Christmas 2011
There's no turning back now. I went into Boots on my lunch today and they're already playing Wham's Last Christmas and dressing up as reindeers and elves so I think it's okay for me to create the first Christmas thread of the year!
What will you guys be doing to get in the festive spirit?
Feel free to post your favourite christmas songs, tacky ornaments, present ideas and all that here.
I don't know about you guys but I'm particularly excited about Christmas this year. I'm going to even make my own cards.
An American friend told me that the US doesn't get a national holiday on the 26th December which I think seems a little weird...
Oh, and Merry Christmas! (deleted to eliminate bad luck).
Sounds like you're very prepared if you've already bought two presents, Melody!
I think I'm going to take the week leading up to Christmas off as I hate working Christmas Eve; even though in the business world you usually get to go home after lunch. I feel like there's no Christmas build-up otherwise.
I love Christmas! All the shop windows and the lights in the city! Yesterday I watched this:
and it melted my heart. I just can't wait. I bought Christmas cards last week and I'm gonna craft some for the tree. However, this year's Christmas may end up quite sad, as I can't really afford any presents for my friends. I'm just sending cards everywhere and hope next year they'll have my UK address on the envelope.
Christmas is my favorite holiday and overboad is my middle name.
All of december tends to be a mad rush of one thing after another for us, our two oldest boys both have their birthdays in december and our wedding anniversary is on new years eve so after Thanksgiving it tends to go: A week and a half later Gabriels birthday another week and a half Trevors birthday, a week and a half after that Christmas and then wrapping it all up with our anniversary to end the year. This year will be our 10th anniversary, so I think we will have to do something really special.
We have lots of little traditions, gingerbread cookies and a gingerbread house we make together every year. Picking a tree and decorating it together, we always lay out all of the ornaments and take turns each picking one to put on the tree until it is fully decorated.
The whole house, inside and out, turns into a sparkly storm. I usually go out walking and find evergreen branches and holly to make decorations out of, wreaths and garlands and stuff.
Of course there are all of the holiday movies that must be watched, A Christmas Story, A Charlie Brown Christmas, National Lampoons Christmas Vaction, Home Alone, A Christmas Carol (lots of versions), Nightmare Before Christmas, etc.
I always make candy for all of our friends and we have our big feast on Christmas eve and invite everyone we know to stop in and visit of have dinner. We used to go for christmas eve to make tamales with James cousins and aunt and uncle every year but they moved away a couple of years ago 
Christmas day we recluse ourselves with the kids all day and after presents there is usually rum and whiskey and a turky that gets roasted or fryed at some point.
And... my sister and I finally talked our mom into moving up here to Oregon! So she will be here by the begining of December if all goes as planned!
Whoever decides to do this and starts a thread - shoot me or Frank a PM and we'll stickie it at the top.
Christmas and Halloween are my favorite holidays. Christmas is my favorite because it seems to last way freaking longer than Halloween. I've already got Emma's big presents this year: Nintendo DS with 3 games and this weird tiger doll I've forgotten the name of, but it moves and growls and purrs and sleeps n shit. Well, it doesn't actually shit, but you get the picture.
I don't really know what to get my ginger lover for Christmas. I sort of outdid myself with him last year, so I really have no idea what to do. I might just do a trip to New Orleans since our one year is in December, too.
One of my favorite things about Christmas is getting and decorating a Charlie Brown tree. You know, a super pitiful, short tree that has no chance of ever being a REAL christmas tree.
Whoever decides to do this and starts a thread - shoot me or Frank a PM and we'll stickie it at the top.
If no one else volunteers I suppose I can do it. Hare to not be surprised though
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
I was thinking of starting the secret santa thread but i'm just kinda broke 
I wouldn't mind not being surprised.
I'm ready for secret santa this year!! someone make the thread, I'm not organized enough!
“if you want to be a bird,” you said once, “with colorful plumage and buoyant trills, you must also be ready for hollow bones."
if i make the thread will you guys be ok with me not participating? I'll just make sure to get you guys the addresses and keep track of things and stuff. So it can be a secret for everyone.
As to not derail the thread too much some of my favorite things, if not the most important, is the food we have during Christmas.
Chiles Enogadas
A more recent tradition, my family started making these about 10 years ago and my mom loves making them around Christmas time because they look Christmassy.
Tamales
These are probably some of the best, most delicious presents you'll unwrap during Christmas. My favorite are the cheese with green chili, I also like the red chili with beef, tamales are just amazing if done right, which means lots of lard. So yeah it's not the healthiest thing but what delicious thing is?
I used to love making Christmas decorations with my mom back in the day. We would make garlands out of popcorn, we made cookie/cracker ornaments one year, we had an ornament making party a different year which was fun. If I knew where the ornaments were I'd dig them up and take pictures of them. I made angel ornaments out of clothes pins and feathers, they were pretty adorable.
I'm sure that would be fine, Jaz. I wish you could participate
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
From about the age of 15 I started to hate Christmas. 'Santa Claus' was a distant memory for a kid that age, and even though I was a young teenager I was still expected to be the one scrabbling around on the floor pushing presents to everyone and engage in the conversations about finance (banker sister) or physics (pilot dad). It sucked.
Now though.. banker sister has had twins! And the fun can begin again! I can watch cartoons in my bedclothes and eat sweets all day without being looked at like a mental patient! I can get excited about coloured lights and wrapping paper 'cos I know that at least two people there will appreciate the effort! God it's a great time to be alive again!!
I looooove Mexican tamales. One of the few things you guys do right.
A more recent tradition, my family started making these about 10 years ago and my mom loves making them around Christmas time because they look Christmassy.
That IS the most festive looking chile I've ever seen. It looks like it's wearing a blanket of snow and holly sprinkles.
I recently became engaged so, my finance and I will be getting our own tree and celebrating with our collective families.
I have one present for him already which is one of the original copies of the Sandman graphic novel (I've had it since I was 16) however, I'm unsure of what else to give to him... Any suggestions?
Look up into the stars and you're gone.
What will you guys be doing to get in the festive spirit?
Feel free to post your favourite christmas songs, tacky ornaments, present ideas and all that here.
I don't know about you guys but I'm particularly excited about Christmas this year. I'm going to even make my own cards.
An American friend told me that the US doesn't get a national holiday on the 26th December which I think seems a little weird...
Oh, and Merry Christmas! (deleted to eliminate bad luck).
as far as i know the 26th is a holiday....we are off!!!
On a scale of 1 to awesome I'm the sh*t.
Oh, I was also thinking about adopting a species from the World Wildlife Foundation for him since his favourite animal is a wolf.
Look up into the stars and you're gone.
that's such a cute idea...i didn't even know you could do that..
i named a star after my best guy friend 2 years ago for his bday...you get to pick the constellation and they send you the cordinates (sp) or whatever so you could look at the star if you had one of those high speed telescopes..
and he gets a certificate saying that the star was named after him...
On a scale of 1 to awesome I'm the sh*t.
... I need to do that for my boyfriend, the universe nerd.
I know I wish I could too. I was really hoping to get to this year but last year I decided to party too hard and put myself in more debt
I do plan on sending you all Christmas cards for those that participate though 
I'll start the thread before the night's end for all you good lil cultie boys and girls
the star thing is such a ripoff. really.
“if you want to be a bird,” you said once, “with colorful plumage and buoyant trills, you must also be ready for hollow bones."
I know I wish I could too. I was really hoping to get to this year but last year I decided to party too hard and put myself in more debt
I do plan on sending you all Christmas cards for those that participate though I'll start the thread before the night's end for all you good lil cultie boys and girls
I'm too broke too. I'm going to send you a card though
Why?
Why?
Because you're really just paying for a nice certificate. I guess they'll name a star after you in their database but it won't be on any chart or official in any way.
It's a nice thought though.
Oh dear, it's somewhat expensive as well.
My favourite Christmas present ever was when my parents bought me this:
I was only 8 but this glorified Walkman/dictaphone made my Christmas!
Chiles Enogadas
A more recent tradition, my family started making these about 10 years ago and my mom loves making them around Christmas time because they look Christmassy.
Tamales
These are probably some of the best, most delicious presents you'll unwrap during Christmas. My favorite are the cheese with green chili, I also like the red chili with beef, tamales are just amazing if done right, which means lots of lard. So yeah it's not the healthiest thing but what delicious thing is?
Ah that food looks lovely!
I'm afraid this is the culinary staple for all of Hattie's family Christmases:
Maybe I should make some tamales this year to shake things up!
My favourite things to eat over the Christmas period are:
what are those things!?
I don't know but the middle ones really DO look like itty bitty cakes.
Ha, I imagine you saying that so incredulously, Jaz!
Spiced red cabbage (with cinnamon, red wine vinegar and onions)
Lebkuchen: traditional Christmas biscuits from Germany (to die for)
Devils on Horseback: baked pitted prunes wrapped in bacon
i'd try the spiced cabbage and those biscuits....the prunes in bacon on the other hand has me running to the toilet just thinking about it. i imagine it tasting good, like bacon in syrup but just not sure if i would want to like that treat.
Someone should cast the Cult reindeers.
I've been obsessed with this since last winter and now I finally have a legit reason to listen to it every day.
I have a good start on my Christmas shopping. My husband has two sisters and three brothers. One brother has ten kids and they now have kids. So needless to say, my shopping list is long. However, I have all the womens gifts, the little girls and my Mom and his Moms gifts already bought. That would be twenty-two gifts out of the way. So, now for the mens and boys gifts, probably another twenty or so gifts. Besides all of those gifts, I have my husband and three children to shop for.
We go to his Moms house first on Christmas. There are around fourty to fifty of us in the house. We all gather in the kitchen and living room to open gifts. We usually have two people play Santa (they do not dress up) and hand out or pitch the gifts to everyone and the frenzy begins. We do not wait for all the gifts to be passed out to open them. We just start opening as they are handed out. It is quite the frenzy. I have been in the family for twenty-three years, so it doesnt phase me, but for people who visit us on Christmas.....totally freaks them out! There is always someone who brings a guest every year. I love it!
I just got back from a ladies retreat in Pigeon Forge. I go every year. If you take a Christmas gift you get one. When you turn it in, you get a ticket and you place it on a table full of other gifts. Each night, they draw so many tickets. When they call out your number, you go to the table and pick a gift. This year I got a gingerbread candle and two snowmen dish towels.
So, needless to say my Christmas spirit is totally in full force!
Whatever Whore!
I want to buy new ornaments for the tree this year and have a theme. I really want to do a Alice in Wonderland theme, but the ornaments are kind of pricey. We will see! It would look so good I think.
Whatever Whore!
Sounds very cute, but if you buy a specific theme for your christmas ornaments, will you want to use them again next year?
Will you guys be buying a tree this year?
Ours is about 15 years old and made of wire and PVC. :s It's a catch 22 though because if you use a fake one, you're not supporting local farmers and if you buy a real one, you're "killing the planet".
Sounds very cute, but if you buy a specific theme for your christmas ornaments, will you want to use them again next year?
Will you guys be buying a tree this year?
Ours is about 15 years old and made of wire and PVC. :s It's a catch 22 though because if you use a fake one, you're not supporting local farmers and if you buy a real one, you're "killing the planet".
Fo sho! I usually switch it up every 5 years or so. I think I have went well over that this time, with the NO THEME. WHATEVER ORNAMENTS I HAVE TO PUT ON THE TREE CRAP. That will change this year.
Whatever Whore!
Chiles Enogadas
A more recent tradition, my family started making these about 10 years ago and my mom loves making them around Christmas time because they look Christmassy.
Tamales
These are probably some of the best, most delicious presents you'll unwrap during Christmas. My favorite are the cheese with green chili, I also like the red chili with beef, tamales are just amazing if done right, which means lots of lard. So yeah it's not the healthiest thing but what delicious thing is?
I used to love making Christmas decorations with my mom back in the day. We would make garlands out of popcorn, we made cookie/cracker ornaments one year, we had an ornament making party a different year which was fun. If I knew where the ornaments were I'd dig them up and take pictures of them. I made angel ornaments out of clothes pins and feathers, they were pretty adorable.
As I always say Jaz, give me some tamales. You always talk and show all this good stuff damn you.
“The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
Even though she was born last December this will be my little girls official first Xmas as she will actually know some of whats going on and we didn't celebrate last year anyways as we just had her and were quite busy. So I'm going to put some lights on my trees in the front yard and maybe get a fake tree for her presents.
This is from my companies Holiday party last year just 6 days after she was born.
And stop staring at those boobs pervs...lol
“The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
bawwww at baby
the holidays mean SNOW! and all you northerners I'm sure aren't as excited, but we get this nice little season of snow and it's the best.
the holidays mean leaving my little apartment in fayetteville and going to the most wonderful place in the entire world: home
<3 <3 <3
“if you want to be a bird,” you said once, “with colorful plumage and buoyant trills, you must also be ready for hollow bones."
And stop staring at those boobs pervs...lol
this made me lol, let the dirty Santa images commence.
Cute.
the holidays mean leaving my little apartment in fayetteville and going to the most wonderful place in the entire world: home
<3 <3 <3
That's sooooo pretty. You grew up there? I'm pretty sure that's Sleeping Beauty's magical cabin in the forest.
that's my house
“if you want to be a bird,” you said once, “with colorful plumage and buoyant trills, you must also be ready for hollow bones."
the holidays mean leaving my little apartment in fayetteville and going to the most wonderful place in the entire world: home
<3 <3 <3
That's sooooo pretty. You grew up there? I'm pretty sure that's Sleeping Beauty's magical cabin in the forest.
This makes sense now fsdghcamel is sleeping beauty.
“The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
but...I'm still awake...
“if you want to be a bird,” you said once, “with colorful plumage and buoyant trills, you must also be ready for hollow bones."
the holidays mean SNOW! and all you northerners I'm sure aren't as excited, but we get this nice little season of snow and it's the best.
the holidays mean leaving my little apartment in fayetteville and going to the most wonderful place in the entire world: home
<3 <3 <3
Can I go there now and leave when the snow melts? Plxthx
No your not. You just think your awake, while really your in a suspended state of deep sleep. This, all.......is just a dream within a dream.
“The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
CULTCEPTION
“if you want to be a bird,” you said once, “with colorful plumage and buoyant trills, you must also be ready for hollow bones."
Yes lets go further down the rabbit hole....
“The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
I love Christmas so much. Since I moved back from my one semester at UMKC right after finals, this will really be my first Christmas where it's just a visit home, and I can't wait to be able to spend a week with my family. And my photobombing father.
and of course, seeing my favorite Christmas puppy:
miss my old Christmas puppy Cocoa for real came in a STOCKING when I was 4 years old. and ahsfkjfakjfkl KAYA WAS SO TINY I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVEN'T SEEN HER IN DOG-PERSON BUT SHE'S SO TALL NOW.
I love reading everyone's thoughts on Christmas and wittow tiny 6-day-old Christmas baby!
Are the scissors broken in your house, son?
Such a cool looking dog.
I all ready have two peoples Christmas presents. I love giving Christmas gifts. It's true that most Americans don't get mire than Christmas day off, but a lot do. It depends on what type of job you have. I take off pretty much the whole month of December, which is nice.
Also, who is going to take over secret Santa this year? Seems like we need to get that ball rolling.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica