'supporting each other through really tough times'

Possession

We have an artificial tree too, it's a Mr T Finest one which was bought at 90% off just before xmas a few years ago. It's a handsome tree but things are starting to fall off now. I love real trees but they're so expensive. I wish I had thought to buy a bauble from every place I've been - what a lovely tradition. Although I guess lots of the places I've been don't celebrate Christmas so that might have been difficult. I have some lovely vintage wooden ones and some tasteful Disney ones that bring back nice memories. We are putting the tree up tomorrow, since we have visitors all the following weekend and want it nice for them. The children are very excited as it's the beginning of advent too, time to open window number 1.
Just looked out the window and it's very frosty here, but also next door went away yesterday and I've just seen their bathroom light on. They are away for about 2 weeks I think. I have their door key and alarm code for emergencies - do you think this counts as an emergency? I'm rather reluctant to go in their house, not least because I'm a bit scared I don't know how to turn the alarm on again.

kidcat

we have a real tree its a whole tradition for us going to the forest to see Santa and all the activities and then calling to the tree farm to pick the perfect tree, then they cut it down for us while we wait. Kids absolutely love it and its a special day for them.

Our decorations are so varied, there are all the kids handmade ones, ones that were mine from home and then we have some that were my dads, some however were my grandads (we inherited all his Christmas stuff) and they are incredibly special.
Each child has a small artificial tree in their room and can do whatever they want with it and we always try to have a tree in the dining room - I usually wait for the offers to kick in this year I am going to have it in the hall by the door though as we now have a lovely space perfect for a tree (since the dog bed has moved into the rabbit house space)

Nothing is colour co-ordinated and its the story of a families journey, four generations of Christmas sit on our tree and I adore it - my one rule is no tinsel on the tree - cannot stand the stuff!! Which offends DS14 greatly!!

kidcat

possesion you usually just enter the code and hit enter or set whichever button they have to reset it so it should be fairly easy - most have little tiny instructions printed on them too.

Softstuff

We have an artificial tree I bought 5 years ago in the January sales for $10 (about 7 quid). Last year when I'd just finished nicely decorating it, it snapped in half. I managed to wire it together with one hand, some tree decoration wires and a whole lot of desperation. This year I'm at an advantage.... I know it's broken, so I can plan to fix it :rotfl:

It's decorated with about 30 baubles I bought a few years ago for $2, some metal decorations they reduced to 30p each one year and home made decorations made by me or other people in decoration swaps.

In fact thinking about it, I think my tree is generally a symbol of my thriftiness, resourcefulness and ingenuity. Which makes me even more determined to keep fixing it.

Bigjenny

I have a 4ft fibre optic tree which my DH bought about 10 years ago, decorations are mainly red and gold, when my DD died we kept the best of her collection and ours and gave the rest to the cs. Will probably put tree up next weekend.

SDG31000

Morning all

We had real trees for years as DH insisted, but I hated all the needles and mess. Then a few years ago we got a fibre optic tree from B&Q. It cost a bit at the time, but has paid for itself since then. We have a a very random tree, it has decorations in all colours and types.

I am still coughing and spluttering and it is really starting to get me down now. I am fine when I am still, but as soon as I move around I start coughing. DH is worried that it's on my chest, but it doesn't feel like a chest infection. I'm hoping it shifts soon as I have to start my Christmas baking and don't want to give people things I have coughed over. DS1 has offered to make mince pies tomorrow which is a sign of how much he likes them. I want to make my first batch of shortbread of the festive season, I have got some fruit flakes to try replicating an old M&S product that I loved, shortbread with strawberry bits in it. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I am in the shop this afternoon so think I'll make a big dish of tuna and sweetcorn pasta bake for dinner before I go out and can just bung it in the oven later.

Take care everyone xxxx

D&DD

Morning all
I'm feeling very christmassy today which is lucky as I have a pile of wrapping to do! Lost the tags as usual tho..:rotfl:

I've got all the bits for DS2's 18th on Boxing Day and ordered some great papers from rudewrappings for those I've only had to resort to xmas paper one year when I forgot to get his paper *bad mum* I've got him the new walking dead compendium and some movies for a hamper as suggested on here and a few other bits,it's hard when its not a conventional kid to buy for..eldest had the usual driving lessons and a paintball party but DS2 can't do either.

DS3 has resisted starting on his lego calendar for once this year so he actually has it to open still lol first time ever!!

Xmas here is chaotic but lots of fun and since DS3 has got a bit older not nearly as stressful as the years he couldn't cope with even the tree going up seem to have passed..*crosses fingers!*

Me..I looove xmas,the homephone gets changed to jingle bells on the first of dec and the tree is coming out in the morning :j Ours was a ten quid bargain from Tesco's,it's a slim white one as our lounge isn't huge but looks quite snazzy decorated in navy blue balls,blue led's then all the odds and s*ds we've amassed over the years..tatty headless angels the boys have made etc I won't part with any of them

Uniscots97

when I bought my first house 11 years ago I got to Dec of that year then suddenly thought I don't have a tree. I bought a 6ft (less than that now as a bit broke off) artificial tree and decoration kit for £30. A lot of money then but I don't think it owes me anything. Some of the decorations were hideous but I add to them every year. I broke my glass snowflake a few years ago, it got glued but not the same. We're going to get the tree down tonight and sort everything out.

D&DD

I've just remembered I didn't let you know how the chef's visit went! Some of you have probably read about it already or seen Jamie talking about it on this morning the next day.
The boys had a fab day and met Prince Charles,Jamie Oliver and Raymond Blanc amongst others.They all have pics on their twitters etc if you want to have a looksee

DS2 only got a peep through a window as he's classed as one of the sensibles he got stuck with crowd control babysitting a rowdy year 8 class but he still enjoyed the day.The staff really deserve the recognition as they truly are fab :T

7_week_wonder

My favourite Christmas thing is the nativity set my dad made for me. He made the basic figures when I got my first flat and then added to it every year after that. As this went on for at least 15 years he had to get a bit creative! Fair enough he started off with some sheep, hens etc, and then the first year we were married he made a cat which he painted the same colours as OH's cat. More recently we even got elephants and foxes (which, even though it's a long time since my Convent school days, I'm pretty sure weren't in the original!!) Each year, not only would he make the figures, but he would travel 200 miles on the train (as an ex-railwayman he got free train travel), then catch the bus to the end of our road, let himself into our house (parents had a spare key) and put the new arrivals on the table, have a wee glass of sherry and then reverse the journey - this carried on until he was 91! Bless him, he died last summer, but had already made last Christmas's new additions, so it was very poignant when my mum gave me the wee parcel. I had to laugh when I opened it though - he really was getting stuck for inspiration - the parcel contained 12 hand-painted....................penguins!!!