Christmas in the spirit or not?

I voted undecided. I am totally bummed out that I have to work 7-3:30 on Christmas day!!!!!! On the other hand, my kiddos are young enough (3 and 4) that we are going to make Christmas eve our Christmas ( you know, get up and PRETEND!!). Hopefully...they will never know the difference. When they get older I will just have to explain, but for now...we pretend! I have not put up a tree or anything yet. This warm weather does make it kinda hard to get fully into the spirit. I'm sure when the time comes, I will be excited to watch everyone open their gifts...and open a few myself too!!!!!

Shari

I do not have to work Christmas (because I am agency) but I am goign to volounteer anyway... (may get called off for it anyhoo)...
I am a bit bummed because I am SO broke and have been working like a little bunny.... I really love nursing when I am off... lol...

We are not putting up a tree because we are moving over to Cheyenne (100 miles away)....

Ba Hum Bug..... I did buy some presents but.... I just want the holidays to end for the most part so I can concentrate on seriously getting my bills paid off!

B.

nightngale'98,

Moving over Christmas stinks! I did it three years ago. The first thing that went up in the new house was the tree and the heck with everything else! It was the first thing that was unloaded and the first thing that looked right. Everything was still in boxes. It was a good thing I had wrapped all of the Christmas gifts because I wouldn't have known if it was a gift or if it had to be unpacked. It turned out to be a good Christmas anyways, but the moving part of it you could have kept...

Let's see...

Will probably have enough $$ for stuff once property taxes are paid. What sicko put the deadline for property taxes just before Christmas anyway?

The Kid wants a PS2. OK. Now if I can just find one after payday next week...

I'm working 7A to 7P Christmas Day.

I'm 1st up for Comp Time if they don't need everyone who's scheduled.

There WILL be a fabulous pot-luck to which I will happily contribute.

I gave up on Christmas Trees--more $ for presents!

I don't do outdoor lights--too scared of heights.

IT DOESN'T SNOW IN SAN DIEGO!!! If I need to see snow (and I DON'T) I drive to it. Have all the snow you want w/o me!

I'm about as much into Christmas as I need to be.


Just smile, have a good time anyway!!


Feliz Navidad! Sandi

Chatty, don't you know, Santa comes a day to early to the nurse's children's houses! (Keep track of all those little white lies, they will remember!) We did the same thing! And when the kids were older and I had to work Christmas, they always begged to be able to open one present early, so we just made Christmas eve our Christmas. And my in-laws always found some restaurant open and took my poor little motherless family there.

Another thing I ditched, the real tree. I LOVE real trees, and I do NOT feel bad about cutting them down, after all, people make their livlihoods this way. I was supporting the economy.

Anyway, 2 years ago, my husband was home recoup'ing from laminectomy #2, and decided he would put up Xmas lights as a surprise for the kids, he was feeling so great, he took the chance. Well, he fell off the roof, flat on his back! Kinda put things in perspective! I went out that evening after we spent all day in the ER, and bought a fake tree, it is beautiful, and now, I can decide to just pull it out and put it up whenever I want!! PLUS, with the kids having so many tree allergies, it is really much healthier for us. If I need pine scent, I get a candle! BTW, hubby's back has been F'd ever since!

PS, try this (NO I am not Martha Stewart!) put 2 sticks of cinnamon and a few whole cloves in a small pot of water and simmer on the stove, your house will smell great!!! You can also put this in a small crock pot(s) in other rooms of the house.

I will also try the vanilla and cinnamin too... Tree is out for this year to be sure.... We are going "home" to New Mexico for a few days... I work Agency "down there" (too) and love working at the Heart Hospital... Maybe I will get into the spirit then.... so to speak...

One of the presents we purchased was ordering family photos from the pictures we had done LAST year... All 20 of us! I saw some great frames at WallMart in gold... eeewwww.....

I think what I dislike about the holidays is the rush rush rush to do something for your loved ones. The "more mature" I become, the more I realize the need to cherish those everyday moments of bliss with my family (especially after 9-11-01).

Honestly, this year I actually told my kids that the expensive gifts that they have grown acustomed to are not going to be a part of this years celebration. The concentration has to be (family wise) getting the move accomplished, doing "stuff" together, and concentrating on getting (financially) on a better path. It does help that my kids will be spending Christmas day with their father (to relieve some of the "present" pressure).

So the tinsle and hub bub that I would poo poo and dislike in the past is not really a part of my thoughts when I say, "I am undecided about Christmas". This year, I feel more accepting of my goal of "not giving into" the marketing mania to buy because you are sapposed to. I am comfortable with my decision to cherish our time together and not fill it with purchasing frenzy needs as I have in the past.

Heh.... maybe that means I do have the Christmas Spirit! Tiny Tim? What do you think? (lol....)

In peace,
B.

Voted no, not in the spirit, but after reading some of these neat reply, had to add my $.02 worth...
I am working OT Christmas Eve and Christmas Night. Was kinda bumbed about that at first working 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., but hey, somebody has to do it.
The kids are grown with families of their own, and I respect their wishes for the kids to stay at home and play with their own Santa presents.... Always had a room full of toys Christmas eve for them, opened, and no one really remembered which one owned which present. The parents always scolded that Pap and Nana tried to out-do santa with the presents...
This year, each grandbaby is getting a nice amount BEFORE Christmas for the Santa fund at their own home... Will be different.
Best Christmas was last year. I worked 7 am to 3pm. all week of Christmas. The kids and grandkids,(spouses stayed home until Christmas Eve) came "home" and spent the night Dec. 23rd. My presents were wrapped, meals were cooked, dishes were done, and I DIDN'T HAVE TO LIFT A FINGER.... Spent equal time with my family, and my residents at work.... Was too good to be true.
This year we will be together, but I will see sleeping residents and be sleeping or tired for family......
Two of the grandbabies are traveling 600 miles to be with us from Dec. 26 - Jan l, so our togetherness will have to be the week after Christmas for the week..... So the holiday will last longer anyhow.....
Now that I put things in perspective,,,, Change mine to YES!!

This should be a great time this year-just finished the fall semester, did great on my finals, have vacation from work coming up and of course Christmas with my family-but my dad dropped a bomb on me today, my parents may be splitting after 17 yrs of marriage (actually mom & stepdad, but he's the only dad I claim!!)

My mother has been having a relationship, that she says has been non-physical, aka huge cell phone bill, time when my dad is gone, with a married family friend for the past 5 months. To sum up, I feel like I've been kicked in the stomach! I know I need to talk to my mom, but am so angry I know it is not a good idea right now. I also know there is 2 sides to all stories and my dad is involved in so many things right now that he feels responsible for not being a good enough husband, but he's been so involved this summer in building my mom the horse farm she's always wanted, so I know his motives were good. Now he's regretting that decision. He wants to know that it is really over, truthfully this time, or for her to go, because he wants an honest marriage. I know I'll be able to deal with this all in time, but my baby sisters (11,4) have to see it everyday.

Did someone mention wine??!! Pass me a glass!

**The good part of this season is the cinnamin candles everywhere! I love those too.**

BaaHumbug is how I feel. I'm working pretty much all through Christmas and New Years and so is my husband. None of my family is coming in this year. I've been having back problems(have an MRI scheduled after Christmas) and been having trouble walking. Work is bad enough let alone trying to shop. I did attempt some decoration and the tree is up with lights but no ornaments yet. I don't feel like baking. Just want it all to be over with and the pain in my leg to go away.