Calendar Poodle SAL

Friday, December 4, 2015

2015 Online Advent Calendar

Hi friends! I am taking part in Jo's Online Advent Calendar
The theme for the Advent Calendar Blog Hop this year is: How do you celebrate Christmas Eve? 

Well ever since Brian and I started dating as teenagers, we celebrate Christmas Eve with his family. This has always worked out for us, since my family comes together and celebrates on Christmas morning. I have never not been home/at mom's for Christmas morning.

We have always gone to church together Christmas Eve, then home for a dinner together. At first we had Christmas Eve dinner at my in-laws. Once we began having children, they thought it easier for us to have the meal at our home. And it was. As of the last several years, now that two of our three children are adults and grandma and grandpa are up in years, it is easier on them if we do their home for the meal. No matter where the meal has been, we have a ham with mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and rolls. We have a different desert each year. 

When dinner is eaten, and dishes are done, we open presents together. This has always worked out well for us also, as we open our family gifts(and used to be Santa's gifts as well) on Christmas morning before heading off to my  mom's for another round!

Here is the ornament I stitched up for Brian last Christmas.
Two of our three kids watched A Charlie Brown Christmas this week.  What a classic! 50 years old!! Can you believe it?! Here is my very favorite part.
Have a wonderful weekend my friends! I will still be stitching. How about you?

Stitching and praying,
Vickie




36 comments:

The Knitting Cross Stitcher said...

Your stitched ornament for your husband is really lovely and your Christmas Eve a great family tradition.

Unknown said...

Dearest Vickie ,
I'll answer now quite cheeky on both Posts..smile ...
On the one hand your gifts received are enchanting, there are really great presents and snowman card is so sweet . Is not it wonderful to have such friends . This sounds with the tendonitis and thy neck is still painful to , I hope the treatment will help quickly . Also my back gives me great problems at the moment and I would actually strongly to the doctor about it. Your embroidery last year for Brian 's wonderful. I'm wondering what you're going to conjure up this year with the needle .
I quite fond greetings
your Sandra

butterfly said...


So nice to hear about your Christmas plans .
Love what you stitched for your hubby Hugs.

Jacqueline Morris said...

I love. What you and your family does on Christmas Eve.... Jon and I some years ago now got married on Christmas Eve! So it's a special time for us too :) we usually meet my parents at a restaurant for a meal then Christmas Day we spend at their home. Wonderful idea to stitch a gift for Brian every year... So special, a such a lovely stitch too!!
Big smiles :)

Manuela said...

Dear Vickie.
nice plans for Christmas.
Your stitching for Brian is beautiful.
Have a nice weekend, Manuela

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Thanks for taking part in the Advent Calendar Blog Hop this year. A lovely ornie with the special Christmas message too.

Such a lovely way to make sure you spend time with both sides of the family. It's nice that you live close enough to each other to do it too. Our parents live within two miles of us which is great.

gominam said...

Nice post, I see similarities in our Christmas routine. Lovely ornament, beautiful stitching:) That last pic is so cute!

Isabelle said...

Dear vickie, the ornament your stitched for Brian is really lovely.
Christmas Eve moment is always a sweet and nice moment for all of us...
But this year is different for all of us in France ; the sadness is in our hearts and we think of Paris victims every day.
Wishing you a sweet week-end,
Isa

Margaret said...

I'm behind in blog reading. Just wanted to say that I hope the PT works for your wrist pain. Loved hearing how you celebrate both Christmas Eve and Christmas!

Angela Tucker said...

Good morning, Vickie. What a very nice tradition and it is wonderful that your family set up them up at the very beginning. It is sad that Christmas is sometimes stressful for those with multi-family events. There is always someone that gets their feelings hurt. Have a great day!

Justine said...

Lovely traditions...so nice that you and Brian met as teenagers and still holding the same customs every Christmas.

Your ornie is beautiful!

Varla Lee said...

Beautiful Idea!!

StitchinByTheLake said...

I love family traditions. :) blessings, marlene

Maggie said...

thank you for sharing your Christmas family tradition, it is what makes Christmas special in what can become a very frazzled time for people.

Love the ornie :-)

Penny said...

Your Christmas celebrations sound wonderful. And I love the ornament you stitched for your husband! Oh, and I love, love the Charlie Brown Christmas! Definitely one I make sure to watch.

Jenny said...

Dear Vickie, Your ornament is just lovely....I loved reading about your Christmas traditions. Christmas Eve is always special to my family as well. I have always loved A Charlie Brown Christmas and this has always been my very favorite part as well. I am hoping to get some stitching done this weekend as well but we will see...one day at a time....I hope the therapy will help with your pain....I am keeping you in my prayers. Have a great weekend and enjoy your stitching time.

Jenny said...

Dear Vickie, Your ornament is just lovely....I loved reading about your Christmas traditions. Christmas Eve is always special to my family as well. I have always loved A Charlie Brown Christmas and this has always been my very favorite part as well. I am hoping to get some stitching done this weekend as well but we will see...one day at a time....I hope the therapy will help with your pain....I am keeping you in my prayers. Have a great weekend and enjoy your stitching time.

Julie said...

Lovely to read your Christmas plans. Very nice ornament you made for hubby.

Katie said...

Hopping by on the Blog Hop. Fantastic Christmas Eve plans. Sounds very lovely. The ornament you stitched is fantastic. Happy Holidays!

Carol said...

Just catching up with my blog reading after being in Argentina, Vickie, and I'm so sorry to read that your pain worsened after going to the surgeon--ugh!!! I do hope the PT kicks in and you get some relief.

You are very blessed to be able to spend Christmas with your mom... I think the last time I was with mine at Christmas time was 15 years ago. I'm going up to visit her next week, though, and am really looking forward to it as I haven't seen her in almost 3 months.

Enjoy your weekend as you count down to Christmas :)

Bea said...

You're blessed that both families live close to you - your Christmas sounds lovely.

Terrific ornament.

gracie said...

Such nice plans....

Beth said...

What a lovely ornament Vickie.

Christine said...

What a beautiful ornament

Lumiruusu said...

The Ornament you stitched is one of my all time favorites ..the shape is so nice too !Love to her about the Christmas traditions you have :)

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

Love the ornament you stitched. :) Gosh, that is one of my fav parts of Charlie Brown, too....I really like the part also where Charlie Brown thinks he killed the tree and then they wrap the blanket around the tree and decorate it and then he says, "See Charlie, it's not a bad tree after all, it just needed a little love." I think that is what we all need, a little love! :) Blessings sweet friend. :)

Barb said...

The ornament you stitched for your husband is beautiful! Sounds like you have a great family Christmas!

Mini said...

Hi Vickie, Hopping on from Jo's blog. What a beautiful ornament you have stitched for your partner. I love reading about your tradition of Christmas eve.

Stitching Noni said...

Gorgeous Christmas Ornie that you stitched last year. It's lovely reading everyone's Christmas Eve traditions on the blog hop.
Hugs xx

Faye said...

Darling ornament and I love the story about traditions....

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Its all about traditions isn't it?! And love . And family! can't forget them :)
I love that ornament Vickie and I adore your story! Thank you for sharing your Christmas Eve meal. We have finger foods here.. like appetizers, and its the one time of the year where we get potato chips and french onion dip! LOL! I don't know why...but it always works that way! HUGS! And Merry Christmas!

cheryl said...

Lovely ornament. Merry Christmas!

Elfie said...

I enjoyed reading your post, and seeing tour Christmas stitching. Merry Christmas!

Brigitte said...

A lovely blog hop post from you, too, Vickie. It is so very interesting to read about everyone's Christmas Eve traditions.
We always have the same meal at Christmas Eve, too, no variations and the whole family is so happy with it. It is the same meal we always had in my family when I was a kid. Nice memories.

Maggee said...

What a nice tradition you have about sharing with both families! I was never that fortunate to live near either my parents or my spouses' parents. But my kids know that I enjoy the time with them, and for the most part, we gather here for at least end-of-the-year festivities! I hope that continues for you and for me! Hugs!

Astrids dragon said...

How blessed you are to be able to celebrate with both sets of parents. I haven't spent Christmas Day with my parents for 20 years, Boxing Day just isn't the same! But I'm hoping next year we'll be able to.
Your ornament is lovely!
Happy New Year!