I moved away from my hometown this last June and for 27 years and have spent every Christmas doing the same thing every year when I was a kid it was fun and as I got older and so did the realitives, it just got boring and not much fun for my kids. My lazy aunts, uncles and cousins never help my Grandmother with cleanup and I get stuck doing tons of dishes. We also are not included in the adult name drawing my sister and I both dont want to go this year and watch our kids get left out again.Frankly I just don't want to spend Christmas being bored out of my mind and feeling sorry that my boys didnt get anything. I have cooked all my life and can cook everything we eat at her house. But I want some fresh fun new ideas on how to spend Chirstmas with out tons of people or money. I have three boys ages 11,7 and 4.
I I love this Christmas family tradition idea... to wrap a Christmas book up, and every night of December, open one and read it as a family!:
http://granvillehouse.blogspot.com/2010/11/countdown-to-c...
I would do my own thing and create your own new tradition! Go with it! How sad and selfish of them to not help the grandmother! They only think of themselves....they'll be sorry when she's not around. You should invite Grandma to your place for a change. I would be spontaneous since it would be at your place, just call her to see if she's all by herself, if she is, then tell her that your coming by to pick her up for the day. Sneak her into your private dinner. LOL. ;-)
Take care and I hope that everything works out for you!
M.
1. Treat yourself to a meal off and order a Christmas meal from a supermarket chain. They're really quite good and not that expensive; you'll be pleasantly surprised. You'll still need to make some side dishes but for the most part, you can relax and enjoy the day. Other thought is to go with something totally different and do a pasta night or something unexpected.
2. Make a tradition out of going out and having your kids select gifts to donate for Toys for Tots. I do this every year with our kids and they really enjoy it. I give them a set amount of money and they can select whatever they want to give.
3. Just have a quiet day at home and enjoy each other's company. The past five years or so we've had no relatives here for Christmas, so it's just been us and the kids. We can spend time putting together gifts and just being together.
How about spending Christmas day in PJs, watching christmas movies, playing a new game santa brought and eating junk food all day?
Take a drive to see the Christmas lights that evening.
Have Santa set up a scavenger hunt. Spend the morning figuring out clues and finding little goodies around the house, yard etc. Do this instead of stocking stuffers! It would be fun, memorable and great way to spend the morning!
Since I have had kid, I have done a breakfast buffet / brunch on Christmas Day. Rather than being dressed up and spending my day in the kitchen, I make and prep things the night before - bread and pasteries, juice, hot choocolate, tea, coffee, mimosas, some bacon and sausage, and an egg/bread caserole (forget what it is called). I get to enjoy watching my kids open their gifts and most of the food is prepared the day before. Further, you can stay in your pajamas all day or it still can be elegant, yet easy.
If it is just your immediate family, stay home and watch movies and play games. Or go see a movie. Easy.
Now if you ahv e alittle money... take a long weekend. Open presents on Chritmas Eve, and leave on Chritmas day.
Well if you want to do something not in your home, you could try a movie theater and see if they have anything playing you'd all like to see. I believe the dollar theater is open on Christmas day, and their admission is $1.50 before 5pm I believe. You could see if any bowling alley's would be open, or another activity your family enjoys. We're planning to do something out of home that day too :)
How about everyone of you guys make ur favo thing to eat and have a lil feast!!! You can also volunteer somewhere, or go on a small road trip. The four of you guys can draw names but it has to be something you make, or draw, etc....Just remember what the Holidays are about and enjoy yourselfs!!! xo
We make our cookies for Santa on the 23rd. This year we are trying something a little new. We are having a picnic lunch at a park and then breaking a piñata. All I have to buy is the piñata since I am using left over Halloween candy :). After that we are getting together with friends and family and having a white elephant game. Everyone except for the two babies will be playing (ages 4-54). We also have our nice dinner on Christmas Eve with leftovers for Christmas Day.
If you and your sister both are not excited to go to Grandma's this year, why not you two get together at one of your houses and do Christmas just the two of your families? You two can buy gifts for each others children, and maybe you could each take your kids to buy one gift for their aunt. Even better, have the kids make something for their aunt. You could always go see Grandma on Christmas Eve and maybe you could have a christmas eve dinner with her, without all the people around. As for traditions, you could make cookies together, take the family to volunteer at a shelter, give a gift to a needy child (from an Angel tree). Michaels craft store always has good deals on holiday crafts, you could get some to make with your kids, or with your sisters family. We have no family where we are, so we spend the holidays with our friends, who also have no family here. It is fun, and less stressful than spending it with family. We decide together what we are going to make for christmas dinner, then we decide who is going to buy and make what dish, then we bring it all to their house and spend the day cooking together. Also, we have a christmas eve pajama present gathering at their house, where everyone opens a present containing pajamas that they can wear christmas morning. You just have to come up with things that interest you and your family and set your own traditions.
Do your boys like crafts? You could string popcorn for the tree, make a garland out of paper for the tree or oranges with cloves poked into them is fun to do and smells wonderful. Also, if you have cookie cutter you can make homemade clay ornaments that you bake. Very inexpensive, yet fun and something the family can do together while sipping hot chocolate and watching Christmas movies. I love to have my big meal be on Christmas Eve and then just a brunch prepared the night before with leftovers on Christmas Day. I love Christmas and want to enjoy every minute especially with my husband and kids.
I hope this helps and I hope you find some great new traditions.
