Exchange gifts with my cousins

this year we will all be meeting in florida for our family vacation over the Christmas holidays.

My side of the family really doesn't celebrate anymore, not like they used to. My husband and I celebrate with his side of the family now. We usually just exchange gifts and eat, and that's about it. We don't do anything real special. On my husband's side there's not really any children.

hi trishasantos I am not at all looking foward to Christmas yet aS Ia m sitll in this tiresome retirement center. all those with family and home just fly out of here living u s who have relatives who cannot put us up for a holiday like Christmas. family and tradition were always so important to me now when my son lost his job and we got evicted my life turned upside down landing me here and my son in a gov. sponsored apt with three other guys so you can see I have no home to go to for Christmas.Maybe things will change bu t I cannot count on it.

Our family while growing larger has also grown further apart. Now with money being short there is little or no travel money. So even though we have had many Christmas traditions in the past, each little part of the family is left to keep these alive if they wish within there own units.

Every family seems to have their own special gift exchange traditions at christmas time. in my family, everyone buys gifts for all the children in the family. The adults all exchange names. This way the children are never slighted by anyone and the adults don't have to buy for the same people each year. It makes it fun and convenient for everyone. it makes Christmas the enjoyable holiday that it should be.

I never tried having a exchanging gift with my cousins because we are far from each other and during christmas we are having our own celebration. But wen its not yet christmas we have our outing and that's the time we have a bonding.

Wow Trishasantos, You have a huge family!! Sounds like an amazing time! My family is a lot smaller and more spread out. Also none of us really have the money to exchange gifts like that. We all get together on Christmas Eve and everyone brings a dish. We all bring a small gift for the kids to open up. The adults do a yankee swap. We then sit up quite late after putting all the kids to bed and just party and enjoy being together. It's a fun time.

Awwww, I bet everyone has sooooo much fun, and yes, I can well imagine all the noise and laughter! That's just great! Is this at your Mom's house? She must have a big one in order to accomodate all those people, wow! My family is very small now and we only exchange with the children. But that's ok, we still have fun and enjoy each other's company. I love all the food, the laughter and the holiday spirit.

Hey trish! That must be so great to have such a big family, especially on Christmas. I always wished that I had a big family. I also grew up in a Jewish home and wasn't allowed to have a Christmas Tree, but we celebrated Christmas and Hanukah and it was my parents Anniversay! I was a very confused child! I swore when I moved to my own place I would have a Christmas Tree alway and I do every year although I haven't put the 6 footer up for a few years now and I really miss it! My two cats are serious climbers and it wouldn't last a minute with them! So I just put up a 2 footer and decorate the living room. I just have a small apartment anyway! But, I love Christmas and just with I had more people to exchange gifts with and more money to spend! I love buying gifts for people. That is really the best part, although I do like opening mine too!

For the last 2 years i have been skipping on the gifts part for christmas, sweetie. It is supposed to come from the heart when giving gifts, but lately it is a competition to see who an give the most expensive gifts. Childish, so i don't play anymore. Enjoy. TATA.