tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post9000155733100417899..comments2024-01-02T10:58:06.466-08:00Comments on The Dish with Ward and June: Family and the Holidays...Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03940211128244967387noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-36864414012464244342012-11-26T16:03:50.706-08:002012-11-26T16:03:50.706-08:00Thanks so much, Liz. We're glad you found some...Thanks so much, Liz. We're glad you found something positive to take from it :) You can do it, you know that old chestnut - He won't give you more than you can handle, sometimes seems not so, but it really is. And we've got our partners & our friends. If I can do anything, even just listen, email me :)Junehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03940211128244967387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-81023991501005244432012-11-26T16:00:54.304-08:002012-11-26T16:00:54.304-08:00Thanks so much, Emma. I am so happy. It will be a ...Thanks so much, Emma. I am so happy. It will be a wonderful Christmas, and is all I could ever ask for :) Hope yours is full of as much joy!Junehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03940211128244967387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-59330184067819097752012-11-26T11:36:19.729-08:002012-11-26T11:36:19.729-08:00@ Steven and Emma - We are so very thankful for th...@ Steven and Emma - We are so very thankful for the opportunity to share love, family and fellowship this holiday season, it is truley exciting.<br />@lizfortoday - Thank you so much for reading, we love inspiring people, if we can ever help you out or anwser any questions, don't be afraid to ask!Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03099210740931720121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-8993987175026434302012-11-26T11:02:02.044-08:002012-11-26T11:02:02.044-08:00Ward and June - I really enjoyed reading this post...Ward and June - I really enjoyed reading this post. Often times I get overwhelmed and before reading your blog today I was sitting here feeling out of sorts. Your posts reminded me of what is important -family, home, God- and gave me a comforted feeling of "you can do it"! Thanks. I Love you guys ~LizAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-37974869781611468472012-11-26T09:07:39.953-08:002012-11-26T09:07:39.953-08:00Ward not deploying, and your family getting to spe...Ward not deploying, and your family getting to spend the holidays together makes me so happy for the two of you!! Military life can be incredibly hard on everyone, but it can also be rewarding. I know I am thankful for every holiday Steven is able to be home for. <br />I can't thank you both enough for your service! <br /><br />May God bless you and your family,<br />Emma<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-33942304830121736442012-11-25T15:41:36.553-08:002012-11-25T15:41:36.553-08:00Awww, Riley, I'm sorry you won't get to be...Awww, Riley, I'm sorry you won't get to be with Cael, I understand all too well. I'm here if you need to talk (email above right :) )I love snow at Christmas. It makes it just perfect!Junehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03940211128244967387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-11274396067383871142012-11-25T15:37:12.696-08:002012-11-25T15:37:12.696-08:00I love that, Cat! When I was little I started sing...I love that, Cat! When I was little I started singing Happy Birthday, Jesus, before I opened anything, and they thought I was infirm, lol. You have a beautiful tradition, and something we could easily incorporate into our morning. <br /><br />I'm the same way with the cooking! I do all kinds of baking leading up to Christmas, and other than that, have things that are simple, since I do have that teeny, tiny bit of Italian (about 1/4 - Grammy came from Sicily) I make a huge lasagne, and some other salads and things, crockpot would be a great idea, maybe we'll do that. Ward just introduced me to crock pots - he's a master :) Same as you, I'd rather spend Christmas WITH them, than cooking. Junehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03940211128244967387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-63234000920801962912012-11-25T15:32:57.461-08:002012-11-25T15:32:57.461-08:00God Bless you, Minelle! I am selfish with Christma...God Bless you, Minelle! I am selfish with Christmas. I prefer it to be just Ward and I and the boys. I open the house on Thanksgiving, but Christmas...just for us :)Junehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03940211128244967387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-83785988806072129562012-11-25T15:31:56.169-08:002012-11-25T15:31:56.169-08:00I love making the food! I make enough for 10 armie...I love making the food! I make enough for 10 armies! And seeing as how Ward and I are both children of the South, pecans abound :-PJunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03940211128244967387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-4221408180926734412012-11-25T15:30:52.682-08:002012-11-25T15:30:52.682-08:00Oh, I LOVE the Grinch, HLA, but the original anima...Oh, I LOVE the Grinch, HLA, but the original animated one...and the Grinch's heart grew two sizes that day! It's not Christmas without it or Charlie Brown's little tree. We will have peace abounding, having been blessed. But I will be remembering all those who cannot be with their families. Junehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03940211128244967387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-76029567872215012952012-11-25T15:29:02.994-08:002012-11-25T15:29:02.994-08:00Ours are 10 & 7, Lucy and we are staunchly kee...Ours are 10 & 7, Lucy and we are staunchly keeping all Santa nay-sayers away from them. I think children don't have magic for long enough anymore, and Ward & I make a conscious decision to keep the world magical for them. We have a couple of great big old bull pines not far from the house that have HUGE pinecones, and we love to make things with them. Cookies has been a thing of mine forever! I love baking, and I was thrilled to find an old-timey Echo cookie press on eBay so the boys could share in that tradition, turning the press and making beautiful cookies!<br /><br />What's reindoor food? We usually leave carrots next to Santa's cookies, lol. Junehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03940211128244967387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-35429576946296798172012-11-25T11:43:47.957-08:002012-11-25T11:43:47.957-08:00@ Minelle Labraun - Sounds like a beautiful time o...@ Minelle Labraun - Sounds like a beautiful time of sharing and enjoying with family!<br />@ Cat - Sounds like you have the feasting down to a science, more time and enjoyment with family is a good thing!<br />@ Riley - So sorry to hear that it's a little more difficult for you! Hope you enjoy your time off!Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03099210740931720121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-41148690398624049452012-11-25T08:43:21.627-08:002012-11-25T08:43:21.627-08:00Thanks for sharing your favorite part of the holid...Thanks for sharing your favorite part of the holidays with us. I'm so happy you'll both get to be together and spend a time with your family. <br /><br />My favorite tradition? When I was younger, my family would go to a snowy city for New Year's and it was always lots of fun. We'd usually go to the same restaurants and do the same activities each year because we're creatures of habit and it just wasn't "right" if we changed it! <br /><br />I'm having a bit of difficulty this year because Cael won't be with me for the holidays, but I'm sure I'll enjoy my days off work as well as all the pretty lights and decorations :)Rileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01839475326755424479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-73655190929499791102012-11-24T22:00:10.469-08:002012-11-24T22:00:10.469-08:00Christmas has always been a special holiday for me...Christmas has always been a special holiday for me and I always tried to make it a very magical time for for my boys no matter what was happening in our lives. But Christmas has become so commercial, that I never wanted them to forget in whose honor we celebrated. So one tradition I started when they were very young was a special Birthday cake that was served on Christmas morning along with hot spiced cider. If they woke before we did (and they always did, lol) they were allowed to open their stockings and nothing else. Once we were all up, we sang happy birthday to the baby Jesus, cut the cake and had cake and cider while we opened our gifts. The cake is more like a "coffee cake" with nuts and spices and my gang all love it. Even though my oldest is giving me fits with his current 'beliefs', he still wanted me to send him the recipe for the cake and cider so he can continue the tradition of eating cake and drinking cider while opening gifts, with his daughters.<br /><br />Growing up, I wasn't fond of Christmas because I spent all day in the kitchen with all the woman of the family cooking and then cleaning up. And of course, the 'good china' was used which all had to be carefully hand washed and dried. It was fun to spend time with my mom, aunts and grandmothers but not so fun just working all day. :(<br /><br />So I started my own Christmas tradition. I do not cook on Christmas day. I prepare a lot of food in the days prior and then Christmas day, it is all put in the oven, in crock pots, and on ice. We have the super sturdy paper plates (if someone really objects, they can use one of my every day plates. LOL) Everyone can arrive (and leave) whenever is convenient for their schedule. It is one big open house/buffet. Eat what you want, when you want, how much you want. They can go back for seconds, thirds, etc. Leave and come back later for more. Yes Ward, there is plenty of food - usually the oven is full, at least 3 crock pots are full and then the table has all of the cold food on ice. And there is usually more waiting in the refrigerator to refill. It made it much easier as my boys grew up and had girlfriends who wanted them to spend time with their families also - no trying to coordinate dinners, etc. Family, friends, my ex in-laws, the boys girlfriends and their families, any of my co-workers who can't make it home for the holidays, etc. It is all about fellowship and all are welcome. Family, friends, fellowship, and food - that is Christmas at my house. :D<br /><br />Blessings,<br />CatCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14266606975978680188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-61402379790107254432012-11-24T19:03:35.061-08:002012-11-24T19:03:35.061-08:00This is my all time favorite holiday. I come from ...This is my all time favorite holiday. I come from a very large family. Our celebration includes 35 immediate family members on Christmas Eve. We all arrive at my parents dressed festively.Each of us children bring 2-3 appetizers and maybe a desert or two. We prep the food than make our way down to the family room to exchange gifts including a possible and heartfelt moment of thanks. After we eat we all sit around the tree singing Christmas Carols (sans a few of the teen boys. lol)and maybe watching the youngest children act out the nativity. Most of our kids are getting too old, but they may humor the 2-3 young ones who wish to continue the tradition. Everyone moves from room to room talking and cleaning up as the evening winds down. <br />When we return to our house all four of us get a new pair of PJs for Christmas Eve. Then we head out for midnight Mass.<br />Christmas morning begins another set of traditions.....Minielle Labraunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16206283897752166320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-22591152732233900112012-11-24T16:40:48.134-08:002012-11-24T16:40:48.134-08:00@tori - Smiles, having fun and loving each other i...@tori - Smiles, having fun and loving each other is what we do best (immitates saw guy) Oh yes...there will be food!Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03099210740931720121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-52812657617277590312012-11-24T16:39:12.489-08:002012-11-24T16:39:12.489-08:00Oh yes i dont mind admitting im a big kid at this ...Oh yes i dont mind admitting im a big kid at this time of the year, i think my excitement equals the childrens lol, its the element of getting the family together, having fun and eating lots of food..oh i do love the food!<br /><br />xtorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358391889176400481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-15199218684893204462012-11-24T16:25:46.630-08:002012-11-24T16:25:46.630-08:00HisLilAngel - There is an excitement about the hol...HisLilAngel - There is an excitement about the holidays, and it is a wonder to spend it with family and to experience the love and joy of being there with the ones you love. Thanks for reading!Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03099210740931720121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-57874177923429764842012-11-24T15:55:39.314-08:002012-11-24T15:55:39.314-08:00Yay! I am excited to see a post about Christmas :D...Yay! I am excited to see a post about Christmas :D :D I love love love the holidays. My kids are still so little that they don't really 'get' the whole Santa Claus deal, but I'm ok with it for now, as I get such great joy laying everything out for them to come down and find in the morning. There is nothing like Christmas Carols playing while I wrap gifts, put up the tree and then sit, with a cup of Hot Chocolate, snuggled in with Husband watching Charlie Brown or The Grinch. It's a special kind of calm for me, around Christmas. So many get all caught up in the rushing, finding the perfect gifts, being frazzled and running all the time... I don't experience that. I feel way more at peace, this time of year. I don't know why that is. Maybe it's the sense of family, that for us is all the more prominent and important this time of year... While we make a point of our family always being important, it seems to really envelop us at Christmas time. Warm hugs, and laughing, hot cocoa, watching in excitement when someone you love opens their gift from you... Ugh. I wish it could be Christmas all the time LOL<br /><br />I am happy you'll be home safe and sound this year Ward, and will get to experience all the joys that are this time of year with June and your boys. :) <br /><br />Now I have a serious case of the warm fuzzies. <3 Love it!! :)HisLilAngelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09522576863961976546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-3315038163237794092012-11-24T15:25:28.710-08:002012-11-24T15:25:28.710-08:00@ Lucy Lou - Thank you so much! The excitement an...@ Lucy Lou - Thank you so much! The excitement and joy of the holidays is a wonderous thing is it not?<br />Blessings to you and your famly as well!Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03099210740931720121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497106283340212317.post-79822780497497966172012-11-24T15:22:53.817-08:002012-11-24T15:22:53.817-08:00I love the holidays....I mean really who doesn'...I love the holidays....I mean really who doesn't? My boys are all 6 and under, so they still very much believe. Their excitement this time of year is simply contagious. I do lots of baking Christmas cookies with them...all different kinds...lots of icing and sprinkles :) We make "reindeer food" to throw outside to entice those furry creatures to land the sleigh at our house ;) Like you said, it is time just to sit back and relax...and I guess just be. I love doing crafts with the boys also. Last year, that entailed Ryan and the boys traipsing all over the neighborhood for enough pine cones for us to glitter and glue to make a wreath :) And let us not forget...Twas the Night Before Christmas....this is a rule in our house...it has to be read! Anyway, I have rambled on enough....I get a little excited this time of year :)<br /><br />Here is hoping your family has a blessed holiday season. I am so happy you all get to be together...that truly is what this time of year is all about....<br /><br />~Lucy Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05065154899098398575noreply@blogger.com