The more things change: 10 ways my Christmas has long remained the same

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Now that the nest has emptied, home, family, Christmas and more are far different than they were in the past. The more things change, the more it matters that some things remain the same, things such as the following.

10 ways my Christmas has long remained the same

Christmas treeThe Christmas tree — Regardless of all the ornaments my daughters accumulated through the years then took with them when they moved into their own places, our tree always — somehow — continues to look the same every single year. (And our cats...

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Friday fun: 5 festive favorites

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There are thousands of holiday videos online, and you've likely seen a big chunk of them. But as seasonal deadlines and doings tend to keep us on edge — it's not just me, right? — a little festive fun is in order. So today I share with you my five favorite festive videos of late. Enjoy!

FIVE
When it comes to holiday movie mashups (and you know how I love mashups), they don't get any better than those done by MovieClips. Here's their holidays 2013 offering:

 

FOUR
This one...

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Quick, clever, crunchy gifts to make with grandchildren

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This past weekend was a party-filled one for this grandma. Sunday was my family's annual cookie swap and Saturday was the Chex Party Mix Party.

The Chex what? you ask.

The Chex Party Mix Party was a special blogging event I was invited to in which several bloggers from the Denver area were filled in on how to make and gift — yes, gift! — Chex mix goodies in a variety of flavors. And, of course, we got to taste the crunchy stuff, too.

Chex Party Mix booth

I honestly had never thought of doing such a thing, but after...

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Unexpected guests and GRAND Social link party No. 82

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My family's annual cookie swap — which we started long before cookie exchanges were in fashion — took place yesterday at my sister's house. She lives relatively far up in the mountains, and life up there is a wee bit different than it is here in the city.

For one thing, during the holiday festivities, the neighbors came right up to the back door and begged to join our invitation-only party.

begging deer 

Needless to say...

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Grinchy delights for grandsons

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My grandsons had their first "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" viewing of the season the other day. 

The live-action version is a holiday favorite in their family, and oh, how it delighted them.

Grinch fans

The delight grew four times in size...

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Wherein I share a sibling sandwich and grandchildren that aren't mine

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I didn't get to spend time with my grandsons or their parents on Thanksgiving. The miles are just too difficult (and expensive) for either of us to traverse at this time.

Making up a smidgen for not getting to see the parts of my heart that live in the desert was getting to share a warm and cozy (and filling) day at my place with many of my mountain-based family members, immediate and extended. That included two of my six siblings — my oldest (Jeff) and my youngest (Susan).

Forget the turkey and taters, this was the sibling sandwich of the day:

siblings on Thanksgiving 

I don't believe we have ever...

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