[whateverfloats]

We don't do Thanksgiving. We only really do Christmas since everyone gets enough time off. We'll play 20 Questions on my aunts order, then eat our vegan Christmas dinner, drink too much, debate about socialist politics, and discuss the latest movies and the pagan origins of the holiday. Then we'll do the dishes, drink some more, salsa for a few hours, and collapse into bed. We'll wake up slightly hung over. There will be lots of coffee, freezer jam, and New Yorkers. We'll go for a hike or walk, return home, and the whole thing will repeat.

Looking forward to it.

[clark_meez]

We usually all get together to decorate the tree, order out for dinner so no one has to cook, enjoy a nice meal and just kind of enjoy each other's company. Myself and my sister are usually the ones to decorate the tree. Sometimes my parents get into it when we're visiting but not so much. Thanksgiving is pretty normal though, everyone meets at my grandmothers and enjoys dinner, watches football, the usual.

[mtorres1681]

whateverfloats wrote: We usually go to my aunt's for Christmas but she's getting a little sick of hosting it. One year we all rented cabins up island at Long Beach which was a lot of fun. However, making it up there was a challenge. Half the family got caught in a snow storm. The party has been growing these past few years as the cousins get married. Last year my uncle made a huge table and borrowed some church pews so that we could all sit together. It was cozy but a lot of fun. He still has the pews. I think they just gave them to him.

You're lucky! In our family, whenever one gets married, the party guests seem to be lessened, because they usually move far away, like what happened to one of my sisters, she can't be with us this Christmas because she's now miles away from us, plus she cannot travel far because she'll be 8 months pregnant come Christmas time, and I cannot go to their place for my part because it would also be hard for me to travel with my 6month old twins. Well, your uncle did a good job with the church pews huh? Great addition to the furniture!

[mtorres1681]

dangerousdi wrote: Wow MT, that sounds really great. I'm sorry your traditions are going thru a change...I know change is a good thing, but I got depressed for you, sometimes change sucks Anywho, as far as traditions go for me. Usually Halloween though not what most people call a "holiday" its a wee tradition that one of my bestest friends have been doing the past few years, the kids and I go to her house (about a 1/2 hour from me) and we (me and mine, my friends and her boys, a few of her neighbor friends and their kids) all go trick or treating with the kids around the "bottom half" of her neighborhood area - about 6 or 7 blocks. We let the kids take a break and pick a piece of candy somewhere around block 4 or 5.. Then we call her hubby and we all pile into her SUV and go back to her house. Since upon arrival all us Moms had brought some sort of food dish over, BF's hubby has started dinner, (big tray of ziti, mac and cheese, or something to feed the pack) and warmed up whatever the moms came with. Then we all sit down and have a nice healthy dinner, then finish up and still have about an hour before cerfew so we hit up the "upper" neighborhood area, its way dark and there is alot of wooded streets and trees making it even darker, so we tell semi spooky tales as we're walking to keep the boys close Thanksgiving - when I was younger we'd have it at my Nan's (grandmother's), but that was long long ago. Now since I have my own family (and my husbands) either I host dinner and have my inlaws , and my parents over or someone takes the reigns. It all depends. Christmas - well it had been tradition going back in the day to go to my nan's (once again) Christmas eve (my mom's side) and all my aunts, uncles and cousins would be there. But that changed a while back, so now we spend Christmas eve with my family. My mom had it at her apartment once (since she complained that we're supposed to go to her, when I hosted it one year after my house was remodeled) then she agreed that we should have it at my house , since its bigger, and I have the kids and just easier. But anyway its my side of the family on Christmas eve, and my husbands family on Christmas day. Christmas morning I'll make a big breakfast (like my dad used to for us as kids, where my husband grew up eating cakes and whatever they wanted) the kids can rip into their stockings while Im cooking. Then we'll have breakfast, afterwards I'll take the spot by the tree and hand out the gifts from Santa. Its nice cause I sit and I can watch both kids open their presents with camera in hand. Oh yeah the "Yule Log" is on TV burning (tradition since way back in the day for me and my husband) Then later in the morning we'll get dressed and head to my inlaws by early afternoon, hang around (my 2 sister in laws, one soon to be brother in law and my nephew, along with both parental inlaws) chat , other family (my husbands aunt or uncle) will drop by for a few minutes, then we have dinner and then do gifts. We usually end up playing some board games or something before we have to make dozens of trips to load the car before going home. Both of my brothers live in VA now. My youngest brother and sister in law, usually come up to NJ for the holidays since her family lives up here too, and they stay with her mom. My other brother his girlfriend and their 2 kids ...plus a friend of my brothers (long confusing story, even I don't understand it ) moved to VA just recently so I have NO clue what they plan on doing for the holidays. If they did decide to come up , where they would stay (since her family is useless) and my 2 clawless cats would not take kindly to a dog in the house *shudders* the horror!.. So I guess thats something that needs to be figured out. Otherwise its going to be a very quiet, peaceful Christmas eve ...which while its sad since holidays should be with family, its not a bad thing. We're all grown up now with our own families, and I think if we use Christmas as a point to get together, then there is something wrong. They're my brothers we should get together more then just once a year anyway. Its hard doing things long distance though and add kids and pets to the mix and well...its life. As long as I have my husband , my kids and Mom and Dad (regardless how much I complain about 'em , I'll be alright. We have free long distance calling so its all good. (Sorry for the ramble, its insomnia night/day.. Im overtired and its nearly 6am.,,Im just not tired enough to sleep if that makes sence. )

*wipes eyes* whew, what a huge family you've got there. Well, you're right, Christmas, or the other holidays, should not be the only reason for families to reunite.
Pets are also family, sometimes, we can't even leave them, plus, yes you're right, most of the time they aren't welcome either.
Well,I guess these changes are all part of a grown-ups' life.