Nie Asks: What's Your Favorite Part of the Holidays?

I love watching my kids dress up as Santa! They are so creative. They gathered pillows to represent their reindeer.

http://theapels.blogspot.com/2011/12/meet-mr-and-m...

My favorite is going to the Holidazzle Parade in downtown Minneapolis and then going out to look at the lights. Also, another thing I do is to give an anymous(sp) gift to someone. Afterall, it's better to give than to recieve...Merry Christmas to you and your family.

My favorite part of the holidays actually happens on Christmas eve. Every year my family (intimate family, mom, dad, brother, sister and our spouse) gets together to have a big christmas eve dinner, the dinner is always steak, but that's not even the best part. After dinner we sit around the table with a white christmas sock on the center of the table, and we each receive a recipe card and an envelope with our name on it (from years prior), we each take a minute to open our envelope, in the envelope are also other recipe cards from years before where we have each written down a "gift" to our savior. We look over the different gifts we have done over the years and decide what we want our gifts to be for the up coming year. We don't necessarily share our gifts with each other, they are very intimate, and between us and the Lord. It's a good way to keep the Christmas spirit all year round! I can't wait until we have our own children to share this tradition with. :) Merry Christmas!!

Decorating the sleigh and horses and dressed as Mr. and Mrs Claus, an elf and a reindeer our family of 4 distributed home made Christmas gifts to our neighbours and friends on Christmas Eve....still smiling....

Decorating! I love figuring out something fun and new to do for the holidays. :)

This year I did an oversized decorative bow on the dining room table:

http://firewifekatie.blogspot.com/2011/12/diy-over...

I love the tradition I began 2 years ago. On the second Saturday of Dec. I get my grandkids for the day. (a sweet 7 yr old girl, and 2 energetic boys) We go pick out a live tree, bring it home and the kids decorate it (after papa puts the lights on) with all homemade or homemade looking ornaments. Then we have pizza for lunch. After lunch we make Christmas Cookies and popcorn balls. Then, we all make a Christmas ornament...this year, we are doing pinecones that Nana collected on vacation. Great BIG ones. Then, it's time to make dinner...pigs in a blanket, macaroni and cheese and green beans. After dinner, we pile in the car and drive around looking at Christmas Lights. (they love this part) When we get home we put on jammies and put every quilt, blanket, and comforter we have on the living room floor and read what Christmas is REALLY about. Then we watch a movie. This year the Polar Express, eat popcorn, drink soda (decafinated diet coke...a treat for them!) and HOPEFULLY go to sleep all night. In the morning papa makes snowman pancakes! Such fun!!! A great way to spend special time with the grandkids...and (I hope) they will remember for years to come. Merry Christmas and God Bless!!

I try to take a few minutes when possible during the Christmas season to just sit and really "feel" Christmas. I try not to lose sight of what it really means to me.

This is my first time ever..attempting to grow a bright red amarylis! I'm so excited...their gorgeous!

First of all, I LOVE your blog and look forward to it every day. I have potted my amaryllis and paperwhites and my Christmas cactus is blooming. Christmas carols are playing if I am awake. My family gathers at our house for Christmas Eve dinner and party and gift exchange. Sisters and cousins and (87 yr old) mother and I get together for our cookie exchange a few weeks before. I hang clove studded oranges from ribbons around my house, and the smells of cinnamon, oranges and pine fill the rooms. We watch the local parade in Belmont Shore (CA) and walk the canals of Naples Beach to enjoy the lights and beautifully decorated homes. OH, and I watch "It's a Wonderful Life" while I decorate the tree and sip a hot spiked spicey drink. This year I'll stitch felt animal ornaments for my 6 grandchildren, the 2nd year of my (now) traditions to make them each an ornament. And I remember what these days are about. Love and family and blessings.

I enjoy our entire extended family getting together. Playing games late into the nights, watching movies and eating. Btw, I am appalled that anyone could even think about negative comments concerning your homemade Christmas or anything else for that matter. You are truly an inspiration to millions and I read your blog almost daily. Thank You and please disregard any negative comments. I actually feel sorry for them.

I love the family traditions and the excitement on children's faces. I love the scents of Christmas time and the holiday songs. I love decorating for Christmas and the anticipation of the big day. I love all things magical pertaining to this time of yr - the season of miracles! :-)

My favorite parts of Christmas are twofold. One; it's the only time of year that everyone sings Christmas carols giving Glory to God for His Son. I love the songs of Christmas, and I had them all memorized... then I began my personal relationship and "heard" what they were saying all that time. I love that! Two; I love that everyone is thinking about someone else during this season, trying to pick for them the perfect gift that will bless them. I love that too!