle for the holidays

I wanted to, but the air fairs were around $600 to $800 Tomorrow I will email someone who might be able to get a better deal.

redhotchilipepper

I plan to pig out as usual!

under74

I'm heading home this weekend. So I'll be with the family for Christmas and we'll have a bunch of arguments but it'll be fun...and on the 26th if I'm able to I'm gonna try to drop by and say hi to all you forum people gathering up there.

Sunspot

The first year or two after I DAed myself, I still wasn't celebrating anything other than no longer being a JW. By the third year I got bitten by the Christmas bug and decided to do it up right! I invited the kids and grandkids that live around me for an "open house" kind of thing and I went all out with that great feeling you get around this time period.

NO ONE CAME.

Same with Thanksgiving. I spent two big meals in total tears, and swore I would never do it again. Most of my family nearby hasn't forgiven me for stopping the association when I was a Dub, and the shunning of ones who were DFed over the years.

We decided (me-hubby-grandson) to volunteer both "meal" holidays at a local shelter. Then I had the strokes and heart attack and was out of commission by last year and had to shelve the idea.

Then one of my sons asked us to his home (he was the only one from around here who came to see me in the hospital and in rehab) and had been so helpful. So off we went on Christmas Eve, and all together decorated a tree he had chopped down on his property. It was nice. He had gone all out with the candy, nuts, and goodies---and after letting our grandson open one of his gifts (a tradition started when *I* was a kid) we chatted and then went to bed.

After the gift-opening he cooked an entire ham dinner and afterwards we played games, etc and had such a nice time. The next morning we all went to a local family diner and had breakfast (I had just graduated from a wheelchair to a quad-cane so it was much easier for getting about) and then we came home. It was so fabulous--I grinned like a fool for days whenever I thought of it.

He was over here during November one day and asked if we could do the same thing this year.......if I could DO cartwheels across the floor---I'd have done them---I was so tickled. I didn't dare ask if we could do it again---like we were "expecting" to go there, so I was really pleased when he asked.

Soooooo---in answer to the question..........to our son's house. (grin)

hugs,
Annie

Billygoat

Mozz and I usually celebrate Christmas at his older sister's. (Which by the way, her name is Andee. LOL! Makes it very confusing for both of us.) She has a little farm in a blink-and-you'll miss it town of Hico Texas. We'll have mulled wine, a huge 10-foot bonfire out in the pasture, ride horses, eat TONS of great food cooked by my brother-in-law, watching the nephews open gifts...a great time for all. Can't wait!

What are you doing for Christmas?