Good Morning!
Do you know how to catch a polar bear? I’ll tell you just in case you ever need this information. LOL You cut a hole in the ice. Then you open a can of peas and pour it in the hole. When the polar bear comes out to take a pea you kick him in the ice hole. ROTFLMAO!!!!
No, I have not been drinking. Tis the season. I always get this way–can’t help it.
I have one more present to buy and then it starts—yes, the dreaded impulse buying. LOL I like lots of presents under the tree. They don’t need to be expensive, just plenty of them. Except this year we have to be careful about how much we buy. We’re driving down to our daughter’s (5 hours) and we’re picking up our son and his fiancé along the way. We’ll be spending the weekend (we’re having X-mas early because of work schedules). So with suitcases, presents and food we might be a little crowded.
I put my tree up before Thanksgiving. My son, who lives in Dallas and is all grown up, complained. But Mom, you never do that! I broke with his idea of a family tradition. You can do that when you get older—LOL. I actually had fun doing it, too! I get to enjoy a decorated tree a lot longer. My son-in-law’s grandparent’s have anything but the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. They have Italian food or Mexican etc. I think that’s cool.
So, tell me, are you a rule breaker? I’ll draw names from the comments and pick one person to win a copy of I’m Your Santa. You must be over 18 to enter.
Best,
Karen Kelley
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Our tree went up just last week. And we had the usual turkey & dressing for Thanksgiving. I vaguely remember one year, though, when I was a kid that we had pizza. *g*
How about this one…. my Christmas tree is a palm tree. Hahaha. So yeah, I’m a rule breaker. My mom bought it for me (it came pre-lit and is actually really cool) knowing I was having trouble getting my holly-jolly on. And it worked! My daughter’s friends all think it’s “tight” so I’m going to have a Pina Colada Christmas instead od Egg Nog
I see nothing wrong with breaking the rules but there’s no way I’d put up a tree that early. I like to enjoy the other holidays, and by the time December rolls around, I don’t want to be sick of Christmas already. I still refuse to listen to Christmas music until about a week before the actual day. That way I’m not tempted to toss the radio through the window. Don’t get me wrong, I love the holidays, but not 2 months of the same one.
Although I’ve often contemplated the wisdom of being a redneck woman, and as Gretchen Wilson would say, “Leave my Christmas lights up all year long”. Saves you the trouble of hanging them and then taking them down.
I am not generally a rule breaker. I love the Christmas season, with the lights and all the decorations. I used to decorate a lot, when everybody was home, now I find I just put out the ceramic tree and call it a day. As for Christmas music, I really hate hearing it for two months straight I would be happy if they started playing Christmas music a week out and all day Christmas Day, but that would be the limit for me.
Well, it seems to be the rule to take Christmas stuff down on the 1st, but I like to try to wait a little longer because of the 12th day of Christmas is actually on the 6th of January, but it doesn’t usually last long because even I’m sick of it by then. LOL But I try.
Lois
Hey, Karen – I had to break with a tradition this year that has stood the test of time since I was nineteen! My hubby nad I have always and forever had a live tree. I love coming home to that scent…
But sadly, we have figured out that my son-in-law and granddaughter are both allergic to the live trees. So with much reluctance, I went out and bought my first artificial tree…
I know in the grand scheme of things it’s not that big a deal… but I miss going with my hubby to the tree lot and picking out the perfect tree.
Janice
OMG!! That polar bear joke is too funny. I am totally stealing it and sending it to my friends!
I am more of a rule bender than a rule breaker. I grew up in an Italian family and our idea of Christmas dinner was homemade ravioli. We never had turkey and trimming at Christmas.
My DH (boyfriend at the time) was appalled that we didn’t have turkey or ham! For the past 2 years (out of 20!) Christmas dinner is prime rib instead of turkey. So maybe I am finally turning him into a Christmas dinner rebel! LOL!
Karen,
I LOVE THE POLAR BEAR! Now do you see why I think you’re so awesome? You’re not even drunk and you’re entertaining
.
I do break rules. Even slight ones…they make me feel a bit naughty
.
Jules Bennett
I broke tradition some years ago and bought an artificial tree instead of a live one as my parents always had a live tree and I started out that way.
That was a cute joke, lol.
Not much of a rule breaker here. I love Christmas music and start listening to it long before Thanksgiving, but come Christmas night, I’m finished and don’t want to hear anymore. I used to put my decorations up on Thanksgiving weekend. Now I usually do it a week or so after and take it down the weekend following New Year’s Day. One year my hubby was in a foul mood all day on Christmas and as soon as our company left, I brought out the boxes and packed everything up and put it away – since I was furious with him by then, it didn’t take me any time at all!
I’d love to have a non-traditional Thanksgiving. Maybe next year. Pizza sounds really good!
LuAnn, why does it not surprise me you have a palm tree rather than a Christmas tree??? LOL
Ohmygosh, you’re supposed to take the Christmas lights down every year??? LOL I wait until the last minute to put the tree away, too.
But you have snow, Cryna. Tell me you’re not tempted to run outside and make snow angels. LOL
Lois, actually the 6th is about the time mine comes down. Last year I started buying the Christmas village and I’ll really hate putting it away. It’s like having a doll house. I always wanted one. Oh, crap, maybe I’m in my second childhood—(Karl says I haven’t left the first one–LOL)
Janice, my daughter laughs at my tree. Yes, actually laughs! It’s about 25 years old. I figure if I pile it full of ornaments no one sees the tree anyway. Knowing you, I’ll bet you’ll makes lots of new traditions! I do love the smell of a Christmas tree though but I can’t leave up a real one for as long.
I say have turkey/ham at Christmas and be a rebel at Thanksgiving! And steal away–I love the polar bear joke!
Yes, Jules, I suspected you were more than a little naughty when I first met you! LOL
Okay, off to write but I’ll check in later.
One year we had BBQ for our Christmas meal. So much less time consuming so we had more time to visit. I love the snack foods – meatballs, pigs in blankets, chip/dips, etc., but my mom always wants a huge southern type meal. One day I’m going to say for her to host the meal if that’s what she wants, but I haven’t worked up the nerve yet because that creates a whole other set of problems – the kids want to be at home and not travel to Granny’s.
The tree is up and decorated except for the topper – the star doesn’t work from last year so that’s a trip to the store. I’ve still got to get the nativity scene and our Christmas linens down from the attic. Stupid me decided to repaint my bathroom after Thanksgiving so that’s just about finished (looks great, too). The plumber came this morning to unstop two toilets ( how do boys use so much TP?)
Impulse buying? I love the gifts that are last minutes thoughts. They usually wind up being the most loved gifts!
We sometimes have chicken instead of turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’m the only one in the family who really likes turkey, everybody else doesn’t really care for it. I also like to buy and eat birthday cakes even when there’s no birthday. I even have them write “Happy Birthday” on top of the cake.
I am a rule breaker. Our tree went up before Thanksgiving. The last few years have been pure chaos and crisis around the holidays so we wanted the decorations up early this year. If this year another crisis comes along, we have decided to just keep the tree up and change the decorations for the season.
It is a white tree so it could work.
I think our Christmas is pretty traditional. We just put up our tree yesterday and will decorate it this week. If I don’t have to cook for Christmas, though, then I’m happy with whatever is being served.
ROFL at the joke!!!
Hmm…there are rules? Guess that answers your question…LOL…we tend to do things in our own time and in our own way. Growing up we had traditions, but now things are different every year since my sibs have their own families and are starting their own traditions. LOL…my mom said we should just get pizza this year for our family get-together. I kind of miss the traditions though and feel a bit sad that I don’t have a family to start my own with…but maybe someday…
The polar bear joke is great!
I am not a rule breaker—usually.
My tree went up o Dec.1 and we are enjoying it.
Unfortunately… I am ot a rule-breaker, I am very traditionnal.
Love the polar bear joke!
I have to agree with Nathalie. I’m pretty traditional, not much of a rule breaker.
Tree was up the first weekend in December and Christmas cards were written this weekend (mailed out today). We usually take our tree down between Christmas and New Year’s Day (depends when the weekend falls).
Happy Holidays everyone!
We don’t have a lot of traditions in our family so there aren’t a lot of rules to break. We’re all pretty spontaneous during the Holidays!
My mother was allergic to Christmas trees so we always had an artificial one. Now that she’s gone, I might bring in some limbs to put on the mantle for the wonderful smell.
Laurie, you should’ve left the tree up and coated his underwear with Icy Hot or something
LOL
Lisa, Granny needs to learn the fine art of corruption
We taught our grandkids how to play Texas Hold ‘Em and had a big game going with the kids and adults over Thanksgiving. We let them work behind our “bar” and fix the drinks and snacks which consisted of pouring rootbeer into chilled mugs and popping popcorn in the microwave. Next year we’ll let them go wild and fix rootbeer floats 
An idea on the stopped up toilets. We used to buy Charmin but had to switch to the cheap brand. The Charmin kept stopping up the toilets.
Jane–funny about the birthday cakes!
Brine the turkey next time. I hate turkey but the future d-i-l brined (?) it and ohmygosh it was so good. Everyone loved it! Check on line for a recipe.
Stephanie–someone after my own heart
I hope you have a happy holiday this year! And no crisis!
Maureen, I even love the cooking. Especially the desserts! I always make candy and pies.
Jennifer–you’re so funny! Think positive thoughts!!! I will too that you get to start your own family really soon.
Estella—pause, usually—I like that
Nathalie–traditional is good, too!
Sue–I love spontaneous!
Actually, my family is just plain old strange. We MUST have a curry and rice dish at Thanksgiving, be it duck, chicken, or lamb. One year we had my best friend over and we had the “traditional” fixings along with our curry. She just looked at me kinda wierd like she didn’t know what to make of it. I explained to her that although most of us LOVE a turkey dinner, we have a few who NEED to have curry on a daily basis.
As our family grows it’s hard to stand by the same rules. Sometimes it’s sad for old traditions to disappear but then it’s nice to start new ones too. When I got married I started a tradition of having a tree trimming party – it was just my husband and I and an uncle who had no where to go for Chritmas. It has now evolved to my two grown children and their significant others and a nephew and his wife who have no children and the same uncle with a significant other. The party is whenever we can all get together which is getting harder and harder to coordinate so it can be very early in December or as late as a few days before. We’ve always gotten a live tree and I keep it up for as long as I can get away with which is well into January on many years. I much prefer the variety over the friends I know that put it up the day after Thanksgiving and have it down by New Years lol.
I’m a rule breaker, too. I was in the mood, so I just put the tree up.
I didn’t turn the lights on though until after Thanksgiving. I broke another rule, too, and bought a present for myself. I just couldn’t resist these very practical, cool shoes.
Yep I think rules are made to be broken. This year I was a week late putting up the tree. And my son’s darn farrot is worse at getting ornaments than a grandchild would be. I have to take the ornaments off from about a foot up. lol
I love the tree-trimming tradition. I know when Karl and I put the tree up we talk about the different ornaments. The kids made some of them. They’re a little worse the wear and not quite as nice as the ones we’ve bought but they have their own special place on the tree.
We used to have to move the Christmas balls up because of the cat. She swatted them until they fell off. Once, she climbed the tree. It wasn’t a pretty sight—
Ahhh, memories!
And the winner is Estella—woo-hoo! Congrats!!! Thanks to all who made comments. I really enjoyed visiting with everyone yesterday.
Estella, if you’ll send your snail mail to kkelley@classicnet.net I’ll get your book in the mail this week.
Best Wishes,
Karen
Congratulations Estella! You are going to love the book!