The lighter side

[SweetPea_GG]

So I thought after my last topic I started here I would make something a bit more light hearted.. Not sure if this will get moved or not but my reasoning for putting it here is "family" involved so I thought it would go nice under the "loved ones" section.

With the holidays here what are some of your family traditions? (Non CD related please)

Do you have holiday traditions now that are also CD related?

Do you exchange gifts as a family (or get gifts for your SO)?

What is one of the most memorable gifts you can remember getting from your SO? (non CD related)

If you get gifts CD related what is the most memorable gift?

I will answer my own questions now

We have just really normal traditions I think for the holidays. It use to be just my kids and hubby at christmas since we were in the military and never lived close to other family. There were 2 christmas's which my husband was gone for while he was deployed. The kids and I sent him a box with presents and also christmas stockings with goodies for his room mates for their room. My mom or grandma also sent them a small fake tree. One year a few friends of mine online with this dog group I was active in at the time got together and sent a care package to him and his room mates with christmas presents in it etc (all from the "dogs".. with even cards and letters from the dogs)..

When my husband was home for the holidays we would do the normal thing of christmas dinner on christmas and opening presents on christmas morning. but we always let the kids open just 1 gift on christmas eve.

Now since we are near my family (mom, dad and brothers) we go over to my moms house on christmas eve and open gifts there (my family always opened on christmas eve and only opened santa gifts and stockings on christmas morning. I still save some gifts for my kids for christmas morning the "bigger more spendy ones" And my mom makes a dinner of some sorts.. she doesnt do the traditional christmas dinners.. last year was like finger foods like meatballs little sausages etc..

We dont have any CD related traditions

We all get eachother gifts. And I usually give the kids money to buy a gift for one another and their dad as well. It was always neat when they were little what they would pick out for their dad.

The most memorable gift I remember getting from my husband or atleast the one that seems to stick and mean so much to me was last christmas he got me a glass mixing bowl for my tinkerbell green kitchen aid mixer which my mom got me last christmas too.. they were in on it together to keep it a secret from me lol.. but that gift was more thought out by him then i feel other gifts were. he finally took what I was telling him all these years of things I really wanted to heart instead of just buying me jewerly etc.. .. I love my bowl so very much and I know he had to hunt around town for it too and finally found a place that carries the attachments. I love my mixer and my bowl for it.. its one thing i HAVE to have sitting on my counter..

[jennCD]

With the holidays here what are some of your family traditions? (Non CD related please)
Normally we all get together with our parents and immediate family for a huge meal after the kids all open their presents.

Do you have holiday traditions now that are also CD related?
Nope

Do you exchange gifts as a family (or get gifts for your SO)?
For quite some time, it's been strictly for the children. My wife and I will exchange simple gifts but because we generally just buy the things we want for ourselves during the year, the gift-giving aspect of it is simply a small gesture for the holiday.

What is one of the most memorable gifts you can remember getting from your SO? (non CD related)
I guess socks or shirts don't count, right? (even tho that's about all I can remember)

If you get gifts CD related what is the most memorable gift?
Not applicable now and never expect it to be

I'll admit by my answers, Christmas around here may sound like a drag (pardon the pun) but the reality is I absolutely LOVE the holidays and we do everything we can to make the time fun and festive for everyone!

[Julia_in_Pa]

I seriously celebrate the end of the holiday season with a party.

I am a practicing Thelemite (the work of Thelema)so I do not recognize Christmas as valid.

it is quite hilarious to see the post holiday sadness that many suffer from. LOL!!

So I guess you could say my holiday tradition is to discount and dismiss the holidays. :O)


Julia

[Lorileah]

This will be the first year I won't really do any Christmas planning. I always have a lot to "do" and the hustle and bustle of the season sometimes get frantic. I belong to a club who puts on several shows yearly and the Christmas show (free for the club members) is a highlight and takes some time. I have always enjoyed shopping and I always seem to end up power shopping. It is fun to try and find something someone would like which they would never buy themselves.

As far as CD related, my GF would always buy "Lori" things. Jewelry or clothes. We would try and have a holiday dinner out somewhere nice (actually sort of did that this week with some good friends). When my wife was alive, the CD part was mostly mental because I would shop and get her things that "I" liked and I would be in mental female mode. There were a few times she would give my a token present.

Usually there was some sort of family get together on or near Christmas. This year I will probably be alone (well as alone as I can be with the cats). Kind of feels strange since I never really thought of the holidays much before. It was a time of tradition I guess. The same thing usually happened.

The most memorable Christmas at least in recently was my wife's last. It was not a fun time but on Christmas Eve day I went to get some food from the store and when I walked out there were 3 trees sitting there with "FREE" signs on them. They didn't look like much and because she was so out of it and the cancer was winning I didn't really plan to put up a tree. I had a couple gifts for her (and she had sent my sister in law out to shop for me). It was a cold and gloomy month and I was angry with life and everything around it.

So these poor trees were sitting there. It was 5 o'clock and getting dark out. I had my car and not the SUV but I figured why not, you can always vacuum it out. I chose a tree. I don't know why I picked it but I put it in the trunk and drove home. I unloaded the groceries and she was asleep on that hospital bed in the living room. My MIL was sequestered in the computer room and didn't even come out to see what I had bought. I brought the tree in and unwrapped it. It was short and squat and not at all like a tree I would buy otherwise. I fluffed it up, went and got the decorations and started putting on lights and ornaments. Many of the ornaments had meaning. The ones we bought for each pet we had. Sam, the dog's, chirping bird where he would sit and stare at the tree for hours. Wolf and Annabelle's ornaments from their original parents sent from Germany. Our first Christmas together Hallmark, the Snoopy ball, the cat from Aspen. Many many more. Almost everyone had a meaning. Nob, the cat had been born Dec 4th and Christmas had been his favorite time of year. I know the breeder had put the kittens under the tree so his first thing he ever saw as the lights. He would live under that tree every year.

When I finished I realized the living room was full and there was no place to put the tree. I placed it next to the hospital bed. She drifted in and out of sleep by that time but when she saw the tree she smiled for the first time in weeks. That little short squat tree turned out to be a beautiful classic looking tree. "Free" from the grocery store to a woman who was fading fast. There were not many presents under it that year. I still held hope that "next year" would be better. I lost her two months later.

The next Christmas was good with my GF. Her first to have someone around for over 15 years. We went to plays and dinners and shopped. Last year was quieter but spent with family. This year....? Well, it is back to being just a day.

Sorry that wasn't light hearted was it?

[Roberta Lynn]

Christmas Day, around 9:00am my Two daughters and four grandsons come over to open presents. Always fun to watch the grandkids open their things. The adults exchange presents and by the time we’re finished the living room looks like it been struck by a tornado.

My sister and brothers all live fairly close so we have dinner for the family at our house. Along with whatever nieces and nephews and their kids show up we usually end up with around thirtyfive to forty people for dinner. Our house isn’t that big but we set up tables and chairs in the rec. room downstairs and manage to jam everybody in. It’s a crunch but it’s so nice to have everyone sharing a meal in one room.

After dinner the older kids clear the tables and do the dishes. We don’t exchange gifts but my daughters, nieces and nephews usually have gag gifts for each other.
There is one very ugly disco ball that has been going around re-gifted probably for the last twenty years. It’s always funny to see which one of the kids ends up with it. One year one of my nephews cars was stuffed with about fifty plastic 12inch blown up snowmen.

My most memorable gift? One year my wife bought me a sears two stage snowblower.
She had a neighbor hide it at his house and sneak it over on Christmas eve. We have a fairly large driveway but at the time I was too cheap and probably wouldn’t have bought one. Now every time I use it, it's been about the last 10 years, I give her a big hug and thank her again.

Most Memorable gift CD related? Christmas Eve, many years ago, She had the most beautiful nightgown sitting on my pillow. It wasn’t just the nightgown but just how much more it symbolized and that wonderful smile on her face as she stood their watching me.

Thanks for the thread Sweetpea, It’s brought back so many memories.

[Dana7]

With the holidays here what are some of your family traditions? (Non CD related please)

Do you have holiday traditions now that are also CD related?

Do you exchange gifts as a family (or get gifts for your SO)?

What is one of the most memorable gifts you can remember getting from your SO? (non CD related)

If you get gifts CD related what is the most memorable gift?

We used to always gather at my parent's home for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner; we are a fairly large family. Now it is us kids who do the hosting for dinner usually, and this year my SO and I had a nice cozy quiet dinner with just me and my SO, and my parents. It was a great time.

No holiday traditions that are CD related, but now that you mention it, I should ask my SO to get me a nice panties gift or something fun like that.

We do exchange gifts, although they are more token gifts among the family. The SO and I exchange some nicer, more expensive ones, but with things the way they are, our gifts are getting somewhat smaller.

The most memorable gift? Hmmmmm, that will take some thought.

BTW, that was really nice of you to share about your mixer gift. I know how certain things can be hard to find like that and I love being able to hunt them out and give them to my loved ones. Also, it is really interesting to see that you insisted on something functional like that instead of jewelry or perfume. Incidentally, my SO has a KitchenAid mixer just like yours, only white. She swears by it and I like it too. She makes the BEST whipped potatoes with it-- I love her cooking!

The best gifts are the ones that have meaning to the ones receiving them, and they are often the least extravagant ones.

Ok, the gift I most enjoyed from my SO was the collection of Karaoke cds she gave me a couple years back. I'm a real crooner when it comes to singing and this collection has a bit of everything.

Thanks for sharing SweetPea!

[Babeba]

OMG Sweetpea, I LOVE your mixer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 That is just SOOO cute and wonderful! I talked my Dad into buying one for my Mom last year when I found a super good sale on them, and I honestly wish I lived closer to them so I could go bake with her more now!!


Crystal and I don't really have much in the way of 'traditions' between us just yet - for a couple of reasons we'll be in different cities for a chunk of the holidays. Last year we toasted the New Year with pink sparkling wine, and I really kind of hope we do that again!

[Suzy Parker]

When the kids were younger and still at home we would give them $100 and send them to the toy store to buy toys for various toy drives. Once a man noticed them buying lots of toys and questioned what they were doing and when they told him he pulled out a $100 bill and told them to double it up. They had a lot of fun doing that.

We don't exchange and type of CD gifts. I am just now at a point in my life were I feel able to open up about my inner self and hope to soon discuss this with my wife.

No special traditions or anything like that just lots of good memories and good times spent with family and friends.

The best thing about this time of year is getting to spend time with friends and family, everything else is secondary.

This will be my first Christmas with my new friends in this forum. Some of you might find a virtual present at Christmas so be sure to check your Stocking (Profile) for a VM gift.


Suzy

[Debglam]

What is one of the most memorable gifts you can remember getting from your SO? (non CD related)

We were newlyweds and my wife didn't know a screwdriver from a hammer, but surprised me with a SK Professional socket set. A lot of hunting around - kinda like your bowl.

There were 2 christmas's which my husband was gone for while he was deployed.

We have had our share of these.

A peaceful holiday to you and your whole family.

Debby

[SarahLynn]

....Sorry that wasn't light hearted was it?

Perhaps not but then i can't think of a more proper Christmas story. It's a story of love and there is no greater gift you can give someone than a gift of your heart. And you did that in proper fashion. You gave your loving wife the gift of your love and she gave to you hers. Look at it any way you want but it was God's love for the two of you which made it your (the two of you) finest hour, day, week.

If i can give you nothing else i give you my love for the love you gave her. For the love you showed her by the gift of this small loving tree.

SarahLynn

[Beverley Sims]

I'm with Sarah Lynn here,
I found this an extremely moving story. The first Christmas after must have been tough...
I have to to take a deep breath here, and wish you all the best you could wish yourselves for this Christmas.
To Sweet Pea,
This will be our 4th time away from home for Christmas and we are not sure where we will be.
Past 3 have been, Saltzburg, Oslo and Copenhagen.

[Sara Jessica]

I agree with the others Lorileah, your story is beyond touching. I really am glad you shared it, puts things into perspective as we find ourselves knee-deep in another holiday season.

And Julia,

it is quite hilarious to see the post holiday sadness that many suffer from. LOL!!

I'm sorry you find hilarity in the suffering of others.

____________________________


As for my story, I adore the holiday season. The sights, sounds and smells. Even the hustle & bustle. Sure, the commercialism seems to be getting out of hand but I was raised to enjoy the giving of gifts more than receiving. Our traditions seem to be kind of routine. My family does the usual holiday stuff with much of it focused on the children. Frankly, it used to be very hectic in that like many families, we had to travel locally to accommodate multiple extended families. Over the last several years though, things seem to be settling down as events concentrate around our home.

Regarding gifts, we most definitely exchange them. Sadly, in doing some Christmas shopping with my mom the other day, she expressed that her and my dad no longer exchange presents. I hope I never go there with my wife. I don't care how old we grow together, I will always want to surprise my bride with presents that are from my heart.

The best gift I received happens to be another appliance (love your green mixer SweetPea, we have a white one like that). This happened to be last year when my family surprised me with one of those K-Cup coffee makers. My poor Cuisanart "Grind-and-brew" coffee maker was soon retired to the garage as this new toy has been used daily ever since. What a terrific invention!!!

There is very little TG associated with my family holiday traditions though, mostly for obvious reasons in that my wife is well aware of my nature but it is not something that is shared with others. I used to dream that some year, she and I might share a holiday themed evening together in our home where both of us dress in our festive best and exchange one present. Mine to her would be the one I get her every year, kind of a grab-bag box of fun stuff from places such as Bath & Body Works, VS, etc., usually things I kind of accumulate for her over the course of the year in my shopping travels. I guess this is part of the dream that perhaps she'd meet "me" someday and share the season with me in this manner, if only for one evening but I don't obsess over this like I used to. I totally recognize that while she has seen me present as a female before, she prefers not to hang out together in that manner and while that could change someday, I'm OK with the way things are.

All that said, I do have a gift that was given to "Sara" which meant the world to me. My first ever present received was from my friend Christine. She gave me this little 3" square picture book that espouses the virtues of shoe shopping. It is so cute but admittedly it's pure fluff. She also gave me a very practical gift, a book on what it is to be transsexual. I cherish these for a number of reasons but most importantly because Christine is no longer with us.

[Raychel]

Pretty standard stuff here, Open presents, Christmas dinner, Off to grandparents house. Nothing really unusual here, Never anything CD related.

Most memorable present that I have gotten over the years. (not sure it was christmas, may have been a birthday) Well my parents paid for me to go on a cruise one year. I was real hesitant to go, I was just a young man, that long and far away from home. Not really into crowds. But aftre the fact, I had a total blast.

[Beverley Sims]

I would like to point out that Julia's post was before Lorileah's.
Yes I sometimes suffered with post holiday sadness when I was younger and alone.