Plans and Traditions for Christmas Season?

RG,

My wife and I have the extended family over for Christmas Eve...we cook a light supper and enjoy wine and eggnog. The nieces and nephews open a present; we sing a few carols, maybe watch a Christmas movie. Really good time. On Christmas morning we sleep until a reasonable hour...with no little ones around the house we don't feel the need to get up early to see what Santa brought. My sisters and mom and dad come over and I cook a special Christmas breakfast.....we have Christmas dinner around 2 or 3 that afternoon.

I spent a career in the military and missed too many Christmas' at home with my family. I cherish the time I'm able to spend now. My folks are getting on in years and we never know if this may be our last Christmas together.....

Hope everyone has a very happy and safe holiday season. Tell the people in your life that you love them.....

rangerboy

[RG_]

Very nice tradition, rb!

Originally Posted by rangerboy

I spent a career in the military...

Would I assume correctly, from your ID, that you were an Army Ranger?

[BlackVelvet007]

All I know is that I'll be with my family. I don't usually get to go "home" for Thanksgiving but I never miss Christmas at home, no matter what. I just hope no one here has to spend the day alone.

[garyspk]

RG and others,

Be on the lookout fairly soon for a video with Rangerboy (in his military uniform) spanking a very repentant Amber.

[BlackVelvet007]

YEEEE_HAA!! New Amber videos!!

[spanked~amber]

Gee, BlackVelvet-so nice to see your enthusiasim for my being spanked ! Just giving ya a hard time. Rangerboy definatly got my attention with the spanking and the uniform. I didn't have much of a choice but to be repentant, lol.

Rangerboy, your Christmas sounds special, I understand how precious it must be to be able to spend it with those you love. Blackvelvet, going home for Christmas is special too, treasure it for as long as you can.

My children are still young and they are what make Christmas so special and at times more tolerable. It's hard to get them to eat breakfast because they are too excited to see what Santa left. Here is a warning, I'm going to get sappy on you guys for a moment.
My kids are like most kids-they love to recieve. But I learned that they both have a big heart as well. Their father & I divorced several years ago. Our first Christmas with just them and myself was an adjustment for sure. I did my best to make that Christmas as special and memorable as the ones before. However, they made it much more memorable for me.
They had finished opening their gifts and suddenly the room was very quiet. My oldest who was only 5 at the time, asked "Mommy, where are your presents ?" Ruh roh. I didn't think they would even notice. He then proceeds to look under the tree and in my stocking ! The look on his face is one that I can never forget. He just could not understand why Santa had forgotten me. I tried to reassure him that my favorite part was seeing him and his sister have a fun Christmas ect. He listened and hugged me and was off to play. I'd be lying to say that I wasn't an emotional mess inside afterwards. Here's where it gets even more tear jerking. Later that evening, we were about to watch Christmas movies when I saw something under the tree. Now you all can imagine a 5 & 3 year old wrapping a present. It had at least a whole roll of tape and a bow on every empty spot available. It was the most precious thing I had ever seen. Instead of a tag it had a piece of construction paper and written in red marker(which my 3 year old had all over her hands still) was "H A V A VERRY MARY CRISMIS MOMMY, LUV CRAKER JAK ANND LADY BUGG." These are their nicknames that I have called them since before they could even crawl. I didn't even have to open it to be grinning/crying all at the same time. Of course they wanted to "help" me open it. Inside was my little girl's jewelry box. I was told to open it. I did. Inside it was my son's favorite hot wheel. I hugged them until they were both ready to run from me, lol. Then my 3 year old goes and yanks my stocking from the mantel, with her brother getting on to her for not asking for help. They had each shared their stockings complete with candy canes and chocolate Santa's. I was a proud and touched mommy that year for sure.

Amber,

Sweetie, I'm getting tears in my eyes from reading your post. There is nothing as pure as the heart of a child. You've clearly done a GREAT job of raising them.

I never had children of my own......sighhhhhh.......

BTW everyone, if you know of a young man or woman who is serving overseas this year, please try to let them know how much you appreciate their sacrafice. Whether you support the war or not...please support the troops.

Merry Christmas.

rangerboy

[RG_]

Originally Posted by spanked~amber

Here is a warning, I'm going to get sappy on you guys for a moment.

Amber, this is just an incredible story! At heart I'm a pretty sentimental person and this one really pushes that button big time.

Are you familiar with Readers Digest? You ought to send this into them, pretty much as you've written it. I betcha it would be published! It's that good.

[BlackVelvet007]

[QUOTE=spanked~amber;978]Gee, BlackVelvet-so nice to see your enthusiasim for my being spanked !


Now now you know I only rejoice about it when I'm doing it.

Seriously, though, this is a very touching story and it's so sweet to have family like that. Hope this Christmas is just as special.

Originally Posted by spanked~amber

They had each shared their stockings complete with candy canes and chocolate Santa's. I was a proud and touched mommy that year for sure.

Amber,

This was beautiful. Your story made me cry! I remember something similar after my parents divorced. Every year my mom would put something for herself under the tree from Santa until we no longer believed in Santa. I am in college and like BlackVelvet, I couldn't imagine not being home for Christmas. I didn't go home for Thanksgiving, it's not that big of a holiday for my family, but Christmas has always been important to us.

Every year for the last 5-6 we buy, prepare, and serve all the food for a Christmas party for the families and children of single parent familes. There is a non profit organization which my family was a member of until about 7 years ago when my mom finally became able to stand on her feet securely. Now it's our turn to give back to them. I didn't know it when I was little but if it wasn't for this organization, our Christmases wouldn't have been as great as they were.

Another tradition we have is that we actually make the popcorn and cranberry strands. We hand string the plain popcorn and cranberries with needle and string and they go on the tree alternating with the blue christmas lights. That's how it's always been I cannot wait for Christmas. I get to go home in a week!