We had a few inches of snow on the 24th, but temperatures hadn't fallen as far as they have now. (Exactly Zero on our home thermometer this morning). I expect your weather is similar to ours, Marilyn Sue -- maybe more snow?

We had a 40-minute drive on Christmas Eve to share dinner with our DS, DIL, DGS, DGD and two others at the beautiful home of our DIL's parents in the city. We shared a traditional Polish "Vigil" dinner: A meatless meal, then coffee and cookies, and, prodded by DGD, presents for the children. DGS made the traditional Polish mushroom soup -- a long process of reconstituting dried mushrooms, washing them over and over, making broth, etc. We had a longer drive home because blowing snow and slush made visibility difficult.

Christmas was 'recovery'. A quiet day at home. We had had our DS and family here Saturday morning for brunch and had given them their presents then. DGS made two kinds of quiche; he LOVES to cook! DGD, who will be seven early next year, wanted to know how we knew she wanted a Razor scooter. I said Santa had passed the word. (She'd seen him last week.) I doubt that innocence will last another year.

Nice but stressful. My older daughter was supposed to arrive at 11:30 at night on the 23rd, but got delayed in Atlanta. So she arrived at 3:30 in the morning at the airport. Christmas Eve we opened a couple of gifts here at home, then went to the in-laws to meet up with the rest of the family for dinner and presents. After we got home we stayed up until 2 to open the rest of ours.

Last night the whole family came over to our house for cookies and game night. We got some charade game that involves a rubber chicken for Christmas, so we played that. It was a lot of fun. My nephew is 6 now, so for the first time he was really able to participate.

We had a really nice Christmas. Our oldest daughter hosted the family this year. Our 3 kids have taken over having it and giving us a break. They all 3 have much bigger homes and with the 8 grandkids it is nice. We always get together on Christmas Eve mid day. Then we go to each of the kids homes to see what Santa brought each of them. Started out for breakfast at our youngest daughters, then our oldest daughter mid day and supper at our sons. Finally made it home around 6. Great days but very tiring for us old folks!!

This is the first year I didn't have anyone over. We celebrated Christmas eve at my DD's house. We snuck the presents in the cellar while the kids were playing in their room. What an enjoyable day we had. No stress. My DD doesn't drive, so I would have had to pick her and the kids up, and bring them back after dinner. That's a little over 60 miles round trip. This way was sooo much better. The kids got to open their gifts Christmas morning and could enjoy them all day. Plus they had the left overs to enjoy. My DH and I had a very quiet and enjoyable Christmas day doing nothing. Loved it. We are going to do this every Christmas, god willing.

I certainly did thank you. I went to five different parties plus one fund raiser for children and then to my granddaughter's for Christmas eve and my son's for Christmas. I'm exhausted, not even dressed and don't plan to do so, lol. Today is vegging day.

Christmas was the culmination of three days of gift wrapping and two days of meal prep and cooking for me so I’m exhausted today. I have an upper respiratory infection so I’m rather miserable. I have to find some energy somewhere because clean-up awaits.

Throwing a "No" in here. My neighbor lady and I were supposed to go for Chinese food at 4pm. Well, at my house, it was nice and sunny all day so picked her up at 4 and when we got to the restaurant, about 20 miles away, it was like a blizzard and we couldn't even see across the road! Drove in the parking lot, not one car there ,sat a couple minutes and decided to head home before it got to our area. The car did a little fish tail action at the stop light so if I had any doubts about going to the other Chinese restaurant, that put a damper on it! Lol. Got back home and no storm at all but glad to be home and make a sandwich! :-). Thus, my Christmas story for this year!

It was a pretty good holiday. My son has been saving for a long time to buy my gift. He managed to get it up to the counter and checked out without me seeing it. As we walked out, they wanted us to stop to show the receipt, but when I said do you mean me or him, they said “for the sewing machine”. Poor kid! He tried so hard. He’ll live.

:)

It was...interesting. My sister was hosting a late lunch and originally asked me to cook for it but then decided to do it herself. Sweet, I thought, all I have to do is show up and eat. Well, she texted me and asked me to make a pan of Mac and cheese. Fine. It was supposed to start at 2. I arrived at 2,to find that she had gotten the food done early,and everyone else had gotten there early, and all the food was gone. I should have known,she never makes enough food. So I ate some Mac and cheese and a cookie,stayed for a couple hours and left to go home. She had taken all the rest of the Mac and cheese out if my baking dish "so she can eat it later" and washed the dish for me. I got home and watched some of my favorite Christmas movies,and lamented the fact that it's time to deflate the 20 foot snowman and put him away. :( I have had better Christmases, and have definitely had worse. Now that it's over I'm sad. It's my favorite season of the year. I was distressed when i turned on the radio and they has stopped the Christmas music. Sigh.

My mom is having her Christmas party on the 30th,so it's not over yet. I AM cooking everything for that one. I'm sure the kiddies in the family will be thrilled to have another Christmas party.

Not the greatest one ever since I was missing one kid who had the surprise secret wedding on Thursday and was honeymooning on a beach in Florida. Everyone else was very sick with colds so I expect to be dead in three days. Other than that, and being around screaming rowdy little kids for hours, I was glad today to recuperate and wait for my cold which I have not have for probably eight years.

Yes, my Christmas was good! Different, but GOOD! A grandson hosted (almost 300 mi, round trip) Christmas Eve dinner. We also had the gift opening then, for all the family that was there. It was the perfect time for me to get to know his two daughters a little better (one is still a toddler, so I haven't been around her much.). Got back home fairly late, exhausted but happy. I spent yesterday afternoon & early evening at the son's who lives here in this town. So got to see the rest of the family, had a nice meal, & enjoyed watching those who weren't able to come the night before, open their presents. It is still strange to me, not doing all the cooking, etc. For what seems like many years, we had both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day here at our house. But as the kids grew, went out on their own, married, had kids of their own, things changed, as they should. Then when the grandkids married, and great grans started coming, more changes came about. But, it's all good!

Rusty

We had a very good Christmas. On Christmas Eve, two of three daughters and their families came to my house for our traditional seafood feast. DH and I prepare and serve clams, mussels, crab, shrimp, scallops, calamari, and scunguilli followed by lobster sauce with lobster claws over linguini, and steamed lobster tails. It is an all day affair. The kids also opened some of their presents.

Marilyn Sue, I made your strawberry daquiri punch. It was a hit with the grandchildren, but everyone loved it.

On Christmas Day, DH and I went to DD3's home at 9:00, opened presents, then we headed across county to have dinner and visit with my MIL at her assisted living. At 2:00, we took a 30 minute break at home before going to DD1 home for presents and dinner. Later DD3 joined us there after her in-laws left her house. DH and I got home about 9:00. Everyone was happy and excited about their gifts and spending time together, but missed DD2 who lives in NC and is just settling in to a new home she totally renovated. I will go there soon, probably sometime this week.

DH and I exchanged gifts this morning. I decided to put away Christmas this morning instead of just cleaning around it. I did leave the holly. It has been a fun and loving whirlwind. DH, who said he was gong up to take a shower, has been napping for the last two hours. I am enjoying the quiet.

I hope all those feeling colds coming on can avert them.

Mamapinky, I was thinking about you this week and glad you had a good Christmas.

Happy I am glad you like the punch recipe. We will probably have one or the other for New Year's Eve. We always have a cook out. Looking forward to it after I have a day of rest, ha, ha! We will not stay up till midnight!

Sue

Rest? what's that?

Amylou, I'm sorry your day did not go as planned. I think it was you who shared the hot spinach/artichoke dip? I made it for Christmas Eve's for my DD's. They loved it. Looks like it will be one of the favorites in rotation.

Our Christmas Eve was quiet. My two DD's came home, we had pizza for dinner.

For Christmas, my husband sister comes up with her BF. I was grateful that there was no tension, no drama, everyone was happy with their kids, and all is right with the world!

It could have not been better! All of my kids and families were here for dinner on Saturday, followed by our gift exchange and Saran Wrap game, then late desserts. I was so thankful that everyone was well and no icy roads for them to travel..and they all got back to their own homes safely.

Sunday morning, I went to church services and back again for a beautiful candlelight Christmas Eve service in the evening. On my way back to my house, I drove around and admired the beautiful decorations in our little town.

Christmas Day was my children’s turn to be with their in-law’s families, but my first husband’s gracious family invited me to join them for Christmas Church Service and for a bountiful meal...again playing the SW game and lots of laughter as we remembered and shared times past.

Family and laughter....that is what makes Christmas special to me!

Mama pinky, I love your attitude and glad all worked out for you...now have yourself a wonderful 2018!

Ours was quiet and unstressful. Christmas Eve was spent with our oldest friends and their now grown kids. A light supper at their house, then candlelight service at their church. A visit back at their house after. We think we've done this with them for 31 years. We missed one year.

Christmas breakfast was at the home of my "sister" and her mom. Her Mom was my Dad's SO for 11 years until his death in 2013. They have remained unofficial family, and we are keeping the tradition of Christmas breakfast. One of her neighbors joined us.

Back home for a few hours to finish some ill-fated cooking, then dinner with DH's family. It's always loud and raucous and I love it. Some of us are gathering again tonight for leftovers.

Just a couple of gifts to put away, no leftovers to bring home, I didn't decorate the house so nothing to do there. I spent an hour or two this morning cleaning up the wreckage in my kitchen. Now it is back to being Tuesday. Ahhhh.

Had hoped to spend the day with my sister in a nursing home in Erie. Erie weather conditions decided otherwise. So I am a little bummed out thinking that sister was alone for Christmas.

Today we will have our Christmas dinner and gift exchange with daughter and the granddogs. Planning on keeping it simple with pizza and salad, plus cookies and nut breads with coffee later. This is also a day of rememberance as it would have been younger daughters 57 birthday. But we will do our best to enjoy the day.

We had a very bad wind storm on Christmas Day - no snow but 65-75 mph winds. We were without power until very late. A big tree came down in our backyard. Lots of trees down around our town. So we had a dark and cold Christmas.

We celebrate with my DD and her DH on the Eve and it was really lovely. The speghetti sauce I had made the day before was a hit and not having a huge meal to cook or mess afterwards allowed me to enjoy a stress free day too. The icing on the cake was that it was just my DH and I on Christmas day with nothing on the to do list but relax.

OMG Seagrass, I just saw your post, that must have been pretty scary! I hope no one was hurt.

Well, we have not had our family gathering yet......will be New Years Eve day. DD about two hours away was going to come pick me up to spend the weekend with them, but the forecast was for -20º and we didn't want to be out on the road at those temps. So we decided to just stay home, but DD who lives a bit closer called that she was going to be going through here on Christmas day on her way to pick up her grandkids so would come the afternoon before in order to spend Christmas Eve with me. We had a nice supper, watched some old Christmas movies, had a glass of wine or two, and went to bed at a decent time! It was a very nice evening.

It was good. We gathered around my (new, larger) dining room table, all 8 of us in our immediate family, for a lasagna dinner that DS2's fiance prepared in my kitchen. She loves to cook and I don't - so that was perfect! Santa was generous with both our sons' families this year and they were touched - hard to do sometimes for adult children.

We were especially thankful that we were all here at the table this year - DH suffered very serious health issues last spring; we literally lost him twice but medical professionals were able to bring him back from the brink. He is doing well now.

Today, as usual on the day after Christmas, I'm sincerely glad it's all over. My favorite day of the holiday season is December 26! Too much hype, stress, expense. It's bitterly cold here in the midwest and I have no where to go and nothing to do for the next couple of days but stay inside under my favorite quilt with my laptop and the remote.

marylmi,

Yes, the Chinese Thai place in Oscoda is closed for Sundays and holidays.

We went to East Tawas for our Chinese, it was about 4pm and not a bad drive. But because of the high winds there was snow over the roads in places. DH is a good driver.

Mama's in Oscoda was open on Christmas day. Not where I would want to go for Christmas dinner tho.

Kathy G in MI

Eh, not good not bad. I like Christmas, esp. all the trappings of lights, tree, etc. But for the first time I actually felt a little blue on Christmas Day, can't really put m finger on why. Reality is different than expectations usually.

Had dinner with brother and family on Christmas Eve, dinner with friend and neighbor Christmas Day. Three of the neighbors and I will meet for a holiday meal sometime in January. The home where we have the meal rotates every year.

So-so. My son did not come home from Berlin, so missing him. My daughter is here with her "boyfriend", a 38 year old man-child whom I rather intensely dislike. For so many reasons, perhaps I'll elaborate later. Just gritting my teeth until he's out of my house.

Ours was quiet Christmas morning,and picked up considerably once DS and all of his family,of which there are 6 in total,plus huge dog,showed up Boxing Day.

Good time had by all.....lots of good food,fun games,family time-the only bad/sad thing was the 2 yr old is sick with some sort of cold/cough/fever...so that poor little one wasn't having as much fun as she usually would.

Everyone was trapped inside this holiday, as this bitter cold wave passes thru here-this a.m. when hubs left for work,the temp. was at -35F...COLD!!!

They've left now,and Granny is decompressing.

Feel for ya,sleeperblues-been there,did that..DD finally grew some sense and kicked him to the curb.

Kathyg_in_mi

there are three Chinese restaurants in town but I didn't check the other two. The one we went to was supposed to be open and I think it was but no customers at that time. Love Chinese food. I like the one in Tawas too. Have a safe trip to Florida!

Make sure you have some Chinese dumplings on New Year’s Eve and New Years Day for good luck. I can’t remember which one is right, so I have been having dumplings on both days. Lol

ont-gal, here's hoping. But she's in "love", ugh. Glad your DD got smart, though!

Mine not so good. My kids didn't come home. On Friday I woke up a 3 in the morning with a head cold. Saturday we went to Bismarck and all I did was lay around. I didn't go to church and that is the most important thing to me. Christmas eve we got together at DBIL garage. That part was okay. Christmas Day another day of laying around. We came home on Tuesday. Our pipes were froze. It didn't take long to thaw them out though. Tomorrow DH has a doctor appointment for his foot that has been bothering him,

so sorry, bengardening.

Ty happy. I think what helped the head cold was the concoction of a tablespoon of Apple Cider vinegar and a tablespoon of honey that I drank. My nephew told me it would take care of it. My DH doctor told him it was a pulled tendon and he gave him a cortisone shot and some new insoles.

I drink Honey water with apple cider vinegar every night! I put in more honey though. :-) This is a Canadian way to keep cold away.

We've been in a whirlwind of activity so I am finally getting a moment to reply. I had to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but at least only 8 hours on the 25th. We had brunch that we cooked at son and daughter in law's home on Christmas morning, the twins were so excited that they forgot to fight :-) Husband grilled rib eye's and lobster tail for our evening meal.

We drove to OKC on the 26th to see daughter and son in law and the other 3 grandsons. The littlest celebrated his first birthday that day but was sick with fever so didn't much feel like celebrating. He's doing much better today and they just delayed the smash cake decorated like a snowman's head until he felt better. We've currently got our 10 year old grandson with us, we hand him off to his other Grandma tomorrow. We've spent the past two days shopping for new clothes for him, going to see the new Star Wars movie and helping him master his new roller blades plus cooking him everything he wants to eat! We've had smores a couple of times. A totally wonderful time!

I'm glad that so many of you had a memorable and happy holiday. For those that had days that didn't work out, I hope that next Christmas is better for you.

'Had a good Christmas. Both my boys ( actually, they are grown men) came for a buffet luncheon. The younger one who came from a town 60 miles away stayed overnight and the next day., We had a nice phone chat with my daughter who lives about 800 miles away. For us at this stage in our lives, this was a good Christmas.

We had a white Christmas but now I've had a sore throat for 4 days. Ugh!

I had a very nice Christmas at my oldest brother and his SO's house. My younger brother was there as well with my niece and 3 other people. The dinner was wonderful, roast pork, root vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy, brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce, apple sauce, salad if you wanted. I was so happy not to have turkey. I made a huge raspberry and custard trifle and butter tarts for dessert. We played a few games of Left, Right and Center after. I wasn't expecting any gifts at all but was really surprised with a money card from my younger brother and my older brother gave me a loaded Android Box which I was really surprised to get. I have wanted one for a long time. A few days later I tried to hook it up to the small 20 inch flat screen someone had given me a few months before but there was no way to connect the box to it and then I had hoped I could use it somehow on my laptop to watch the programming but there was no port. I still haven't been able to afford to hook up my new washer and dryer so there is no way I can afford to get a new tv so I am going to give the gift back to my brother to send back, I know they are going to be as disappointed as I was. I had another good friend die unexpectedly just before Christmas and the funeral was yesterday so that weighed heavy in my thoughts on Christmas but I made the best of it. Next Christmas will be different and I plan to go all out on decorating and having guests over again.

I had a very good but very busy Christmas. Ours started the weekend before Christmas and lasted until Christmas Day. We are season pass holders to Busch Gardens and Sea World so the Sat before Christmas we went to Sea World and saw their Christmas display and show, the next day we went to Trans Siberian Orchestra concert where we had great floor seats. (this is a yearly tradition, been seeing them for 15 years now) That morning I felt like I was coming down with something and sure enough during the concert I really started feeling bad which made it hard to enjoy the last half of the concert. It took everything I had not to be ill during the concert but on the way out of the concert hall I just could not take it and had to run to the nearest restroom. I was soooo sick, even though I don't drink I bet people thought I had had to much to drink at the concert when I ran to the rest room.

My sons birthday was also the week of Christmas and even though I was really not feeling well I cooked his birthday dinner as I do every year. He wanted a Mexican Fiesta so I made Tacos, Fajitas, homemade pico de gallo and all the fixings. He really enjoyed and appreciated it. This was his 30th Birthday so no matter how bad I felt I wanted to make sure we celebrated it.

I took Tuesday and Wed and kinda moped and thought I recovered a bit then I started working on our Christmas desserts. I made Lemon Meringue pie for my dad, Banana Cream Pie for my son and 2 Cobblers one peach and one cherry. Sat night we went to Busch Gardens for their Christmas Town and enjoyed their Christmas display and then Sunday on Christmas eve we celebrated our Christmas with dinner and gifts. I made a Spiral Ham, Scalloped potatoes, my sons favorite butter and onion potatoes, roasted squash, cauliflower and roasted some green beans for those of use who are trying to eat low carb. Christmas morning we were all up by 6 am and on our way to Orlando for our new Christmas tradition since moving back to Florida, spending the day at Universal Studios. So much fun!!

Tuesday was a sad day as we had to go pick up my room mates mothers ashes and unfortunately what ever bug I had been fighting kicked in with a vengeance, I was in bed at 8pm and didn't get up until Wed morning at 9am. Of course everyone decided before I got sick that this year would be a great year to have a New Year's Eve party so for the past couple of days I have been shampooing carpets sick as a dog with my new rug shampooer I bought myself for Christmas. Up until yesterday my illness was stomach related and then yesterday morning I woke up with a darn cough, sore throat and runny nose on top of everything else. Today I am trying to finish cleaning and tomorrow I will get all the cooking done for tomorrow night and Monday and Tuesday I can finally rest an allow myself to be sick. I think I have ran myself so ragged and I have issues with my immune system anyways that my body is just telling me to rest, finally.

Thumps up for your attitude! Don't know if I would be able to call it "very good" feeling like you did. Hope you are feeling better, soon.

I had a marvelous Christmas but I'm almost sorry to say so when so many seemed to have either an under the weather one (both figuratively and literally) or just a so-so one.

A very generous nephew hosted the entirely family to a Christmas week in Mexico and so not only did we have the entire extended family present but we all enjoyed ourselves immensely in the warmth and sun. We started the day with Christmas stockings for all the littles (10 under 15), had our annual "talentless pageant", which was a hoot, then spent the afternoon lounging by the pool. We met again later that evening for a private Mexican fiesta dinner on the beach, complete with Mariachi band. And lots of liquid refreshments :-)) It was a day we will all long remember!!

The day after Christmas, we all went to a Mexican theme park (known as "Mexican Disneyland") and spent the day playing. My daughter's birthday was the 28th so I treated her to an early B'day present - a wild boat ride known as the 'adrenaline' ride ("Adrenalina"): very high speeds, tight, 360 degree circles and "immersions" - pauses that causes waves to cascade over the boat, completely drenching all the occupants! It was the most fun this old lady has had in years!! I was easily the oldest one on board :-)) Didn't hurt that the sea water that drenched us was as warm as a bathtub.

Great trip, great fun, great memories!!

WOW, gardengal, so exciting...and what a generous nephew!

Being sick over the holidays is a bummer. We do push ourselves. In past years, I usually end up with a sore wrist or back from wrapping and cooking that hits after Christmas. This year I paced myself better and so far so good. Luckily all the bigs and littles came through okay too, except for one grandson who had a major nosebleed, but he is okay now.

Gardengal, that sounds like fun -- what memories you and your family made this week. Your nephew must be smart and well-grounded, as well as generous!

My Christmas was nice but kind of blah, to be honest. Good points: our tree was beautiful, the presents were appropriate and fun to open, dinner was good but standard fare. The bad: desserts were dry and unappetizing (my own cookies included), weather turned too cold enjoy any outdoor time, and as a confirmed introvert I haven't had enough "alone time" in weeks.

Yes, my nephew is pretty remarkable. Nothing gives him greater pleasure than to share his good fortune with his extended family and friends, often very spontaneously. But he spent all year planning this trip and it was a doozy :-) We are blessed by his generosity and his wherewithal to accomplish such a feat.

He and the rest of his family (he is a nephew by marriage) are very philanthropic as well. I really respect that they like to (and also feel the need to) share their financial good fortune with others who have a greater need.

We had a very quiet Christmas, just my husband and I and my parents. (and our sweet pup Finley!) I would have loved to be home where we had snow, friends and festivities etc, but we are in Arizona helping care for my elderly parents. Somehow-sunshine, 75 and cactus just seem wrong at Christmas! The one thing that I keep reminding myself: I'm so thankful that I still have them with me, and count myself lucky to still have wonderful, generous and loving parents at my age.