The best gift I got this year was a book. Yeah you heard me a book.
Not just any book. No it does not cast magic spells that could harm my enemy's or make me rich.
It is called The Encyclopedia of American cars. It has all the production numbers from 1930 to today. (No trucks)
Man looking at some of the cars I had. They were low production numbers and that made them rare. .
I just can't quit looking at it for other vehicles aI had or friends have.

So what you get?

 

For me, it was the TIME spent with family, enjoying the company...

 

Same here, spending special moments amd good times with family and friends is hard to top!

 

Nothin too big jus got a new quilt, sweater and a emblem for my Case tractor.

But since all us kids graduated presents have been scaled back which is just nice not as much stress and all.

 

We don't make a big fuss about it either. Spend time with family, give a little gift or 2, but nothing extravigant. I HATE how its become a commercialized crock of horsepooh just making parents spend more than they can afford to and make dissapointed kids when they "didn't get all they wanted"... We won't be having our kids going through that every year, much less telling them about some fake stupid fat man flying through the sky. If and when they get presence, I want them to realize that their mother and father busted their asses and perhaps made some sacrifices to provide for their needs, and if possible, get them something more to enjoy.

Scrooge out.

 

I got a Roughrider shirt and I took a few extra days off so I am getting to spend lots time doing as I please.

 

Hello there Scrooge. I see you got your annual lump of coal.

I do agree that christmas has gotten too commercialised. So is Valentines day, Mother's Day, Father's day. Easter, The list goes on.
Those days are meant for what is given from ones heart to their family and loved ones. Presents are just a nice topping of the love.
I grew up with a lot of christmas's getting shirts, swaeters and pants. But every so often we got that special toy or game. Which made it great. That is why I love the book I got. It was not cheap, But my wifes family chipped in and got it. Knowing I wanted it for years. It was a great surprise. I felt good and the other gifts were small to me compared. But I love them also.
So growing up with disappointments of another sweater also made me appreciate what I do get. And yes time with my family and friends. A few days to play cards and tobagganing or just visiting. Those are all gifts.
My wife is having it hard this year, due to the loss of her mother last summer. First christmas without her. But she took from her days with her mother to baking christmas cookies and felt connected. Now that is not commercialism. That is what those holidays are about. Remembering the past with family, and the times ahead with family and carrying on traditions that were started by earlier family member now gone.

 

Im not a holiday guy either, but robbing kids out of santa claus, is almost un canadian. I wont say more then that.

Anyways I got some cool tools, and a my woman gave me her sled when she bought her grand touring(which Im calling a gift haha)

 

Say what you want. My parents didn't raise us up with false hopes of some imaginary thing bringing everything I wanted through a chimney. I certainly didn't suffer because of it. Its time there was a little more realism in kids life before they're thrown out into the real world without a hope, left to fend for themselves, trying to figure out whats fairy tales and whats not...

 

Each person is free to raise their kids as they want for sure. There is no suffering or anything else because a person doesnt tell these tales. I think its very un canadian, its very similar to how lots of things like xmas concerts are being removed from schools, saying stuff like merry christmas is frowned upon because some people that come to this country "dont like it"

Realism in kids, I disagree. Kids need to be kids, not have adults force them (without them even knowing it) to be more grown up then their age. Kids being thrown out in the world to fend for themselves? What country do you live in Sherwin? This aint Africa my friend!

Kids are smart, it doesnt take them long to figure out whats real and what isnt.

Also makes me wonder what your gonna let your kids watch on tv, no cartoons, just the discovery channel? What about toys, who needs em right? Make em play with sticks and rocks, dont get much more real then that!

Thats besides the point though, it doesnt matter what i think when it comes to how you wanna raise your kids, I just feel a little sad for em that they wont get to experience a few of the tall tales, like santa.

Ill admit when it comes to kids its not my expertise, but I get to hear all about it from my ol lady, who has more experience with kids then most of us combined, ten times over haha.

 

I don't agree with the true meaning of Xmas being removed from the public schooling system. This is Canada, supposedly a "free" country. However, we're only as free as any minority group allows right? If someone don't like the xmas concerts and such...don't go to them right? I'm with you there. I may not put the belief of "santa clause" in my kids, but I won't have them shoving their beliefs down other people's throat either.

Kids do need to be kids, I agree 110% there, I'm not talking about putting a 3yr old to work sort of realism, also you need to re-read my statement about the real world. I stated that kids need to live with some reality BEFORE they're thrown into the real world. They won't be forced to grow up before their time, but they will have some understanding of life and how to cope with it before they leave my roof. Its not a cruel system I'm trying to explain, if anything its much kinder than sheltering them until the last minute.

As for tv, I'll be happy if they never watch a minute of it, but rather spend their time playing outside or with constructive toys and such. I'd much rather spend time physically playing with my kids than planking them in front of the digital babysitter. Yes, they do have toys, lots of them. What do they end up playing with most times? The box that the toy came in. A piece of 2x4 they found in the shop... a cool stick... a cool rock. Not always the fancy toys that money can buy. This is the kids choice. Believe you me, they have all the toys available.

Like you said, and the one thing we will always agree upon, if the only thing , to each their own!!

 

You both have made good points, But this is not what I had in mind for this thread.
I just thought I like to here what you guys got for christmas that you really appreciate.
If I could I rather this thread stop now. It has lost what I had intended on it. Sorry guys.

 

I'll take a stab at re-railing this thread . . .

Over the past couple years I have been dabbling in fly fishing. My wife, the amazing woman she is, bought me a $400 Winston 4 weight fly rod. She knew I would have never spent that kind of money on myself.

Now I'm counting the days till the river thaws.

 

Fly Fishing rocks!! What species do you try for most?

Original topic, My wife made me this canvas wall art set... It totally rocks, and we're both going to be proud to display it on our main lvg rm wall!!!

 

Hey that is neat art you got there Sherm.
I cannot relate to Fly fishing, but I do like fishing on the lakes. Never tried fly fishing. My wife has with her dad. She has a fly fishing hook tattooed to her back in memory of him.
I just would like to retire in a year and get back at fishing next to working on old cars and trucks.