tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post6240279762033683445..comments2023-04-10T07:17:05.311-05:00Comments on Little WORTH-while moments: Ho Ho Ho-Welcome guest Julie Millerangie chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08841602553520989108noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post-33669918353258133332011-12-03T14:53:14.942-06:002011-12-03T14:53:14.942-06:00I LOVE that idea, Forgiven. Great way to get kids...I LOVE that idea, Forgiven. Great way to get kids interested in going to bed on Christmas Eve.<br /><br />Santa and Mrs. Claus are so smart!Julie Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13822178840729355383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post-80229943998312370082011-12-02T23:46:28.513-06:002011-12-02T23:46:28.513-06:00One of my favorite traditions is from Christmas Ev...One of my favorite traditions is from Christmas Eve. While we're all at church, Santa stops by, leaves a gift for every child and note to remind them to all tidy up their rooms to make space for their new gifts, brush their teeth, leave carrots for his reindeer, and a Diet Dr. Pepper for him (hey...he needs caffeine, not cookies to last the night!). The gifts are always new holiday pajamas. The funny part for us is that either "Mr. or Mrs. Santa" has to come up with a believeable excuse to run back into the house, once everyone is loaded up and ready to leave for church. Mrs. Claus usually forgets that she has to turn off the iron, go potty, put the puppy in the kennel, etc. It's a tradition we created for our children and hope to see continue for our grandbabies...many years from now!Forgivenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13922104288464562964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post-69746572006918371322011-12-02T14:33:19.305-06:002011-12-02T14:33:19.305-06:00I think your dad was a smart man, Sherry. For me,...I think your dad was a smart man, Sherry. For me, a lot of the pleasure that comes from exchanging gifts is to see the person's reaction (and hope you hit the nail on the head!). I think you're right--it's a good lesson to teach children, too, to appreciate the giving as much as the receiving, and to appreciate the efforts and pleasure of others.<br /><br />It probably helps reduce the stress, too, by not diving in with a frenzy.Julie Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13822178840729355383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post-4888316428878894922011-12-02T14:31:00.103-06:002011-12-02T14:31:00.103-06:00That's an awesome gift, Tammy!
Does she ever ...That's an awesome gift, Tammy!<br /><br />Does she ever feel like she's not getting all the attention she deserves on her birthday since it's so close to Christmas? Or, I'm guessing you make a point to really distinguish/celebrate both wonderful events?Julie Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13822178840729355383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post-25137968302546393712011-12-02T11:50:25.997-06:002011-12-02T11:50:25.997-06:00Hey, Julie! I love the Wise Men idea. Your mom is ...Hey, Julie! I love the Wise Men idea. Your mom is one WISE WOMAN! I now have my mom's Nativity Scene so I think we'll give this a try.<br /><br />One thing my dad always insisted upon was the opening of the presents one at a time. It gave a chance for everyone to show off their gifts and say thanks before moving on to the next. It made for a nice, relaxed time, not chaotic with paper flying everywhere! I think as kids it gave us a greater appreciation for those gifts, and taught us some patience, too. To this day, one present at a time is still the only way we do it!<br /><br />Happy Holidays!Sherry Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11833527931918923812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post-29550758226353698642011-12-02T09:17:57.064-06:002011-12-02T09:17:57.064-06:00Hi Julie,
I love all of your Christmas ideas. Th...Hi Julie,<br /><br />I love all of your Christmas ideas. The best Christmas gift I ever got was my daughter. She was born on 12/16 and we spent her first Christmas in the hospital.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post-28283783674973603652011-12-01T17:22:31.779-06:002011-12-01T17:22:31.779-06:00I LOVE the ugly pig idea, Debbi! Sounds like a ne...I LOVE the ugly pig idea, Debbi! Sounds like a new tradition my family would have a lot of fun with.<br /><br />Growing up, we spent a lot of holidays (4th of July and New Year's usually) with some good family friends, and there'd be a bunch of us in the house, staying up late, playing games indoors and out, etc. Somewhere along the line the dad of the other family got out a clothes pin and stuck it on the back of someone's shirt, shorts, bandanna, wool scarf, etc. It became a tradition to try to sneak that clothespin onto someone else during the celebration. Whoever had it on them at the end of the night took it home and brought it back to stick onto some other unsuspecting soul if they could.Julie Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13822178840729355383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post-68043101128764335702011-12-01T17:18:13.505-06:002011-12-01T17:18:13.505-06:00Megan--Thanks for stopping by! I agree--those han...Megan--Thanks for stopping by! I agree--those handmade gifts and ornaments from our children are real treasures! My mom still has ornaments my brothers and I made when we were growing up (like I said, my son is in college now!)that she still hangs up every year.<br /><br />I have various artwork by my son from throughout the years that I still put up to decorate for Christmas.Julie Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13822178840729355383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post-67320082106191238092011-12-01T13:16:07.756-06:002011-12-01T13:16:07.756-06:00Hi Julie! Thanks so much for the Christmas storie...Hi Julie! Thanks so much for the Christmas stories. I love the idea about the Wise Men! My kids are always messing with the Nativity (which is pretty fragile)and I'm glad they like it, but I just don't want them to touch it! I think I'll try to find one that isn't breakable, and use your idea. So fun! I love to start new traditions. <br /><br />Several years ago, my family started doing the white elephant gifts for the adults. My mom had an ugly, brown, ceramic, pig piggy bank that she wrapped up. My brother-in-law ended up with it, and being the ornery turkey he is, hid it in the living room for my mom to find later (since he didn't want to take it home). So now, the pig is a tradition. He gets wrapped up every Christmas, but never stays in one place for long. He's always being left somewhere, for you to find. If Grandma comes over to babysit, you'll probably find the pig after she leaves. Having a big family birthday dinner? The hostess will more than likely end up finding the ugly pig (who is now missing an ear and his tail!) in a cabinet or drawer somewhere. It's the silly little things that make the best family memories!Debbihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15865755834361613381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post-26171125840696293492011-12-01T12:35:51.619-06:002011-12-01T12:35:51.619-06:00Loved the story! And ho ho gifts sounds like a lot...Loved the story! And ho ho gifts sounds like a lot of fun! <br /><br />My favorite sentimental gifts are ones made by my daughter. Yes, they're usually pretty junky, and don't look like anything special, but I treasure them. One of the ones I like most is a little coffee mug, with "thumbprint flowers" and a little poem saying "it's special you see...because it was made from a part of me..." <br /><br />Merry Christmas to YOU!Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12920807301570202779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post-60718135244430973342011-12-01T11:40:14.439-06:002011-12-01T11:40:14.439-06:00Hey, Gayle--thanks for stopping by!
Yes, the Thre...Hey, Gayle--thanks for stopping by!<br /><br />Yes, the Three Wise Men was my mom's idea. A way to help us remember the reason for the season, as well as enjoy the excitement of the countdown to Christmas.<br /><br />I have two brothers. Mom would set up the rest of the Nativity on our fireplace mantel. Then we'd each pick a Wise Man and start him from our bedrooms upstairs. So we had about 20 days just getting downstairs if we stopped on every step. Then we moved throughout the main floor until we got to the mantel on the 24th. My brothers and I were creative (competitive? ;)) about the route we'd take each year.Julie Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13822178840729355383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post-79651549954907585462011-12-01T11:36:18.115-06:002011-12-01T11:36:18.115-06:00Hey, Jennifer--
I'm happy to be here. I was ...Hey, Jennifer--<br /><br />I'm happy to be here. I was flattered to be asked to blog here by your daughter--always appreciate a loyal reader!<br /><br />Another tradition we have (when we have the time!) are to put up theme trees. For example, my hubby is a huge Star Trek fan. One year we had a small tree devoted exclusively to his Trek ornaments. Now, they're more likely to hang from the garland in the living room so we just have one tree. But it's a fun idea I'd love to do again.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by!Julie Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13822178840729355383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post-8654870745818007062011-12-01T09:43:01.069-06:002011-12-01T09:43:01.069-06:00Hi Julie. I like your Christmas giving idea of the...Hi Julie. I like your Christmas giving idea of the Ho Ho gift. We try to keep the adult gifts under ten dollars, but usually we cheat slightly and go higher on one. I am going to use you idea of moving the wise men closer to the manager each day with my daughter.G Cochranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06217337918017509609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5754248386640293732.post-82387499692084587202011-12-01T09:37:55.108-06:002011-12-01T09:37:55.108-06:00Thank you Julie for blogging on my daughter's ...Thank you Julie for blogging on my daughter's blog. Our family has had great gift giving adventures over the years just like your family. From decorating our cabins at Mahoney State Park (each family cabin having a different theme) to decorating a tree with ornaments and then guessing which family member the ornament was bought for and by whom (i.e. football ornament for my nephew, farmer for my brother-in-law). I hope you and your family have a great Christmas!<br />Thank you,<br />Mom JenniferJennifernoreply@blogger.com