Trying to Get into the Christmas Spirit...

So...all of our extended family is in another state for a wedding that we were financially and schedule-wise, unable to make. I'm having a hard time making it feel like Christmas...with just our little family. I thought we were doing pretty good...we've done some really fun things over the past few weeks...but in the past 2 days every single member of our family tested positive for strep throat (??). Yes, from my husband all the way down to the baby...and for my 5 year old, this is the 4th time in a month and a half (he'll be getting his tonsils out soon). I also have a stomach bug (or the nausea and vomiting is coming with the strep...I know that's a possibility). So, long story short...I'm just not feelin' it! I'm trying to think of something I can muster up the energy to do today and/or tomorrow...to make it a little bit more special. We have a special dinner planned for tonight...we will act out the nativity and read Christmas stories tonight with popcorn under the lights of the Christmas tree...we'll do the typical present opening tomorrow morning...as well as Christmas dinner later on...but it just doesn't feel as 'special' this year. Any suggestions?
(We have 4 children - 1, 3, 5, and 7)

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So What Happened?™

Thanks so much! This was just what I needed to hear :). We're pulling our cornish hens out of the oven and getting ready to eat dinner...then we'll just have a nice relaxing evening! And thanks for the Wassail recipe! I'm excited to try it :)

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K.L. answers from Medford on December 25, 2011

Oh you are building memories to compare every year from now on! In a few years you will all sit back on Christmas Day and say "remember that year we all had strep throat? Wasnt that crazy!" You wont have the energy or feel like doing a lot of extra stuff this year so stay in jammies all day, and sip tea, and relax and just recover. All that extra stuff isnt important. Just be a family together and know that next year will be better. I look back and know that most any Christmas is better than the one when I was pregnant and had a kidney stone. Merry Christmas.

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M.L. answers from Colorado Springs on December 24, 2011

I love your plans! I think they're great! You may not be able to work up feelings of the great happiness one ideally associates with the holy day, but yours will be a quieter happiness, being thankful for your husband and your beautiful children, even when they're ill. Let tomorrow be a quieter celebration if it needs to be, and smile, rather than crying. The Year Everyone was Sick may turn out to be the Christmas your children remember twenty years from now!

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S.X. answers from Chicago on December 24, 2011

snuggle, watch movies. eat cookies. works for us : )

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E.S. answers from Boston on December 24, 2011

Hi! Can I come to your house, it sounds lovely, except for the sick part. I know how hard it is, we have no one and I miss all of it. Warm the car up, gather some snacks and go looking for lights, that will make everyone happy. We do it every year, it is our tradition...

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J.B. answers from Louisville on December 24, 2011

This might feel good on the sore throats and is easy to make.

WASSAIL

2 qts. apple juice
1 pt. cranberry juice
3/4 c. sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp. whole allspice
1 sm. orange studded with whole cloves

Put all ingredients in crockpot. Cover and cook on low heat for 4 to 6 hours. Serve warm from crockpot.

I hope you are all feeling better soon!

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T.M. answers from Tampa on December 24, 2011

With the exception of being sick, your plans sound perfect to me!

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❤.M. answers from Los Angeles on December 24, 2011

It's okay. It's just another day albeit a special one.
Relax, take care of yourselves & be with each other.
That is number one priority.
Btw, if you make hot tea w/honey & lemon it coats the throat & will help
ease the pain w/strep throat. Sorry for what you are going through.

Your plan: snuggle all day tomorrow in your robes, fuzzy slippers, fire in fireplace or heat on, have hot cocoa w/marshmellows drape a candy cane over the mug, lay around the living room on the couch or pillows w/blankets, just hang out, watch Christmas tv, have leftovers for lunch, take pictures, write a short 5 line poem about your being together just for fun.
Play cards, watch a famous old Christmas show.
Be happy & thankful: you're alive & well & all together.
I wish you love & happiness & a great New Year.
Best wishes! :)

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L.F. answers from San Francisco on December 25, 2011

Oh my goodness! I am so sorry you and your family is sick! I am in a similar boat with not feeling christmas like this year---its been a really rough time for our family. But...I hope that you have fun at the nativity and have you gone out to look at christmas lights? That is always a fun tradition in our family. best wishes, have lots of popcicles and hang in there!