Posted by Kimberly
on 11/30/2007, 11:48 am, in reply to "What are your Christmas plans?"
70.126.75.86
HI Diana! We put up an artificial tree yesterday. We always get a real one but this is the first time we have put up an artificial one. Three of my five children have to go to their father's for a week over Christmas this year. We alternate Christmas and Thanksgiving every year. It is very difficult and we struggle with the best way to handle it. We are torn this year as to whether or not we want to celebrate two times or not. My husband and I have two children that will be with us and we want them to have as close to a traditional Christmas as possible. We also want to celebrate with the other three but feel like when they have "2" Christmas's the focus in too much on what they are going to get. Rather than having one day of getting and receiving or even two days close together, like Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the celebrations end up being a little over a week apart and it really just seemed to ruin the whole thing last year. We want to avoid that this year. Last year we had the children for Christmas but my ex and his family insisted on having their own celebration. This year he will have them but it is up to us to now NOT have a whole second celebration. I am really torn about it. I want to be there when they open presents. We will be putting up our real tree and decorating it the weekend before they leave so they will get to enjoy it for about 5 days. We usually make cookies and fudge for people and Christmas cards etc. I just hate the idea of not seeing them open their gifts from us. I suppose I can't complain about my ex husbands family sending everything to his house and celebrating a week before if we end up doing the same thing. The way I am leaning is to send the gifts up with them and maybe have them call us on the phone while they open them. It would send the message to them that we are at least willing to do what we are asking them to do. It would also make sure the children have one Christmas and maybe appreciate it more.
I remember having a kitten at Christmas time. The big thing is to not use tinsel. I don't know if I spelled that right but if the cat's eat it, it can cut like glass inside of their intestines. The whole problem with the cotton balls would be the fact that I don't think I would want to smell it either! LOL!!
I cooked a big meal for Thanksgiving but my husband and I don't really have a large extended family and since the kids won't all be here for Christmas, I will probably not make a huge spread. I may cook a pot roast or even make chili instead. I know that sounds weird but it will just be us and an 9 month old and three year old so they won't know the difference. I kind of like the idea of something cooking in the crock pot and smelling good all day while we relax and enjoy everything else. Then I could just make some deserts which I much prefer to do anyway
.
As far as school is concerned, we will probably take off a few days the week before they leave and then of course they will not be doing school while they are there. I'm not sure how soon we will start back when they get home. I will probably give them a couple of days to enjoy their new things and then get right back to it. We finish fairly early most days anyway.
On a side note, I have been waking up early getting everyone ready and going to the park everyday for a walk as part of a new exercise routine and I have lost about 7 lbs so far. The kids enjoy getting out of the house and are getting in better shape too!
I like the smiles too...
Kimberly
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