Sunday Social

I am linking-up today with Ashley at http://www.ashleylately.com/ and Neely at http://www.acompletewasteofmakeup.com/ for Sunday Social.

What is your favorite Holiday Movies/TV Specials?

Believe it or not I love Christmas movies.  B and I tend to watch them year round.  Here are a few of my favorites:  Home Alone 1 & 2, Gremlins, Elf, The Santa Clause 1, 2, & 3, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Jingle All the Way, and I am sure there are more I cannot think of at the moment.  TV Specials that I really like are Peanuts Christmas, Prep & Landing (both), Mickey Mouse Christmas Carol, Twas’ the Night Before Christmas (with the mice and clock that sings to Santa), and again I’m sure there are more I cannot think of at the moment.

Do you do any volunteering during the holiday if so what? If not what would you do?

I don’t volunteer during the Christmas season, but I always try to donate to the local breadbasket.  So a few things I do is donate all clothes that we no longer need, any freebies I got throughout the year (one year I donated 13 bottles of KY Jelly, I got them for free with coupons I bet someone enjoyed them), some of S’s old toys, new toys I bought dirt cheap throughout the year, and the freebies I get in the mail all year long and do not use.

What is your favorite toy received as a child for the holidays?

I would say when I got my baby doll that looked like a real baby.  I played with that doll for years and got all kinds of accessories for it.  I kept it to give to my kids but sadly let my friends little sister borrow it and never saw the doll again.  Big bummer for me.

What was your must have item in high school for the holidays?

I didn’t really have any must have items in high school that I really wanted or at least none that I can remember.  My mom may say differently.  My time was before cell phones, tablets, and even mp3 players.

What do you do on Christmas Eve? If you are Jewish what does your family do for Hanukkah?

Christmas Eve is our busy day.  I started when S was a baby but all the presents from mommy and daddy are opened on Christmas Eve morning for two reasons.  The first is because B will always have a crazy schedule and there will be years he cannot be there Christmas morning so we can always move around when we open presents from mommy and daddy so he can be there.   The second was because when they are little, kids tend to get burnt out opening presents so I wanted our kids to open the gifts from us first.  It has worked out great because it gives S something new to play with while I get ready for Christmas Eve and B makes food to take.

We usually head to my mom’s around noon, eat, open presents and hang out until about 5ish.  We did try to make mass but it never worked out and we are so rushed that it made it unenjoyable.  We leave my mom’s head home regroup, visit the neighbors while B warms up his food and then on to his side of the family for the evening.  We eat, open presents, Santa visits the kids and gives them each a present, and we hang out.

Christmas morning is much more quiet because S only has to open his one or two gifts that Santa brings (usually his big items for the year) and his stocking.