I'm sitting here in front of one of our Christmas trees, while my kids play and actively try to destroy the physical environment around them, and trying to figure out where the year went. As a kid, it felt like Christmas was never going to come...as an adult and a parent, Christmas comes at you fast and in a blink of an eye. Decorating on November 1st was a way for me to help speed up the season. Now it is necessary to just fit in everything before Christmas. I love it don't get me wrong, but how many Christmas activities can we possibly fit in from 1 second after Halloween through to New Years? Well, with my wife's planning...as much as humanly possible. The only problem I have with this, is when it unexpectedly interferes with a Notre Dame game and NFL Sundays (especially the Bills and Steelers). If I know in advance I can plan around the games I want to watch and at worst record them and watch them when the kids are in bed. I swear I am afraid to blink because I may just miss the Christmas and NFL season.
So, as with every year, this thread is for us all to share our Christmases with each other. From our favourite traditions, how we decorate, our favourite Christmas movies and music, and pictures from our Christmas travels to what our homes look like during the holidays.
As you may have noticed, I started the thread a little later this year. I was waiting for today. The Monday of my American friends Thanksgiving Week. I know a lot of people Christmas can't start until the turkey and Fall decorations are put away and anything associated with Christmas before Thanksgiving is too early. So, I decided to try and find a middle of the road for everyone, because for some of us, Thanksgiving was in October and we've been in full Christmas Spirit since November 1st at 12:01am. Just like the memes all over the internet. I am obviously in the later group and on November 1, I am ready to go. I'VE BEEN WAITING. I have always associated American Thanksgiving with the Christmas season. I absolutely love the idea of enjoying Thanksgiving dinner while listening to Christmas music playing and with the decorations up and the lights on.
So, welcome everyone. With the way the World is going, we can all use a little Christmas. I hope you are all doing well and know that I've been looking forward to starting this thread and sharing Christmas with you all.
Last night we were coming home from my sisters, where my entire family got together for an awesome beef stew dinner. My sisters house is decorated like a Hallmark Christmas Special. I want to decorate just like her and her husband do, but my wife hates the clutter. Trina loves to decorate, but she is not a fan of knicknacks (sp?), like I am. I'm currently working on getting a Christmas tree up in every room of the house. I am up to 4. 3 big trees and one little one. I want to get to one in the sitting room/dinning room and one in every bedroom. This will be something that will take a few years, however I will have my way! LOL! I am sharing this with you because I want to tell you of a tradition that has started with my wife and kids. We start counting how many houses in our neighbourhood have up their outdoor decorations and who have the lights up and on. My kids get so excited, and as you all ready know so do the wife and I. This leads up to one of my new favourite traditions...when I take Trina and the kids out for a drive at night when we have our first significant snow fall. We go and get a hot chocolate and drive around and look at the Christmas lights while listening to Christmas music on the radio. The kids look forward to doing this and I love that it is forming memories for them. It actually expanded last year and we now do it 2 or 3 times during the holidays.
Well, here we are...back into the Christmas swing of things, with the goal of trying to slow it down a bit so we can enjoy it as much possible. I am also aware that this season can be difficult for some. We all have our reasons for what may make this season a little dark. This year my crew of friends, lost one of our brothers at the age of 46. It weighs on my heart, especially because his wife and I always talk about decorating and everything Christmas. My heart breaks for her and her two kids. I'm sharing this with you to let you know that this is a safe place to share whatever is going on in your life. Christmas is also a time of memories and it can lead to missing those we have lost. As we get older it will be something we will all have to deal with, if we are not already dealing with it. I just try to remind myself to celebrate even more, because that is what they would want us to do. It is what I would want my loved one to do.
So, let me be the first to wish you all a Merry Christmas! I have already watched about 20 Hallmark Christmas movies, so you all have a lot to catch up on. Here's to rehashed story lines, where attractive business women move back to their little home towns and fall for a handsome dude wearing flannel shirts and has an adorable puppy or is raising his sisters children!!! LOL. I absolutely love these trashy Christmas movies.
Last year Trina and I watched a new Christmas movie that has become one of our MUST WATCH Christmas movies. The movie is Spirited with Ryan Reynolds. It's a musical, which I don't normally enjoy, however I absolutely loved it. It's hilarious and the songs fit perfectly with the story. I highly recommend it if you have not already watched it.
What are your must watch Christmas Specials and or movies?
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