X-mas 2011

[old_gregg]

Nothing can hit me quite like going to Walmart today to see people trying to scrape together a meager Christmas for their kids at the last minute.

[TripletDaddy]

These sound like fun traditions, especially the curry and rice (yum!). We are heading home soon because it was getting too crazy here. Sanity won out.

I have known a few friends that do really formal x-mas eve, including suits, ties, family pics, etc. I think it is a nice idea. I also enjoy the casual approach we have adopted. Growing up we used to open all our presents on Xmas eve but in later years we lobbied to switch to Xmas morning to be more normal. Now as adults, we let the kids open one present (pajamas, much like everyone else) and we started doing pizza several years ago, which practice has now stuck.

Tomorrow is a dilemma. We want to do presents, we have truncated xmas church at noon but we have to be at the in laws at 1130 to call little BIL in south africa on his mish. I'm trying to convince MMM to ditch church because there is no way we can get there, call BIL, exchange presents with the cousins etc, then leave twenty minutes later to be at sacrament sing along by noon. MMM has mo guilt, so not sure what kind of headway I will make between now and then

[Pheidippides]

I'm really looking forward to church tomorrow. Sacrament meeting only, which will be sacrament, some primary singing, and a lot of congregational hymns.

[Shaka]

All of you are sacrificing for the greater good.

You will be richly blessed.

[Portland Ute]

Right now, I'm watching some programs on KUEN (9 in Utah on DTV) about Old World traditions and Christmas Markets.

Krampus seems like a fun Christmas tradition!

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krampus"]Krampus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

[Portland Ute]

I'm really looking forward to church tomorrow. Sacrament meeting only, which will be sacrament, some primary singing, and a lot of congregational hymns.

It's the one sacrament meeting that I ALWAYS look forward to other than the Primary program.

As much of a skeptic as I am, I have long said I believe that we (mormons) should have a special service either on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning every single year. Nothing much. Not long. 1 hour max. Mostly singing. A brief message. I am not sure why we don't do it. With all the meetings that I think should be discarded or consolidated, I think this type of meeting SHOULD be added.

The last time Christmas was on Sunday it was at 9 a.m. (this year, too). My hyper religious mother in law and my family decided to skip church that morning.

I got dressed and went alone. I really do love hearing a congregation and choir sing Christmas hymns at Christmas.

[RC Vikings]

I'm really looking forward to church tomorrow. Sacrament meeting only, which will be sacrament, some primary singing, and a lot of congregational hymns.

I would like every Sunday to be like Christmas Sunday in the church, Christ centered and only an hour.

[Pheidippides]

It's the one sacrament meeting that I ALWAYS look forward to other than the Primary program.

As much of a skeptic as I am, I have long said I believe that we (mormons) should have a special service either on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning every single year. Nothing much. Not long. 1 hour max. Mostly singing. A brief message. I am not sure why we don't do it. With all the meetings that I think should be discarded or consolidated, I think this type of meeting SHOULD be added.

The last time Christmas was on Sunday it was at 9 a.m. (this year, too). My hyper religious mother in law and my family decided to skip church that morning.

I got dressed and went alone. I really do love hearing a congregation and choir sing Christmas hymns at Christmas.

I agree completely. I really luck out this year because our church service is at 8:00 am tomorrow too, just this once (we usually meet at 8:30). So we'll have to postpone present opening a little bit, but only a little, and we'll get a good dose of the real Christmas first. As long as they keep as planned.

[byu71]

Excellent JL.

Wishing you and yours the merriest of Christmas's.

This Christmas will be a bit of a bummer. I always watch A Christmas Story a couple of times. I just found out Ralphie's little brother is now a porn star.

[hostile]

Excellent JL.

Wishing you and yours the merriest of Christmas's.

This Christmas will be a bit of a bummer. I always watch A Christmas Story a couple of times. I just found out Ralphie's little brother is now a porn star.

Probably due to his exposure to the leg lamp.

I wonder if he makes those piggy noises during his scenes.

[Pheidippides]

Probably due to his exposure to the leg lamp.

I wonder if he makes those piggy noises during his scenes.

IMDB and Wikipedia say nothing of this - they say he's a puppeteer, among other things. My view of him remains untainted.

[byu71]

IMDB and Wikipedia say nothing of this - they say he's a puppeteer, among other things. My view of him remains untainted.

Supposedly he and someone else from the movie was on the View. Maybe it was someone else like Scott Farkis.

[Moliere]

We eat clam chowder and homemade rolls on Xmas eve. Then we reenact Luke 2 (sans the inn keeper...keepin it real!) and we can fill most parts with just our family. Right now the kids are opening the sibling gifts. Each kid draws a name of another sibling and makes a gift (no buying allowed) for that sibling. The kids were very thoughtful and creative this year.

It's now almost time for bed. The oldest will stay up and help play Santa since he's in the know as of last year. I still need to assemble MJ's gift, which is a new mountain bike.

Being away from family during the holidays has its pros and cons, but more pros than cons. We get to do our own traditions but we do miss being around them a bit. We'll Skype with one grandma tomorrow and likely call the other since she doesn't have Internet at her house.

[wuapinmon]

My kids just opened gifts from their 88 year old great-grandfather. He gave Calliope a book called On the Day You Were Born and wrote a note to her and signed it. I know I don't have but maybe 12-15 more years of having him around, and that really is making me misty right now. I love Christmas Eve, even if my mom is being passive aggressive to the point of me losing my temper and cussing.

[LiveCoug]

Just got done with some Christmas Eve traditions. Reciting the Christmas story by candlelight, putting tinsel on the tree (oh how I hate tinsel, but my wife loves it, so.....) and drinking Egg Nog. Wife dilutes the crap out of the Egg Nog with milk. So nasty.

We just got done singing Santa songs and now will sit down for a movie. Love the holidays! Merry Christmas, all!