Lots of garden things, and an over the range microwave. They had me guess what was in the big box.......all seven of my very adult children lined up and did the wave as they do at a ball game. I finally guessed what it was! One DSIL will be back to do some rewiring before they install it. I've been thinking of getting one for a while.....free up some counter space.

OK...OK.
New Year's Day we fly to Tampa. We'll goof around until Sunday when we board the ship. This is a 14-day, followed by a 7-day.
In order, Key West, San Juan, St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Lucia, Curacao, Aruba, Cayman Islands, Tampa, Key West, Trujillo Honduras (never been there), Santo Tomas Guatamala (never been there), Costa Maya Mexico and back to Tampa.

If the weather will allow, we'll be back on January 25. After last winter in Illinois, I planned to be out of the area for January. This should work. Only a couple of places we have never been, we have no plans. We might get off the ship or stay on board for the better service that we can get when all others are ashore.

From my husband a red rain coat and a pink and natural Dooney. (That makes 4 Dooney and Burke purses from him and a wallet over the years.)
From the boys, 4 nail polishes, a new pair of fabric scissors and a $25 Starbucks card.
From my mom 2 pairs of kitchen shears. One of them is a spring loaded pair of poultry shears. They work really well.

Won't be having Christmas until tomorrow when DD's and families will be here. Missing DS from CA, he planned on coming back but his job did a number on him.

DH gave me his usual, a check, which is fine and I can get what I want. I had already bought a big puzzle board to work jigsaw puzzles on and able to cover it to keep the cat from messing up the pieces. The remainder I'll wait until spring and get some garden stuff. :)

My brother, who never sends me gifts sent two books from Amazon.com. Wasn't expecting anything from anyone. Alex's hours at work have been slim and I didn't give Lauren any money to get me or anyone else anything this year. So, nothing from the kids, which is fine.

Oh, and went to see a friend across town to give her cookies and fudge, and so the kids could see her since they haven't seen her in a while and she was their babysitter years ago. She gave me a couple paperbacks and a puzzle, fudge and brownies. I have sweets coming out of my ears now...from Lauren baking and making fudge and then my friend's.

I requested clothes, and my kids really came through with some great things. Non-clothing items included a cast-iron humidifier for the woodstove, ice cleats, an LL Bean canvas tote embroidered with Grammy, and a TJ Maxx gift card.

My granddaughter gave me a natural stone heart necklace and a very creative and moving gift. She had an 8x10 print made of a b&w photo of my mother playing tennis in the 1940s, and framed it in a vintage tennis racquet press. She included the vintage racquet so I could mount them on the wall together, but I think I still have my mom's racquet. Such a nice gift!

I really dislike the "I gots" posts every Christmas. Who says Christmas isn't commercial? We gave up the "I gots" competition many years ago - but I'm sure I'll get flamed for this post anyway.

So "I got" a roof over my head, food in my stomach, heat, water, health, a family, and someone special to share my good fortune with. I am truly blessed with more than most.

"I got" everything I could ever want. The rest doesn't matter - it's just stuff.

This post was edited by tally on Thu, Dec 25, 14 at 21:43

I like these posts. Like Tally, though, we had a quiet Christmas without traditional gifts. Today, my husband and I gave each other the gifts of quality time together and some cleaning of the house. He's finished shampooing the living room carpet right now. I did get new stamps for crafting and some jewelry early this month that DH could have wrapped up, but we didn't wait this year.

I think it's great for us to celebrate every single aspect of this wonderful time of year. And some of the most touching post of what I got are the ones that involve seeing our loved ones. The gifts are NOT all purchases and commercial!
It touched my heart to read pekemoms post about seeing her son she has not seen in 10 years. Now that is an awesome gift.

My most precious gift was that my mother is still alive at 92, not in pain, and was happy and laughing with me when I was visiting with her last week. Every day she is not suffering is a great gift from God. That was absolutely the very best part of my Christmas. She knew me, we told each other how much we love each other and we laughed together. That will live in my heart till the next time I can see her.

Of course if it's something that you don't care for the option to simply skip on by is always there...

Of course if it's something that you don't care for the option to simply skip on by is always there...

Absolutely.

I have confidence that all of here are well aware of our blessings, and wouldn't trade them for anything you could buy in a store. An attempt to make us sound shallow for sharing what was in our packages is a grandstand play designed to make the poster sound superior.

Don't like the thread? Scroll on by. Many of us do it all the time.

You mean the option to "skip on by" is something I should avail myself of if I don't agree with you? LOL. "Skip on by" is a polite way of saying please don't post a disagreeing opinion. Not an agenda I particularity respect.

If someone says "List your Christmas goodies," the way to express your disagreement is to refrain from posting your Christmas goodies.

To say, in effect, "I don't like that you asked me to list my Christmas goodies" is both rude and childish.

Alisande, I don't need to make anyone sound shallow, and I'm sorry you are so defensive about it. They can do that on their own without any assistance. I merely said what *I* felt. I knew my opinion wouldn't be welcomed. But I do have the right to express it. Or don't I? Maybe not.

There are people on this board who may not have been able to afford anything this Christmas.

This post was edited by tally on Thu, Dec 25, 14 at 22:54

I apologize, Tally. It's Christmas, and I don't want to be insulting or pissed off on what has been a happy day for me and my family--and I hope for everyone reading this.

Agreed Alisande. Merry Christmas to you and your family. I hope you had a wonderful day.

Mine was picture perfect.

Son, his future wife,, her dad, my grandson came and a most memorable day.

Dinner was perfect: patting myself on my back

New York Strip loin , perfectly cooked, gourmet baked sweet potatoes, yorkshire pudding, and excellent Spanish Flan.

Fireplace going with a cozy fire, and the feel of love in abundance.

Son and his lady got up bright and early, to make breakfast for local homeless, before coming to my place for sausage balls and mini quiches before the big dinner.

{{gwi:2139292}}

Smiles from the couple says it all. :o)

Glenda, I'm so happy for your son; I know that you really like her....and so does your grandson.

Robert and I decided to make a nice donation to the Cortland County SPCA (in central NYS), where my dearest brother has recently signed on as Executive Director. It's a no kill shelter.

What's the first thing he does after being there a few days? He adopts a dog with three malformed legs, barely able to walk, neglected, fearful. She had been turned into the shelter by someone who who discovered her abandoned. She's now barely recognizable as the same animal, racing with joy (with help from Cornell University's veterinary specialists) at her new home. My brother says that she is a fabulous pet.

He also adopted an older dog with tumors, who will have a happy home for the rest of his life.

Anyway, a donation was our gift to each other. It's my hometown, so it feels especially nice.

I also secretly special ordered a pen from native tulip poplar, hand turned by someone Robert went to school with in Kentucky. And unknown to me, he had a pendant made for me from a beautiful piece of amber that he purchased from one of the archeology professors at the university who travels to interesting digs with his family when on vacation. I think that this amber came from NJ.

All that, plus a Chinese buffet and a long drive in the country....it was one of the best Christmases ever.

Alisande, I was really touched by the gift from your granddaughter.
I received a Clarisonic (which I asked for) and I hope to have a cleaner and more healthier looking face.
One daughter gave me a spa gift card for a place near her home in the city. She gave the same to my other daughter (her sister). We will probably go together and make a special day of it.

Late yesterday, our next door neighbor brought over something. She is from Kentucky and she gave us some fruit flavored moonshine. One of these days, I'll give it a small sip.

lovely warmer weather, than at home :)

sound of surf hitting the beach

sunshine

dinner at some friends of a friends house

quiet evening in front of the TV watching Julia Child movie

Such a lovely Christmas Day!

Moni

My best gift was having my daughter clean and sober for three years on Christmas day. Being with family and hearing the laughter of two of my three daughters (other daughter home with three sick grands) and my two grand daughters enjoying time with their aunt. Still to come on Monday family dinner with all who were unable to make Christmas dinner. Satine

I got help with my garden's fall cleanup from hubby. Today I am helping him build the supports for our rainwater harvesting tanks.

We are on a tight budget but our grandkids had a nice Christmas from their Grammy and Pop Pop :-)

I wish my children would skip getting me anything but they never listen. It is all about them and the grandkids. My son pays my cell phone bill all year so this is suppose to be my gift. They bought me a Pioneer Woman's cookbook and something else I haven't received yet. My DIL went shopping on Black Friday with her cousin and she took it by mistake. So I will get it today. My daughter got me a new iron( I needed one badly), a couple really nice pairs of earrings, a really nice vest, tops and pants. Her choice of clothes for me are always nice. Our youngest daughter gave me a really neat garden thing and an adorable sigh about what her mom taught her. It is a hoot!! I always get money, too. Larry and I received a neat plate of fudge and a $100.00 bill from a neighbor. I also received a couple neat gifts from some church ladies... We always have a great meaningful Christmas. The kids all came Christmas Eve day and went home around 5. Larry and I went to our church Christmas Eve service. Then we went to the kids 3 houses on Christmas Day to see what Santa brought everyone. Great two days but Grandma is tired!!

I just ran into our local CVS and did some Christmas shopping for next year. Our church ladies take gifts to our 2 local nursing homes for the patients to
give to loved ones. So I have started my box to donate for next year. Love doing this. Our family is so blessed and I love giving to others..

Happy New Year to all you.

Oh some of these are bringing tears of joy to my eyes! What great things to celebrate. So much love felt.

We had dinner at out neighbors last night and after a wonderful dinner we shared gifts. They are just the nicest sweetest people we are so fortunate and they too are happy to have neighbors that are friends. Lovely meal with wonderful friends.

It was funny, they did not have a fire in the fireplace because it is very warm here now, so he had received a red lava lamp as a gift and it was sitting in the opening of the fireplace! It was very entertaining watching it, not quite the same as a fire but interesting lol. We all commented that we had not seen one in years!

What blessings I have just read of each of your Christmas!

Jim, enjoy your cruise and your new lens. And just a sip of that fruit flavored moonshine is all you will need! I know you have to watch your carb count, and it will be a special treat for you, and I know you will understand that wasn't what I meant about the sip! Potent stuff!

Raven, enjoy those recliners in the RV. We would love them in ours, but we think the only way to get the couch out is thru the windshield. Not happening! And enjoy the stove also. Your visit with your mother will be a special memory for a long time to come.

Anne, I'm glad you had a wonderful time with your sister, and a yummy turkey dinner.

Pekemom, What a wonderful gift to see your son after so long!

Nanny98 sounds like you and DH had a good day also

Jasdip, I'm sure you will enjoy wearing your scarf and earrings.

Chisue, It sounds like you are having a wonderful time making memories with your family. The grands will remember this for years to come! I hope you are feeling better soon.

Carol, I'm glad you got to enjoy a meal with your DD & friend, even with the disappointment of a leaky sink and dishwasher. Hope the plumber fixes it properly this time.

Phyllis, enjoy the new garden things and microwave. It sounds like you have a pretty special family, and handy too! Good to have a DSIL who can rewire and install for you.

Terri, sounds like your DH knows you well! And the kids, too. Your mom must like to cook as much as you do, or else she likes the results of your cooking, and also knows what to get for you!

Donna, enjoy your day today with your family.

Alisande, you have a very special DGD!

Kathsgnd, sounds like you have a thoughtful DB, even if he doesn't always send you anything. This is the first year that both kids have been away at school, even if home for Christmas, maybe he thought you needed something special. Your friend also is thoughtful! And you can always send some of the sweets back to school with the kids!

Tally, You had a good Christmas, too. You have everything you could ask for. And I am also thankful for those things.

Alice sounds like you also had a special Christmas.

Glenda, your DS looks very happy. What a wonderful gift they gave helping with the breakfast. I know you enjoyed having your family to cook for, also.3

Rhizo, Your donation will help so many animals. Your DB sounds like a special person. The pen and pendant I'm sure will be used/worn with special memories. And your ride in the country sounds great!

Ellendi, enjoy your spa time, at home and your day away!

Moni, sounds like you had a great day, also. We had a warm for us day, certainly green, instead of white!

Satine, I'm sorry you have sick grands and they couldn't be with you. I am so happy that your DD is doing so well and could be with the family for Christmas. She, and you, are in my daily prayers.

Pkponder, sounds like you had a good day also. Yes, the kids and grands are the more important!

Susie, it gives your kids pleasure, so enjoy. And you will enjoy the cookbook and earrings.

We had such a good day. I went to church Christmas Eve with DD and her family. DGS was an accolite for the first time, and did a wonderful job. DGD Arriana will be 11 months the 28th and slept thru the whole service. We had them and DS & family last evening for dinner and gifts. Everyone was very grateful for what they received. Two got new winter coats and wore them home! I knitted, by request, a pair of slippers for DDIL, besides her other gifts. It's such a joy watching the kids open their gifts! Such a blessing having them all together.

I have needed a new big crockpot. I have a 3 qt. that is great for smaller meals, but won't hold a roast. I had a 5 qt that was a wedding gift 32 1/2 years ago that the lid dissintagrated on. I couldn't replace the lid, as it was round, and all the replacement lids that I could find were oval. DH got me that, and 2 gift certificates for massages, My stocking had 2 spatulas, one with money wrapped thru the slots! DD gave me a plaque with DGD's foot prints. DS made me cry. Perhaps you all remember that we had rabbits for pets. My Sydney has been gone 2 years now, at Christmas. DH's Sonny passed just a few months ago. We both like plants, tho I have a black thumb. DH however, has a very green thumb. He has African violets that flower almost all year long. He also has an orchid that is flowering for the first time for him. Anyway, DH made a planter box for us out of an old drawer he found, like might have come out of an old sewing machine cabinet, that holds 3 pint jars for plants, and painted "The Bunny Garden" on it. He found 2 bunnies that hang on the edge and painted them to match our pet bunnies. DH also gave me a bouquet of roses and carnations.

I went to see mom at the nursing home. It was a good day for her, and we could carry on a conversation, which is very unusual now. She fell and broke her hip a week before Halloween, and has been in for rehab. She also has dementia. She lives with DB#2. DB is a blessing, for he has been able to keep her there with his family since dad passed almost 2 years ago. He is hoping he will be able to keep her there after she is discharged next month.

Yes, we all got gifts, but we are all most thankful for our families, our homes, ect. What blessings we have all received!

Merry Christmas to each of you.

Tami

We really don't do gifts anymore but Woody's cousin sent me this cool Santa she made, she's a textile artist and specializes in primitives. He has a wool roving beard and hand painted face and is just perfect, I love it! It was such a thoughtful thing for her to do. All the materials used are old and heavy and rich. Tiny trees and cinnamon sticks are in his sack behind him.

Santa is in a wicker/rattan sleigh that I believe was from a FTD floral arrangement, she finds them at yard sales.

I got to see hundreds, maybe thousands, of brilliant stars against a dark and cloudless sky and three deer running across the road and into the woods.

I am truly blessed...God and my family continue to shower me with so many blessings! At my age, I do not need "things" to make me happy. My Christmas Day was perfect...the weather was great, so I did not have to be concerned about my loved ones traveling on bad road conditions, the sun was shining brightly, about 80+ geese swimming in the lake, all of my kids, their spouses, and grandkids were well and were able to come. I cooked all day on the 24th, while singing along to beautiful Christmas music, so I just had the last minute things to pull together....and the meal was well eaten...and so well worth the time and effort!

We spent so much time remembering Christmases past, laughing, and even shedding a tear for my DIL, whose father had died this year and she was missing that empty place in her life.

Yes, we did gifts...mostly for the grandkids....but my children went together and bought me a new IPad and case, so now I have a new toy to learn.

But the most precious gift we always remember, is that bundle of joy who was born in the manger long ago....the reason for the season.

I did find that joy that I was lacking....the love from my family :-)

Satine, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR DAUGHTER !!!!! Please let her know that great respect for her is coming from Deborah in California !

a new all in one computer.....I've had my old one for soooo long....I'm having a terrible time finding my way around.

the font is so small I can hardly see it.

no tool bars at the top and I can't remember what tool bars I had.

I'm sure I'll find my way soon.....sure hope it is before this computer has grown too old to work.

patti

What a delight to be allowed to share in all of this Christmas fun!

We spent the last few days in Austin with all of the G children and it was wonderful. With such busy families it is hard to get everyone all together at the same time even at special holiday times. All my Grands are young adults in college or just starting on their first jobs so I baked for all of them so they have something to munch on before leaving for school or class. We had beautiful gifts, books, robes, gift cards etc etc but the fact that the whole crew was there was what made it special... The few days were really special but the best part was coming home to our nice quiet home and the peaceful life we share just the two of us...Amazing how boisterous holidays are and how wonderful home feels...

lovely "shares"!

Glenda, your son is a good-lookin' guy!

& your pretty daughter-in-law-to-be is a beauty-
kind of a little bit Audrey Hepburn & a little bit Duchess Kate!

"My" woodpeckers, (Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, and Northern Flickers with a rare showing of Red-headeds) and nuthatches (both White- and Red-breasted) and the ever effervescent Black-capped chickadee-dee-dees are loving the - not one, but two - suet feeders I (or they) was given.

One is a caged suet feeder; two suet cakes fit in the centered holder. The smaller suet-loving birds can go through the outer, wide mesh cage to get to the suet, but the gluttonous Blue jays, grackles, etc. cannot not reach the goodies.

The second feeder is designed for the larger Pileated woodpeckers. It has a strong, extra-long tail prop at the bottom and holds two suet cakes stacked one on top of the other. It will be very convenient for them, if they deign to visit it.

I have pileateds all around me. They nest less than two blocks away. The scarecrow-looking fledglings love the ground-level birdbath. I often see the adults feeding up high in the neighbors' oak trees.

Do they care to visit the Woodpeckers-R-Us sanctuary in my front yard, about hundred feet from the neighbors' oak? Do they care to join their less flashy cousins feasting and becoming fat and lazy on the generosity of suet, peanuts, and black oil sunflower seed? Oh nooooo! Now, perhaps, this Cadillac of pileated feeders may just lure them in.

We'll see. Meanwhile, the tiny chickadee-dee-dees are loving it. Three or four will land on it at once and everyone has plenty of room.

Merry Christmas, everyone. Even the furred, feathered, scaled and all!

This post was edited by caroline on Sun, Dec 28, 14 at 5:43

We got several gift cards to near by restaurants, lots of homemade cookies and candies. A clock radio and some lotions and sprays from Bath and Body works. My husband got a wallet and walking staff.. The best part was being with my sister and her family and our son and his family. Talking with my other sister in Ohio and son in Florida. It was so much fun to watch the littler ones enjoy the festivities. Seems like everyone had a nice holiday. Happy Holidays to all.
Mary

I got a garden hose reel cart to replace our broken one, a new CD player to replace our broken one, and some anti-aging makeup to help my face which is breaking... into wrinkles!

How fun it is to read everyone's posts! The best part of our Christmas Day was that both our sons spent the day with us and my parents - which is why my favorite post is Pekemom's. How happy I am for you that you got to see your youngest son!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Joe gave me this print by Adam Young (not my pic, haven't gotten around to taking a good pic of it yet) and a "blossom tree" from Costco (again, not my pic).

{{gwi:2139293}}

{{gwi:2139294}}

From my sisters I got lots of beautiful things - bracelets, books, Xmas placemats & coasters and bowls, garden things, a Scentsy, from Joe's family we got $$, restaurant gift cards, some books, a scarf and a purse, just too many things to list. I did really well!

I have truly enjoyed everyone's stories about their special times and experiences.
Caroline I love the woodpecker story lol. I bet with that inviting buffet you have they will be visiting your yard soon.

Thanks everyone for sharing such wonderful and private times with all of us. These were all gifts!

We had a wonderful Christmas at my daughter;s house. Jim was well enough to enjoy his children and grandchildren.My son and his family live in Missouri and we spent the morning with them on Skype.Got to watch my GGS open his gifts.My son and his family came down in March for our 50th wedding anniversary.My youngest granddaughter took the pictures.We renewed our vows. For Christmas he sent us the most beautiful cover. It said "50 years of Perfection" and had all of the wedding pictures printed on it.It was amazing.Then my other DGD and her husband came to our house and fixed our computer. It was really special that everyone came for Jim. Making special memories while there is still time. That is the gift of Christmas.

This year we had nice relaxed visits with family twice, and I made a small (but really good if I say so myself) Christmas day dinner for just DH and I, DD, and MIL. Too much food over not enough days, really LOL.

I did get one actual present this year. A nice santa snow globe from my sister, we don't normally exchange presents but she knows I like Santa's, the more antique looking the better. It was the 2014 one from Target.

I had it less than five minutes and it got broken! I said "Well, it was lovely for the few minutes I had it LOLOL". I am trying to replace it, but it is from Target in the U.S. so I probably won't be able to. My dad keeps finding fake snow under things ;)

Dances.

My kids gave me a new warm fluffy bathrobe, new toaster oven and new toaster for the kitchen. Then my daughters prepared a full Christmas dinner, from appetizers to ham and lasagna to desserts.Having them home to share Christmas dinner is my best gift!

My very favorite gift was from a friend who can cook quite well, that went to the trouble of sending it to me via post. In nice containers too. My son and I would try one each night. Maybe even two. Or three. It was nice to enjoy!

List? Not really. My work gave me a turkey (already eaten), my boss gave me a check, my workmates gave me some really cool pop them in the microwave booties that can warm my toes, mom gave me a check, nephew gave me cash, and my sister gave me shiny baubles.

I did buy myself an incredibly cheap tablet. So cheap, it is a 10 inch screen, but it came with a keyboard case and stylus, all for $100. I'm not kidding. That's how cheap it is. I have figured out, I only use the tablet for games and magazine reading. I rarely even surf the internet with it even. I'm just glad anyone thought of me at all.

Only Christmas gift I got was from a young neighbor family. She's from Kentucky & makes the best Kentucky Bourbon Balls. My other neighbor always gets a jar of homemade plum jam from a woman in her social circle for Christmas, which she doesn't care for, so she always asks me if I want it. Of course, so she's been passing it on to me for the past three years. Love it on English Muffins. Modest gifts, but I'm happy.

DH and I don't get anything for each other. Haven't for years.

Son bought me another Connemara bracelet, it's a rosary bracelet with a celtic cross on it, and several other things.

Daughter and her boyfriend got me a 14K YG band ring with 7 diamonds in it. It is beautiful! Very, very thin and delicate. I've been looking at them for years, and they ALL know that I would never buy one for myself.

And since I only know how to post one pic at a time......haha
Here's my ring. It's looks huge in the pic for some reason. It's tiny, tiny and thin, I will cherish it.

I came back to this thread with trepidation, sure I was going to be flamed from here to forever.

But...I LOVED IT!. Not the usual Igot thread, but much more heartwarming with very special memories. I was wrong. This was so much more than the threads I've read elsewhere where people just listed a litany of stuff they got. On one forum someone listed a new Subaru followed almost immediately by someone who posted $50. That just broke my heart. I deeply apologize for assuming this thread would just be another "list your gets for Christmas".

Thanks for making this so much more than that.

I have no problem with threads like this. If someone here said they got a new Subaru I would be nothing but happy for them.

We all have our limitations. I've told my kids many times over the years, there will always be a lot of people who have more stuff, money etc., than you have. And there will always be a lot of people who don't have near what you have. Thank God every single day for all he has blessed us with.

I know I do. My kids being home for Christmas is all I will ever need. I know the day will come that we can't all be together at Christmas, I will be heartbroken when that Christmas comes.

As I said earlier I absolutely loved this thread and the heartfelt sharing.
Perhaps through this the lesson it provides is to never be hasty in judgment.
After all a little less judgment and a lot more joy and sharing would make for a much happier New Year.

Tally, I would like to thank you for coming back, and sharing your new outlook on this thread. It's never easy to admit we've misspoken or voiced an opinion a little too harshly. May you have a happy new year.

To my neighbor that gave me the Kentucky Bourbon Balls (actually for the second Christmas). I was in our neighborhood boutique grocery store (don't know why they still carry the "SaveMore" name dating from a dozen decades back) early yesterday evening, and found the perfect New Years gift.

Amongst their many different brands of Gelato, I found one perfect flavor---Kentucky Bourbon Butter Pecan! How's that for a tit-for-tat? It was $7.99 for a pint but hopefully worth it. Anyway I Holiday-wrapped it & took it over later in the evening. I like good food gifts, both coming & going.