What are everyone's Holiday plans?

[sheilabgroomer]

Christmas for us this year is going to be pretty quiet. It will just be me and hubby and kids. It's suppose to be rainy and cold so it will be a good day to just chill out and relax. We might go to a friends house for dinner, but I will wait and see how lazy we are tomorrow. Thankfully she is really laid back and her holiday dinners are too. No need to commit, just show up and bring something edible w/you and some tupperware to take home lots of leftovers.

New Years is what I am excited for. My parents are heading up from Florida on Wednesday and we are going to drive up to Virginia on New Years Day to a ski resort (can't remember the name) and meeting up w/both of my sisters and their families. This will be the first time in over 4 yrs that ALL of us have been together. It will be great! (I hope....lol)

The resort sounds like it is going to be awesome. Supposedly you don't have to leave the place at all if you don't want to. Their are stores and restarunts w/in the resort and if you don't want to ski their is a fully enclosed and heated water park. We are staying in a condo w/full kitchen so we can (and will) eat in a lot. My mom had a great idea for all of us to bring our crock pots and a few nights we can each make our favorite crock pot dish and share w/each other buffet style.

This will be my first time snow skiing. I quit telling friends what I was going to do on my vacation because the reactions were the same. They laughed hysterically, inquired about my sanity, asked if my life/health insurance is up to date and made me promise to get it on video. I am not known for being graceful (understatement.....lol).

Any tips from those of you who are experienced in winter sports?

[doggydivas]

Pretty mellow here too! We are going to do our morning present opening, have the breakfast casserole that my hubby insists on, go to the senior center and see hubbies grandma, go to the soup kitchen and serve dinner to the families in need and come home. Lots and lots of napping in between while we watch A Christmas Story...I love Ralphie!
we have our family xmas at my house the day after xmas. that is really nice

[Petekids]

Have fun skiing! Most of those places have some instructors to help you out. Stick to the "Bunny Hills" - lots of little kids, but it's fun! I used to ski years ago, no time or money any more, but growing up it was a lot of fun.

We have a small boarding kennel, too, so we're working all weekend. We were booked weeks ago, but right now we're in the middle of a major blizzard, so I doubt the rest of the dogs will show up today. Too bad, because we turned down numerous calls this week looking for boarding... can't do much about mother nature.

My son and wife are spending the holidays with the in-laws. My daughter and her fiance were supposed to be here today, but decided to stay home (they're 9 hours away) because of the terrible weather. They were in the middle of an ice storm yesterday and we're expecting over 10 inches of snow today.

[Aussieshepherds]

Yep, pretty quiet here too! Just gonna have lots of presents to open and a nice relaxing christmas....cant wait!



Aussieshepherds

[alabamagroomer]

What a great holiday you have planned...

and I know what you mean about having your family around you. This will be the 1st year that all of my family (brother, his wife and 2 kids, my sister, my parents, my hubby and I) will all be attending a Christmas eve church service at the same church! I am so excited! My sister is a harpist and will be playing tonight at my church and all of our family will be there!

There is no gift in the world like having the ones you love close to you! I hope your trip is safe and wonderful and full of the magic that only Christmas can bring!! God bless you and your family this holiday season!!!

[Hello Kitty FTW]

Right now I'm recovering from a really bad head cold and a terrible cat scratch on my arm. We plan on going out to dinner tonight at The Melting Pot in Darien, and I'll be zonked the whole drive down while hubby drives.

Tomorrow we're helping out at the soup kitchen in Hartford, then going to the movie theatre to see Avatar and hope tickets are still available. Merry Christmas everyone!

[4Sibes]

Why...I'm handing the "Debacle Torch" over to you...

OH MY GAWD. Sheila + skis?????? Hope you have good insurance. And a back-up groomer. Dog sledding is SO much safer...you can always BAIL!

I'm spending a quiet Christmas morn/afternoon w/ my pets watching "A Christmas Story" over and over again, and listening to my Linus and Lucy CD...then prolly head into the folks (an hour away) for a delicious food fest and catch-up w/ the Sibs. That's Sibs...not Sibes.
When it gets too boisterous and "Irish-in-nature"...I'll sneak out the back door and head home....

Merry Christmas...and please be safe...if that's possible?

[Smart-n-Pretty]

Sibes, what is that cute animal on your avatar?

[stewiedog]

Same thing every year here.
We do Christmas and all the present opening with our kids at home. Play with new stuff for about an hour, than we all get ready to go to my mom's house for Christmas, and brunch there with us (me hubby and 3 kids) my sisters, and my aunt.

We do Christmas brunch at Grandma's instead of dinner that way we can all spend the rest of the day at our homes, and the kids have all day to play with presents

[4Sibes]

Sibes, what is that cute animal on your avatar?

It's a realistic looking but fake, curled up sleeping Sibe. It has a freaky side to it though. If you put the AA batteries in it's spleen...it actually respires up and down...like a real sleeping dog or kitty would do. The batteries last for 3 months.

I have an area where my customers write out their checks and this time of year...I put the "thing" there on some fluffy snow stuff and garland.

Then, usually as the client is writing out a check, and they assume it is fake...then they see it "breathe" and that makes them shriek a little and jump back a step or two.
It helps remind the grown-ups that you are never too old to be fooled, and maybe even askeert a little. Plus...it makes me giggle. I think grooming should be an experience for the client as well as the dog.
It really is astonishing, when you think about it...that I have ANY repeat clients?

[Smart-n-Pretty]

Cute. My plans are store bought roasted chicken, stove top stuffing, cactus julienne from a jar, cranberry stuffing from a can and a couple of pomegranate Mike's Thingys.

[KDGROOMER]

First I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas And tonight its dinner at my moms with my grandma and sister (four generations in the house tonight). Opening gifts then off to home where I will finish wrapping for the morning gift opening and sea of wrapping paper Then cold cuts and shrimp cocktails plus beer on Christmas day. To those of you that donate your time to serving those less fortunate bless you for doing something very selfless. I admire that on so many levels!!! Again Merry Christmas fellow board members may your holiday be filled with family and friends

[mylady]

Oh Sheila, I live near several Ski resorts and have never been on skiis in my life. OK, water skis don't count! As my mom used to tell me (and anyone else) I have the grace of a cow and you've never seen a cow dance in swan lake! My daughter inherited my lack of coordination unfortunately!

I'm having everyone over tomorrow who is willing to come. My older sister is not getting along with my other sister or father so she's refused, but my father and his fiancee and my sister and her fiancee are coming. I'm making a ham and some other dishes, though haven't decided what yet. My house is still a mess, the presents aren't all wrapped, dogs are a mess, yeah, I'm ready LOL

[Jenneversage64]

I get to spend Christmas Eve with

my favorite friend. Then tomorrow, we will be very busy, having fun with more friends. Tonight one little 4yr old girl and maybe more children;that always makes it even more fun. These friends have 4 dogs. A house without dogs seems empty to me. The other has no dogs .Correction: My other friends' grandson brought both small nice dogs. The Lhasa female is named Mary! I never knew a dog named Mary before.

[furrondie]

Merry Christmas everyone!!

My hubby will be at work, his shift is over christmas this year so he won't be home until Jan 6, so will miss New Years too. We already had our christmas with his kids over.
I will be home alone, well not quite alone, all the doggies will be keeping me company. So I will sleep in and enjoy some quiet time.
To all traveling be safe and those trying the snow skiing, take it slow and easy!! yeah right!