Tag Archives: christmas gifts

Christmas Day, Family Gathering, and Opening Presents

gifts from papa and mama

Dindin opens gifts from Papa and Mama

Despite a happening that involved another parent about the children’s choir, we have made a decision to make this a happy Christmas and to go on with our plans and traditions. We did not want one person to spoil our Christmas just because of her harsh words and assumptions.

When we woke up, Dindin got to open our Christmas gifts for her. Yep, gifts from Papa and Mama first. Since we slept late, we woke up late too, so after the presents, we prepared to go to church. Of course we were late but I did not really want to rush on Christmas Day.

new book and toy cake

We gave Dindin this book about Tinkerbell and then a toy cake that she has always wanted.

Then we had a late lunch at the Yellow Cab. My brother and sister in law already went around looking for a place to eat but it was full everywhere. So we settled at Yellow Cab where we also had Christmas dinner last year. LOL But it was fine because we all love pizza anyway. After lunch, we just went around the mall for awhile before we went home to take a nap.

yellow cab pizza

Christmas lunch at Yellow Cab Pizza

In the afternoon, it was time for Dindin to open her presents. And below are her photos while opening presents wearing a reindeer headband. Thank you to all her aunties and uncles, grandparents, ninongs and ninangs, and friends who remembered her. Dindin was really grateful and appreciative of each present. But more than that, we know how much you love and care for her. So thank you! :D

christmas gifts

Dindin with some of her christmas gifts

Christmas gifts

Dindin poses with her Christmas gifts.

In the evening, it was off again to have dinner at my parents’ home. We had a really long day!

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Dennis and I also opened our gifts. Of course, these are not as many as Dindin’s! teehee Thank God Dennis is not an executive, no need to choose briefcases for men for him. Dindin and I got him a couple of shorts and he was already happy. These are things that he can really use. In my case, I got gifts from clients and Dennis got me a new optical mouse because my old one is starting to conk out.

Merry Christmas everyone! :D

Minimal Christmas Decorations

This year, we have minimal Christmas decorations because of so many reasons.

1. We did not have a lot of time to prepare.
2. We do not have a lot of available space because there are just so much stuff lying around.
3. We do not want to go through the motions of cleaning the decors and packing them after the holidays.

But I do envy the Table top displays at the house of Dennis’ aunt. They are gorgeous! And she keeps them immaculately clean. Now that is something I cannot do even if I want to because I just don’t have the time. LOL

So this year, we had put up three small Christmas trees in the living room where we put our gifts. Then my mother-in-law bought small lanterns to hang near our dining. In our bedroom, we hang a stocking and a “Christmas decoration that says ‘Merry Christmas‘!” At least, that is how Dindin describes it. LOL

Dealing with the Santa Claus Issue

Christmas presents

Christmas presents under our trees that Dindin helped me wrapped. Some of them are hers but she knows that we have to wait until Christmas to open them.

This month, I have been reading on anecdotal articles about Santa Claus and well, I can only shake my head. Like in a public school in New York, parents saw red when a Grade two teacher taught her geography class that Santa Claus does not live in the North Pole because actually, he is not real. In the UK, a 13-year-old girl vowed to kill Santa and cook reindeer meat if she doesn’t get what she wants. Tsk tsk…Sad.

No offense to those who would like to keep the Santa tradition in their homes, but in our family, it is a matter of choice. We do not want Santa to steal the limelight from Jesus–the real star of Christmas–so we opted to downplay him. But, of course, since the image of a jolly fat man in a red suit may seen everywhere, Dindin is also aware of Santa. But for her, Santa Claus is no more real than Tinkerbell, Barbie or Elmo.

For Dindin, gifts are given to her by family, friends, and her ninongs, and ninangs. In the same way, she also has the capacity to give gifts to others. She has helped me pick out some of our gifts and has also lent a hand while I wrapped them. She knows that most of the gifts under the tree will be given away but some of them are hers. Well, I think it can’t get more real than that.

At least, when Dindin is older I would not have to explain to her that Santa is not real and there is no disappointment.

But don’t worry, we didn’t expressly tell her that Santa isn’t real, so that she will not get into an argument with other kids. hehe