Simplifying Cmas:
I realize after talking with my dsis in our maturity we had simplified. We no longer do cookies or sweet breads b/c of dietary allergies & restrictions and the grands have out grown that activity as well as the gingerbread house. I let go of the cmas cookies container and nice metal cookie cutters this weekend.
We still do the things we love like trees mine is a table top one mostly for the lite. Gifts opening is at the kids these days.
I have a wreath I put out front this year. Luv that. I have a scene with trees angels and white lites on the china hutch in the dining room. I also have a creche' with a barn and lites I made with my gma at ceramics when I was a kid it is a nice one.
I have three of signs the say let it snow & one that says Merry Christmas that I made. [ One goes outside.]
At the beginning of the pandemic in July my youngest dgd helped me to go through the holiday totes and we decluttered items decor etc. that I did not luv or use.
I have been adding Christmas & snowman design cups this year I"ll be putting cash and candy in them for gifts. I gathered them all year found some at the $1.00 General store. They have gift bags too, I use bags for gifts not wrapping presents is a win as kids get older they do not care! I've been sewing them and have quite a collection of fabric bags, I keep in a big popcorn tin!
I am still re-thinking the cups idea was going to do the cake in a mug then decided against it, the candy idea if iffy, maybe hot cocoa & candy cane like snow man soup idea I've seen.
[One year tried amz. gift cards but stuff was delayed in shipping so that was a fail.] We went to family gifts as well most recently.
This year I brought up things one at a time in Nov. when I did my daily walk around in the basement & I will reverse that in Jan. sure beat luggin toes up the stairs.
My sis & I both commented that the cmas quilts mom made us have not been in use the past few years. ....
I only do like 3 Christmas cards
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Even at church I noticed they did not have a tree decorated on the stage this year like they did last year.
Also no cookies or donuts to tempt me.
It was a relief.