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Looking forward to/dreading as the holidays approach?

Puppmom

Puppmom

Ideal_Rock
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Jun 25, 2007
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What are you looking forward to/dreading as the holidays approach?

I'll start.

I'm looking forward to...
- Watching my daughter act like a lady. She's 17 and she's like *one of us* now. The holidays really highlight how gracious and mature she's come because she spends lots of time chatting with adults and playing with the little ones. She's the oldest by far and they all look up to her.
- Playing with my nephews. They're so much fun to hang out with and I don't see them that often.
- Watching my nephews play with my son. He's two and they're so careful with him. It's so cute. :love: He remembers it for days after they leave.
- Spending time with my siblings. It's so hard to hang out when everyone has kids and full time jobs.
- Food! I love holiday food. Thanksgiving is my favorite!
- Watching my two year old REALLY enjoy it this time. He had no clue what was going on last year.
- Spending time with friends. We have a handful who have moved away but come back for the holidays. We're usually able to squeeze in visits.

I'm dreading...
- Shopping! I hate it and will try to do most everything online this year...with free shipping of course!
- Scheduling - it's so hard to coordinate everyone's schedule to arrange holiday get-togethers.
- Family tension - my mom and one sister have a lot of tension for some reason and it can become really awkward! I mostly pretend like I don't notice. :bigsmile:
- Spending time with my BIL. He stinks. I don't like him. He usually doesn't come around because he's antisocial but, when he does, he's so grumpy! ...and he's mean to my nephews which makes me sad because they're awesome children despite having a sucky dad.
- Shipping - most of my family is local but I HATE when I have to pack gifts for shipping...and forget about the post office.
- Hanging out with my parents and in-laws at the same time. It couldn't be more awkward. DH and I have been together for over 12 years and it's never gotten easy.
 
Sounds fun, Puppmom.

I am looking forward to:

We may be in our new house by Christmas. The builder keeps joking closing is at 4:54 pm on Christmas Eve
Baking assorted Christmas cookies for my family
Driving around and looking at all the pretty lights and decorations
Watching my young nephews get excited while opening presents then playing with their toys
Taking family photos
Family get together - it is always fun to see everyone

What I am not looking forward to:

People getting cranky from holiday stress
Family get together - there are usually a few fights between assorted family members Boo!
Trying to avoid eating all that tempting and fattening food
Packing to move by Christmas
Writing my annual Christmas poem that I send out in Christmas Cards

Marcy
 
~

What a great thread idea!

Your daughter sounds like a wonderful young lady, Puppmom. You must swell with pride when you watch her. How fun to have a two-year-old and a teen at the same time!

I LOVE the holiday season. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. This year will be a bit different for us because I'm pregnant and due on December 18th, so we won't get to participate as much as usual. It also probably helps my enthusiasm that I teach college, so I have a full month off every holiday season--that definitely adds to the wonder of it all. :cheeky:

I'm looking forward to . . .

- Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday. We usually host it, but this year my FIL is hosting since I'm so pregnant. We're still doing a lot for him, he's only providing the turkey, but it will still be kind of nice not to be the actual hostess this year.
- My sister A is coming in from LA with her husband and their new Pit Bull. I cannot wait to meet my new furniece, and it's going to be so much fun to spend some time with my sissy. She'll be here for a month. WOOHOO!
- Christmas music on The Lite. I LOVE IT!
- SNOW! Our pup Bailee loves the snow, and we have a ton of fun watching her fly through it all season. She likes trying to "catch" the snowballs we throw at her, too. It's so much fun. We usually end a day of playing in the snow with hot chocolate and then a yummy, home cooked meal. The best.
- I love all the special moments that come up during the holiday season, the ones that slow down time and give us memories worth cherishing. For us it happens at every family get-together, and whenever we're doing something out of the ordinary routine--DH and I have a moment where we lock eyes and I'm just flooded with gratitude about everything we have.
- I'm excited but also terrified about giving birth and meeting our baby.
- ETA: All the holiday decorations! I adore Christmas lights. We always go to see the Fields windows downtown, and then we drive through Sauganash to see everyone's amazing decorations. I love them. I have serious Christmas envy. I joke with DH that I should have married a Christian man just so I could have a tree. It's a joke, so please don't get all offended. But this Jewish girl dreams of having a tree and holly and all the beautiful Christmas trim. 8)

I'm not looking forward to . . .

- DH's family is difficult. My mom and I have historically hosted half of every year's major holidays for DH's entire family, and they are just really ungrateful and unhelpful, on the whole. After last year's Passover Seder my mom decided she will no longer host for them, and I'm really happy about her decision. SO, this year it will be very interesting, because now THEY have to do some of the heavy lifting. I'm not happy that my FIL is the one who ended up hosting Thanksgiving, he is elderly and that really just means that DH and I are doing almost everything, but it's just off-site. DH has a brother and two first cousins, all of whom are established and own homes and have children of their own. The four of us should be rotating holidays, rather than just having two of us (DH and one of his first cousins) and MY MOM doing everything. We decided, with DH's one cousin who hosts one holiday a year, that we're going to only host one holiday each, and my BIL and the other cousin will either have to step up, or the family just won't get together as a whole. SO, that's my very long-winded way of saying I am not looking forward to THAT conversation, which we are going to broach this season.
 
I only do as much holiday stuff as I want to.
I no longer feel forced by society, friends, work or family to do more.

It's nice.

Every year I'm perplexed to hear so many people complain they have to do or spend too much.
Nobody's holding a gun to your head.
 
I'm with Kenny. For years I hated the holidays because of other people's expectations. At this point I make it as stress free as possible. Most of us get whatever we want whenever we want. Used to be we had a list and waited for Christmas to come to fulfill our wishes. I find that no one can wait so it's lost all its magic. Ours will be about spending time with family and being thankful for the abundandant blessings we already have!
 
kenny|1352663058|3303472 said:
I only do as much holiday stuff as I want to.
I no longer feel forced by society, friends, work or family to do more.

It's nice.

Every year I'm perplexed to hear so many people complain they have to do or spend too much.
Nobody's holding a gun to your head.
Click to expand...

I've adopted this approach too, Kenny. I got so sick of the stupid forced holiday shopping frenzy drilled into us by retailers, so now it's just about spending time with family for us, and having time off from work. Gifts are not needed! :))

I'm really looking forward to my two year old starting to understand more about the holidays this year. He will have so much fun! Also, so grateful to have my new baby daughter, it will be her very first Thanksgiving and Christmas. :love:
 
I'm looking forward to the general overall feeling of the Christmas season. I love seeing the lights and decorations in stores and at people's homes. I also love listening to Christmas music and watching Christmas movies. My sister's coming home this year, which doesn't always happen, so I can't wait for that. She lives on the other side of the country so I don't see her often. ETA: Oh, and I'd love to have one good snowfall before Christmas! It doesn't *quite* feel like the holiday season without snow on the ground.

I'm dreading gift giving. Over the past few years, I've really come to dislike it. That sounded wrong, I know. Over the past few years, my sister and I have tried to insist that we (my family) skip giving one another presents and put the money towards a family trip instead. My mom insists that we need THINGS to unwrap under the tree or it isn't really Christmas. Nobody really wants STUFF though, and it all feels forced. I always get stressed because of it.
 
AprilBaby|1352663402|3303480 said:
I'm with Kenny. For years I hated the holidays because of other people's expectations. At this point I make it as stress free as possible. Most of us get whatever we want whenever we want. Used to be we had a list and waited for Christmas to come to fulfill our wishes. I find that no one can wait so it's lost all its magic. Ours will be about spending time with family and being thankful for the abundandant blessings we already have!
Click to expand...

That's so true! I remember when the JCPenney Christmas book would come out, and my sister and I would mark the pages. It was so much fun, even if we didn't get everything we wished for!

Looking forward to:

Time with family, and seeing the holidays through my toddler's eyes.

Not looking forward to:

Dealing with crazies while out shopping. I'm sure I'll buy most holiday gifts on-line, but people seem a bit more manic even at the grocery store during the holidays!
 
Looking forward to seeing DD. Last time I saw her was September. I am looking forward to cooking Thanksgiving dinner with her and baking Christmas cookies. She will be 20 next month so I look forward to the time we can spend together before she is totally on her own.

What I will dread is her going back to school in January and that i cannot have her all to myself for the short time she will be home.
 
We put the kibosh on adult gift exchanges several years ago. It was just getting silly, and there was no need for it.

We do our gift shopping pretty early for the kids in DH's family. I like to give everyone books that I think they'll enjoy, so it's a pleasure to pick those out. They all read, so that works out really well.

Last year my aunt sent us a very detailed list of the gifts my three young cousins wanted, so DH and I spent an agonizing afternoon in Toys R Us. I enjoyed getting them things I knew they wanted, even though I find sending specific wish lists a bit distasteful. Well, it turned out to be a disaster because we were the last to exchange gifts with the kids, and they had already received most of what we got for them. All three of my cousins were extremely ungrateful, they all cried, and my nine-year-old cousin made a sarcastic remark right in front of us about one of the gifts. I scolded her, but afterward we decided that was it. This year, they're all getting gift cards to Toys R Us, and their parents can deal with going there and getting them exactly what they want. I was really embarrassed for the kids and shocked that they were so rotten about the whole thing, but their parents didn't seem to see a problem with it. If my grandmother were still alive, WHOOOOHOOO, that would have been interesting.

We do give gifts to our parents every year, but that's just because we like doing it.

I'm so looking forward to the *coziness* of the holiday season--curling up in slippers and warm throws with mugs of hot cider or chocolate. Long evenings with my family together, just hanging out and enjoying each other's company. Pajama sleepovers and movie marathons with my sisters, I'm hoping to squeeze at least one in before the baby comes.
 
Another one here who doesn't do much for Christmas. I try to keep is as low key and spiritual as possible. I'm looking forward to the Christmas Eve carol service in our village square, with hot pies and mulled wine. I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks off work, to spend with my family. I'm looking forward to the Watchnight church service, and the Christmas morning service. I'm really looking forward to seeing my daughter's excitement and happiness all through the day when we have various visitors / go out visiting. I'm also excited that I joined the 'pop up' Christmas choir in our office - we'll sing carols until we've received a certain level of donation to stop... :bigsmile:

I'm dreading office Christmas parties, not being able to park when I go into the city for meetings etc and the whole barrage of Christmas themed adverts and music on tv and radio. For me, it's time to unplug for a few weeks. ;))
 
Jennifer W|1352671314|3303541 said:
Another one here who doesn't do much for Christmas. I try to keep is as low key and spiritual as possible. I'm looking forward to the Christmas Eve carol service in our village square, with hot pies and mulled wine. I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks off work, to spend with my family. I'm looking forward to the Watchnight church service, and the Christmas morning service. I'm really looking forward to seeing my daughter's excitement and happiness all through the day when we have various visitors / go out visiting. I'm also excited that I joined the 'pop up' Christmas choir in our office - we'll sing carols until we've received a certain level of donation to stop... :bigsmile:

I'm dreading office Christmas parties, not being able to park when I go into the city for meetings etc and the whole barrage of Christmas themed adverts and music on tv and radio. For me, it's time to unplug for a few weeks. ;))
Click to expand...
What an awesome idea! I love it! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
Haven, we quit with the adult gifts in our family too. Instead, we make donations as we see fit and sponsor a child through the United Way. We receive basic info about the child and some wants/needs and go at it. It's so fun! I forgot to put that on my "looking forward to" list.

My sister does the specific gift list too and wires have gotten crossed a few times. I've gotten dups, right gift wrong kid etc. My nephews are very grateful and give hugs and thank yous all around but are not shy about letting you know that they already have something.
 
I'm looking forward to decorating, tree, lights, the whole deal. I'm dreading the cooking...
 
Kenny's got it right. I LOVE Christmas, all the glittery decorations, colors, lights, warmth, music, calm happy times, greeting people. That's what I make it be. Do all my shopping online, no crowds or parking hassles.

I make my cards every year on the computer, using photos from our albums of us & animals. It's one of my biggest pleasures.

I adore decorating the tree -- usually plan it out months ahead (and then forget what I had in mind by the time it comes :sick: ). For decades I bought ornaments on sale after Christmas -- from Gump's when we lived in San Francisco, Harrod's when we lived in Europe, and various other places. Also went to the open air Christmas markets in several towns in Germany. I buy gorgeous fantasy ribbon at fabric stores for garlanding. So I never have to do the same tree twice. I've done flower trees w/silk flowers stuck into them, forest trees covered in beautiful birds, toy trees with miniature wooden German toys, Victorian trees with lacy ribbon & tiny gift-boxes, snow trees hung with icicles & silvery snowballs. My annual artistic outlet. If the cat stays out of it.

My mother & her brother, my uncle, used to spend Christmas with DH & me every year, but now they're celebrating it in heaven. Makes the time a little poignant. On Christmas Eve after DH goes to bed, I turn out all the lights except those on the tree & sit quietly, admiring it and talking to my Mom & uncle, wishing them happiness wherever they are. Sometimes I can feel the love, which is what it's all about, isn't it?

--- Laurie
 
Ooooo, this is a good thread, puppmom!

Things I'm looking forward to:
~DH has decided we're skipping out on his family's Thanksgiving again this year. While I'd love to see some of my ILs, there's also some I no longer care to spend time with, and with this being our first holiday in our new home, it will be nice to spend it just the two of us. We haven't told my family yet, since I don't want to be pressured into driving to my step-family's Thanksgiving. Oh, and DH does the cooking on Thanksgiving, so I just get to sit back and relax...and wash the dishes. :sick: ('Tis a small price to pay for DH's cooking, though! :lickout: )
~Our first holiday in our new home!
~We will be taking care of Christmas this year. My mom is bringing all the old decorations from our home when I was a kid, and while they're no longer really "my style," it will be fun to put them up in my home at least once!
~Baking Christmas cookies!
~Being back in the Midwest, I'm hoping for my first White Christmas in a loooong time.
~CHRISTMAS MOVIES!!!! (Love, Actually will be busted out IMMEDIATELY following Thanksgiving dinner to usher in the start of the Holiday season!)

Things I'm dreading:
~Everything it will take to actually get the house in order for Christmas. We still have boxes in the living room that we haven't moved/unpacked and it will need to be done so I can DECORATE!
~Coordinating getting my great-grandmother's dining table from my mom's in Chicago to our house in Michigan. My uncle is driving it out in his truck and finding a time that works for everyone is going to be a royal pain.
~The 12 days between now and Thanksgiving. IT IS NOT YET CHRISTMAS SEASON, PEOPLE! PUT THE KIBBOSH ON IT UNTIL BLACK FRIDAY FERGOSHSAKES. /end vent
~Shopping for presents. I have a few things already for DH. Not sure what to get for his "big" gift, though. And my family is IMPOSSIBLE to buy for. Can't wait until there are babies (not ours...my sister can have the first go at that one, LOL!) so we can ixnay the adult gifts and just buy for the kiddos.
 
JewelFreak|1352680644|3303618 said:
Kenny's got it right. I LOVE Christmas, all the glittery decorations, colors, lights, warmth, music, calm happy times, greeting people. That's what I make it be. Do all my shopping online, no crowds or parking hassles.

::snip::

My mother & her brother, my uncle, used to spend Christmas with DH & me every year, but now they're celebrating it in heaven. Makes the time a little poignant. On Christmas Eve after DH goes to bed, I turn out all the lights except those on the tree & sit quietly, admiring it and talking to my Mom & uncle, wishing them happiness wherever they are. Sometimes I can feel the love, which is what it's all about, isn't it?

--- Laurie
Click to expand...

Laurie, that last bit made me tear up. I talk to my grandmother every year the same way.
 
I'm looking forward to the hot cocoa, and the cuddling. And the winter break away from school.. my 3rd year anniversary.. the Geminid meteor shower… and my annual trip to Vegas.

I'm dreading the planning and purchasing of gifts. I'm a big giver, and love to give gifts that surprise people… however I can't afford all of that without a FT job.. so.. poor friends/family :P I'm actually feeling the sadness and regret over THAT probably much more than any recipient would..
 
Dreading not cooking Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner myself.
Dreading my old boss wanting me to come visit my old job.

Looking forward to my daughter's first real Christmas, as she was just a month old the last one.
Looking forward to going home to NM and seeing friends, and getting green chile.
Looking forward to real cold. California is too warm! Laughing at myself though, that NM counts as being cold.
Looking forward to my husband having some time off of work.
 
The Thanksgiving after a big election is always hard in my family. This year will be especially hard.
 
My sister and my mom have apparently planned for us to see Les Mis (the movie) when it comes out on Christmas. While I want to see it eventually, I'm not sure it has to be on Christmas Day.
 
LOOKING FORWARD to:

My boys opening their gifts, last year they were 8 months and were more interested in the wrapping paper! lol

Putting up a tree this year; last year I was soooo sleep deprived w/twins that I didn't know if it was day or night, now they sttn so it will be fun to do a tree!

Cooking; I enjoy cooking!

Having my husband home with us for a week!

Lighting Luminarias for Christmas Eve

Watching the Hot Air Balloons Light Up for a Glow Christmas Eve Sunset :love:


NOT LF:
Family tension w/goofy expectations, etc.
Cleaning up, never been a fan of it! hahaa :D
Shopping (I tend to just do online shopping since I have a hard time getting to the post office).
 
Kenny, you've got it right and I am the same way. I love this time of the year. We have a small tree that is pre-lit and we only have a few decorations besides that. I only buy gifts for DH, our parents, and my brother. I can't stand how busy the stores get so I do my shopping online.

Things I am looking forward to:
- The Thanksgiving meal. Mmm... there is nothing that compares to turkey, mashed, potatoes, corn, and gravy all mixed together.
- Putting up our little tree and decorations while listening to Christmas music.
- Time off of work (we have Dec. 24th - Jan. 1st off and I took off Jan. 2-4 for a full 2 weeks off)
- Wrapping presents. Love love love wrapping presents.
- Warm peppermint beverages - Hot cocoa with peppermint schnaps! And white chocolate peppermint lattes from Starbucks.
- Spending time with family, especially those that I don't get to see that often.

Dreading:
- Being hounded by family members about why DH haven't had kids yet. God forbid that we have been married less than a year and a half and aren't preggo yet.
 
I'm looking forward to 2 weeks off (gotta love working at a university) and my trip to Spain to see my sister! :appl:

I'm not looking forward to all the traveling, but seeing my fam will cancel out the annoyance of the travel!
 
Mostly I'm looking forward to seeing some movies over the holidays! The Hobbit is coming out and we're excited to see that. It'll also be nice to spend some time with my kids where I'm not also trying to keep track of all their homework. On the weekends, we never have a day off. We're always having to schedule in an hour or more of homework packets, etc.

Dreading dealing with traffic and crowded grocery stores. I'm doing ALL the cooking for thanksgiving this year and am not looking fwd to the crowded parking lots, etc.
 
HI:

I like the smell of Christmas candles--and the cranberry soap. And I really don't mind baking.

I don't dread anything around the holidays; we don't fly at Christmas anymore, specifically for that reason. Stress!

cheers--Sharon
 
I am looking forward to:

- Going HOME. The landlord said renovations would supposedly be done in time for us to celebrate Thanksgiving at home ... which would be wonderful, but I'm not holding my breath. I AM hoping to be back and unpacked by Hannukah. Or New Years? Oy.

- going to my best friend's house for Thanksgiving - her family apparently makes a very Big Deal of things. I've never done a traditional Thanksgiving!

- Gift shopping. I adore choosing just the right thing.

- the baby's first holiday season where he's, you know, cognizant.

- snow.

- trimming the tree (Haven, as a Jew, I get around it by, a) following the Russian tradition of it being a tree for New Year, b) observe the pagan tradition of the turning of the year, and, c) dress my silver tree with blue fairy lights)

Things I am dreading:

- my dad is getting moodier with age, and there have been dreadful scenes around the last few holidays. I am not looking forward to the holidays because of that. My folks put a lot of pressure on things, and it's a set-up for disappointment.

- crowds on 5th Ave.
 
canuk-gal|1352741060|3304191 said:
HI:

I like the smell of Christmas candles--and the cranberry soap. And I really don't mind baking.

I don't dread anything around the holidays; we don't fly at Christmas anymore, specifically for that reason. Stress!

cheers--Sharon
Click to expand...

I love holiday candles. Usually I start burning them in Oct-Dec! This year I found some super yummy cinnamon vanilla soy candles.

Our holiday season is a bit more stressed than usual this year and I told my DH that next week we need to go away for Christmas. The dynamics with everyone has just become too much for us to take.
 
I can be a bit of a scrooge--always have been, and I don't really know why. Christmas shopping makes me mental! I love buying things that people like, but buying just to buy seems so pointless. I have two small kids, so again this year I am making a special effort to stop and relax and just enjoy the holidays for them.

Really first world problems, but trying to manage what toys come into the house without hurting anyone's feelings has me stressed. My kids have so much stuff, and piling it on top of the stuff they already have seems kid of wasteful. I am trying to figure out what gifts I can suggest to MIL and SIL that won't take up half the house but are the right price point!
 
thing2of2|1352732331|3303982 said:
I'm looking forward to 2 weeks off (gotta love working at a university) and my trip to Spain to see my sister! :appl:

I'm not looking forward to all the traveling, but seeing my fam will cancel out the annoyance of the travel!
Click to expand...
OHMIGOSH, I'm so excited for you for your trip! Have an awesome time in Spain!!!!

Circe--Say WHAT?! My husband's family is Russian, though they are very Americanized and don't hold on to anything from their Russian heritage. (He's second-generation born in this country.) I'm thinking it's time to bring that tradition back to the family! I'm so excited. Off to go research. Seriously, this information made my year. :appl: :appl: :appl: :appl:
 
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