1. Staying in my parents' new house! They moved in just after Thanksgiving, so we haven't seen it all finished yet. Appliances and finishing touches weren't done last time we were there. I'm super excited to spend a few days away with them and check out the brand new space. 2. This is a hard one! We've done extended family vacations the past couple years, and those have been really awesome.
Post by covergirl82 on Dec 19, 2017 9:00:32 GMT -5
1. Time away from work and spending time with my kids. The kids asked to go ice skating and to a movie, so those things are on our list of things to do.
2. This is tough - I've received a lot of great things, so I'll have to think more about it. I know this wasn't asked, but the first thing that actually came to mind was a gift I gave to my parents, which was a framed, enlarged photo I took of the barn at my mom's grandparent's farm. My mom LOVED it. She said the angle was perfect as it was exactly how she remembered looking at the barn from the house when she would visit her grandparents.
ETA: I thought of a gift that, at the time, was the best gift I had received. When I was 8, I REALLY wanted a Jonathan Knight (from New Kids on the Block) doll. My parents refused to get it for me, but they did tell my aunt (my dad's family drew names for cousins to exchange gifts) and she got it for my cousin to give to me. And yes, I do still have it and the cassette that came with it. Another "best" gift that I've thought of is a pearl necklace my parents and grandpa got for me - they would each add a pearl for my birthday and at Christmas. It is a really nice timeless piece of jewelry that also means a lot to me, and it will be nice to pass it on to DD someday.
Post by supertrooper1 on Dec 19, 2017 9:11:19 GMT -5
1. I'm most excited about giving the presents I bought this year. I think I knocked it out of the park with my gift ideas. I just hope the gift receivers think the same.
2. I received a lot of good gifts but none stand out as being better than others.
1. What are you most excited about for next week? Going to my parent’s house and spending time with family and friends.
2. Best gift you ever received for your winter holiday. (I’m trying to be less Christmas-centric for those who may celebrate a different holiday.) My favorite gift as an adult has been when DH and I do a trip in lieu of gifts. My favorite childhood gift was my Kirsten American Girl doll.
1. 11 days off in a row to do anything I want and hang with the family.
2. Dh suprised me with an Ipad several years ago, he really pulled that one off. What first comes to mind was in 4th grade, all if the girls started carrying adult purses. A small handbag with a skinny strap. I dug out a purple change purse with some cartoon character and carried that. All I wanted that Christmas was a real purse with a skinny strap. Christmas Eve I open the most beautiful little brown handbag with ruffles around the top and a nice skinny detachable strap. I couldn't wait to go back to school to show it off.
1. Taking a full week off for Christmas. Something I've never done in my adult life.
2. None really stand out. Gift giving/receiving is my love language (if you believe in all that) so there have been many great things that I've given and received.
1. I'm excited to have some time off work and spend it with DH and the kids. I'm hoping we can have some fun and go to some museums and such. I'm also excited to spend some time with my parents and brothers. We always have a good time together.
2. My favorite gifts are when my parents plan a big family vacation for all of us. They pay for lodging and we pay for everything else. We usually stay in a big house and everyone can come and go as they please, except for one evening where we all have dinner together for my mom. My kids get to run around with their cousins and the adults play board games. We have been to Florida (Disney), Virginia Beach, and Gatlinburg TN. This summer, we are heading to Niagara Falls.
Post by erinshelley21 on Dec 19, 2017 9:38:52 GMT -5
1. DS is loving every part of Christmas this year and it has been so much fun. I think watching it all happen over Saturday, Sunday and Monday will be the best. 2. Like jlaok, gifts are my love language. Both giving and receiving. I don't know that there's been a gift that stands out more than others but a few of my favorites have been the Erin ty beanie baby, a money tree, a necklace from DH for our first Christmas together ever, and when DH picked out clothes for me 2 years ago. I only say the beanie baby because I was so excited that all the jumping up and down caused the tag to rip off lol.
1. Christmas is just magic this year. DS is 4 and really, truly getting it this year. Also he's helped me decorate the tree, make cards, bake cookies and write a letter to Santa. He's just so much more involved. Plus, the way our work schedules and school closures line up, H and I will be off alone this Thurs and Fri, and then next Wed, Thurs, Fri, so we can have a little couple time (and get some home projects done), but still have 8 days off with DS as family time too.
2. Best gifts were both sewing machines; "Santa" brought me one when I was 12, and then H bought me one to replace it the third year we were together. Making things for others is my love language, and the machines are such a big part of that. (My other favorite gifts involve baking equipment)
Post by mustardseed2007 on Dec 19, 2017 10:29:22 GMT -5
1. What are you most excited about for next week? Having time off with my kids...unfortunately it's shaping up that I'm actually going to have to work to some extent. And that's ticking me off.
2. Best gift you ever received for your winter holiday. (I’m trying to be less Christmas-centric for those who may celebrate a different holiday.)
Engagement Ring - we got engaged on Christmas Day. Tiffany Necklace String of Pearls
Honestly I'm not that much of a jewelry person so it really surprises me that those gifts stand out that much.
When I was a kid I still remember the Christmas I received a brand new bike with a big red bow on it.
1. Christmas Day. This is the first year that DD really, truly, absolutely "gets" what's going on and it's pretty amazing. 2. Santa is buying me a Kate Spade purse. I'm pretty excited about that? (My family is historically lackluster/practical gift givers. DH fits in perfectly. After being frustrated and realizing that I'm pretty much the driving force behind any holiday magic in our family, I decided that Santa really appreciates it and rewards my efforts.)
I'm jealous of you guys who have times off. I get the 25th off, am taking a vacation day on the 26th, then back to the grind.
Post by justcheckingin73 on Dec 19, 2017 11:19:31 GMT -5
1. I’m most excited about not being the host for Christmas. Although I’m not looking forward to traveling 6 hours, at least I don’t have to cook, keep the house clean and entertain anyone. That sounds really negative so on a less Grinchy note, I’m excited to see my in laws and the extended family.
2. I have to go way back for this one but I remember getting my first 10-speed bike at 11 or 12. It was pink and gray and I loved it. More recently, nothing notable - DH and I don’t exchange gifts and I usually get money from my in laws which is always nice.
1. I am most excited that I do not have to entertain my ILs specifically SIL. I am also excited that we will have some time off and go on several trips.
However, I am anxious about the trips because there is a lot to do to prep beforehand, and there is always the fear in the midwest of an epic snowstorm, and these are driving trips. I checked the weather, and we look OK for the first one but the other ones are a ways off, so who knows.
2. My CD player when I was a kid was when I was most emotional about a gift. I have gotten better gifts since, but didn't appreciate them the same way you do when you are a kid because adult gifts comes from joint money and bills etc.
DS did say it was his favorite season of the year. Pretty sure because of presents, but whatever. At least someone is excited this season. DH and I are pretty burnt out, so hopefully time off will help with that.
1. I’m off after tomorrow - that sounds soooo good. I’ve reached my saturation point.
2. I’d say my first great fancy 35mm camera in high school then the DSLR DH bought me in 2010. Cameras enable me to capture moments - as an only child, there isn’t a big oral history so the only way I find things out is to look at pictures and ask questions.
1. I'm excited to do nothing on Christmas Eve. Usually we are in a sprint racing around, but this year we are just laying low. I'm also excited that we will be celebrating pretty much all week - 24th with our little family, 25th at my sisters, part 2 of the celebration at my moms on the 26th, ILs are coming 27th-30th, good friends coming for dinner on the 31st. I will weigh 750lbs by the end of next week.
2. As a child, I remember when my big sis and I got one large present and several small, all with both our names. I remember opening a small one first, and we were both sad to see that it was an Atari game cartridge. We didn't have an Atari, nor had we considered asking for something so big. I thought Santa got the wrong house, but my dad Told us to keep opening. We got an Atari 2600 (#childifthe80s)! Huge deal. What I remember most, though, is my dad's face as we slowly realized what was happening. Never totally got that until we had kids.
1. Seeing DD's face when she realizes she got a gymnastic bar. I'm working except for Christmas so I don't feel like I get any extra time off and works is crazy busy with everyone freaking out about the new tax law so our normal slow move into the new year isn't happening at work.
2. I don't know. My family is big on giving useful stuff. A couple years ago my parents got me a carpet shampooer. DH doesn't really do gifts or he will try and combine Christmas, Valentines and my B-day all into one giant gift that I get on my b-day. I've actually really lowered my expectations of getting anything that has me saying "oh wow". DD already told me that daddy picked out my gift from her and she wanted to get me a new outfit and he said no so it really isn't from her. I'm pretty sure it is a wall picture of animals (eye rolling).
Post by traveltheworld on Dec 19, 2017 17:45:35 GMT -5
1. Spending some time with the kids and extended family. My MIL, FIL, BIL and SIL are all coming up to spend Christmas with us - all staying at our house. We shall see how it goes
2. I don't really have one. My family was never big on Christmas. A few years back DH got me a necklace with the kids' names on it so I thought that was a really nice present.
1. This is the first year DS “gets” Christmas. Two excited kids are twice as good as one. I can’t wait to see them go downstairs and see that Santa had been there.
2. One year I got a real, original Cabbage Patch Doll. Like the cloth ones that were handmade, not the plastic ones. That was in the mid-80s when every little girl had to have a Cabbage Patch Doll. It was completely unexpected, which made it really wonderful.
Post by greenmonkey1 on Dec 20, 2017 7:21:21 GMT -5
1. Santa's early Christmas gift to the family is a new tv, mounted on the wall. Installation is scheduled for this Friday. I am so excited (1) to have a working tv (old one is a 15-20 year old tub tv, the power button has sunk into the frame, the remote does not work to turn it on/off/volume/channel, sound is getting questionable) and (2) to have it on the wall and get rid of the stand to declutter my living room a bit more. So suffice to say I am excited to throw things away! We have a small house and the clutter is driving me nuts.
2. Getting my first boom box and my first camera, those were pretty memorable as a kid.
rere I remember the small handbag with a skinny strap trend in 4th grade as well. Mine was black leather (likely fake) with three horizontal pockets. I felt so adult for having a purse - except I would forget it in different classes so I did not carry it very long. For the life of me though, I cannot think of what I carried. What do you need in a purse when you're 9/10? Kleenexes and chapstick? Pencils?
Post by HeartofCheese on Dec 20, 2017 9:22:04 GMT -5
1. Christmas morning and day. All we do is eat and play. I love it.
2. Two years ago, my parents paid for a cashmere sweater that I picked out for myself. I love how comfortable it is and even though it's a big cozy tunic with a loose turtleneck, I feel like a million bucks b/c, "It's 100% cashmere, bitches." Which is what I say in my head to the all the people at the store who used to side-eye me and think, "Why is that homeless woman in her jams?"