♥♥ MSE Organised For Christmas 2009 ♥♥

paddingtondoo

1. What was your favourite memory from Christmas 08?
Mine's a bit nasty Would have to be DD rushing to open her pressies as she wanted a Wii and not finding it and her sulking as shes was asked to put the rubbish in the bin. HO HO HO santa had left it on the doorstep :rotfl:

2. What went well for your Christmas, did you have any new traditions or innovations?
Being all bought by the end of November was absolutely great. I usually have a few things left to get in the last few days and have to run round delivering cards at the last minute.
I made my mum a hamper as I always struggle to but her something - she loved it so much she's given me back the basket for this year - just need to decide what to put in it although I have got some bits already.

3. Were there any activities that you did not enjoy or placed too much stress on you/your family?
For once it was fine - OH moaned about going to the butchers but as he was off he went anyway

4. Was there anything missing from Christmas 08 that you would like to bring back?
DD no longer believes in santa although she daren't say anything in case she didn't get anything :rotfl:

5. What would you do differentely this year to last?
Hmmmm dunno really was fine as it was but OH and I won't be having a present to share as we don't need another big telly

FreebieRocker

1. What was your favourite memory from Christmas 08?

Getting to see some of my family who I hadnt seen for ages and getting to see them all happy at Christmas as Christmas 07 wasnt particularly a good one.

2. What went well for your Christmas, did you have any new traditions or innovations?

I managed to get everyone a present last year; something I usually completely forget! I normally forget at least one person but I actually remembered them all!

3. Were there any activities that you did not enjoy or placed too much stress on you/your family?

Drunk parent Christmas eve who then refused to smile all day because of a hangover on Christmas day. That was just annoying and unfair so no alcohol for her this Christmas eve!!

4. Was there anything missing from Christmas 08 that you would like to bring back?

Yes but I dont think it's possible to revive the dead. If it is, could someone please let me know how?

5. What would you do differentely this year to last?

This year I'll make sure the alcohol is kept for Christmas day. We'll hopefully have a dog by then too so that'll make things a little different!

mhagster

Santa had left a wii at the very back of the Christmas tree that no-one knew anything about!

scattymam1

1. What was your favourite memory from Christmas 08?
Seeing the bairns face when she came downstairs - we had done santas boot stencils all along the hall to the living room, to the plate where she left a pork pie(which was gone), then up to the tree, and then she noticed her presents. It was a boot sole stencil inside a neutrogena carpet talc thingy, so it looked like santas snowy foot prints and she was really excited to see he'd been - we got it on video camera too so she can watch it when she's older.

2. What went well for your Christmas, did you have any new traditions or innovations?
We just tried to keep up with the traditions my mam had set for us over the years.
I guess the footprints were the start of a new tradition.
I also did an advent christmas craft with daughter. So every day we did a christmas craft that I had all planned and some of the things were wrapped up for grandparents - that went down well.

3. Were there any activities that you did not enjoy or placed too much stress on you/your family?
Christmas day itself - it was lovely but it just seemed to be one long marathon for us from getting presents opened, getting washed and dressed - off to one house - making dinner, then off to the next house. I didn't really fully enjoy myself til boxing day - which is a nicer day where I get to chill. Don't know if we'll ever be able to change this one - unless someone else cooks or we only have to visit one set of grandparents - but that'll never happen (wouldn't want it to either). I had the whole day organised and pre-prepared everything but still...!
Also I seemed to run around my friends and family a lot 2 days before christmas last year - will make sure some people come to me so I don't stress myself out too much - at least I was so organised that nothing needed delivering on christmas eve which was a pleasant change.

4. Was there anything missing from Christmas 08 that you would like to bring back?
My mum - I did buy a pretty decoration with a frame inside it last year and this year I 'WILL' put a piccie of mam in it so we can have her watching over us.

5. What would you do differentely this year to last?
Me and hubby always end up opening our pressies on christmas eve but this year I would like to leave some for the morning. It saves time when we open ours the night before but I would like to save half for the actual day this year.
Oh and book a pantomine early this year as still haven't managed to get dd to one yet and I'd loved her to go to one but we always leave it too late!!!
AND...I didn't do much in the way of service to my fellow man this year - I really want to get involved with the shoe box appeal or something.

Giggle

1. What was your favourite memory from Christmas 08

That had to be going to Lapland UK (the good one not the bad one seen on the telly)with my daughter her other half and are grandson who was 6 at the time. It was so magical there and well worth the trip and he really really did belive in it all

2. What went well for your Christmas, did you have any new traditions or innovations

As kids have now left home there was really nothing much to do we still put are tree up 2 weekends before like we always do and we did all have a Christmas eve supper where we got to open 1 small gift each that was nice. Some thing new 1st time ever i went out for my Christmas dinner to my daughters and i enjoyed more then i ever thought


3. Were there any activities that you did not enjoy or placed too much stress on you/your family?

The only thing i didn't really enjoy (apart from what's in Questions no 4) was i had to work in the local club on boxing day 8 hours and it was mad why do people have to get so drunk .

4. Was there anything missing from Christmas 08 that you would like to bring back?

Yes my kids lol im 43 now and had my kids young and last year was the 1st year where they both had left home and it was horrible waking up on Christmas morning without them there. It was just so empty please kids come back home im too young not too have any kids left at home

5. What would you do differently this year to last

Apart from wanting my kids back home i don't think there is anything i would change not this year anyway but next year im hoping to work in a soup kitchen. its something i have always wanted to do and i said as soon as the kids have left home i would do it. But i have a grandson who is 7 this year so i will have this Christmas with him and then next year i will do the soup kitchen

paddingtondoo

Budgie update - all 3 our now out of the box and we have 3 eggs from that mum and the other one has at least 2 - she wouldn't get off to let me have a look and the witch bit me when I poked her

Giggle

Shevs wrote: »

Julie I managed to get on your blog your nappy cakes are great

Thank you

pinkladymel

Paddy!! that is not nice!! What are you like LOL

I have just read through all of your notes and I never expected it to be so emotional and special. I sat here with such a lump in my throat as you described such special things and then when the sad things were mentioned I couldn't get my tears out because I was so choked up!

It's really hard work having to cook, do presents, entertain two toddlers, get everyone out and off with bags of presents to two sets of parents houses and then back with 4 sacks to put away lol.

BUT

I will cherish having my children at home and having them believe in father Christmas. I will treasure every second and be so greatful.

I will hold my mum so tightly because she is the one that made me a Christmas nutter and I will appreciate her every single second. Oh.. and dad too I suppose even though he is so difficult!!

I am really sorry you have all had such sad experiences but I think that it draws us all together in friendship and support at such a beautiful time of year and I am greatful to have met you all and shared my passions with you xx

pinkladymel

I have just had two ideas:

1) Remembering loved ones I know that a lot of us here have experienced a big loss that really lingers over the festive period and is hurtful. Would anyone be up for a sort of private memorial service where perhaps you could make a candle and light it or buy/make a special decoration for the tree and put it on with a few words about why that person was so special to you. I thought it would be healing to aknowledge the grief and remember our loved ones so that we could move forward onto the big day. We could set a date and then share what we are going to do and later on come back and discuss how it felt?

I was thinking something like the 24th in the morning when everyone should have their tree up

2)A pledge for charity There is usually a thread on here closer to the date but would anyone here like to join me in a pledge for charity? Last year I made tons of cards and gave them to my nan to sell for the scout hut so they could have money for a christmas party. This year I would like to do shoeboxes and it makes sense to start looking for things now as the summer sales kick in. Would anyone like to make a pledge and then we could keep each other updated on how it is going and build up a good stockpile ready. Perhaps we could also set a deadline for our donations and post them on here to see what goodwill we all had at Christmas time.

*feels all warm n fuzzy and christmassy*

mhagster

MEL;I just think it is lovely that we 'christmas lovers' have a place to talk about what we do at Christmas time in the month of May......it's not even Rudolph day !! and we don't think it is strange at all.

Still waiting on my ribbons BTW.....they have my money and I don't have ribbon!.....I'm drowning my sorrows with a mint cornetto!