Holidays over?

[Debbyo]

We usually put our tree up and decorate the house to the max by the weekend of our anniversary (Nov 21)...but this year we were frantically doing all this in Dec since we had just arrived back from our European cruise. Christmas was wonderful but so much work with 20 for dinner Christmas day and the house full of our kids and grandchildren overnight. I think the highlight for me was presenting my 20 minute photo story that I worked on for the week before. I dug up some wonderful old photos of the family at Christmas over the years and combined them with some more recent pics and some fabulous Xmas music. The scanning of the old photos took me 2 long sessions at the local camera store, but worth it all...and something I wanted to get done anyways. I ended the funny and endearing photos with a tribute to my Mother (she passed away 4 years ago at Christmas time) over Christmases gone by and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. But each of my kids and siblings were very touched and thanked me for doing that for them all. It was a great gift to give them and I'm so glad I did it. Then we had to clean up quick for the next set of visitors and once again for the cleaning lady! Now we plan to spend a quiet evening with good friends on New Year's Eve-a wonderful dinner, good wine and laughs...maybe a card game and then watch the ball drop. The champagne is in the fridge for 12 midnite and then also for a late brunch the next morning with some orange juice. I know that as soon as my guests leave in the afternoon, we'll tear down the decorations and get "our home" back. It's a wild time of the year, but I love to have these good memories.

[Shannamay]

Well, like Sam in S.Africa, and Donna in N.Zealand, I'm in the middle of Summer holidays here in Perth W.Australia. Sooooo no work till the first week of Feb - I'm a teacher too. Well, no going in to work - got planning etc to do for next year and should stop procrastinating and just get. it. done. I've had my DD and her husband here from Sydney for a couple of days and I'm looking forward to a week away in mid Jan with Claire. We've just had a couple of 40 degree days but tomorrow should be much cooler with light showers - bliss!

[sawdust]

This is a great thread! We leave our decorations up 'till Epiphany (January 6th). And we really like to celebrate Christmas from the 25th to the 6th. It bothers me that most churches stop singing Christmas music after Christmas day!! There is advent music and Christmas music and you should sing them at the right time! Just picky me talking!!

I was off Thursday the 24th and back Monday the 28th. Same for the New Year's weekend. We Americans just don't know how to celebrate things very well if you ask me.

Why is it we girls HATE to get dressed??? LOL We all love sitting in PJs at the computer and/or potting around the house??? Well, most do anyway. That is my favorite thing when I am off. A moomoo (lounger) LOL is considered full dress, too!! LOL What a way to relax!

[shhbabymine]

We are on holiday til the kids go back to school jan 6th - my dh took off the whole time too - didnt plan a winter vacation and am enjoying being home, planned our week around having friends over and outings with friends too. tree went up thanksgiving week (before the company came) and wont come down til I have played with Katrina's tutorial some more (LOL).... usually Jan 2nd. New Years eve is fun around here - we pull out our notes from the year before and over a nice dinner we talk about the new year, etc and begin writting our notes for the next year.. we play board games and wait til midnight to set off some small fireworks.... New Years day we start with the same breakfast every year -eggs benedict, champaigne (mimosas) and then black eyed peas and ham for an early dinner - just love it all -everything about this time of year!