This wins as the quietest Christmas ever. We got up, just the two of us, had breakfast, lazed around, finally opened up the gifts (SCORE!!) and semi cleaned up.
Andrew came over in the afternoon and we had Christmas dinner, which turned out okay. Honeybaked ham, hard to go wrong with that and now there will be some leftovers for Bob now and hopefully Tim when he gets here Sunday night.
It was all so low key I couldn’t get over it.
Also, we did a gift exchange for the bulk of my family for whom I usually buy presents. We drew names and bought one big (I thought it was big, anyway) gift certificate to the recipient’s choice of stores, online or off.
This was certainly easy … but it was really, really boring. I missed shopping and diddling around trying to figure out what anyone might like. I didn’t know what to do with myself during the pre-Christmas rush. No rushing! Who knew I’d miss it – I bitch about it every year like it’s a bad thing, but apparently, it’s not.
So next year … count me out on the gift cert exchange. I’m buying presents for those persons I love and they damned well better buy me one, too. 🙂
compu-diva.com 
We draw names with the in-laws, but we don’t do gift certificates. I like it! Low stress, inexpensive, and I can focus on my one giftee to get just the right thing. This year it meant that I had time to knit a killer gift for my sister-in-law who very much deserves it.
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I made The Boyo a bag for his Santa suit, and that’s what he got. Of course, I did it about right when he needed it. He played Santa at our community dinner. But he liked it, so I guess I’m in the clear.
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I like the shopping for xmas gifts thing too as I only buy for my mother, two sons, an ex husband and a couple of people from work.
Think it would feel like a chore if I had to include in-laws and colleagues and miscellanous people. Birthdays are different – I like to acknowledge everyone’s birthday with a gift but xmas is really just for immediate family.
how come silverstar got to skype with you and I didn’t? 😦
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SS, he made a good Santa, didn’t he? Good pics on your website. Thanks for giving me a peek into your festivities.
NM, we can skype anytime you want to, just say the word. Know that I am an abysmal conversationalist before you call, though. Not an “on my feet” kind of thinker. That’s why I love computers.
Sharon, I could probably handle your way! I’ll present it next year when we start wrangling over the technicalities. 🙂
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I absolutely love Christmas shopping, wrapping the prezzies, etc. Ah well, maybe next year.
“how come silverstar got to skype with you and I didn’t?”
Because Beth didn’t read all the scrabble messages …
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Oh, fine, make it my fault that I was asleep.
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i don’t shop – missed that part of chick school, i guess. i do like to bake, though, and enjoy putting together food gifts…
your christmas sounds as mellow as mine – and i loved it! didn’t do the ham. had a turkey/swiss bagel. life is good…
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DaisyFae, some years I like to bake/create the presents, too. Skittles Vodka, Amaretto, special cookies, that sort of thing (though I haven’t done any of those in a while) My shopping is 99% online. I like shopping online, dislike going to the mall or elsewhere.
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Skittles Vodka? oooh… need that recipe!
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Here’s a good recipe. I think if you go for better vodka the end product is better. But I’m a bit of a vodka snob, so YMMV.
http://community.livejournal.com/handmade_gifts/87308.html
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me too – I really NEED a skittles vodka recipe so I’ve bookmarked the page!
hey beth – you won third prize in the competition. can you send me your snailmail address again?
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oooh, yeah! totally happening recipe… agree that cheesecloth (two to three layers) will work well, and am going to use my preferred liquid potato, Ketel One…
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