Christmas Thread--Random

[carnation]

I must have set the record for shopping yesterday. We have a huge family and the teachers at my school don't even get out until December 22nd.

I do love the Christmas music on the radio! I'm getting real sick of "There's No Place Like Home For the Holidays"--that line "Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie" won't get out of my head.

[midwesterngirl]

I used to love Christmas music too. However, I've had to pick up a part time retail job and now I would be happy to never hear another Christmas song again. My store plays several different versions of about 10 songs total. It doesn't matter if it is a different arrangement by a different artist,it is still the same annoying song being played over and over again.

[AXO Alum]

Originally Posted by midwesterngirl

I used to love Christmas music too. However, I've had to pick up a part time retail job and now I would be happy to never hear another Christmas song again. My store plays several different versions of about 10 songs total. It doesn't matter if it is a different arrangement by a different artist,it is still the same annoying song being played over and over again.

I remember those days! I would like to hear the music much more if a) the lite music station didn't play it beginning Nov 1st (yes, all Christmas ALL the time -- geez, give Thanksgiving a chance people!) and b) they didn't try to put a rock edge on Away in a Manger like I heard yesterday on my contemporary Christian station

We have shopped for the kid pretty much all year, so he was taken care of for the most part. I got hubby's stuff done early as well. Now I am forced to either not tell him any hints & get who-knows-what or, tell him exactly what I want & spend yet another Christmas opening every gift knowing exactly what is inside Guys - girls are NOT hard to buy for - you just don't want to put the effort into it.

Everything is wrapped but can't go under the tree because of a certain lab puppy who thinks that the tree is her indoor playhouse (yes, she tries to climb THE tree!) The cats have never bothered the tree - none of my cats have actually - but the puppy thinks its fair game. We have the bottom half bare of ornaments now after we found her pulling them off one at a time & hiding them. Beneath our bed (don't ask me how she can still get under there - she is huge!) is like a treasure trove.

Here she is half in/half out of the tree!

[ASUADPi]

Originally Posted by AXO Alum

This is the cutest picture!!!!!

I actually love Christmas music. I start playing it before Thanksgiving and until Christmas. My students love the Chipmunks song ("Me I want a hula hoop").

They are learning Feliz Navidad for a show. It's quite humerous because they sing it "Feliz Navada". Then when it comes to the "Prospero ano y Felicidad" they don't sing any of the begining and come in "Felicida". Hey, what can you do, their 1st graders.

[Tippiechick]

1)THESE ARE AWESOME
Easy Sausage Pinwheels

1 large can pillsbury crescent rolls
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1 lb sausage, cooked, crumbled

Take crescent roll dough out of pkg, leave whole, and lay on flat surface covered with waxed paper. Pinch all the seams closed and use a rolling pin to flatten and stretch a little. Spread cream cheese over dough and top with sausage. Roll dough, tightly, into a log. Slice in, about, ½” slices. Place rounds on cookie sheet and place in 375F oven for 15 minutes.

2) Easy Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Meatballs:
2 lb hamburger
1 cup crackers, crushed
2 eggs
2 tbsp soy sauce
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tbsp onion

Sauce:
1 can jellied cranberry sauce 12 oz. bottle chili sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp lemon juice

Mix meatball ingredients and form into balls. Can be frozen until ready to use.
For sauce: mix all ingredients with mixer, cook over medium heat until smooth. Pour over meatballs and bake at 350F for 30 minutes. Or put in crock pot to cook and keep hot for a party.

[tunatartare]

Those meatball recipes sound awesome Tippiechick. I may have to make them this week.

[AXO Alum]

Originally Posted by Tippiechick

1)THESE ARE AWESOME
Easy Sausage Pinwheels

LOL!! Just before our first Christmas as a married couple, I got that recipe from my MIL with a note telling me that these were *ALWAYS* made on Christmas morning - LOL - they have yet to make an appearance in my life

Originally Posted by ASUADPi

This is the cutest picture!!!!!

Thanks, but this one (my little tomboy as I call her) is the cutest picture - she was out playing in the mud:



I would have used that for our Christmas cards, but hubby says we should at least have the kid in the picture -- so I ordered ones of the kid & Abby (the puppy) with Santa (AOII Alum & Carnation will be getting them shortly - Xylochick, GP, OTW, and kddani - PM/email me your addy's & I'll send them out

And y'all can thank GP for giving me the power to post pics everywhere

[Nikki_DZ]

I have absolutely no idea what to get my father or brother-in-law. Everyone else is done, but somehow I know Christmas Eve I'll be running around Target frantically trying to find something for each of them. Something that'll they'll never use, of course.

It's the thought that counts, right?

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by AXO Alum

I remember those days! I would like to hear the music much more if a) the lite music station didn't play it beginning Nov 1st (yes, all Christmas ALL the time -- geez, give Thanksgiving a chance people!) and b) they didn't try to put a rock edge on Away in a Manger like I heard yesterday on my contemporary Christian station

We have shopped for the kid pretty much all year, so he was taken care of for the most part. I got hubby's stuff done early as well. Now I am forced to either not tell him any hints & get who-knows-what or, tell him exactly what I want & spend yet another Christmas opening every gift knowing exactly what is inside Guys - girls are NOT hard to buy for - you just don't want to put the effort into it.

Everything is wrapped but can't go under the tree because of a certain lab puppy who thinks that the tree is her indoor playhouse (yes, she tries to climb THE tree!) The cats have never bothered the tree - none of my cats have actually - but the puppy thinks its fair game. We have the bottom half bare of ornaments now after we found her pulling them off one at a time & hiding them. Beneath our bed (don't ask me how she can still get under there - she is huge!) is like a treasure trove.

Here she is half in/half out of the tree!

I wish this is what my dog would do under the tree, unfortunately she likes to poop under it

[aephi alum]

Those sweet and sour meatballs sound awesome.

I haven't done all my gift buying yet. Fortunately we don't have too many people to buy for. So far I have chocolates as a hostess gift for my mom, and... uh, that's it. I was also planning on making some cross stitch and needlepoint items as gifts... hasn't happened. In my defense, I've spent the last couple of months interviewing for a new job.

Call me Scrooge, but I cannot stand Christmas music. I don't know how the folks in retail handle the continuous loops of the same old songs. I like the hymns, but songs like "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" make me want to stick toothpicks in my ears. I <3 my iPod.

Merry Christmas... Happy Hanukkah... or as one of my mother's friends likes to say, "Happy Merry."

[nittanyalum]

If it's just a "gesture" gift, my aunt sent us these cookies from Lands End last year and they were a BIG hit -- http://www.landsend.com/pp/Peppermin...&origin=search

I also saw on another message board how to make them yourself so if you want to send more than what comes in the tin and make it more personal by decorating your own box or tin to send them in (if you're crafty), then I can send you that too. Extended family gifts are the most stressful part of the holidays!

[APhi Sailorgirl]

Whoops, let me clarify, we're looking to spend around $20 each on the 5 children.
Girl-9
2 Boys-11
1 Boy-13

This is the total of the blended family. I've attempted to hint at a secret santa type of thing, but these are the boyfriend's relatives, so I'm not going to butt in.

And please no cash, we just went through that with these kids and a big birthday party for 4 of them and it was nightmare. Let's just say I was embarrassed as a guest.

[Fawn Liebowitz]

I really loved the zoo or other family membership idea - something the whole family can enjoy together all year.

[SWTXBelle]

I like the membership idea, too. But if that won't fly - www.chinaberry.com has the most wonderful books and toys.

[nikki1920]

10.29.07: on my internet radio station, they actually played Brenda Lee's "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree"

its too freaking early for Christmas songs!!!!!