grannys gone and done it

[Granny Hatchet]

The first year that my grandma was too tired to decorate, baby bro and I went and cut a tree with a hacksaw. It was awful! We cut branches and duct taped them back into place.

But every year after that we showed up early to decorate the tree. Now we go to my aunt's. No gifts, but a big meal and then dad reads the Christmas story from the Bible and then serves communion. It's nice. Then we (the big kids and spouses) play games for cash or gift cards.

Jenga gets WAY MORE intense with cash on the line.

thats so good to hear camping. danna and mysel and a few others I am sure are at a place where our parents are gone and kids old enough to do what you do now. So tell me this, when your dad is no longer able to do do this , will you be able /want to continue it ?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Hes not a catholic pastor is he ? I dont remember

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Lily is out close to the road waving her butt in the air like she just dont care.

 

[campingshaws]

We were never home for Christmas growing up, so mom started the 12 Days of Christmas. One gift every night leading up to the 23rd or so. First night was always pjs. We stopped putting up a tree when I was 7 and I didn't have another til I put one up in college. I guess that's why it's not super important to me. Stockings, on the other hand, mean EVERYTHING to me. DH doesn't care for them do I haven't done them well in a few years. I think this year I'll try. Maybe give them to the kids in the car when we hit the road. They were always full of games and small toys when I was a kid. I like to put fruit in them, too.

DH and I do small Christmas. We open presents SEVEN times in our travels. It's fun for the kids, but stressful for us. So in addition to the stockings we only give three gifts, plus one from Santa. The gift from Santa is always open and put together, not wrapped, batteries and ready to go. This year we aren't giving gifts to each other. Allegedly. DH always cheats and gives me something. This year I'll get him a small thing or two. He believes that birthdays are when the BIG GIFTS come out. His is the end of January, so he got overlooked a lot as a kid.

 

[campingshaws]

The first year that my grandma was too tired to decorate, baby bro and I went and cut a tree with a hacksaw. It was awful! We cut branches and duct taped them back into place. But every year after that we showed up early to decorate the tree. Now we go to my aunt's. No gifts, but a big meal and then dad reads the Christmas story from the Bible and then serves communion. It's nice. Then we (the big kids and spouses) play games for cash or gift cards. Jenga gets WAY MORE intense with cash on the line.

thats so good to hear camping. danna and mysel and a few others I am sure are at a place where our parents are gone and kids old enough to do what you do now. So tell me this, when your dad is no longer able to do do this , will you be able /want to continue it ?

Hes not a catholic pastor is he ?   I dont remember

Methodist. Maybe not communion (there are rules about how it's served) if he's not there, but we can read the Christmas story. Or maybe have the kids do it. I haven't thought that far ahead yet.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I stopped stockings a couple yrs ago too. it was the best ! they kept peeking and I didnt wait to put them out . so I had to keep adding candy all month long !

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Methodist. Maybe not communion (there are rules about how it's served) if he's not there, but we can read the Christmas story. Or maybe have the kids do it. I haven't thought that far ahead yet.

I thought Methodist because thats where I was married first time . remembered that but didnt know they do communion .

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Methodist. Maybe not communion (there are rules about how it's served) if he's not there, but we can read the Christmas story. Or maybe have the kids do it. I haven't thought that far ahead yet.

see, and thats my point. the kids are old enough and decide they dont want to.

 

[campingshaws]

Methodist. Maybe not communion (there are rules about how it's served) if he's not there, but we can read the Christmas story. Or maybe have the kids do it. I haven't thought that far ahead yet.

I thought Methodist because thats where I was married first time . remembered that but didnt know they do communion .  

They do! I like Methodist communion because it's open to everyone whether you're a member or not, Methodist or not. It's open and all inclusive. The rules come into play when serving: the elements have to blessed by a Methodist pastor. But they can bless it over the phone. So during the summer we can have a pastor call and bless our elements over the phone then have communion during camp.

If we can't get it blessed, then we call it a "love feast" and eat it anyway. We either use bread and grape juice or grapes and goldfish crackers.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

not one person in my family called to wish us a happy thanksgiving and I didnt either. It will be this way come Christmas as well. I am rambling again today. But I want to let all of you know I am glad we are here. Tom was so tickled with all the happy birthdays. LOL He said, what did you do ? tell the world ? hahaa yup, I sure did honey.