wanderingback , liked your post for the family time, not the plastic. We don't have a ton of space either, and when A was little I used to just donate about half of the stuff she got because it was all too much.
Yeah I’m trying to figure out how to navigate this re: donating. We have a very active buy nothing group in my neighborhood so I know stuff could go to good use. Her birthday was last month and my cousin got her this big music/piano table and just the other day my mom was like did you set up the music table yet?!? I guess I’m just gonna have to be honest.
We had a difficult time at that age with my MIL buying huge gifts for Kid 1 that we had no room to store. H finally told her that anything bigger than a shoebox would be automatically donated, and thankfully she stopped. I know not every family member/family dynamic would be that easy to address, but it's an approach that worked for us.
Post by wanderingback on Dec 26, 2023 13:11:31 GMT -5
Oh yeah, also today my partner and I have been together for 9 years! Obviously things aren’t perfect but our relationship is so easy. Just the other day we were reflecting on my 5 months of maternity leave and how we spent 24/7 together with our new tiny human and it was so a wonderful and peaceful time and how well we navigated that.
I love how we both get each other and have maintained our independence while being a strong team and supporters of each other.
Post by cricketwife on Dec 26, 2023 13:35:02 GMT -5
It’s pouring here. We went to Top Golf this morning which was a great rainy day activity except that DS1 is just a miserable loser. Kids are now on screens and/or playing and I think I’m going to work on helping them find places to put away their Christmas gifts. I’ve got my monthly dinner with a friend tonight and it’s so nice when it falls on a day when we aren’t working.
We had a lovely day with lots of family. My grandma is 106 and we got some lovely pics. My aunt cried cause everyone was together, that was sweet.
But I’m definitely a Scrooge As mentioned before me and my partner don’t do gifts, but of course people are gonna get our daughter stuff. I guess it wasn’t too too too bad but just all the trash and waste and plastic that just made me sad. Like just her stuff was 3 trash bags of wrapping paper and bags. Our apartment only has but so much space. I guess it’s just once a year so I’m gonna have to get over it but for some reason seeing all the trash and waste just really got to me.
H and I said the same thing about waste. I’m looking into reusable bags and fabric. My plan is to start slowly incorporating them into gift giving holidays. The current rolls of paper are starting to dwindle already.
Post by maudefindlay on Dec 26, 2023 13:57:24 GMT -5
We are all home after two days of family gatherings. FIL delivered straight from his oven homemade cinnamon rolls to us this AM. A late takeout lunch and I'm going to run into the bank and deposit all the kids' money.
Yesterday at my parent's was fun, but my brother was on his son (age 13) so much. He has really loosened up over the past few years, so this was unexpected. As soon as we got in the car to leave the kids all started talking about it, so it definitely made us all uncomfortable. Nephew is on the spectrum and I know there are social skills he has to be taught in a more overt way than my kids, but damn Dude it's Christmas. My parents gave all the grandkids $150 in 20s and 10s. That's exciting for them to open and see all those bills. Nephew was a few levels more excited than the others, but to me just added to the joy and my brother made him shut the card and calm down. He wanted to count the money and tried again later and got in trouble. Then DH and I played a game with all the kids and my brother stood there the entire game quizzing Nephew on what to do and why and critiquing. Like, go sit down, jeez.
Today is my daughter’s (fifth) birthday. We are avoiding indoor play areas since we leave for a trip in a couple of days and all of her friends are out of town. I am having to dig really deep here to play dolls and do endless crafts and kid board games and puzzles with her when in really want to lounge and watch movies and clean my house. I am spiritually drained, but trying to make this a fun day for her. Luckily we had a birthday party for her a few weeks ago.
We had an ok Christmas, my DS1 had a huge meltdown over Santa and friendship stuff at midnight Christmas Eve, and I was sad for him, so that kind of put a damper on things. There’s also been ongoing family drama which made gatherings kind of awkward. I ended up taking the tree down mid morning yesterday because it was incredibly dry, and took down all the other decorations this morning, so it really feels like Christmas is over. Now the kids and I are off until next Tuesday and looking forward to some relaxing immediate family only time!
I dropped DS and DH off early at the train station to go up to ILs in Illinois for two days and then I'll take the train up and grab DS at the station there and head up to Chicago for a few days with BFF. I was up early so I hit several stores for after Christmas stuff.
We were basically totally out of wrapping paper this year, so I got 9 rolls at Target, gift tags at Home Goods, tissue paper, three rolls of ribbon and a huge pack of tissue paper at Sams and a gift bag/gift tag thing at Sams, plus some blank cards for teacher notes and so we should be good for three years or more. I also got a skirt for the pencil tree in our dining room and a new tree collar for the tree we put up this year in our loft.I also got some clothes while I was at Sams, because I'm 45 and I shop there now apparently. They have some sort of partnership with the GAP and all that was on clearance. I was rather excited that I seem to have graduated to smalls - in Sam's sizing anyway - because mediums are too big. I threw on an old pair of size 12 skinny jeans today and they look oversized and are falling off. (I wore them anyway.)
H and I said the same thing about waste. I’m looking into reusable bags and fabric. My plan is to start slowly incorporating them into gift giving holidays. The current rolls of paper are starting to dwindle already.
We use the same set of gift bags I bought back in college twenty years ago! I save any tissue paper we get in packages throughout the year and when it gets too crumbled, we recycle it.
I had been thinking about switching to fabric bags—a friend made some out of thrifted Christmas pillow cases and sheets a few years ago that look cute but the paper ones are still going strong. I’m starting to think I’ll have them another 20 years lol
In the last 24 hours I purchased tickets to Australia for my mom and I and officially accepted a 3 month assignment for work in Alabama.
We’re going to be gone 2 weeks and need to figure out hotels and a flight between cities. My mom is excited because Virgin is one of the airlines and she really wants to fly them.
Post by turkletsmom on Dec 26, 2023 15:51:31 GMT -5
We had a good, quiet Christmas. We are traveling to my sister's in GA tomorrow for the rest of the week so I've been prepping for that all day today. We're going to do some touristy things while we are there and it will be nice to have a mini-vacation and hang with them.
The rest of the family left this morning at 10 am for a few days. I love this time to myself at home but this year it coincides with two of our busiest days at work every year. So I won't get a chance to have some lunches/dinners with my friends. One of our employees just texted she has a stomach bug which sucks if she can't come in tomorrow because we're already running short staffed. I am still sore and tired from the past few days and this isn't going to get better since it sounds like I'll have to overexert myself at work to get through at least tomorrow. I'm finally fully awake for the day and need to be productive for at least a few hours.
Post by followyourarrow on Dec 26, 2023 15:53:38 GMT -5
I'm working today. Christmas felt a little strained. There's something going on with my sister, but I don't know what, she hasn't told me and I haven't had the right opportunity to ask where she won't feel attacked. My mom is getting more and more difficult, or maybe I'm losing patience. She won't let anyone open a present without cleaning up the paper, and making it a whole thing. The nephews (2 & 4) decorated sugar cookies with sprinkles, and my mom kept telling them they were doing it wrong and fixing it for them, she also tells them they are playing with toys wrong. I said something to her, and she just said she always did it to us. Yep, and now I feel like I never do anything good enough.
Here's one for you. A duck night light from my brother.
I actually got these for my twins as a gag gift that I knew they would get a kick out of and they LOVE them. Did your come With random bath duck figures and accessories, too? That were not mentioned in the purchase. Ha
It’s weird that Boxing Day never became a thing here in the US. I guess since it’s not a day off for everyone? We don’t get good Christmas specials either. Seems like a missed opportunity!
Post by mysteriouswife on Dec 26, 2023 16:28:06 GMT -5
SIL went to an event in Oct. we were taking a selfie when the stage lights came on and shined towards us. It was possibly the worst photo either of us have taken. My head is thrown back giving me multiple chins. Her face is scrunched beyond recognition. She is purple and I’m bright white. I printed 6 and bought magnetic frames. I took them around to my holiday events placing them on fridges waiting on someone to find them. SIL put on on my brother’s toolbox. She just sent me a picture of him standing beside it without noticing it. I’m belly laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.
FTR no one in my house has noticed and it’s been 4 days
It's a sinus infection, and the right prescriptions have been picked up. I took all of the decorations down except the ceramic Christmas tree and my card tree. Both will stay up til the first weekend in Jan. Now I'm going to take a nap.
Post by 1confused1 on Dec 26, 2023 16:49:57 GMT -5
We had such a nice and mellow day yesterday. Had family come over that hadn’t been to our Christmas celebration in 4 years. It was so nice to just sit and relax with everyone.
I have this week off of work and I am so grateful. I am doing absolutely nothing today besides watching movies with my dog asleep in my lap.
Post by RoxMonster on Dec 26, 2023 16:55:38 GMT -5
We were furniture shopping for a new couch and definitely want to continue having recliners on both ends. At one store, a salesman was showing us one reclining couch and apropos of nothing said to me, “And don’t worry about this holding your legs up. My wife is also a large woman and it holds her up just fine.” I mean, I know I’m a fat person and it’s whatever. But I just feel uncomfortable with strangers mentioning people’s bodies regardless of what shape they are.
It would have been one thing if I asked, “Hey I’m heavier and worried about this holding my legs up” but I never mentioned that as it wasn’t even something I was concerned about. Idk it was just awkward and I didn’t really know how to respond so I said nothing.
We are back home and I just love our little house. It feels nice to be home. I hate driving and it’s so stressful for me, even with H graciously doing the hardest bits, like driving through Chicago.
Back to real life tomorrow: my boss texted me that my presence has been requested at a big meeting tomorrow at 1. I will have to brief a bunch of people about a significant court case that’s going on and I am not ready to jump back in with both feet yet!
I pulled all my china out to wash it for a party I’m hosting next week. And OMG did it remind me of the day after holidays, even though we didn’t use it yesterday. But, most of it has been in the China cabinet, boxed, and moved since it was last dragged out. So at least a quick wash for the dust was required.
Here's one for you. A duck night light from my brother.
I actually got these for my twins as a gag gift that I knew they would get a kick out of and they LOVE them. Did your come With random bath duck figures and accessories, too? That were not mentioned in the purchase. Ha
No but that would be super cute!
My brother can be an odd duck (lol) when it comes to gift giving.
Oh yeah, also today my partner and I have been together for 9 years! Obviously things aren’t perfect but our relationship is so easy. Just the other day we were reflecting on my 5 months of maternity leave and how we spent 24/7 together with our new tiny human and it was so a wonderful and peaceful time and how well we navigated that.
I love how we both get each other and have maintained our independence while being a strong team and supporters of each other.
We had a lovely day with lots of family. My grandma is 106 and we got some lovely pics. My aunt cried cause everyone was together, that was sweet.
But I’m definitely a Scrooge :( As mentioned before me and my partner don’t do gifts, but of course people are gonna get our daughter stuff. I guess it wasn’t too too too bad but just all the trash and waste and plastic that just made me sad. Like just her stuff was 3 trash bags of wrapping paper and bags. Our apartment only has but so much space. I guess it’s just once a year so I’m gonna have to get over it but for some reason seeing all the trash and waste just really got to me.
H and I said the same thing about waste. I’m looking into reusable bags and fabric. My plan is to start slowly incorporating them into gift giving holidays. The current rolls of paper are starting to dwindle already.
We receive a lot of gifts in the reusable Amazon fabric gift bags, and have been reusing them for several years! They come with a paper tag on them and we keep sticking new gift labels on the tag. I used paper for a few items this year (C is 9 and still like ripping open paper), but the gift bags are so easy.
We were furniture shopping for a new couch and definitely want to continue having recliners on both ends. At one store, a salesman was showing us one reclining couch and apropos of nothing said to me, “And don’t worry about this holding your legs up. My wife is also a large woman and it holds her up just fine.” I mean, I know I’m a fat person and it’s whatever. But I just feel uncomfortable with strangers mentioning people’s bodies regardless of what shape they are.
It would have been one thing if I asked, “Hey I’m heavier and worried about this holding my legs up” but I never mentioned that as it wasn’t even something I was concerned about. Idk it was just awkward and I didn’t really know how to respond so I said nothing.
It's my birthday. It's been a nice day. My husband got me this sweatshirt I was eyeing with some leggings. And an iced coffee/tea brewer that you can infuse the tea in the pitcher. it's pretty cool.
My boys were forced to clean their room because the internet company came to service the modem and it's in their room. So now it's nice and tidy. hehe
We usually go out to dinner for my birthday but we overdid the gifts this year so we ran to grab some steak to cook up.
All in all a good day. I'm looking forward to the rest of the week off fronnqork since my condo is nice and clean. hehe