That one moment that made your holiday

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-1999
That one moment that made your holiday
12
Sat, 12-25-2004 - 4:46pm

I hope everyone had a great holiday!!!! What was that one moment that made the holiday for you? (It can be good or bad.) Was it the look on the kids' faces when they got that special gift? Was it something that your relative said at dinner? Was it a moment you had alone in the snow or in the surf or in the basement where "everything became clear?" Was it a moment of sheer delight or dread that only the holiday can generate? Was it a moment that only come from being in debt or out of debt now?

What memory do you think will always come first when you remember this holiday?

Please share! Littlesbigs

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Avatar for mrslove2000
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 12-25-2004 - 5:29pm

My one moment today was realizing this is the first Christmas that I can remember that I am *not* stressed. I didn't use credit cards to buy any presents, we had "enough" for everyone, dinner was a breeze to make since I was prepared (thanks to flylady) and I didn't yell or get upset about anything! WOW This is how life should be everyday! My husband's 83yr Uncle joined us since his wife of 58 yrs is in the nursing home. Family, faith, love, peace and joy all under one roof. What a glorious day!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Susan

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Sat, 12-25-2004 - 10:54pm

The things that made my day: My husband's face when he opened his Playstation 2 that he has been wanting since it came out. Paid for in cash! His face when he opened 6 games for it that I knew he loved. They were used and I got them buy 1 get 2 free. Paid cash. Lainey had a blast with her presents :) Paid cash!

Things that made my holiday not so good: My mom and dad announced a few weeks ago that they are splitting up after the holidays. The tension in my house was so thick you could cut it with a knife. :( My mom's eyes looked sad. We are moving her stuff out tomorrow as we have found a house for her to rent and my dad is leaving for Florida tomorrow without her. She blinked away tears all day and I just wish I could make it all better.
:(

Stephanie

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Sun, 12-26-2004 - 11:40am


For me, it was on Christmas Eve, when my husband and I put out all of the gifts from Santa, and opened all the boxes from relatives that had been sitting out in our foyer and placed those gifts under the tree also, and filled the stockings, and then DH left the room to do something, and I stood there looking at our tree, with it's lights on, and all the gifts under it, and I felt so fortunate. Fortunate that so many people care about us and our son and sent us gifts--co-workers, relatives, friends, etc. It was just amazing. I pointed it out to DH when he came back into the room, and he felt the same way.

Patty

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sun, 12-26-2004 - 12:14pm

We had a fabulous, beautiful, peaceful holiday.

Well, besides the private moments with dh that I'm not sharing (lol), my other favorites include sitting on the big leather chair with 4-year-old ds and watching him take things out of his stocking one at a time and sort them--nuts, fruit, candy, toys. It took him fully 45 minutes to unload the stocking because he savored every moment. Dh and I had made the decision not to buy big gifts for our children this year, so for about $15 each I was able to stuff their stockings with really fun and quality things, and it became about the experience more than the things. There were party crackers for us to pop after looking through our stockings (one spewed confetti that landed squarely on baby's head, forming a sweet little crown! LOL), a kaleidoscope, jumping beans, exotic fruits, etc.

Another beautiful moment was after ds #2 opened the gift bag full of wooden musical instruments a grandmother had given him. The four of us sat around the living room for half an hour taking turns with the different instruments and making beautiful (in the eyes of the beholders lol) Christmas music. Since one of the instruments was a kazoo, the kazoo player could lead everyone in rousing renditions of whatever carol he or she chose while the others banged on castanets, rattles, tambourines, and the other assorted percussion instruments. It was such a fun and cozy time--again, about the experience rather than the stuff. And it was great because even the baby could participate in a meaningful way.

We also started a new tradition this year of eating unusual foods on Christmas day. So, we had the unusual fruits in our stockings, and for supper we cooked lamb and clam chowder (and potatoes and veggies--not so unusual lol). Also, dh and I shared a bottle of Irish Cream (okay, so there's still some left lol).

It was just the four of us, and it was nice that way. I'm so glad we decided to scale back on gifts this year. It was peaceful, unstressed, and a holiday to remember.

Thanks for letting me share!

Heather

Avatar for mymartes
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 12-26-2004 - 1:44pm

My three year old twins left cookies and milk for santa. The next morning, seeing their reaction when santa ate all the cookies and drank all the milk. In addition to leaving all the presents under the tree.

This is what Christmas is all about. Being with your family.

MYM

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2003
Mon, 12-27-2004 - 11:31am

My moment was when I was looking through my stocking, and two friends of mine who live in my town went through the trouble of contacting my parents (80 miles away) and sending two $25 gift certificates for the Food Co-op to my parents house for them to put in my stocking. It was a complete surprise. And it's SO useful to me, that will feed me for three weeks!

On a sad note, I just had to put my cat to sleep this morning, and that after spending about $600 to try to save him. *snivel* So, I'm having a tough day.

But ... on a BRIGHT note, I have a wonderful new job that pays more than my last one. I LOVE it here, it was worth the wait and the money stress.

By the way, remember me? I got out of debt last spring, then saved up enough to quit my rotten job. I've been AWOL for a while. But now I'm back, and back in debt. But nothing I can't scrape my way out of. I have a much better grasp of what I need to do this time around. :)



iVillage Member
Registered: 07-23-2004
Tue, 12-28-2004 - 7:58am

There were 2 miracles that happened for our family this Christmas. Our 2 children were adopted in May this past year. Our dd is 31 months old and our ds is 19 months. Both were born to a mother who drank alcohol throughout her pregnancy, and both were also born drug addicted. Due to these issues, they are both behind with their motor skills, and have some other problems that we have been working with therapists to correct. My ds who has been struggling to start walking took his first steps on christmas eve!! Now he is walking everywhere!

And then, Saturday night we went to a party at my sisters house (all close friends and family members who are aware of my childrens' difficulties) where there was another little girl who is my dd's age. They were playing for a while very nicely. The other little girl became upset after being scolded by her mother and was laying on the floor in the middle of the party crying her little eyes out. My dd bent over her, and as sweet as can be, and loud and clear said "why you crying?"...She has never put 2 words together before, we were even having trouble getting her to say mama!! Everyone heard it, no one could believe it. I have been on cloud 9 ever since...

I ended up going overboard with spending even though I had a plan, and I did use the credit cards, even though I swore up and down I wasnt going to...Hopefully I will have things back in order in a few months. But this is a Christmas no one at that party will ever forget!

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Tue, 12-28-2004 - 8:25am

Mine was watching my two furbabies play with their new Barbie toys. Yes, they make Barbie toys for cats. =P
There is always the one toy that all the kids want to play with....one cat took the favorite toy and when her sister wanted to play with it, she lay down on top of it so her sister couldn't get to it.
She was hogging all the toys and the new Barbie bed, too.
haha

slojuly

Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 12-28-2004 - 8:49am

Okay - I know this is totally lame, but what *made* the holiday for me was completely problem-free airline travel.

All my best,
Danni

Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 12-28-2004 - 6:02pm

I'm sorry to hear about your cat!!


YEAH!!! for the new job.


I do remember you!

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