❄❄ Let It Snow ❄❄ :: Christmas 2012 Chatter Thread

carlamarie_2

congratulations on the pregnancy opee :T
hope your feeling a bit better about things chirpychick

as much as i love christmas and all the planning that goes into making it 'perfect', the thought that things will go wrong is always in the back of my mind and i think its healthy to think this way, rather than get stressed that everything isnt going to plan.

take last year for example, it was our first christmas in our new houes, our youngest ds's first christmas, i was happy with all the gifts i had bought, for the first time ever the tree looked just how i wanted it, etc etc.
everything should have been perfect!
in reality, i woke up to an answermachine message telling me my nanna had died during the night
the day was tainted as i was trying my hardest to keep face for the sake of my kids, but my heart wasnt in it. we didnt even have christmas dinner. we just picked the lamb (dont like turkey)from the leg.

this was a worst case scenerio, and something i wouldnt ever imagine happening.
but like i say, if youve forgot to order your meat, bought the wrong gift or your lights go on christmas eve, always remember that things could be worse and its only a day!

chirpychick

carlamarie thats so sad, im sorry about your nana.

Last Christmas wasn't pleasant for us either. My dad (49) was diagnosed with a brain tumour, I took it VERY hard. It felt wrong to celebrate Christmas without knowing what the future held for him. We had a walk and we locked ourselves away for the day. I said to hubby the other day that in fact I don't even really remember the whole season.

Since then my dad had an operation, they managed to removed 90% of the tumour, he has been left partially blind, partially sighted, unable to walk, unable to talk, unable to eat solid food, dizzy and has migraines as well as some other things and I do wish now we had made more of last Christmas with him when he had all of his faculties.

I think things like that do put everything into perspective, thats partly why I want to make things a little special this year because things have been very tough. We have spent an incredible amount of time looking after so many others and I want it to be a special day for us the first as our own little family.

But you are right, the turkey, the presents, totally unimportant actually, its just spending the time together thats important.

carlamarie_2

what a terrible thing for your dad and your family to go through huge ((((hugs))))

whitesatin

A few months ago, I was offered (and accepted) an old suitcase of carefully put away Christmas decorations. They came from an elderly couple who, shall we say, no longer have the need for them.

I enjoyed looking through them and got a bit sentimental, knowing that when they were put away that last time, they probably had every intention of using them the following year.

I am looking forward to getting them out, most are probably from the 60s, not vintage as such, but some nice bits.

What I don't use I will put into a charity shop in their memory.

Gleek

I really cannot believe it's the 24th of August already! The way this year is going it really feels as though when I close my eyes again it and wake up it'll be the 24th December! So much going on that it's absolutely zooming through!

System

Rosie Nieper t shirts are reduced to £4-95 there are some great slogans don't forget quidco ,nectar are doing 4 points per £1 at play . com until the 29th , i feel a mammoth Christmas order coming on !

chirpychick

whitesatin wrote: »

A few months ago, I was offered (and accepted) an old suitcase of carefully put away Christmas decorations. They came from an elderly couple who, shall we say, no longer have the need for them.

I enjoyed looking through them and got a bit sentimental, knowing that when they were put away that last time, they probably had every intention of using them the following year.

I am looking forward to getting them out, most are probably from the 60s, not vintage as such, but some nice bits.

What I don't use I will put into a charity shop in their memory.

That's lovely!
My inlaws are very old and the year before last gave us some very special baubles that they had been putting on their tree for the past 50 years of their marriage and they take pride of place on our tree now.
They don't tend to put one up any more as they go away.

Gleek wrote: »

I really cannot believe it's the 24th of August already! The way this year is going it really feels as though when I close my eyes again it and wake up it'll be the 24th December! So much going on that it's absolutely zooming through!

I feel the same way, I may have listened to this today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CNFnkbwdZM&feature=related

What I am really looking forward to is the cold, dark, rainy nights I love it when it gets dark at 4pm and I shut the world out and have a casserole in the slow cooker ready for when my hubby comes home and we put all the blankets on the settee

Snugglebunny8

morning!

Amazon authorise your card at time or pre order but don't take the funds until the dispatch, hope that helps

ChirpyChick I'm so sorry to hear about your dad that must have been terrible, and CarlaMarie also very sorry to hear about your nan - as you say it puts things in perspective.

I remember when my nephew was born we all sort of took it for granted that they wouldn't buy gifts or would only get token ones, and that we would also all buy a few extras to help with the baby, which we did - it may be others haven't thought ahead for Chrsitmas, so perhaps you could have a chat with a family member and explain ahead of time that you will be buying small token gifts only this year, I'm sure everyone would understand and you might find they have already assumed you will do that, you've waited a long time for your precious baby so enjoy your Christmas together and try not to worry about other people, we are all here to help and listen if you need a chat or ideas, in the meantime hope you are feeling well xx

I always worried that something will go wrong over Christmas, but suddenly I thought one day - why would it be any more likely to go wrong on one day and not any other of the 364 in the year! I try and make sure I've got paracetamol and a plug in electric heater just in case, then I try to not worry - it's just one day and I think we all put so much care, thought and love into making it special, we are bound to worry a little bit!!

lloydyd

Hello my fellow Christmas Crackers. Im beggining to get a little excited now if im honest.

almost the end of Aug and i can smell Christmas sneaking up on us. II do have a question on Hampers.

I love the idea, and I have enjoyed reading in previous years about all of the things you all do with them.

My questions are.
1. Are my kids too old for them (DS 10, DD 8 and DS 4 (obvs he isnt too old)
2. What do you put all of the gifts into? Is it an actual hamper? If so where does one find them?
3. Any advice on what to actually put in their? Toys, DVD,s PJ,s Toothbrushes etc...

All advice most welcome.

Merry Christmas to one and all (wow first time ive said that, this early in the year)....x

chirpychick

lloydyd wrote: »

I love the idea, and I have enjoyed reading in previous years about all of the things you all do with them.

My questions are.
1. Are my kids too old for them (DS 10, DD 8 and DS 4 (obvs he isnt too old)
2. What do you put all of the gifts into? Is it an actual hamper? If so where does one find them?
3. Any advice on what to actually put in their? Toys, DVD,s PJ,s Toothbrushes etc...

All advice most welcome.

Merry Christmas to one and all (wow first time ive said that, this early in the year)....x

Definitely not too old, I do one for hubby and I!
I use a box, If I have wrapping paper then I will use that to make it more festive. Some people use bakets which you can get from garden centres, argos, pound shops, it's a matter of keeping your eyes peeled.
people tend to put in
christmas mugs
snowman soup
gingerbread men
new pjs
slippers
toothbrush
bubble bath
dvd
book
reindeer food
santa food
etc
(all the above may help calm them the night before)

some like to deliver their hampers in the day so they include craft items or baking goods to keep everyone busy.