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Post by queentakesjack on Dec 13, 2013 12:43:55 GMT -5
With Christmas close to 10 days away now I'm curious, what are you guys doing for Christmas? Do you celebrate it? Do you do anything special? Visit relatives, stay home with family, go to mass, do something else?
I'm not sure what we are doing for Christmas exactly. We close on our new house on the 17th if all goes according to plan (fingers crossed!). My mother and I are planning on moving in slowly so we will probably stay in the home we are in until after the holidays. My father says he wants us to stay until Christmas is over even though they are already divorced. My mother finds it a little hard though to stay so we may move in before Christmas but the plan is for after. I've got our Christmas tree up in this house and I've got some presents wrapped under it. I've also got a few other Christmas decorations out. As for Christmas day I'm not sure yet if we will have one last family dinner together in this house or if my father will celebrate with my oldest brother and his wife. Not sure if my mother and I will have a small dinner together or whether or not we will go to my Aunt and Uncle's or if my second older brother will come up with his girlfriend and eat with us. All in all we will just see what happens.
I'm nosy, what are your plans?
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Post by jennsrandomworld on Dec 13, 2013 12:44:29 GMT -5
Usually I have a Christmas by myself but this year I'm going to New York to visit my mom!
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Post by mandyz on Dec 13, 2013 12:52:47 GMT -5
Staying home with my family like usual
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Post by disalan on Dec 13, 2013 17:16:30 GMT -5
We normally get together with my moms side of the family at my uncles but I know it will just be drama if we go. One of my sisters became a Jehovah's Witness about 5 years ago so we don't get to see her at the holidays. I'm going to have a "goddie party" (name I came up with) at my house where I will make/provide all of the food to keep things nut free and I can stay sane. I'm also planning it for Jan 4th so it's far enough away from Christmas that my sister can come. We can't have a gift exchange because of her beliefs but I can send her and my nephew home with things. No Christmas trees, Santa, elves, ect but snow flakes, gingerbread men, snow men ect are okay. This way we can get together with out drama, food issues, or religious/belief conflicts. Cayla it seems like the divorce happened pretty fast. I'm glad you found a place so soon and I think the timing for buying right now is really good. Moving can be stressful but I like the change and think the new beginning is happening at the right time. I hope the new year brings new adventures for everyone
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Post by queentakesjack on Dec 14, 2013 11:34:13 GMT -5
Jenn, That sounds exciting to go to New York and see your mother. Are you going to stay till New Years?
Mandy, Staying at home with your family sounds like a great way to spend Christmas. Hopefully you guys won't be snowed in though the way the snow just keeps coming down.
Lisa, It's wonderful that you guys are having an extra sorta of Christmas with your sister. It really is a time for family even though people's beliefs or customs can be very different. Hopefully there will be no drama for you guys this way and also it's good to be on the safe side where as your son's nut allergy is concerned.
And yeah the divorce happened pretty quickly. Some days it felt like it was taking forever then other days it is like "What just happened?". I'm just hoping that no matter when we move whether it be this week or after Christmas that it isn't too cold or too snowy. Right now it has been snowing steadily with no signs of immediate stopping, but everything looks sooo pretty! Then again it looks so wonderful to me now because I haven't had to get out in it yet lol. We will see if I still feel the same when I get back from a Christmas party tonight. I love snow just not having to deal with it.
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Post by disalan on Dec 15, 2013 14:31:39 GMT -5
For those who get snow I bet it looks so beautiful! Sometimes I wish it would snow here but as an adult I think I'm too lazy to shovel it :/ If we're lucky we will be able to drive about an hour to go play in it.
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Post by queentakesjack on Dec 16, 2013 9:03:30 GMT -5
The snow really is beautiful...until you feel the frigid cold that comes with it lol. I like living in the midwest for the very reason that in summer it is hot and in winter it is cold. We get the best and worst of all seasons. Hopefully you guys will get to play in the snow a little bit this season. It is a pain with the cold and everything but it is worth it in the end =)
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Post by disalan on Dec 17, 2013 3:01:47 GMT -5
Where I live I feel like spring and fall are our shortest seasons. Of course they just happen to by my favorites. The snow probably wont happen Today our mini-van went kaput. Luckily my husband was the only one in the van at the time and he was able to get back to the house and safely in the garage. It is however not safe to be driven until it can be checked out by a mechanic. Even though this totally sucks (I'm lacking better words), I feel lucky that it didn't break down the night my whole family plus my mom and nephew went to look at Christmas lights about 25 minutes from my home. I'm happy that I wasn't running errands on a day my husband was out of town for work and I needed to get back home to pick my daughter up from school. I just found out the mechanic we were probably going to take the van to is going out of business and the last business day is December 31. We are going to call him in the morning. Please send positive vibes our way that he can either cut us a deal or refer us to an honest mechanic. Even though we don't really have the funds to fix a potentially very expensive problem my mom offered to help us out as much as she could and we could pay her back. Even though the van is going on 16 years I shudder at the thought of having a car payment. We wouldn't be able to get a new vehicle and I feel like a used vehicle may come with its own set of problems. It's times like this I think of all of the things to be grateful for - the van didn't break down with my kids in it, the van is safe in the garage, my Christmas shopping is done, even the Christmas ham is bought, we have lots of food, we are stocked up on toilet paper (this is like gold), my daughter's schools are walking distance (I live 2 houses down from the elementary school and my teen walks home), no school next week, we are healthy hallelujah, the house is warm, I have plenty of wax.....life is good. Sometimes we take things for granted. I see people who have to ride the bus to get their groceries or do their laundry. It is little every day things that make our lives easy. If you feel bored, life is probably good. I could keep going. Thank you for letting me vent. Things will work out, they always do. Stay well, stay warm, and appreciate the down time of doing absolutely nothing every now and then. Now I think I'm going to go de-stress by eating a cookie :/
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Post by queentakesjack on Dec 17, 2013 7:10:51 GMT -5
I'm sorry about your van Lisa, it is a horrible time for it to go out and then to top it all off your main mechanic going out of business this month. Like you said though, at least your husband was safe and managed to get it back home. Sending you good vibes Lisa! I hope that the mechanic will fix it promptly or at least refer you to a better one. I'm glad that you've got all your stuff done for the holidays so if it had to happen at least it was after you had all that stuff done. And I totally agree with you Lisa, if you are bored life is good lol. I constantly feel cold in the house (the house is fine with heat I just always am cold) and then I see my local news showing all the homeless gathered in shelters with nothing but a plastic mat and small blanket. Suddenly I'm not so cold anymore. Just thankful that I've got a home and one with heat in it. I'm exited and nervous, today we go sign and close on our new house. My mom is super excited and I am kind of but I'm also a little sad that very soon I will be moving out of this house. I know it is good to start opening a new chapter in my life but it is a little hard to say goodbye to the one I've known for years. Still I'm optimistic. Except we still have a TON to pack! Lol it is stressful packing everything up and also thinking "what do I have left? I'm not forgetting anything am I?" We've had a lot of stuff happen this year (sadly most of it not that great) but I'm looking forward to 2014. Just hope it will be better than this year has been.
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Post by shayp on Dec 17, 2013 19:53:48 GMT -5
I haven't been on in a while, I have been soo sick. Seems the flu has found it's way into our house I am happy to read that everybody is going to have a good Christmas. Lisa I am sorry about your van. I am the same way about a car payment and our current car is on it's last leg. I got it the year I graduated (04) it was used it's a 98. So I know it is about gone but I dread the day! As for Christmas, I am going to be working. I hope to anyway, if I am better. I have been sitting with my pastor's mom. She was an independent 89 year old woman that seemed to be as healthy as a horse. Could run circles around most of the people my age. She had a stroke last month and now has to have 24/7 supervision. She uses a walker so they just want somebody there to help out. We have been to so many Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners that we are kinda burnt out on ham and turkey. My husband and mother are going to cook steak, baked potato, salad, and grilled veggie skewers. We are going to wake up early 6AM and let Kade open her tablet, then when I get off at 2:30 we will eat and let her open her gifts from my mother. Not sure when I will be back on, I have been sleeping so much.
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Post by queentakesjack on Dec 18, 2013 6:21:17 GMT -5
So sorry that you have been sick Shay. I hope you feel better soon! I'm sorry you have to work on Christmas but it seems like for a really good reason though. And who said dinner had to be ham and turkey? Lol I think one year my family did homemade chicken and noodles and i'm sure there are other holidays we've done away with the traditional. Sometimes it is good to break away from the norm. I hope you get some sleep and rest up.
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Post by disalan on Dec 18, 2013 14:44:13 GMT -5
There is a lot of paperwork when you buy a home and it can be scary. We bought ours in 2011 and we totally felt like little kids who didn't know what in the heck we were doing. The process seemed long but looking back it went pretty fast. What I love about moving is it forces you to go through your things and decide what to keep and what to toss or donate. I just cleaned out under the bathroom cabinets I swear I had at least 2 huge garbage bags full of stuff to toss. I even got rid of old nail polish. That box was a MESS! When I end a year rough (van breaking down this time) it makes more optimistic for the next year. The new year always feel like a clean slate. Cayla I hope your move goes smoothly. During the move you may even find things you once thought you lost. Shay that is really selfless of you to work on Christmas. I'm sure the 89 year woman enjoys your company as much as she does your help. I hope that I can be in good health up to 89 and hopefully beyond. I sure hope you feel better soon! Sleep is the best medicine that is for sure! This nasty flu has made it to CA, my nephew got really sick the day after we saw him and kid my 4th graders class went home sick yesterday. Eeeek! I'm nervous the bug will make it's way into my house. One year my daughter was so sick with the flu, we spent Christmas Eve with her in the ER. I definitely would love steak and potatoes on Christmas! We've had lamb in the past which I love too. When I was a young kid the Christmas food at my grandma's was more traditional but in the last decade plus we've had KFC, a taco bar, sandwiches ect. Cinnamon rolls (from the can ) has been my families Christmas morning tradition for the last few years and the kids love it. Anything with icing for breakfast is a happy morning for them. I know we will be eating ham leftovers for daaaaaaays..... My van is also a '98. My husbands car is '94. Both are Toyota's so they have the potential to run forever which I'm hoping for a least a few more years out them. No word from the mechanic yet. Yesterday we had it towed to the guy who is closing down We felt he was honest when he fixed the van in the beginning of this year.
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Post by shayp on Dec 19, 2013 16:21:37 GMT -5
Thanks ladies... Thanks Lisa, it doesn't bother me to be with her on Christmas we were able to move things around pretty good to where it worked out for the better anyways. My pastor will be on a mission trip and his whole family including his mother have done so much for my family that it really is a pleasure to help out. I am getting paid as well so it's not totally just in appreciation ( I know that sounds bad but I don't mean for it too) I am just now getting better and I tell you, I haven't had the flu in years like before I ever had Kade and I don't remember it being this bad. I still feel just so weak now Kade is running a fever I hope she isn't getting it. Crazy thing we had got our flu shots less than a month ago. Honestly, I am not sure we will do them anymore. Kade has gotten the flu every year she has had the shot?!?! Yea I am learning to let go of some of the stuff that I thought was soo important for Christmas, turns out it is rubbish and I am looking forward to steak and potatoes I really want to try lamb. I wouldn't have a clue how to cook it lol. Sending good vibes for your mechanic
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Post by disalan on Dec 19, 2013 20:15:25 GMT -5
This strain of the flu sounds horrible! Hopefully Kade's immune system fights off this flu bug and the fever fades away. I wish your family a very healthy Christmas. There have been 2 cases of whooping cough at my daughters high school in the last few weeks and today we received notice that are also 2 cases of whooping at the elementary school. My sister is pregnant and I worry about her getting sick. Even though my kids are immunized we were told to still look for symptoms over the next 3 weeks :/
My husband cooks the lamb. He treats it like a typical roast and seasons it about the same way. We don't eat mint or mint jelly with it, even though that is a pretty traditional pairing with lamb I'm not sure I've ever had the two together.
Something was replaced in the van but it didn't fix the problem. As of now we are sitting at a $300 bill and awaiting a phone call from the mechanic (they close in 50 min!!!)to hear if they found what the problem is. I'm feeling uneasy but trying to stay optimistic that the problem will still be a cheap and easy fix.
Any news about Kade's fundraiser and the naughty jr high kids? I sure hope you all didn't get stuck with the bill.
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Post by shayp on Dec 19, 2013 22:40:00 GMT -5
I hope your sister stays well. My sister had a baby wayyy early she just got out of ICU at our Children's Hospital and is now back do to something called RSV or RS something (a big cough virus) and she is only maybe a month old. She will be ok though...
So I think I am going to try a lamb when we get situated in the rental. I love roast so, but I will leave out the mint as I am not big on mint with my food. I think it serves a purpose as gum but that is it lol.
What did they say about the van?
We split the cost with the school and two parents of the children involved, I was happy with that decision because it was a way for all parties to take some responsibility in what happened. Yet didn't leave anybody broke. I think the total cost each was almost $100. We have decided to take a break from fundraisers for a while though. I brought up your "send monthly" at a PTO meeting and basically they agreed that it was a great idea (thanks) but because our school district is so broke it is considered "rude" to ask that we all send in a monthly fee and the School Board wouldn't allow it even as an optional thing. Even though there were almost 70 parents there that was ready to sign up lol. Oh well... We will continue to do a select few each year.
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