Don't get me wrong I love Christmas, just this year It seemed like so much pressure, I didnt have as much money this year as I might normally have, I paid cash for everything no charging anything! I am just glad its over, only 364 more days till Christmas, I hope next year is less stressfull

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Proud mom to 4 great boys Anthony20,Nicholas16,Michael4,Sean2

We are stretching ours out to last over the weekend. My husband works he gets up at 4 am so we did not have our big dinner last night we are doing it tonight and making it last all weekend.
So no lol we are not glad. I am glad it "lasts" for a month!

Be proud that you managed to pay for everything and your boys had a good Christmas!
Don't worry next year WILL be better if everything goes according to plan!

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

We have one more little Christmas to do today...but I am glad the majority of it is over. It really didn't have anything to do with money (or the lack of it!) or anything like that...I just couldn't get into it this year. I had an enjoyable enough time yesterday, it was just all the preparation I didn't enjoy this year.

peapie

It was very hard for me this year.

Our son died 5 months ago and it was our first holidays without him.
I had major surgery 8 wks ago.
My dad was in the hospital last week. He had a stroke while there and is home and not
doing well.

I am glad that it is over and that I got thru it.

to answer OP's question - HECK YEAH!

Grannyshirl - I'm so sorry you've had so many trials to face in such a short time. Please remember to take care of yourself first and foremost and take it one at a time. My thoughts are with you.

I'm glad the "major" part of it is over......I'm ready to take down the decorations, and bring on Spring.... I hate clutter, and just having the tree up gives me a little bit of stress.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

First thing I said when we got home from the relatives was "That's over for another year!" and then proceeded to take down the tree. Hey - when it's over - IT'S OVER!!! And what a relief!

I love Christmas and love putting up the tree and decorations. But this year I didn't even put out all of my decorations. It was fine, nothing bad, not stressful as I shop all year and just enjoy that last week or two before Christmas....but I am glad it's over. And I don't know why. We took down our trees and decorations yesterday! We have a busy few days ahead and I knew there would no better time and once the presents are gone, it looks so .... empty .....
I told my friend last night that when the tree goes up, it's so enjoyable to sit back and just look at it, look at the lights in the evenings when it's dark, look at the ornaments. And there's no presents at that time and yet I LOVE it. But once the presents go under the tree and then are gone again, it looks sad to me and I'm ready to take the tree down.

Just this morning I was saying how I feel anticlimatic. SO much build up, research, search, buy, shop in store and online - look for the right thing, decorate, lights, wrap, and in less than an hour it is all over. mY dd's are 10 & 12 - so toys were not on the list this year - I found it really difficult lookin gfor other things - once done - that is it - I feel sad today.

Definitely. I'm growing more tired of it year after year. I (we) need to get back to the less commercial aspects of the holiday.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Thank you notes are stressing me out.

I guess that's not a lot to complain about - I'm lucky to have to write thank you's, right?

Anyway - I am one who loves to keep Christmas going until the 12th day...

I imagine I'll be playing my Christmas carols into early Feb...

To everyone else, I'm glad you got through it, and if cleaning it up brings you peace, then I'm happy if you do that.

To Grannyshirl, I think about you every day. I'm glad you post here, and I'm hoping this coming year is a much better one for you. You've been through more in one year than some of us will ever handle - ever. You must be a very strong lady.

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

Virtual positive rep, Devinmom. That was sweet, and so are you!

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I also dread writing the thank you's but I agree that it is a *good* thing! Tomorrow. Heh.

At any rate, Christmas isn't over at our house... So I can't say whether I'm happy or sad. Just enjoying having everyone home for another week. I love the family time and we've been playing lots of board games, watching movies, relaxing... we need this. We leave the tree up through Jan 6 as well (Three Kings Day, the 12th day).

Merry 2nd Day of Christmas!!!

Grannyshirl we are all hear for you and I offer you a sincere prayer of healing and staying strong because the first Christmas is always the hardest, however hon please please believe you precious baby boy son and I say baby because no matter what he will always be your baby, will always be your guardian angel to protect you in all you do..A sincere paryer that 2009 will be better for you so much in so many ways.As far as Christmas being over I have to admit this year seemed to come very fast and while I thought the stores would be less emptier for us here they were not. In fact they were crazy so for that reason yes . However Christmas is so so special and just hearing all those christmas songs and spending time with family and enjoying their company and all the good food, my belly got bigger lol. I will miss it, however only 364 more days .I also totally agree that I truly wish we celebrated more of christmas time gone by, when times were simplier and not all about material things. For the true meaning of christmas should be about family good food cheer happiness joy and good health.Peace and stay safe in this holiday season.. Catherine

Thanks devinmom and zookeeper16, & Catherine

You can see why I didn't write a Christmas letter.LOL.
It would have made ME depressed
I did have to add a note to a couple cards and that was hard.

It never seemed to end this year!
I didn't even add here that my DH had surgery in Sept and my dad had surgery the very day that our son died.

Please pray that 2009 will be better for our family,

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Prayer being said right now and I am sure there are so many others here whom also will pray for you sweetie...hugs.... many hugs....Peace. Catherine

No, I'm not glad at all that it's over. First of all, it is a beautiful time of the year. I look forward to it for 364 days of the year.. I still have my decorations up, still watching Chrismas movies that I Tivo'd , and still listening Chriastmas music. To me, it is a beautiful deviation from all that is wrong in the world. Let me feel for just a short time, "Peace On Earth". What better time of the year??

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*** Find A Need , Fill A Need ***

Maryelizz, no, I'm not glad that it's over. I'm sorry it's over. I love Christmas and wish it lasted longer. I'm sorry your's didn't go as well and hope next year will be better.

Devinmom, I hear ya! I'm staying home this morning and writing my thank you notes. I'm not off to a great start, though. I'm still on the computer and I meant to just check e-mail and sign back off. LOL.

Grannyshirl, I'm so sorry that this year has been such a terribly difficult one for you. The challenges you've had to face are major ones and you've handled them with grace. I hope 2009 brings you some well deserved peace and happiness.

Perhaps I'm turning into a grinch, but I am glad it is over also. I didn't used to be like this, but now that I'm a bit older it seems like there is just so much pressure to get just the right thing, try to find it cheaply enough so that it doesn't break the bank and everyone "must" be in a good mood around Christmas. We did have a good Christmas this year I think, but everything leading up to it is sometimes just a little too much on me and some others.

I had a good x-mas this year but it isnt the same without my mom and dad and the fact that my kids are in their early thirties. The good thing is having a grandson this year and hope to have more in the coming years. I want the magic back. I lost it some where. nancy

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When you don`t know what to do-Walk fast and look worried.

I'm glad it is over!!! I don't like Christmas!!! I even took down my outside decorations today. The tree will come down New Year's Day.

I am really going to try to buy and wrap way before Christmas next year. I think that would help. I don't like all the pressure and stress. I would much rather be with people I love and spend time together without the whole present thing. People already buy what they want for themselves. The rest is just clutter. We don't need all this clutter in our lives. JMHO.

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Donna

I am glad it was over. I just wish I had more time to enjoy it. I wish I would have had an extra month to get ready. I was still running around on Christmas eve. I love baking, but did not have any time to do any of that. The day came around, and it was fine, actually it was a good day....But still, so much work goes into making the day great for a lot of ppl. I was so worried for the kids not having a good Christmas. Even though we stayed in budget, at the end of the day, and looking around, I knew that we had still spent too much-the kids would have been just as happy w/ us spending way less.

This sums up about how I feel about it. It's almost like planning a wedding or something - the amount of effort that goes into one day. And I think we could "get away" with a lot less. I'm game to try it next year.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I am very happy that my favorite radio station KOOL 99.1 had stopped playing 24/7 Christmas songs. Even though I love them listening to them over and over everywhere I went and not being able to listen to real music drives me crazy!
But I am still not happy Christmas is over!

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

We actually skipped the "whole present thing" this year with my DD and SIL and just enjoyed a wonderful Christmas day at their new house with all my in-laws.

"No presents" was a little strange, but also made for a much less stressful holiday

I think we'll probably continue the "no presents" next year.

I always seem to get so worked up at Christmas. Christmas is very hard work. I would love to go on a cruise and have my only worry on Christmas day be which drink I want to order while laying in the warm sun with my toes in the water and my a** in the sand...

While Christmas truly is alot of hard work, I could never replace christmas morning surrounded by my family and watching my children open up their presents. Someday hopefully if god spares there will be a living room or den filled with grandchildren. While having their company and having them have their health are the true best presents, me and my dh still love the trill of seeing their faces light up from when they were small to the ages they are now...Peace in this holiday season. Catherine

I'm glad it is over!!!

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Brenda

GO #24 JEFF GORDON