Miss Marple Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 We will be having our family Christmas away from home this year. We rented a vacation home in an area central to my folks and my married kids/grandbaby. Keeping our fingers crossed for some snow :) So...we've always had Christmas at home. I do lots of traditional decorating and baking/cooking. Although the kids are all rather grown up, they still love the childhood traditions. We will be driving so I can take a few things with me. We will arrive the Monday before Christmas. I'd love some advice on how to make this vacation home feel more Christmas-y. I hope I can buy a live tree in the area (hope they are cheap by that time). I thought about just stringing popcorn/cranberries for decorating...but maybe there are some better options. What suggestions do you all have? I'd welcome anything from decorating to cooking to taking frozen pre-made meals :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OK Family Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 We too, will be spending Christmas away from home. We'll be there for the whole month of December though. I will probably bring a few decorations for the tree. I think we'll get a small, live tree. Stockings, my kids are 12 and under. I may have my kids make decorations for the tree. I recommend making meals ahead of time and freezing them if you have the time. The house you'll be staying in may not have cooking supplies your use to. I haven't put much thought into all the logistics of Christmas away from home, but as I get my plan together I'll update and look forward to all the great advise given. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelenNotOfTroy Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Since you will be there on Monday, you can do many of the same things you would do at home. Get those disposable pans if the rental doesn't have what you need for cooking, do cookies ahead because they are easily portable, and then get decorations from a thrift store and donate them back when you leave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okra Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Maybe asking your pretty much grown up kids what their favorite aspects of Christmas were? Then making certain you have those things? Obviously, it won't be the same but if you have the most treasured parts it will be memorable. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 We could take what we need to make it feel like Christmas. For us that would be Christmas music, stockings, a holiday puzzle to work on, and a couple of our favorite Christmas movies to watch together. Do some holiday baking and light a few scented candles and you're golden. These are things we do together that make it feel like Christmas. But are you looking more for things to make it LOOK like Christmas? Then I'm no help. Home dec is not my strong suit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 My grandparents went on a Christmas cruise once and were so sad to miss traditional Christmas at home that they vowed never to leave again. So. I would take the tradition with you as much as is reasonable. Maybe one box of Christmas tree ornaments, the family crèche, and (if you use particular dishes at Christmas) one big platter or cookie plate that sort of represents your Christmas stuff. I'd prebake the cookies and bring them along. And assuming that there is good grocery store availability where you're going, I'd bring an extensive collections of herbs and spices (pricey to duplicate there) and a few crucial pots and pans, along with the family's favorite recipes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Don't forget the presents! Just kidding. I would definitely get a tree, and take ornaments from home, since that really means a lot to me. We always have our stockings, too. But I don't think I would replicate everything, bc sometimes you need a little room for the Spirit to work! Whatever that spirit is for you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 How about chocolate Christmas tree ornaments? Here's a link to an item on Amazon so you can see what I'm talking about: http://smile.amazon.com/Chocolate-Christmas-Tree-Ornaments-Foil-Wrapped/dp/B009ZHPJ6E/ref=pd_sim_sbs_325_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51a2%2BvGp7OL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0YBTDAFSTDQE3K26VFE1 My kids love these. They're a Hungarian Christmas tradition and my dad would sometimes get them when I was little. If you want the original version, they sell them at Hungarian stores online. Look under szaloncukor (and IME avoid the banana flavor). I've found plain chocolate ornaments the last couple of years at Target. They're made in Israel and the chocolate is good quality. They taste like Hanukkah gelt. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Marple Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 Thanks for all the suggestions. Definitely going to check out the chocolate ornaments :) I called the rental agency and asked if there would be any Christmas decorations there. He said that there would be a decorated tree! I have no idea what kind or how it will be decorated...I'm guessing it will be more "decorator" rather than "homey". We are a "homey" tree family :) I'm gathering recipes and will have a lot of baking done ahead of time. And I'm packing everyone's stocking. And I've started Christmas shopping :) Please keep adding ideas...I know I'll forget something! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Take a few games -- or give a new one to your family. One of our favorites (which can work well since all your children are over the age of ten) is Wise and Otherwise. Some small games which are also fun: Bananagrams SET Iota Fluxx Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renthead Mommy Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 I know you said you have married kids, and there us a tree, but as an activity you do as a group, take a stack of construction paper, siccirs and glue and make some ornaments and paper chains like kids do when they are little. Add in some music, snacks and old stories and it is an activity. Plus easy to transport and can be thrown out when you leave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 We used to spend Christmas away from home a lot when I was a kid. My Mom always brought our homemade tree topper with us and would set it up in the hotel, apartment/condo, whatever. What about picking up an ornament kit at Michaels or something and let everybody make an ornament for the tree so it seems more homey? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 We did Christmas at the beach a couple of times when I was a kid and we made ornaments from shells and sand dollars. Maybe you could make some from whatever is local there? Plus pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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