I'm tickled that you like our tradition. It seems so many people are getting away from traditional things these days. I think it's important to do things for our children to remember and hopefully care enough about to do them for their own children. At any rate, it's something that gets everyone involved, working together and having fun. I have many fond memories of Christmas. I was raised by my grandparents (After my mother died when I was three and a half and my brother was two, and our dad was too sick to care for us by himself.) and we spent several Christmases at my aunt's home in Vermont. We would do a "Man On The Street" skit, where my oldest cousin (of 5) would interview people. He and my uncle were very funny, and the whole thing was absolutely hilarious! I sure would like to get my hands on one of those tapes. However, my brother and his friends did it a couple of years with our grandmother (after I had moved away) and I DO have those tapes. Very, very funny stuff! They impersonated famous people being interviewed. One year, the girls and I listened to the tapes while we were baking Christmas cookies. We were so busy laughing, crying and trying to keep the very little grandkids from dropping cookie dough on the floor and putting it back in the bowl...we ruined most of the cookies! It sure was fun though! Boy...I sure am long-winded! ~Sandy~

Well, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late! Everyone has such wonderful things! I received my box from wonderful Linda, aka 'oldcrafty'. There were so many excellent things, I haven't gotten picts of all of them, so I'll try to list them. I lost a couple items immediately, my daughters have quick hands!!! I mentioned that I love peacocks, and Linda was on a mission!!! I think my favorite things were these green statues, and my Ms Kelly flamigo/peacock! There is also a wonderful birdhouse with sparklies in it, I'm thinking about where they need to go, a gorgeous beaded hanging candle holder, sorry no pict, my oldest took it and ran! Cute little pinecone men, found a home on the window sill, a peacock tray, a fiberoptic lamp (cool!!!) and I know I'm forgetting stuff, but I'm at work and can't go look!!! oh, a couple of magazines filled with gorgeous flowers and neat ideas! I'm sorry, Linda, I can't remember all of my treasures right now, but it was a marvelous box!!! You did an excellent job with your first Secret Santa! NMGirl - I didn't know what those little beady things were either, but I knew you would be able to find a creative use for them! When I saw that nut, I just couldn't pass it up! I didn't know WHO needed it, but I knew someone did, then I got your info and I thought you would definitely be able to make it into something a wee fairy would want to live in :) Hope everyone has a marvelous New Year and I just can't wait to see what new ideas crop up this year!!!

Thanks, Holiday-ers! punk...always appreciate any input! That's how I'm learning more & more...from you great holiday-ers on here! I'm thinking of a tall woodsy angel in the center...but have not found the right one yet or right price...think it would look good cause the buffet is decorated mainly that way...pinecones, berries, viney stars, etc. jane & purplemoon..yup, that vine tree is my fav, too...there was a crafter who made them in this area but they were very expensive... I think you could do one, Jane! Worked some more on the buffet today & it's looking good...but didn't take pics yet...my pine gardland keeps falling off the back of mirror ledge! Ugh! Will work at that tomorrow. I did change to a "timer" faux candle in the big apothecary jar...thanks for that idea. Still playing with the shorter one...kept snow in both. OA & PM...that book has just the BEST pics! Love it! Glad we all share it...thanks for your comments. Jay...your Father Christmas sounds wonderful! Frou...it is fun to see diff styles...glad you liked the jars...I love the gold of them! nana & luvs...worked hard today & got lots done...more to go, tho...had a good time...am very pooped ...so no pics tonight...glad you enjoyed. Jeanne S.

I didn't realize at first when I bought the photo of Santa in my daughter's dining-room by her mantel, that I'd get the "elf cam" of him actually moving around in there. I loved it, but today when my daughter saw the video she was totally blown away. She shared the link with everyone in her office! LOL. She will show her two little girls on Christmas morning, telling them their Elf on the Shelf took the video of Santa for them...and also left them the 8x10 picture. Its so neat there is something like 20 Santa positions to choose from, you can make him any size and place him anywhere in your room so he looks real. You actually get links to 5 elf cams of Santa, but I picked the one I liked best to have her show the girls. He eats a cookie, drinks the glass of milk, and empties his bag of presents right there before waving goodbye at them. My DD is going to put milk and cookies right in that same spot, and also a few of their presents there since its not by the tree where the rest are. I had such fun doing this and can hardly wait to hear their reactions, the adult reactions so far have been great. Its nice too, if a person doesn't have a printer to do the dowload of your picture they send, you can get Walgreens to make you a photo from their link. Here's the photo of Santa in my DD's room hugs, Karen