WELCOME TO RIVER DAVES PLACE

Non traditional Christmas day ideas?

hawgty55

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2015
Messages
1,331
Reaction score
1,895
Possibly looking to do something different for Christmas this year. Seeing if anyone’s possible traditions might be a new one for our family. Grew up in so cal doing what a lot of inmates probably did or do like going to the desert or water ways but now that we live in Texas without a lot of friends and family and our kids being older im looking for a new tradition.
 

monkeyswrench

To The Rescue!
Joined
Sep 7, 2018
Messages
29,447
Reaction score
84,113
We started having pizza for Christmas Day lunch. One place open here in town...not the best either, but makes for great snacking 🤣 We don't have any family around either, and the youngest is 16 now. We fart around, play video games and watch movies.
 

cofooter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2012
Messages
6,056
Reaction score
10,435
Will be spending ours on a beach near Todos Santos, Baja just like the last 5 yrs! Kinda over the traditional Christmas holiday which can be a shit show. We see plenty of family all during they year anyway, lol. Its nice to come back and have it all be over, haha
 

hawgty55

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2015
Messages
1,331
Reaction score
1,895
could have been a little more specific but we have done the traveling for Christmas but looking for something on those years we don’t travel. Close to home. Could be as easy as presents brunch and a movie. 🤷‍♂️
 

cofooter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2012
Messages
6,056
Reaction score
10,435
could have been a little more specific but we have done the traveling for Christmas but looking for something on those years we don’t travel. Close to home. Could be as easy as presents brunch and a movie. 🤷‍♂️
Mix it up and open presents the night before after a nice dinner at home and go to brunch the next day when it is quiet. My parents did that with us several times. We went to Laguna and had late breakfast and then we all walked on the beach.........
 

Dog

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2008
Messages
1,557
Reaction score
4,679
We usually go out back and burn off some gun powder for a few hours.
 

Singleton

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2008
Messages
19,195
Reaction score
26,086
Wife and I started trading Christmas adventure boxes for Christmas. They contain 16 cards. Each card is an adventure (dinner out at X, concert, etc.). Each month you pick from 1, 2 or 3 cards to select your adventure. It has been working well
 

evantwheeler

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2015
Messages
2,945
Reaction score
5,737
When I was growing up, my much older cousins who are both veterans used to bring over an arsenal of weapons on Christmas day. Mini14's, M16's, various hand guns, a couple shotguns. We would walk a couple miles up into the DNR woodlands at the end of our county road and make a bunch of noise. That stopped one year when we returned to the Sheriffs waiting for us at the house. My parents were not thrilled, and obviously none of the neighbors were either. As I have aged, I understand how annoying gunfire in the woods is if you aren't the one making the noise. Moral of the story, do something that doesn't end up with the Sheriff at your home.

As a family of adults (no one in my family has kids) we have done some destination Christmas's. Colorado skiing, Canada skiing trip, and everyone met up in Vegas when I was living there. A change of scenery is nice if you aren't trying to entertain young kids. Growing up it was always Christmas at my parents house with a large extended family. Late breakfast with gift opening afterwards, early PM dinner, football or NBA on the tube all day, desert and some form of card game after in the evening. Never tried the movie theater on Christmas day deal, but know of a few folks that had that tradition.
 

Orange Juice

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2017
Messages
5,415
Reaction score
6,492
Possibly looking to do something different for Christmas this year. Seeing if anyone’s possible traditions might be a new one for our family. Grew up in so cal doing what a lot of inmates probably did or do like going to the desert or water ways but now that we live in Texas without a lot of friends and family and our kids being older im looking for a new tradition.

For Christmas, head to a nice Casino. The spread they have is amazing. Prime Rib and King Crab😋.

Entertainment is slow, but the food is great.
 

GRADS

Phishing license is paid up to date
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
19,626
Reaction score
24,348
Denny's.🤣 Having no kids we have always celebrated Christmas with our family on Christmas Eve so they can spend Christmas Day either with their kids or with other family. My wife and I would wake up Christmas Day like wtf are we going to do today since nothing is open? Back in the day the only thing open on Christmas was Denny's. While there are way more things open these days, Denny's has become a tradition.🤷‍♂️🤣
 

samsah33

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2020
Messages
1,358
Reaction score
3,333
Not too non-traditional, but we do early Church on Christmas Eve, grab some BBQ takeout for dinner and put on Christmas Story. Christmas morning is waking up, tossing some cinnamon rolls in the oven and watching the kids squirm while they cook (...the rolls, not the kids...), and putting on more Christmas Story. Couch after that, followed by inlaws for dinner assuming I'm not hosting. Great day to just chill and be fat-n-happy.
 

DLC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2013
Messages
11,048
Reaction score
16,683
The past few years we have been making Tamales as a family & try a few fillings. We did a few sample runs to make sure we are good to go !! Things have progressed and they are really good eating….

Then we pack it all up together and head out for a fire pit


It’s a nice change of pace and you kinda re connect by razzing each other and having good conversation with each other
 

DLC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2013
Messages
11,048
Reaction score
16,683
We 1st started out by making empanadas, We get the wrappers from a Cuban / Latino market in San Diego.

And
The Masa we get from Food City
 

evantwheeler

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2015
Messages
2,945
Reaction score
5,737
I spent 2 christmas's out of town for work in the past 5 years. For each of those christmas days, I took the crew that was with me out to a super nice dinner. I kind of felt bad for the staff working on x-mas night :( but tried to tell them thank you with the tip. Maybe make reservations and get "dressed up" and take the family out to a nice sit down dinner that you wouldn't normally do.
 

dirtslinger2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2011
Messages
1,891
Reaction score
4,412
I have Xmas morning with my Son and his wife, super simple, we open presents, BS, and get the fuck out, so he can enjoy his wife, and her family.

Then, we jump on our bicycles and hit Hermosa Beach for some day drinking with a bunch of friends who's kids are grown. It's usually a drunk fest.

We'll be doing that this year for our last year in the S. Bay. Week before, we're headed to Nashville to spend Xmas with the daughter since she works all the Holidays.
 

PDQH2O

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2011
Messages
517
Reaction score
870
Depending on what part of Texas you’re in and what your family enjoys, there are several options. In south TX, try San Antonio Riverwalk or The Alamo. West TX try Big Bend. North TX (Grapevine) has a ‘Polar Express’ train. Nearby states also have things to see and do during the Holidays. OK has Beaver’s Bend a couple hours from Dallas. New Orleans is about 5 hrs from Houston.

All depends on how far you want to travel, what is open if Christmas Day is critical, and what your family wants to do. Either way, it’s about getting together with loved ones and celebrating the absolute love that our good Lord and Savior has for each one of us. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
 

petie6464

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
1,402
Reaction score
2,754
Realizing I have way more Christmas's behind me than in front of me; I've always loved Christmas and it's real meaning as an adult. I'm staying with that for the remainder of the ride.

Many emotions play during the holidays, mostly good but the want for the memories of the past can be difficult, loved ones that aren't with us and children that are now grown. It is great to see them grown and making their memories with ones grandchildren.

With tradition a prime rib with a few sides for dinner. . No need to change that either!
 

monkeyswrench

To The Rescue!
Joined
Sep 7, 2018
Messages
29,447
Reaction score
84,113
London England for Christmas was pretty magical for the kids. The city goes all out. Prague is another I would like to visit for Christmas.
I really want to see Prague...any time of the year! Looks like it has amazing architecture spanning different periods (and rulers). Closest I've come is watching XXX and some random WWII videos.
 

Sportin' Wood

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2007
Messages
2,638
Reaction score
7,882
I know a CEO who works non stop and shared a cool story with me about his Christmas strategy.

He gives his daughter a credit card every year in late summer and tells her to do her magic on picking, organizing and managing the family Christmas. He has no idea where they are going or what they are doing until he is handed an envelop with his plane ticket. He takes the whole extended family on the vacation. His present to his family is that he pays for everything without rules, their present to him is the surprise. They don't exchange gifts, they make memories. It's a sizable budget.
 

rivrrts429

Arch Stanton...
Joined
Jan 4, 2008
Messages
21,519
Reaction score
46,536
Mix it up and open presents the night before after a nice dinner at home and go to brunch the next day when it is quiet. My parents did that with us several times. We went to Laguna and had late breakfast and then we all walked on the beach.........


Take me with you please lol
 

Sportin' Wood

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2007
Messages
2,638
Reaction score
7,882
I really want to see Prague...any time of the year! Looks like it has amazing architecture spanning different periods (and rulers). Closest I've come is watching XXX and some random WWII videos.
I spent 24 hours in Prague, it is incredible. The subway is crazy, the castle is bitchen, the people are beautiful.
 

rivrrts429

Arch Stanton...
Joined
Jan 4, 2008
Messages
21,519
Reaction score
46,536
Will be spending ours on a beach near Todos Santos, Baja just like the last 5 yrs! Kinda over the traditional Christmas holiday which can be a shit show. We see plenty of family all during they year anyway, lol. Its nice to come back and have it all be over, haha


Take me with you, please 😂
 

Tank

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
21,068
Reaction score
50,465
Head to Hawaii or somewhere warm?

🤷‍♂️

When our daughter was young, We went to our place in Hawaii every Christmas for YEARS. We’d put shell necklaces and lights on the big plumeria out front. Exchange a handful of gifts and then go to lava Java for a bagel and coffee. Then back to the pool for pina coladas and chillin. Good times. It was nice to get away from the traffic and craziness and stress Christmas time brings.
 

rivermobster

Club Banned
Joined
Dec 28, 2009
Messages
59,657
Reaction score
60,348
When our daughter was young, We went to our place in Hawaii every Christmas for YEARS. We’d put shell necklaces and lights on the big plumeria out front. Exchange a handful of gifts and then go to lava Java for a bagel and coffee. Then back to the pool for pina coladas and chillin. Good times. It was nice to get away from the traffic and craziness and stress Christmas time brings.

A guy I worked with long ago, went to Hawaii Every year.

Seems like a good way to get away, from all of the family BS! 😁
 

PDQH2O

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2011
Messages
517
Reaction score
870
Great suggestion. Been to Hawaii several times, visiting many islands. The absolute best was Maui during Christmas/New Years. No crowds and except for Christmas Day, everything was open and my family had a blast.
 

530RL

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2012
Messages
22,131
Reaction score
21,359
Some of my friends tell me Chinese food and a movie is a good alternative. 🤷🤷
 
  • Like
Reactions: DLC

DLC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2013
Messages
11,048
Reaction score
16,683
Growing up, our traditional holiday dinners were - Always busy !

Halloween - HOT DOGS
Christmas Eve - pizza & Root Beer in Moms home made Santa Mugs
New Years - Chinese food ! Or for my brother & I a Big Mac ….

LOL

Those were the BEST of times, Everything was Magical !
Mom and Dad
Always went way overboard !!

Friends & Family was always included

One year they invited the extended family over for a pool party on Christmas Eve - it was a Saturday and they heated the pool and it rained…

Was one if the funniest Christmas - it was so crazy & NoT normal - grilling, hot tubbing and splashing around …. In the rain !
 
Top