Posted in Holiday Traditions

While my hubby was on a short break from work today we were talking about something Christmas related. I do remember telling him that I think Christmas is boring and over-rated, but I let him and the kids celebrate it despite my real feelings for this holiday. I never have really told anyone how I feel about this holiday because well... I'm a hypocrite when it comes to Christmas. I pretend to be all happy, happy, joy, joy over this holiday, but in my heart I could care less about this time of year.

I started my dislike for Christmas when I was a teenager. It was boring then and 20 years later it is even more boring. Every year its the same thing over and over. The same songs, the decorations, the rude people, the "I wants", the going to house to house, the comercialism and even the whoop to do that goes back and forth about taking Christ out of CHRISTmas and changing it to "Holiday" stuff. *ugh* Oh "Bah Hum Bug!" This past Sunday at church they started singing the "Hark the Harold Angels" song in worship and I wouldn't sing it because it was just another reminder of how much I don't like Chirstmas. This isn't even a biblical holdiay. The Bible doesn't tell us to celebrate the birth of Christ. Christmas is just another traditon of man that I don't care to celebrate. I find putting up a Christmas tree to be hard work and the tree takes up space that we need. I hate shopping and I can't stand wrapping presents. I've always let my hubby and kids put up the tree and decorate while I sit quietly and take pictures. I'm not one to push my thoughts and spoil this holiday for my hubby or kids... even others for that matter. Hence, my hypocrite-ness. Well, until today anyways and boy do I feel better that I let it out. (I have stated Biblical reasons why I don't like celebrating this time on a message board once though.)

This year for the first time I even went to a womans Christmas ornament exchange at church. I even made a special ornament. I didn't really want to go, but I did... with a false "Oh, I love Christmas" attitude. The fellowship was nice and I enjoyed making the ornament. (My ornament was the only handmade one there.) But, as I sat there in the corner I was miserable because I was pretending to like something that I don't.

I make Christmas gifts for people because I enjoy making gifts and praying over them as I make them. That, to me is fun.

The kids made Christmas decorations which they painted yesterday. Our tree is "almost" all decorated. I still have gifts to finish making. This year we will probably follow our normal Christmas traditions, but now I can breath a bit easier because I don't have to keep my "Scroogy-ness" inside anymore. What a relief!

Hello, I am Dianna and I don't like Christmas!

Shew! I feel so much better now!

Posted in Holiday Traditions

It's late morning as I sit here sipping my coffee while pondering what to type.

Thanksgiving - ugh. It's next week. I enjoy this day when I get to stay home with my family. We don't always make a "traditional" meal, but this year.. who knows. We've been invited to go to my grandmothers. I love going over there and being around family, however I get stressed just thinking about it. I'm sure it will be fun, it usually is... its just getting there and enjoying it. At least I don't have to cook. I'll be baking some Pumpkin Bars though. mmmmm (I got the recipe from Jodi... years ago!!)

Learning - We are getting back into the groove of things again. Yesterday the kids started up their History scrapbooks. These are so cool. I love to see my children creatively learn. We'll also be doing American History, long division, learning about the OT Tabernacle and just enjoying our learning adventures. I've also started reading "Moby Dick" to the kids.

Crocheting - I'm keeping my hooks busy. I *think* I'll get all the gifts made before Christmas. I enjoy knitting as well, but crochet goes a bit more quicker for me. I am looking forward to being a part of the new Ravelry web site... I'm on the waiting list. Pick me! Pick me! (I'm jealous, my partne in crime, Jodi is a member.) (the site is still in beta).

Christmas - another, oh boy... it's almost here! I enjoy this time of year with my family... but like, Thanksgiving.. I don't like the stress. I've had so much stress thse past few weeks that I don't even want to think about what these holidays bring. Growing up we always had to spend the morning at one house, then the afternoon at another. After my hubby and I got married it was the same... except it was with spending time at my dads, then over to my moms... then to my dh's moms. Ugh. I'm so tired of all the traveling form home to home that I just want to stay home with my hubby and children. I'm very grateful that my side of the family has started having Christmas get-togethers on a different day. If only my mother-in-law could understand that our family wants to be alone on those days. *sigh*

I'm almost done with my coffee....

I'll get through all I need to get through by the strength of Christ. I probably sound bitter about the "holidays" ... which, in a few ways I am. I'm human. I'll get over it. I am thankful for my family, I love my family and I am glad that they all live nearby so that I can be around them.

Posted in Holiday Traditions

Resurrection Sunday Traditions

• Church (we don't dress up fancy for this, meaning there are no "special" frilly clothes.)
• Afternoon brunch at my grandmothers house. This is great family time.
• Relax after all the food
• The night before we make Resurrection Cookies.
• Instead of baskets, eggs, candy the kids usually get paper, pencils and other useful things.

Not much to it really as we don't get into all the pagan Easter traditions.

Like any other day, Easter Resurrection Sunday is just another plain ol' day to reflect, remember and be thankful for what Jesus Christ did for us so that we can be forgiven, to be free!

Posted in Holiday Traditions

One of the more fun Christmas traditions that we've started with our family is when we set up our nativity, the wise men and the babe are not placed in it.

The wise men wonder aimlessly around our home. I say aimlessly because I place them randamly around the house. One day they'll be on a counter, the next day they'll be on the top of the stairs, on another day they'll be next to the fish tank wondering what it was like crossing the Red Sea. You get the gist?

The kids love searching the house to see where the wise men are. On Christmas morning they are not in the manger scene, but they are close.

Baby Jesus appears on Christmas morning. Honestly, He gets put there the night before so mom and dad can sleep in, in the morning. The kids love waking up in the morning to see that the royal babe is there.

©Dianna A 2006

Posted in Holiday Traditions

Candy Making

I started making candy around CHRISTmas time when I was a teenager. I'd then wrap up the homeade goodies and give them to my friends and family.

Every year I HAVE to make Fudge, my husband demands it.

You see, the fudge I make is a recipe that has been passed down for six generations and is made in an iron skillet. When my mother first taught me how to make this fudge I was hooked on candy making. I have fond memories of standing by the stove while my mom stirred and then at the right time she would let me add the chocolate chips, butter and vanilla.

I also like to make:

Divinity

Caramel covered popcorn balls

Salt Water Taffy

Almond Roca

Peanut Brittle

Recipes to come so make sure you check back in a day. =)

©Dianna A 2006

Posted in Holiday Traditions

My buddy, JenIg did a wonderful CHRISTmas post. She totally summed up what my thoughts have been for years on the whole CHRISTmas thing.

Since I was a teenager I have never been big into the decorating and the "Jesus, is the reason..." thing. I could care less if I don't decorate my home. I can't stand CHRISTmas carols or songs. The repetition of it all year after year bores me! I hate shopping so I make gifts to give. I like to pray over those gifts as I make them and pray for the person that I am making the gift for.

Despite what I really feel about CHRISTmas we as a family still celebrate it as Christians. (Like JenIG does.) I enjoyed CHRISTmas as a child and thankfully my mother taught me that CHRISTmas is just another fun way to celebrate Him. We focus on Christ during this time just as much as we do on a daily basis. We use this time, like any other day or any other holiday, that Christ comes first. I do enjoy this time of year to create wonderful, CHRISTmas memories with my family.

When my kids are all grown up, I probably won't decorate my home CHRISTmas-y though!

Posted in Holiday Traditions

Decorating

Our family decorates our home together.

Our CHRISTmas tree has a plethora of old and new ornaments. From homemade ones that my husband or I made when we were little to the yearly keepsake ornaments my children recieve from their grandparents. Priceless ornaments from my great-grandmother hang on our tree as well her old star that tops our tree.

I put pine garland and red bows on our stair rails.

Presently, our decorations are still in their totes either in the garage or the 'hole in the wall.' Hopefully this weekend my husband can get out those heavy totes full of CHRISTmas treasures that we've collected over the years.

The only visible CHRISTmas related item in the house is this ribbon I bought the other day.

Christmas Tradition I   Christmas Tradition II

Posted in Holiday Traditions

Christmas notebooks

Every year my children work in their Christmas notebooks. Any Christmas related thing we learn goes into their 3-ring binders. Each year has it's own divider.

In previous years we've done Christmas symbols. Names of Jesus. Christmas ABC's.

Christmas Tradition I  post.

©Dianna A. 

Posted in Holiday Traditions

I guess the Christmas season is here...

We received our annual Swiss Colony gifts yesterday from my mother-in-law.

She sent us the Holiday Favorites package, the Christmas Breakfast package and

the Butter Toffee Tin.

This has been a tradition for her to send these. It has been our tradition to eat them! We like to graze on them on Christmas Day. Although, the butter toffee tends to disappear before Christmas... some how, not quite sure....

I will be sharing our Christmas traditions through-out the month.

To go along with that I'll add a Our Family Traditions catagory on my side bar.

*Note that catagory will include all the holidays we celebrate. =)