OT: Holiday Happenings at Home
 

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...cat124x149.jpg

billye's thread made me wonder about everyone's holiday traditions. i'm sure everyone's family here does something different or unique. i thought it would be fun to share.

we have a bunch. i married very young, then was a single mother for many years. none of my family lived in texas, so i made my own traditions.

one of my favorites is that each family member goes through my HUGE stack of cookbooks and picks a new recipe. when they were little they got help, but it didn't take long for them to make something all by themselves.

over the years it really has evolved. first only recipes were picked that had pictures. most were cookies. :D now they pick more complex recipes. some have become favorites and are made all the time.

we really enjoy cooking and baking together. good family time. sharing the memories or the most awful...and who makes the biggest mess. :o i swear it's not me. :o

Christmas Traditions
 

Curious this sounds so close to the traditions I have with my family. When kids where young we would make cookies and I would try to teach my daughter to make the Polish Traditional Foods that we have on that holiday. Now they are grown and we still try to keep up with things. But, at times it is my health that puts a change to plans. My son also keeps up with the traditions. It is wonderful and fun to do these things with the kids when they are small before you know it they are grown and start making different traditions. Hope this season will be a happy family get together for you. ------Joyce-------:hug:

they do grow fast joyce. mine are now 27, 24, 18 and 13. plus i'm raising my 6 yr old grandson.

it's fun to see those tradition pass a long. i hope you get to help make some cookies this year joyce. but eating the fruits of their labor is soooo enjoyable. :)

:hug:

For christmas dinner, we all take it in turns to have it at each others home, everyone brings something, like someone will bring the leg of ham another the pork another the chicken and the lucky people who are having it their house do the roast potatoes etc, big job seeing its nearly 20 adults plus children, but everyone pitches in so its pretty good really.

Then later on, one of the blokes gets dressed up as Santa Clause and hands out all the presents, the little ones get a real kick out of it so its a great day.

Brian :)

It's great to hear about everyone's traditions. I'm kind of in a different, weird place this year. My two kids are grown, but not married, so the family is small. And my son is in Iraq for Christmas this year. To keep from mising him so much and feeling so lonely this year, my daughter and I decided that we will do Christmas differently this year -- get a hot pink tree, or something like that, and have an untraditional meal, and do some different things on Christmas day. We are afraid we will miss him too much if we do the traditional things. But, when things normalize, we will dust off the traditional tree and go back to traditions!

I'm in an odd place this year too. I moved 600 miles away from my family the weekend after Thanksgiving 2006. Was too sick to do anything last year except make an appearance at my sister-in-law's house, which I barely remember.

This year, I'm going to the Mayo Clinic in December and have no idea how long I'll be there. Am too exhausted already to really come up with any cool things to do, so I'll probably just show up at the in-laws' again if I can. Maybe I'll be clear-headed enough next year to start a tradition or two of my own with my husband.

One thing my husband and I do sometime during the month of December is bundle up in the car with a city map, a flashlight and some Starbuck's (I only let myself have a small cafe mocha ONCE a year!) and drive around and look at holiday decorations. This was great fun in Denver because it's such a huge spread out city. Last year in Sioux Falls wasn't bad, and maybe if I'm stuck in Rochester, Minnesota for awhile, we'll take a look around there too.

fanfaire
:cool:

Sad sometimes,
 

I was in Fanfaire's boat last Dec. and my kids were all gone for the Christmas's before that. I have worked all day today to order my Christmas gifts. I have to wrap them and mail them to all of my family that isn't here. This Christmas my son will be home for the first time in 3 years. Today I put up my tree. It's not a traditional tree, I asked for a live one that could be planted outside after Christmas. So I put it on the grocery/errand list and my husband picked it up at Walmart. Unfortunately I told him it didn't matter what size. So now I have a one foot tall :rolleyes: Christmas tree.

I am using it tho. I'm not dumping this little thing. It's got Christmas balls on it and our green and white glittery tree skirt too. I've put the singing Santa Clauses out and the Christmas candle we've used for 30 years. Looks like a giant glittery snowball. Every surface in my living room is covered with Christmas. I've got the wreath on the door and my welcoming Santa in the doorway. Started wrapping the things that have to be mailed. I did all of this today. And did it on crutches.

I'm very afraid that I'm going to be in the hospital soon and I want to get my Christmas done. I'm afraid I won't be able to if I don't. The pelvic bone that just fractured about a month ago is making a stange popping sound when I move certain ways. And it really hurts when this happens. I got an appointment on Friday morning with my rheumie to see what is going on.

Not much about my Christmas is going to be the same this year I'm afraid. Not much tradition in it. But there will be Christmas here. And a glass of eggnog and a sweet potatoe pie. :)

Dakota, my thoughts and prayers for your son. :hug: And for all of you who are having to do without him this year.

Billye
'

Dakota:

Do you and your son ever communicate via webcam?? I once saw a tv special and all the guys in Iraq got some special time to get on a laptop and speak to their families. I wonder if this can happen to you??

Wouldn't that be special? He's in my prayers, as are all the guys in the service of our country.

Every time I run into a solder on the street, I always extend my hand and thank them. I did that with firemen ever since 911, but I also do this with servicemen also. I want them to know that there are people who appreciate what they are doing. After the Vietnam war came and the guys came home, well, they were treated so badly. I always remembered to go up and shake their hands and I used to say "Thank You". The surprised look on their faces were amazing.

Alan and I don't have Christmas Spirit in our hearts. Too much pain there.

But perhaps someday, down the road, we shall put up decorations, etc.

But every time I go into a store and I hear "I'll be home for Christmas", well my heart just breaks. I'll be in a much better frame of mind on January 2nd.

This always happens and I expect it always will.

So I just go about my business and live each day and just cope.

But God Bless those guys who serve our country. I hope they all come home soon.

I too, moved away from family, and at times, I seriously think about moving back, especially holiday times. We are a very family oriented group and we do spend holidays together, so the holidays are tough for me. Thanksgiving hits me especially hard and this year was no exception. On the Friday after, my daughter im'd me in aol and asked if she could come spend December with me:hug:bless her heart, was just what I needed. She has come out and spent every Christmas with me since I have been here, but I didn't expect it this year. Usually I drive to Michigan for a vacation in December, but was there in May for a wedding this year and absolutely need to go in April for the birth of my next grandbaby, so can't go now. Her coming will be wonderful, just the pick-me-up I needed.

I have my tree up, but will wait for her to get here on Wednesday to decorate it. She doesn't care, but I want her to help. My kids always teased me about my need to celebrate Christmas from Halloween until New Years!

This will be my decision year--stay or go back. Michigan has such a high unemployment rate right now and I have a good job here with full coverage insurance--we all know how important that is. I love my family and I miss them so much. I love it here too, I just wish I had a significant other with me, that's the hardest part. What to do?

I am a firm believer in the fact that everything happens for a reason and I know I am here for a very good reason.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Deb

Deb:

Family is very important.....so is the fact that you are employed and have benefits. That HAS TO TRUMP the family bit. It's being practical.

Now that's why they've invented the airplane, trains, cars, etc. For you to go and visit, for them to come and visit.

Also, and this is the next best thing since sliced bread, since you obviously know how to use a computer, get yourself a good webcam (with good resolution), and make sure the other people have the same.

You can view them every single day if you wish, you can see new grandkids, you can see YOUR own kids, you can COMMUNICATE. This is 2007. The technology is there. It's not that expensive.

Let me explain how this applies and why you should do this (if you can).

My girlfriend has an adopted son. He's is almost 30. He never knew he was adopted. They chose to tell him this fact about 8 months ago. To say he took it badly, is putting it mildly. He also found out he has a sister, other parents and grandparents (in another country). He does not understand one word of the language from the other country. But his adopted father is a native of that country and can speak it perfectly.

So what did the father do. He flew to his native country, he found his son's sister, (she never knew she had a biological brother), Being 2007, this girl had a computer, and a webcam. (She spoke no english whatsoever).

So when the son found out that his father found his sister, he was ecstatic.

He got a webcam for the family computer. So now we have two different countries, two different languages, but thankfully, an adoptive father who wanted to bring his son, his biological sister.

When that first transmission was made and everybody SAW each other for the first time, and translations are being made, well just imagine, everybody crying because even though they are thousands of miles away from each other, a little bit of technology known as a computer, allowed two families to connect to each other.

So if you are even a little bit computer savvy, and you may or may not have a webcam, all you have to do is make sure you have one, the other people have one (I'm just thinking that this is 2007 and everybody I know has a computer), well can you just imagine sitting down at your computer during dinner time, with a nice dinner and a glass of wine (that is if you can indulge), and at the other end, is your daughter or another family member and they are doing the same thing), You can SHARE A MEAL, with a family member and be thousands of miles away from each other.

I once did this with my son after he moved away (and before he became lost to us), I will never forget the joy of hooking up a webcam and at the other end, there was my smiling handsome son laughing his head off because Alan and I were going oooh, and aaaah, just being able to see our son who lived across the United States.

So don't fret for a minute if you can't move to Michigan. If you have a job and benefits and you think you can't get this by moving, just stay the course, hook up a webcam and visit with them whenver you can. It's free. I mean, thank goodness for the internet and computers.

While it's not the same as being in the room with the people, at least you can see each other.

I'm getting my 85 year old uncle to finally hook up his computer.

I just had to tell him 'don't you want to see your daughter's children whenever you want to??" He already had the computer in the house, but was afraid to go near it. I gently explained that it was not going to blow up, that if he wanted to accomplish a task, he had to get out of his comfort zone, and being an ex-teacher, and an ex-principal, he would have to do this. he completely agreed, he had someone hook up his computer, and he is going to get the webcam and start joining the computer society of webcam users. He had no idea. He is so excited, I can't tell you. So are his children.

And the people who live downstairs from me, well they are in their 80's and speak no english. I found an online translation service that translates for free, english into italian, and the reverse (in all languages), I have begun to write them e-mails and they receive it in italian. Imagine a guy over 80 sitting at a computer, and Melody, the lady who lives upstairs, is writing to them in italian. They think it's a hoot.

So don't fret. You'll find a way to deal with all of this. And have a good time wiith your daughter.

Merry Merry.

Melody

Hey Mel - I have TWO of those language translation programs and here they are in case others might like to have this ability to communicate in many languages:

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr and
http://www.worldlingo.com/en/product...ranslator.html

These programs are really cool and both are FREE! I don't use them very much but they are nice to have on hand.

Dan:

Danke Dan, wie nett von Ihnen zu schreiben und informieren Sie mich über diesen Übersetzungsdienst. Haben Sie einen guten Tag. Auf Wiedersehen


lol, Mel

Melody--you are the life of our forum!!!!!:D I do have a webcam and I do enjoy my grandkids on it. My parents, however, live in the iceage and absolutely will not have one of those "troublemakers" in their home! You must understand, the computer corrupted me! I mean, I am 52 and I have only had a computer for probably 7 yrs, but it did corrupt me in that time--I guess I was a good person before that. Health wise, I have gotten more info from the internet, years and years of doctors have failed me, and yet, she tells me I can't believe a thing I read on the internet. SO, she will not have a computer in the house. Family get-togethers are at their home, usually.

You are right about the webcam though. Grandkids are a joy on webcams. My granddaughter Harley is 3, 4 in Feb. She will get as close as she can get, her round face will be the entire webcam screen and she will say, "Grandma Deb, you can't see me!" Then she will giggle and say, "Grandma, you live up north!" My son Nick also has a webcam, so I do talk with my grandkids Brooklyn and Colin online too. Brooklyn told me online, with the webcam about the new grandbaby we will be having in April. How great is that, having a grandchild tell you about the arrival of their little brother or sister? She is so excited. You are right, technology is a wonderful thing.

Sometimes, I just have pity party moments. Grandma's have those "need grandbaby hug" minutes. I had set a standard for myself all those years while raising my kids and I told me I would always be there for my grandkids and I'm not--it's hard for me to deal with. You are right though, I'm doing good for me right now and with technology, I can have as close to the best of both worlds as I can get. Thank you.

By the way, this is Harley, in the pic with me!

Deb

Dan,
Thanks. I'd been looking for a colloquial phrase translator
and not just a word translation dictionary. Conjugation of
verbs has always been my downfall.
Especially 'to be' (and many others).
Both of these, are just what I'd been hoping to find.
Thanks again.

Hi Deb:

How lucky you are to be blessed with grandchildren. I can only imagine how people did it more than 20 years ago, with family members living out of state and only have the landline phone to communicate with. Did you just read what I wrote?? LANDLINE PHONE. Never in all my life would I have thought I would refer to a regular telephone as a LANDLINE PHONE.

I'm getting very techy aren't I??

And what do you mean the computer corrupted you?? I know that many young people, when go on the computer, well, they get addicted. It's very tempting, and with all the instant messaging and various ways to communicate over the net, and especially if parents don't know anything about the computer, well, parents really don't know what's going on under their noses do they?

We had a kid next door who was 11. They got him a computer. He's a genius by the way. He kept telling his father to buy him ink cartridges because they would run out. I went into his room and there was all porn on the wall. He was 11. Can you imagine?? I looked at him and I said 'Anthony, what the heck are you doing, what would your folks think if they came in and saw what you have on your walls"?? He had no mom, and a dad who was never there and he was raised by a great grandma who was 80 and wouldn't know a computer from a nintendo game. When the father came home, I told him what his son was doing and he shrugged and said "well, I drove my parents nuts, and obviously he takes after me."

I just looked at him and said 'Unplug that computer, or put parental controls on it". He said 'what is parental controls".?? So forget about that house!!!

Oh, you might want to ask where Anthony is today?? He's in jail. Pulled a knife on 7 people in a robbery. He's 18, and returns home soon. So he's served time, has a record, and will go right back on the computer, that I guarantee. It's all about keeping kids quiet and if a parent doesn't know anything about computers, well the kids will rule that house.

I'm extremely happy that you get to see your grandchildren and how nice that there's a new baby on the way. How fun to see them on the webcam, right?? When Alan and I make videos, I now put them up on google. Can't do the youtube thing yet, it won't take my upload. I'm learning how to do this.

I never thought that I could learn stuff at my age, but actually I'm a lot smarter at 60 than I ever was at 25. I just apply it better. More maturity I guess.

So you keep enjoying your webcam.

And as far as your parents go, here's my take on this. Since you are 52, your mom and dad have to over the age of 72. They probably have everything in it's place in their home, they probably have the silverware in a particular drawer and if anyone changed that drawer, it would drive them crazy. They probably don't use cell -phones because they probably think "well, I have a regular phone, it's good enough".

The problem with this kind of thinking (and this is only my opinion), is that people who are very rigid and won't change for any reasons, well, they end up depending on everybody else because they never put into place, resources in which they could drawn upon. They are of a certain age and they tell themselves, "well, I can do this for myself now, and when I'm not able, my kids will do this for me". I see this all the time.

The trouble is, it's now 2007, and kids don't think like this any more. Kids are not "THERE' for their parents. And I'm not even using my own son as an example. I using everyone else I know. Everybody my age has children in their 30's and the kids have gone their own way and do not even call or check up on their parents. The parents walk around with this look as if to say "what do I do now?" What do I say when they ask me this question??

I respond: "go to your nearest senior citizen's center, join groups, go for a walk, do not stay in the house, do not sit on your porch waiting for people to come. Because they don't come. Don't expect anything, and if someone drops by, it's a bonus" People today have to be more pro-active in theiir own health concerns. They can't just sit and vegetate. No one will accomplish anything using this way of thinking. God gave us brains, and we have to apply them, I don't care how old we are.

I mean, I have a pair of 80 year olds who live underneath me and the husband uses the computer. He'll be doing this till he's 100. He's using his brain cells.

So you keep conversing with your grandchildren. Maybe some day, when you are all at your parent's house, someone will open up a laptop, and your parents will see their grandkids and they will go: "oh my goodness, look how big she got". Then there's the perfect time to say "you can see her grow up every day". Takes a bit of prompting but sometimes, miracles do happen.

Hey, if my 83 year old uncle can go on the computer, anybody can!!!

It's all about stepping out of one's comfort zone. It's hard to do over a certain age. I'm still stepping. lol

Melody

Susan my heart goes out to you and daughter and son, the whole family.
How many other people who post here,all posts are waiting here for
there love ones. Could any of you tell us about you son's,daughter,
and husbands,and mothers. Tell us about you and the family mombers
who stay home and kept,the home fires going..
I remember how hard it was went my brother was oversea's,he made it
home,but it was a very hard time,,Bless all of you :grouphug::grouphug:
Sue

Thank you, Billye and Melody, for your prayers for my son. We do get emails from him about once a week, but you are right, Melody, a web cam would have been a good investment. If he ever has to be deployed to Iraq again, I will give us both one. but hopefully it won't happen. I was thinking (after reading your email) that I should get us one for the next time he goes to sea, but then I remembered that he has to use a special ship computer then, for security reasons, instead of his laptop; so that probably wouldn't work. But, he may get stationed far away again, so I am definitely going to keep it in mind.

Your story about your Italian neighbors is priceless! Melody, your special talent is obviously communication -- of all types!

Thank you, Shiney Sue! I was raised in a military family, and have other family members who have been in the military, so I am sort of used to the idea and that helps. I am so proud of my son, too. He had a rough, rebellious adolescence and could have taken a wrong turn, but he really "wised up" and started applying himself when he was about 18 or 19 and graduated from college with good grades. Now he is a Lt. in the Navy, an aviator, and is doing extrememly well in his career - he really loves his country and he studies very hard so that he can do an excellent job. So may of these young people are devoted like this. I sat next to a young enlisted woman on a plane one time and it was heartwarming hearing her talk about how seriously she took her job of washing planes on board an aircraft carrier. Sure enough, she had spotted an oil leak while doing so and reported it and saved the ship's crew, as the engine would have stopped mid-air. Not many in a civilian job that mundane would take their responsibility so seriously. They are a bunch of brave, great kids. I know that it means a lot to them when people pray for them and appreciate them, whatever their political views on the war are. It means a lot to us moms. too!

Melody--Ummmm you pegged them, she is 71, he is 72! BUT, they do have a cellphone, amazing huh? My sister got them a boost phone and my dad actually learned to use it, he also realized that if he didn't use all of his minutes up by the end of a certain amount of time, he lost them, so when the time gets close, he uses it for long distance and uses the minutes. My mom uses a walker now and WILL NOT use a wheelchair in a store, so he leaves her at my aunts and he gets the groceries, if he can't find something, he will call her on the cellphone!

Ummmmmmm Don't mess with my silverware drawer, I am much more of a neat freak then they are! Everything has a place and it better be there for me or I am totally lost!:wink:

It did take them forever to get a VCR, then my dad loved it, and has the biggest collection of John Wayne movies ever, now they even have a DVD player. Remote controls were out of the question for awhile too, but he loves that now too. A cordless phone was something no one needed for years and the one they have is probably 10 yrs old! Yet, they were one of the first people to get a microwave oven, I remember having one when I was in high school, an Amana Radarange!

You pegged them, for sure!!!

Deb

Deb:

I must tell you about my Aunt Sally. She finally got a VCR about 10 years ago. Only she had no idea what it could do. I kid you not.

I was on the phone with her and I was all excited that she finally got a vcr and she said "oh, I tape the View every night". I said "every night, why every night, it's on 11 a.m. here in NY." Well, it seemed that they showed the View (in Florida), at 3 a.m. So guess what my Aunt Sally was doing??? Getting up at 2:55 and pressing the record button!!!

I just stared at my phone not knowing what to say. I finally swallowed and said "Aunt Sally, do you know what a VCR is??" and said 'sure, it tapes programs." and I said 'you program it to turn itself on, and tape the show, and it will shut itself off". I hear a big quiet on the other end and she goes "IT DOES WHAT!!!?? You mean, I don't have to get up at 2:55 in the morning. I said "no Aunt Sally", I'll write you all the instructions and mail them to you.

Then she asks me "Melody, when I tape the view, do I have to rewind it to watch it".?? I said 'well, if you tape something, how else can you watch it if you don't rewind it to the beginning of the tape, ....you do put in a blank tape, right?" And she said 'yes I have one tape". I said 'I have 32 tapes, how can you only have one tape"?? She said 'well, I only tape Channel 7.

Then she said "oh I can't talk to you anymore, All my Children is coming up and I have to watch it". I said "why don't you tape it?" and she said "I can do that".??? Ever want to take a phone and bang someone with it. I never laughed so hard in all my life.

But the best, and I mean the best conversation is when I arranged for her to get one of those TTY machines for the deaf. She has always been hard of hearing but then she lost it completely and I finally convinced her that in order for her and her family to continue to communicate she would have to get one of those machines. It was free (in her state, and from her phone company, at the time). So it finally arrives, they hook it up for her, and the whole thing is when you are at her end, she is not supposed to try and hear, she is supposed to read what is on the machine, then she can respond by speaking in the phone. So essentially, she reads what I am saying, and she can talk back to me. Yeah, right. Not my Aunt Sally.

This was the conversation.

Hello Aunt Sally, it's Melody....(she is supposed to be reading).

She goes "He died??" I said "who died, somebody died??"

She goes "he died?? really, when did he die???" I said "I didn't say anybody died, stop trying to listen and read the machine".

She goes "wait, wait, I'm reading. You are saying (and she reads word for word what I'm saying)..

She goes: Nobody died???

I say: Good Grief, nobody died Sally, stop trying to listen, and read the machine".

Forget it!!!! I wrote down this whole conversation and emailed it to her son, he and his wife laughed so hard, he fell off the computer chair.

They finally got my Aunt Sally a special hearing aid. Thank God.

lol

This thread is too quiet!
 

Mrs. D,
are your cats attacking your Christmas tree? My little dog Cami, has been dragging my Christmas Teddy Bear, that I put under the tree, all over the living room "killing it". Hysterical to watch.

Billye

we don't
 

put up a tree anymore. It was always hard with the cats. The youngest one
at the time always breaking things, trying to eat decorations etc.

So we gave it up. With both of us working full time, and no children coming here anymore, it didn't seem worth it. Hubby puts lights on outside. And we have some minilights around our fireplace. That's it. I am a Scrooge now.

This year we are dropping some of the gifts we mail out. Instead I am giving to charities in the recipients name. There are too many people out there now needing help, and we have all that we need. Unless someone wants to get me a TV to replace our 20yr old Magnavox? LOL

My husband doesn't want one yet...and I am not working, and and we don't watch it that much anyway!

Susan what a strong and very focused son you have,you must
be pround of him. I wish I could send you my web cam,but i'm
watching my grandkids grow,the one in Portland at 6 months has
2 new teeth and is crawing,he will be be 7 months next Monday,
The other 2 are in Mn. no web cam but lot's of pictures. My oldest
and his wife Dr. Amy ha and her famly will be home next weekend.
We have already celebrated the Jewish Holidays,but we do
Christmas as well...Long story.

Thanks for telling us about your son he will be in my prayers,and
thoughts..I thing you and your Daughter have the right idea,a pink
tree sounds like fun..Bob and I and the girls are eating Chinese
this year... Oh everybody we are getting are first snow,how pretty,
but people in mo. go nuts, :eek: running to the store,crashing into
each other. You sit and look at the beauty and pray no one is hurt.
Oh,my Daughter lives in Portland,they didn't get the flood,but her
friend lost everything..So Nikole has a house full...Hugs to everyone
Sue

Enjoy those grandchildren, Shiney Sue! They are so precious -- I hope I have some someday. Don't ever take them for granted.... You are really lucky. Hmmmm.....Chinese food, now that's a good idea! Sounds like it would go great with my hot pink tree!

Susan I waited for ever for those babies,my children are 30 ,31 and 34,
all married to same ages. The oldest and his wife are thinking of a litttle
next yr. Now she's working on a book,and being a Dr...I think Chinese
and a pink tree would be fun.. Well is everybody getting snow?? We
are getting are first today..Susan I had a Aunt that was a Lieutenant
in the Navy it got her through nurses school,she fell in love with a
Commander,well back in those days if you married one had to get out.
She did,but they sure got to travel on his time off,they had a wonderful
life. Fingers are giving me a fit...Hugs to all Sue