Saturday, December 17, 2011

KT Countdown to Christmas Day #6

Ladies, thank you so much for sharing your favorite Christmas gifts with me. I teared up reading several and can totally relate to the statement that it's who gave you something and how they did it that makes it even more memorable.

It's just a week until Christmas, so we need to keep moving along on our Countdown. Congrats to Lesley (pine hutch is favorite gift) who won the set of 3 QM 100 Quilt Blocks magazines and Debbie (homemade vanity) who will receive the 6-pack of charm patterns. Thanks for commenting!

Day #6 brings a bundle of Sandhill Plums assorted strips. Moda generously sent a box of leftovers after cutting swatches for their salesmen so we have lots to share. With strips between 2" and 7", it's like getting several Jelly Rolls!


Share one of your favorite family holiday traditions here, if you wish.
I'd love to know how you celebrate the season.
See you tomorrow!

105 comments:

  1. Our holiday season starts with our family going to cut our trees ( we now cut 3 trees as the the kids are grown and have places of their own). Everyone has a say in choosing the perfect tree. Family pictures were taken in front of the tree before my son cut it down. Great memories.

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  2. One of my favorite holiday traditions is to make the cookies together as a family. Since my daughter could stand she was in the kitchen "helping".. and I've had kids in the kitchen helping ever since.

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  3. Since the children have married and have families of their own - we try to be flexible with having a Christmas brunch around 11 on Christmas day where they can drop in after they have enjoyed Santa presents. Wonderful giveaway and thank you for the opportunity. Judy C in NC

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  4. The tradition that is most cherished by me is going to the local tree farm which, to this day is still being run by the same family as it was when I first started going there. My parents started the tradition in taking my brothers and I there as children. I've been going to that tree farm since the lat 1950's and after moving out of my parents home, I continued going to that tree farm each year and in turn too, after having my own children took them there as well. My own children are now grown and out of the house with one living locally again after moving away a few years. He is now continuing the tradition of visiting the same tree farm himself and is now expecting his first child so I'm hoping the tradition will continue.

    It's just so hard to believe that not only is the same family still running and still owns this tree farm. And their next generation is now 'learning the ropes' from those who are my age that run the farm now. I remember running around the farm with them when we were little. It's such a great farm with a newly built barn to relax in next to their huge fireplace inside with hot cocoa or cider. They sell ornaments from around the world and now have an actual little restaurant inside where the family can spend more time just enjoying the sounds of children running and having fun around the farm and playing with the Golden Retrievers they raise and usually each year, the dogs puppies which are also free to roam and play with their visitors. Outside they have a little children's zoo now in the past few years which has been added and they now have reindeer which all the little kids just get so excited to see. It's such a fabulous place to go and spend time with your family. Sitting in their barn with the fireplace just to relax and enjoy those rushing around is enough with the music playing to give even the biggest Grinch in the land the holiday spirit.

    Over 50 years I've gone to that same tree farm so it has a very special place in my heart. The next generation is being taught to run the farm as I said and some of them have thier own children now too so I hope they continue on with the family tradition which has been carried through so many generations when it's their time to take over.

    Thank you for another great giveaway today. I am sure any of us would just love those strips and could make good use of them.

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  5. I think my favorite Christmas tradition is gathering together with the whole family on Christmas eve. We have lots of food, singing Christmas Carols, and lots of time to share with family members we only see once a year. It's really a very special time of reconnecting.

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  6. It is so sad when traditions get broken. Our family used to get together on Christmas eve. As time and life goes by, Children grow up and jobs take them away. We would always get together and open gifts and have finger foods snacks cookies. This year I am starting a new tradition to give to my nieces. I am making a recipe scrap book To share recipes with them each year at Christmas.

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  7. Our traditions were always to go to my family on Christmas Day and my inlaws on Boxing Day then change it around the following year. As we now live in France that isn't possible. The only tradition I have now is to watch A Christmas Carol, love watching it, don't even mind which one it is. Linda

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  8. Today is my birthday, and oh...what a great gift this would be. Attending midnight mass, then returning home to await the arrival of Santa! janet

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  9. I try to prepare a big tradional Xmas meal. Everyone enjoys having their favoirite foods.
    Carol L

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  10. I love baking cookies with the kids. On Christmas Eve, we leave cookies out for Santa on a special plate. I dread the day that they do not want to do it anymore.

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  11. My favorite tradition is going to Mass on Christmas Eve, having homemade pizza when we get home and then opening gifts.
    Theresa W
    foleywestrup(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  12. My favorite holiday tradition... I have to think about that... I think I would have to say it is just sitting with my husband, son and our three fur kids, with the fire place on and the trees all lit up and just being together.

    Thanks for the chance to win...

    Have a great Saturday!

    Onalee
    Stow, Ohio

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  13. One of my favorite family traditions would be that we include some Norwegian goodies each year in our foods for the day as we gather with our family. My grandmother was full Norwegian, and she made dozens of traditional cookies or other foods for the Christmas celebration. We have kept just a little bit of that alive, although none of our goodies are equal to those that our "Nonny" made.

    Thank you again for yet another wonderful giveaway!

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  14. My favorite holiday tradition is our annual family cookie-bake. Which is at my house. Today! Guess I better go get busy!

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  15. My favorite holiday tradition is Christmas breakfast. There's always a small, fun wrapped present at each plate and the cocoa/coffee stirrers are peppermint sticks!

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  16. Our favorite is Christmas Dinner - standing rib roast and Yorkshire pudding. Thanks for the giveaway! Merry Christmas!

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  17. Going to my grandparent's for all the family to get together. Merry Christmas. L

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  18. The whole day is just a lot of fun and I feel very blessed from early in the morning Christmas breakfast to Christmas dinner. Having the grandbabies now makes it just the best. The joy and innocence is hard to beat for making me smile.
    Mary
    Thanks and Happy Holidays

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  19. Our favorite family tradition is driving to the mountains to pick out our Christmas tree.

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  20. Baking. I love to bake year round; however, Christmas baking is so special. The smells of Christmas baking are wonderful.

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  21. One of my favorite Christmas traditions Dirty Santa (gift-stealing/swapping), which we play every year at the get-together on my mother's side of the family. It's cozy, everyone sitting in a big circle in Granny's "great room", and Dirty Santa is always good for laughs. We have a lot of fun planning and putting together the gifts, too. :)

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  22. Both my Mom and Dad were the glue that held our family together and Christmas was a very special time of year for all of us. Even as adults with families of our own and living in different parts of the country, there was never a doubt that my brothers and I would rally the troops and return 'home' for Christmas.

    My parents had a small house but we we never felt crowded or uncomfortable...even with only one restroom. I cherish the memories of those times because even though both my parents are no longer with us, their spirit of Christmas continues to flourish in our hearts.

    Although the miles still separate us, my brothers and I still endeavor to maintain the tradition of 'family first' that our parents instilled in us so many years ago, especially at Christmas time.

    Thanks once again for your generous giveaway.

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  23. We have a set of three stuffed reindeer named Larry, Daryl and Daryl (after the Bob Newhart show). We make a joke out of staging the trio doing different things around the house. I never know what I will find the boys doing when I come downstairs each morning but it is always good for a laugh.

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  24. On Christmas morning I get up early, fill the stockings (thank goodness my daughter has never been an early riser even when Santa is visiting), fix a pot of coffee, put the cinnamon rolls into the oven and then sit down in front of a fire and the lit tree and simply relax.

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  25. A tradition here is celebrating with the family. It may be few or many but time with the family is my favorite. I also thought about the surprise airline ticket my husband gave me one year to go see my sister in Jamestown NY (Pat). That's how she got started quilting as I dragged her from shop to shop. Would love some of the Sandhill Plums. Thanks and happy Christmas week.

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  26. One of our Christmas traditions is getting together about a week before Christmas to bake all of our favorite goodies including sour cream cookies, peanut butter balls, fudge puddles and almond bark candy. Today is actually the day we're doing our baking.

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  27. When I was little, my grandmother who lived with us would make dozens and dozens of rolled sugar cookies and we would all sit around the table and decorate them. With my own children, we usually make a gingerbread house or two around Christmas time and use it for decoration...then they eat the goodies off of it when it comes time to undecorate!

    We celebrate Christmas by going to Mass either Christmas eve or Christmas day, then having a fun day of gifts and cooking and eating and just enjoying our family.

    MGM

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  28. We do all our cooking on Christmas eve so we have no obligations on Christmas day. We spend the day together eating, opening gifts, playing games, and watching a good movie or two.

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  29. Lynn, Just a quick to thank you for your generous gift from yesterday's post. It was so funny...I had just finished typing in my response when wood worker hubby came into the kitchen so I read it to him as well...all about fond memories! Thank you so much! Note: I won't enter this giveaway...I'm feeling so lucky I don't want to take the prize away from someone else! Enjoy the day!

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  30. Christmas morning brunch at our house with the kids and grandparents. Because children are older now and my parents have passed things have changed. We still have brunch with my inlaws and 2 of the 3 kids. Oldest is married with her own family now.

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  31. For some reason I was thinking about Christmas with my family, when I was young. We had eight kids and on Christmas day we were allowed to open one present, which was usually a new dress, that we could wear to church. After church we had a big brunch and then opened presents. We had one person who gave out the presents, and that was always my favorite. I loved watching the person open their present and it really taught me to love giving more than receiving.

    Debbie

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  32. Thankfully, I am still blessed to have my elderly parents with us. We all gather together for Church on Christmas Eve. I love standing quietly to listen to my parent's
    voices as they sing the Christmas hymns.

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  33. Christmas Eve starts with the family going to church together for the children's Christmas program and then afterwards we meet for a time of eating, opening presents, singing Christmas songs, playing games and just being together. We open gifts from the youngest to the oldest so we can see what everyone received and it is not a free for all. It is such a special time of reconnecting and being thankful for the wonderful family that we have.

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  34. As a child, I loved getting together with my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents and having our family Christmas party! We kids would put on a little Christmas program for our grandparents.

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  35. i always make a couple of hand made ornaments for my kids trees. wealways have shrimp and cheesecake for new years eve dinner.

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  36. I love going to my Grandmas every Christmas Eve to play cards eat way to many treats :) Thanks for the giveaway!

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  37. We go to the 5 p.m. church service on Christmas Eve. Our Christmas Eve "dinner" is a cheese, summer sausage and cracker tray, and all kinds of Christmas goodies like the cookies, breads, etc. Since we don't have a big meal, we can snack on the goodies all evening after church! When the kids were little, they always got to open one gift on Christmas Eve. It was usually a book or pajamas they could use right away.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  38. What a wonderful prize!!!! :-) One of my favorite holiday traditions is the family gathering we have each Christmas at my Mom and Dad's house. The whole family gathers for tons of good food, delicious desserts, singing, game playing, visiting and gift exchanging. We recently added a new tradition-- Dirty Santa! What fun! You never know *what* you'll end up getting! We had our get-together last night-- early this year because several family members will be out of town on Christmas-- and had tons of fun! We decided to go with an "Italian" theme for the food-- yum! And for Dirty Santa, this year, I ended up getting one of those rice heating pads with a houndstooth cover and an Alabama insulated glass with a variety of Crystal Light packets-- Roll Tide! :-)

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  39. Making cookies with my girls! I don't know why but this is the one time out of the year the three of us are in the kitchen together. Thanks for the opportunity at this giveaway!

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  40. The best Christmas fun is the decorating of the sugar cookies with my grown kids plus the 2 grandchildren. Frosting in every color and sprinkles, red hots, silver bbs fill the kitchen counter. These are the most favorite cookies for us.

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  41. Two favorite but simple traditions are on my list: putting up the Christmas tree as a family, and going to candlelight Christmas eve service. Hope you have a wonderfully, fun time with your grandchildren!

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  42. The past few years we've spent Christmas Eve with our daughter so we're there in the morning when the g-babies awake! Last year our son (who's going through a divorce) stayed with us too and he intends to do so again this year. We have a make ahead breakfast and do most of the cooking for the day ahead. It's laid back and comfy and I hope we can continue to do this for many years. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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  43. Our traditions have changed over the years as our children grow and have families of their own...going to my parents on Christmas eve, attending the Holidazzle parade and Macy's 8th floor display, and now a pasta individual stir fry...but always celebrating the birth of our Savior!!

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  44. Love the new Sandhill Plum collection. A real winner!

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  45. Oyster stew has always been served on Christmas Eve in my family.

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  46. Since we moved out of state soon after being married, the traditions that I cherished as a young person have all gone away. After our son was born we told our families that we would be home on Christmas day from then on. However, we are usually required to travel either before or after the holiday, so it's still hard to start new traditions. The one thing that we do is put up our Christmas tree together. DS marvels at all the ornaments and is now old enough to remember a few from previous years.

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  47. My favorite holiday tradition is the special music of the season -- no, not what you hear in most of the stores. Mostly it's special pieces we have collected over the years that are only played at Christmas so they now evoke memories of our Christmases past. And second: the smell of evergreens. We may not have a live Christmas tree, but we always have something - maybe just a candle - that smells like one.

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  48. We've just started a tradition this year of reading one story every night starting on the first. We have a fabric bag that's closed with an embelished elastic hair band that sits outside the kids bedroom door. It has a big notebook that stays in it with stories that I read as a child (no pictures) and sometimes we read one of those, but there are Christmas songs in it as well and we sing a song each night. I put a new picture book in the bag each day and the kids take turns opening it to see what the book is. This is our first year doing it this way and I love how it has developed. The songs are my 3 year olds favorite part (and truly her contribution to the tradition). My 6 year old seems to love anticipating if the book will be one that he remembers or a new one. Thanks for letting us share our traditions. It's fun to read about others and have the chance to share.

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  49. My Dad passed away last August, so now both my parents are gone, and my thoughts keep turning back to the Christmases of my childhood. We would cut down an old scrub cedar from my grandpa's pasture for our tree and decorate it with homemade trinkets and popcorn. There were five kids and we didn't have much money, but Mom and Dad always made sure we each had a couple toys under the tree from Santa. (Dad later told me that it would take them until the next summer to pay off those gifts.) We would each hang one of Dad's actual socks as a stocking, and the orange in the toe, the candy, and the nuts that were in there the next morning were a real treat. And Dad would always read "The Night Before Christmas" aloud to us before we went to bed to await Santa's visit. I miss my Mom and Dad and those simpler times so very much.

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  50. On a Saturday just before Christmas my daughters and I get together and bake all day. We've done this for over 35 yrs so now....and of course the grandkids get into the baking fun now. Then we take our goodies to shut-in seniors on Sunday afternoon.

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  51. When my sister and I were about 4 and 5, my mom or dad would take us for a walk around the block when they heard the train whistle. The train would pass about 1/2 block away and "Santa" was on the train. So, when we got home there were gifts from Santa under the tree!

    Thanks for the giveaway.

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  52. When the kids were little, we usually took our sleeping bags and slept at least one night during the holidays around our Christmas tree. Someday I'd like to do the same with our grandchildren(we don't have any yet).
    Thanks for all your generous giveaways. Merry Christmas.

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  53. Our most important family tradition is traveling by car 950 miles every year (27 years and counting) with our 3 children to spend Christmas with our families.

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  54. My personal tradition is to visit a shrine in a nearby town that has a festival of lights every year. I attend the concert, visit the gift shop, then stand at the stable with the other visitors and wait for the lights to go on. I love the gasp we all do when that happens, and am always happy to be amongst the crowd. Then I buy a hot chocolate and take a walk to see all of the displays. The cold and snow only add to the spirit. I love jelly rolls so again I hope I win today. Thanks so much.

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  55. Our favorite tradition is Christmas eve church service followed by caroling and eggnog, yum!

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  56. As a family we went to the latest possible Christmas Eve service at church. I love the feeling of anticipation at night on the eve of Christmas. Then, going for a drive around town to enjoy the lights. This is extra special if it is lightly snowing.

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  57. Would appreciate winning the beautiful fabric. Our Christmas tradition is to spend it with family. Lana D.

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  58. My favorite Christmas tradition is giving our two daughters each a Christmas ornament. It is the only gift they are allowed to open on Christmas Eve. We have picked them up all over the world and they have a lovely selection. The only unfortunate thing is that now that they have left home, my tree is a tad bare!
    Conny from Red Deer, Alberta

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  59. I make a quilt every year for my Mom and daughter. My Mom's always has to be a quilt from a Crabapple Hill pattern, so have to start that one very eary in the year. Have a great Christmas.

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  60. We celebrate with lots of family and friends and feasting and gathering and presents! It usually lasts from just before Christmas to just after New Years!

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  61. My fav Christmas tradition is having the youngest child who can read, read the Christmas story.

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  62. MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL
    AMID THE FESTIVITIES DON'T FORGET TO MELT SOME WHITE CHOCOLATE+CRUSH SOME PEPPERMINT CANES+BLEND TOGETHER>FOR A QUICK TASTY TREAT!
    THANKS LYNNE!

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  63. My very favorite, and the one I miss most, was my girls all jumping into bed with me on Christmas morning to open the gifts in their stockings before we'd head downstairs and start the festivities. They even had one for me and a lot of thought always went into it. They're all grown and have families of their own now but that will always be my very favorite.

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  64. Lynne,tenho toda ancendescia italiana,então ,duas semanas antes dos feriados:assar tudo que tem direito,pães,roscas,bolos,biscoitosetc...sobremesas,vai desde torta alemã,até o sorvete mais comum.Abrir presentes os mais importantes são o dos pai logo que chega da missa do galo,enquanto criacada se diverte os mais velhos servem a mesa,no dia de natal abrimos todos outros presentes e cafe´da manha~com todos reunidos .Hoje somos só 78 pessoas,saudades eternas dos que se foram.....FELIZ NATAL ATODOS OS SEUS . tiacarminhapezzuto@.com

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  65. We always go to church on Christmas eve and then open gifts when we get home. Nice tradition.

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  66. My daughter is coming home for Christmas with her little Bichon, Chloe. We love to spoil them both. We like to read the story of the birth of Christ on Christmas Eve. We have a big breakfast Christmas morning and open gifts. This year we aren't focusing on the gifts as much so there won't be a lot to open. Just spending time together is the best part.

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  67. Now that the kids are gone, my husband and I watch Christmas Story on xmas eve - we always enjoy no matter how many times we have seen the movie. This year, he even got a repro of "the lamp" from the movie for his birthday with the agreement that it only comes out at xmas time and it stays in the den!!!

    Charlotte S.

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  68. One of our family tradition is to get together for a long family meal on Christmas eve or Christmas day usually, although it won't be possible this year as we can't go home for Christmas, we have to wait for Baby#3 to be born first so we might have Christmas in February instead! Thanks for the chance for the giveaway.
    Celine_Combet at yahoo.co.uk

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  69. Hi Lynne, here (across the pond) I always watch Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve. It is televised from Melbourne which is a long way from where I live,which is North of Sydney. :) The show goes for several hours and it is wonderful.:)
    Merry Christmas to you and yours from Australia. :) Sandy.

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  70. Having the kids for Christmas dinner, whoever can make it since they are all not close by. Going to church and connecting with friends.

    The fabric is pretty. Thanks for the chance.

    Darlis

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  71. My favorite Christmas tradition is attending Christmas Eve candlelight services.

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  72. My favorite Christmas tradition is sitting with my husband in front of roaring fire and watching our favorite Christmas movies - Christmas in Connecticut, White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, The Bishop's Wife - doesn't matter which. I just love holding his hand and enjoying the season.

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  73. We light a candle tree, which has only angel ornaments and the names of all those in the family who have passed. We turn out all the lights and it is a beautiful sight.

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  74. When my kids were small we would gather on Christmas eve with the Polar Express book. We have a cassette with William Hurt reading the book and it was so much fun. The kids would each take a turn at ringing the sleigh bell at the end. I miss that since they are all grown now but look forward to the day when we can do the same with grandkids!

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  75. One of my favorite family holiday traditions is attending Mass on Christmas Eve with our boys, after mass we get together with neighbors for dessert and a glass of wine. It's simple, easy and filled with lovee.

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  76. No regular traditions. Just getting family together. This year we are celebrating at my sons home.

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  77. Every year, my step mom and I go out on a Saturday and do all her shopping for the grandkids. I am her package carrier, runner, line holder, whatever she needs to do. As payment, I get to pick where we go for lunch. Sometimes my niece Emily joins us, but now that she is a teenager, it is harder to find a Saturday that works.
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    Sandy A
    scotty4me39(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  78. Sad to say no real tradition in our home, other than taking turns to open presents.

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  79. Favorite holiday tradition is opening new PJs and nightgowns on Christmas Eve!

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  80. Oh I would love to win those strips!~ I love making scrappy gifts. We always hang the stockings on the kids door knobs when we go to bed~ that way when they get up really early~and they always do on Christmas!, they can enjoy those treats until Mom and Dad wake up. We hear them scurrying from room to room and know they are up. LOL Thanks for the fun!

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  81. I can't think of a specific tradition, but we for the last 20 years or so we open our gifts on Christmas morning after having brunch with our neighbors. It used to be breakfast when their children were little....now it is brunch!

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  82. One of my favorite Christmas traditions is our annual hike on the 26th. We head out into the woods, hike for several hours, then enjoy our well earned turkey sandwiches and hot chocolate as we picnic in the snow.

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  83. Some of our family traditons are lighting the Advent wreath everynight and having all the Grandchildren over and they decorate their own sugar cookies so they can take them home to share. No Adults allowed (other than Nana) they can decorate them any way they want, with as much as they want, any color they want. No cookie police here. It is their creations and they are beautiful!

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  84. A small but important tradition that I started when my 4 kids were young...I put a bottle of Coca-Cola in their stockings every year. One year I forgot and left the bottles in the fridge. They noticed it was missing right away.

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  85. My favorite Christmas tradition is going to the Christmas Eve Candlelight service. I love it when the lights are turned out and the only light is from the candles everyone has and we all sing Silent Night. Beautiful!

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  86. My favorite tradition is to bake a ton of Christmas cookies and give them to neighbors and friends.

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  87. One tradition that absolutely can't be abandoned is that I make a 24-hour omelet on Christmas Eve. When we are ready to begin opening presents I put it in the oven. By the time it is done baking we are ready to eat. It is the only day of the year when we all sit down and eat breakfast together. Every other day we just grab something and run out the door. Our Christmas breakfast is a special time together.

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  88. We are trying to get a tradition going once again in our house. Last Christmas was our first without our oldest son, Ethan, who passed away in a tragic accident in June 2010 at the tender age of 7. Last Christmas was a blur. But I would love to share with you our last Christmas Christmas with him (and our other son, Evan) was like. Christmas of 2009, we packed up our little Subaru and drove from Nellis AFB, NV to Sequoia in California. I blogged about that vacation (and what we hoped would become a tradition): http://wallacefamilyhomeschool.blogspot.com/2010/12/god-ordained-family-vacation.html

    Another tradition that our boys did together was make a Happy Birthday Jesus cake. It was a angelfood cake frosted with cool whip and topped with mandarin oranges. :) We plan on having Evan make one with us this year on Christmas day. We will continue that traditon. But we are searching for a new tradition in the midst of our sadness.

    Merry CHRISTmas and God bless! :)

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  89. Decorating cookies is my favorite tradition. Mom started the tradition 45 yrs ago, and I kept it going with my kids and now the grandkids. We make the same recipe for German Crisps, a light lemony cookie. I've got one kid back from college for a few weeks who will help me...those years I did them alone was not as fun!

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  90. My little guy loves the decorating -and the magic of ALL the gifts appearing Christmas morning. Love seeing the sparkle for him.... hope he never loses that magic.

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  91. My favorite holiday tradition is listening to Christmas music, such as going to a choir concert.

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  92. After leaving a religiously strict/non-holiday celebrating situation, this is the first year my 6 year old son and I get to celebrate Christmas. So far, my favorite part has got to be letting him decorate the tree. He was so excited! I was very careful not to police the decorating (I did make a few minor adjustments after he went to bed, but he doesn't know lol). Now I am anxiously awaiting the actual day, and the memories I know will be made. I also am supposed to make him a quilt by the time my classes start back, so I better get started! :)

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  93. My grown up kids decided that instead of exchanging gifts, they would all meet for dinner at a favorite restaurant. They graciously allow my husband and I to join them (dutch of course). They leave the grandkids home. I LOVE watching my kids and in-law kids enjoying the time they spend together.

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  94. On Christmas Eve, my family and I always drive around town and enjoy everyone's light displays. After we return home, we open one gift. We also attend a worship service that begins at 11 p.m. It ends at midnight, and everyone very reverently walks out the door in silence. Outside, friends exchange warm greetings and hugs. By that time, Christmas Day has dawned!

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  95. Traditions include a family get together, carol singing, and the sharing of a meal. kathie L in Allentown

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  96. We have an annual tradition of hot chicken wings and strawberry daquiris on Christmas Eve. A nice change from the heavy turkey dinners.

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  97. We always have baking weekend the weekend before Christmas, Christmas Eve is simple fare and Church and hot cocoa and viewing all the light displays! C. Day we drive 3 hrs up north to visit with my sisters and families. Always a fun fun time! Dogs all invited too. thanks!

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  98. Christmas morning the kids all open their stockings first, then we have breakfast which always includes cinnamon rolls, and finally open our gifts. Then the day is ours to spend until we go to my mom and dad's for Christmas dinner. It's relaxing and fun!

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  99. My family always gathers for a "Special Christmas" the Saturday or Sunday after Christmas. This tradition started in 1969 when my oldest brother got married and my mother was very sad that he couldn't spend Christmas with us because his wife wanted to spend it with her parents. We haven't missed one year since then. Each of us takes a turn hosting now and even the grandchildren have started to host. It's a wonderful day we spend full of family, love, laughter and lots of great food.

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  100. The Friday before Christmas every year myself and my 3 daughters go out for tea and late night shopping because my husbands' work has their christmas break-up the Friday week before Christmas and we drop him off and pick him up when we are finished shopping. We've been doing it for about 25 years now, they still enjoy it at 27 & 30 year olds.

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  101. The highlight of Christmas for me is the candlelight service on Christmas Eve. The whole family goes toghether. Then on Christmas Day we go to my parent's house. My brothers come too. The house is full and loud with 13 ( not so little anymore ) kids.

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  102. It has been good to read the way that other people spend their Christmas. I had Christmas with my grandparents every year as a child and they made it a very special time with very traditional activities and it was a special time for us. That kind of Christmas hasn't been a hallmark of my adult years though one tradition has carried through which is the sharing of a type of chocolate which we had as children with my grandparents and now I buy the same brand to share out. I never recognised it as a tradition until this year while talking about traditions while blogging and I have learned also that traditions can be very useful ways to communicate love and security and have a valuable role in families..I'm grateful for that understanding even though it took me a while!

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  103. Spending time thanking the Lord for his great gift that Christmas so long ago and reading the story from Luke is my favorite Christmas tradition. The scraps look like wonderful fun surprises.

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  104. Getting together with my family on Christmas Eve for food and opening gifts. My folks are 76 and 78 (79 next month) and each year that passes that we still have them is the greatest gift of all.

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  105. Most of our traditions disappeared 6 years ago when I moved away from my family and most of my children. The rest died when we realized we were allergic to wheat and corn (and a bunch of other things).
    We used to have Christmas Eve at my house. We would have cheeseball and crackers, veggies and dip, lots of different Christmas cookies, candy, punch with sherbert, shrimp, sometimes meatballs - good fun fingerfood. And we would open our presents. My husband and ex-husband would be there (they like each other better than they like me), all six of my children, and my son-in-law. Nobody has made any grandbabies yet. We kept up the fun food and presents until we became allergic to the food (2 years ago), and each girl has gone away for one of the past six Christmas. So celebrating isn't really important to me anymore. I just try to spend that energy pondering the Savior and His love for us.

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