a different kind of xmas | pad patter 25 Dec

[bellbird]

It's Boxing Day, otherwise known as recovery and clean up day in our house after an unusual kind of Xmas, which i'm sure a lot of people have found but i hope it was still a good day. What was one thing that was different about your Christmas?

We started out with a Zoom in the morning so my mum's side could see the kids open some presents, we haven't done that before!

 

[Cherylndesigns]

This year was definitely different for us! Most of our family has moved from Florida to Oklahoma and we had our first Christmas out here! We're moving into our new home tomorrow! We've been living in a lake cottage since August and we all piled in here tonight for gifts and dinner and a rousing game of Scattergories! Lots of firsts this year and looking forward to a new year of all living on the same property!

 

[HavaDrPepper]

The small group that usually gets together for a couple of hours didn't happen this one. The cousin that lives in Missouri chose not to return to his sister's in Ohio. I am the youngest of the group at age 65 so age and health were considered. So I caved and bought a webcam on BF and set up a zoom for us "oldsters". I included a cousin in Ohio and her brother in Florida (I'm still the baby in the group). First time all 6 of us have "seen" each other on Christmas in 33 years. We hope to chat more often using zoom in the future.

Otherwise, a quiet day for me. Caught up on scrapping DYD then played games and colored on my tablet.

 

[littlekiwi]

A different kind of Christmas definitely happened here - there’s 5 of us in total and it was going to be a full family affair but then my cousin couldn’t travel (too expensive to fly home), then I ended up sick with a stomach bug so didn’t do Christmas at all with the family. Was very low key by the sounds of it and not that great anymore. There will probably need to be some serious changes next year and in the future as my 83 year old grandma doing the family meal has become too much (it’s the only place we can host it but my mum may go over the day before and do the food prep in future)

 

[IntenseMagic]

We had snow on Christmas for the first time in 10+ years and the high temp was 15F so the roads were a mess. My oldest and his wife made it out here for a few minutes, but haven't seen the grandbabies or my mom or anyone else. This is why I never dream of a white Christmas. We are doing Christmas 2.0 later this afternoon and typically I would have the tree down and everything and put away by then

 

[bcgal00]

I'm glad it's over. We lost a family member a few wks ago. Then on Thurs morning our GD was rushed to emergency, they immediately tested for covid (which came back negative today so they will test again soon), did lots of tests and scans b/c of the encephalitis/seizure disorder and started her on antibiotics and other meds. It took until yesterday afternoon for her to start improving, stop vomiting and the breathing has improved. She is still in the ICU for another 3-5 days as they need to monitor the heart and brain damage but she is more lucid, breathing better and can eat a bit. It's been an awful December for us. We finally opened a few gifts last night and did have a turkey dinner but the day was quiet and not very fun filled for us. We got thru the day and the highlight was being able to facetime with Bailey for 5 minutes. I didn't even take out my big camera, just took a few phone pics and called it done. I cheered myself up this morning with a bit of amazon shopping for cookbooks and will scrap and watch movies later.

 

[Dalis]

I am jsut so frustrated. I tried to make shortbread cookies a recipe from my country. I ended up throwing away the "dough" it created. Then today, I am trying to make cinnamon rolls and the yeast is not activating. I am so tired and upset!

 

[KimJ]

@bcgal00 ((((hugs)))) I hope your GD is fully recovered soon.

@Dalis That does sound frustrating. I haven't baked anything from scratch in probably a decade, so anyone who goes to all of that effort has my utmost respect. I hope whatever you try next goes smoothly.

Our Christmas was pretty much the same as it is most years. Just a nice, quiet day at home with DH and the kids, opening gifts, having a breakfast casserole, and eating way too much candy.

 

[AnneofAlamo]

Christmas victory! I made two pans of orange danishes (open the can, bake and then cover with icing), hubby did 5 pounds of bacon, and I did 3 pounds of breakfast sausage. Set on the counter, and our kids and grands (and my momma) streamed in between 10 and noon! Brilliant, easy and now a family tradition.
At noon, I was done! cleaned up, and at 2, I was back in bed for a full hour nap! That evening, a few hours at friends. Boys (and husband)stayed until almost midnight playing pool, me home for much needed silence!
Tree down, on Saturday. Christmas packed and put away. Lovely!

 

[Angela Toucan]

our first Christmas not going to Church in the morning, which made the day feel longer.

 

[bcgal00]

Christmas victory! I made two pans of orange danishes (open the can, bake and then cover with icing), hubby did 5 pounds of bacon, and I did 3 pounds of breakfast sausage. Set on the counter, and our kids and grands (and my momma) streamed in between 10 and noon! Brilliant, easy and now a family tradition.
At noon, I was done! cleaned up, and at 2, I was back in bed for a full hour nap! That evening, a few hours at friends. Boys (and husband)stayed until almost midnight playing pool, me home for much needed silence!
Tree down, on Saturday. Christmas packed and put away. Lovely!

Wow @AnneofAlamo you were so organized! I'm impressed

 

[Dalis]

@bcgal00 ((((hugs)))) I hope your GD is fully recovered soon.

@Dalis That does sound frustrating. I haven't baked anything from scratch in probably a decade, so anyone who goes to all of that effort has my utmost respect. I hope whatever you try next goes smoothly.

Our Christmas was pretty much the same as it is most years. Just a nice, quiet day at home with DH and the kids, opening gifts, having a breakfast casserole, and eating way too much candy.

I tried a few more things and not perfect but better and EDIBLE!

 

[Karen]

Our Christmas was different in that it was the first time we have ever traveled and not been at home for Christmas. I know that is counter intuitive for this year especially, but I always host Christmas at my house because my parents are nearby and my hubby's Mom is also nearby, so my sister and her family always have to drive the 3 hours to come stay with us. Well, this year, all the parents aren't seeing people, so this was the first year we could descent (ha ha) on my sisters house and make her host. I kept texting her the scene from Christmas vacation when all the grandparents arrive at the Griswold's house. We've joked about it for years with them. Anyway, they all already had covid, so we couldn't give it to them and we couldn't get it from them, so we felt pretty safe. We didn't go anywhere once we were over there and it was a super fun and relaxing long weekend.

 

[AJK]

@bcgal00 Rae, how difficult!!! I am glad to hear she is coming around! Each of our GC's have been to ER for sudden issues, and it is hard. God be with you all.

Ours was not so different, other than the horrible last year's Christmas of estrangement. God was faithful and turned hearts and we were all together again. Wish our parents ( the little's great GP's) could have been with us. But SO thankful for those we DID have with us!!! Baby Zeke broke his leg Thanksgiving Day, so he was limping but a happy little fellow!!! We had been hoping N.C. would share some of their snowfall but no such luck, lol!