How soon does your tree go up?

[KBear]

We have turkey both days; but there is also ham and such available. I am not one of the cooks, so I don't have to do the leftover thing. I'm not really a turkey person, anyhow, I'm not a fan of white meat. And yes, I love traditions, have old one's I share with the kiddos and some new ones we started with them.
For the last 4 years, we have started taking the tree down the day after Christmas. The first year we did this, because we were about to have a baby anyday and didn't want to have to mess with it, once she was here. Then, we started doing it, so her birthday would be completely seperate from Christmas and celebrated so. Since she is the 29th of December (right smack in between Christmas and New Years) we always take it down right away and get ready for her birthday. We have a seperate birthday party and clebration, to make her day special. I had heard so many horror stories of people with birthdays around Christmas (I have lots of family and friends with Christmas birthdays, Dec. 6, 13, 15, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, & 31), that I go all out to make it special for her.

[Cindylou]

Kathy, which one of your girls has the December 29th birthday? That is my middle son's birthday too! Our tree isn't usually down till after New Year's, but I do make sure we never wrap any of his presents in Christmas paper! I have to say I do like your idea tho, of getting the tree completely gone for the birthday party.

My boys (and wives and baby of course) are all flying to Dallas the day after Christmas to see their Dad and his side of the family. Very short trip tho, as they all fly back evening of the 28th, the day before Micah's birthday. So maybe I will try your idea while they are all out of town and get the tree down. Of course, my Mother will still be visiting from Dallas, but I can put her to work! ha! That'll happen.

[Katie]

We'll be having two Christmas dinners, sort of like you down there who have Thanksgiving and Christmas close together. My oldest daughter & SIL go to the Maritimes to be with his parents for the Big Day, and then come back here a few days later, where we have another one with them. They are the only family we have nearby, so it's worth the effort, plus it's fun opening prezzies a second time

Wow, we really stuff a lot into just a few days for this, don't we?! I often wish we could spread it out over the year more. We often need a holiday to recover from all the celebrating. It's only going to get more hectic when the grand daughter arrives...no complaints of course!

I'm not much of a shopper, but I'm starting to get into the swing of things even since her arrival was announced, and even more so when I found out it was a girl last week Kathy, now I understand why you think this is so much fun

[Cindylou]

Katie, I'm dying to hear how your Christmas party went Saturday night! And how you held up? Details, details, please.

[KBear]

CL- how cool, we both had babies on the same day. It was Ava, the youngest that was born on the 29th, of 2005. I was due on the 27th and was terrified she would be born on Christmas Day. The dr was going to induce me on the 20th; but the hospital was full and would not take me, since it was an elective induction. On the 29th, I was induced. They kept asking if it was elective, and I was like, if you don't get this baby out, it isn't going to come out. I had went from a 0 zero station and regressed to a -1 station and was only a 'fingertip' dialated. They thought I would need a c-section, as they guessed her at 9lbs. She was born vaginally 10 hours later and was 8 lbs 13 oz.

I think your son would love the tree down and a seperate birthday celebration, show him that everyone remembers and wants to honor his birthday.

[KBear]

Katie- You think the shopping for a girl is bad now, just wait till she gets here and you see a cute outfit and think of how cute she would be in it, then you have to buy it! My kids have so many clothes, because girls are so fun to shop for. I love all the cute outfits, dresses, tights, hair bows, etc. I will have to teach you and CL how to make hair bows when we come up in the Spring. It is real easy and so addictive, all the cute ribbons and such. I also have a PDF of instructions on how to make several different styles of bows. If anyone wants these, just pm me your email address and I will send them to you.

[Terry Newton]

No need for a tree or any decorations. Nothing to put up, nothing to take down. We leave next Thursday to go to the Land of 10,000 treatment centers and a couple of stagnant ponds: Minnesota! YEAH! We are spending the time with Elizabeth's parents and they go all out with decorating. Elizabeth is one of 10 kids and there are 50 of us when we get together for Christmas time. Mom buys presents for everyone so the tree is loaded with presents underneath. The lights are all over the tree and outside the house as well. I look forward to this excursion every year. Taking 12 days off and selling 8 days back to the company plus receiving my annual Christmas bonus gives us plenty of play money. We are psyched because we worked our butts off this year. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. My well pump went out, my pond pump went out, my roof needed to be replaced, my front deck was replaced in Trex, The printer went out, the computer ended up in the shop. The only thing that we had no problems with was vehicles because both of them are new and newer.

I need my annual mental health time. I have a trip to Lansing for legislative planning, a board meeting Tuesday, Rotary Board and Club Assembly Wednesday, leave Thursday.

I hope all of you have a Merry Christmas or happy Holidays depending on what you celebrate.

[Nairek]

Our tree isn't up yet. Usually we manage to put it up a week before Christmas. Not sure if we are even going to put it up this year though.