Mmmm I have to wrap, but my wrapping paper is in storage... UGH...I forgot about it...so I have to go out tomorrow and get it while my dd is at a friends house. Then...I have to go grocery shopping because our freezer went out (the fridge stayed cold thank God) and I lost all my food. As of today, it's fixed, but the time I was to wrap, I'm spending it driving around. So it looks as though I'll be wrapping after 9pm until Christmas. :(

Plus...I was sick today w/a cold, and yesterday our septic decided it was full, so I got nothing done. That too was fixed yesterday. So my house is a wreck. Good thing it'll only be us!

Annellis, it will get better. Hope you get well quickly.

Ann, you sound like you're in great shape. I bet you're happy with how things have gone.

My kitchen floor needs mopping, I probably should be doing that right now instead of this. Okay, I'll do it *next*. There. When they announced the hard freeze I went out and cut every single rose and rose bud so there is a nice vase of flowers in front of the mirror. In between the Christmas teddy bears.

Gifts need wrapping. There's just the three of us so that won't take long, I plan to do it while dh and dd are out shopping tomorrow. One more trip to a different grocery store for some things I couldn't get at the first one today. I think I'm done with stocking stuffers.

I spent some time today baking gingerbread men for the family. Got them iced and here came dd with friends. When the icing hardened I put them on a plate and set them out for them to eat - I can make more cookies for us tomorrow and I'm happy she's comfortable enough to invite her friends here (they're all 18). But you know how that sort of thing sets your plans aside is my point. I love it that she has a living room full of friends watching a movie when they could all easily be out somewhere getting into trouble, know what I mean.

I think my main gripe is decorating. I am still in the hauling out the mish mosh phase and I wish I were in a color coordinated phase. I even didn't put out nearly everything we have and the place still gets that cluttered feeling. I need to go through the living/dining area tomorrow morning and just grab some things and put them away. Those Christmas teddy bears - grrrr. You know the stuff that comes home with other family members and it gets saved and saved and saved? Ick. I wonder - will anyone complain or notice if I put them away?

But, I am pleased to have time off. Got my mammogram today and need to call for the dr appt. Need to make a dental hygiene appt., stuff like that. Need to pay for dd's dual credit (college) classes by 1/3. And it got COLD even way down here, so I guess tomorrow I ought to go get some covers for those pipes outdoors. Okay, two trips tomorrow: groceries and pipe covers at HD.

I'm rambling. I'm in pretty good shape this year and I credit Jamie's Christmas by the Month with most of it, she really helped me get organized - things like family addresses etc.

Gonna go mop this floor now. Thanks a lot! LOL

I'm doing okay. Still have a few more gifts to purchase but the ones I have purchased are already wrapped. (I try to wrap as I buy.) Decorating? Well, I never quite finished it. I still need to find our stockings and a few more things. I didn't get into it as much this year, for some reason. I am having the same troup here on Christmas Eve that I did on Thanksgiving - 18 people total. Like Ann, this one is much more casual. I am roasting and slicing a turkey earlier in the day. Then we go to church at 3:00 (2 kids are ringing bells at that service) and everyone comes to our house after that. So I need dishes that can be made in advance. I will have rolls so everyone can make turkey sandwiches. Simple, simple. I was way too stressed last Christmas eve and didn't enjoy anything. My husband pretty much has the next 2 days off so he can help me with last-minute stuff. The hard part for me will be housecleaning, because I've been dealing with back pain. So, the kids and DH will have to chip in tomorrow afternoon or Friday morning. For whatever reason, I'm not really stressed about the house being perfect. Ann, I identify with your statement: "I love them being old enough so this means less work for my husband and me, not more :)" Yes, yes, yes! It's been MUCH easier for us this year because the kids are older, and DH and I have been able to come and go as we like PLUS they can help us more around the house. Today my BIL was in a car accident and that put things into perspective about what's most important this season. Fortunately, he only has a concussion (near head-on collision). He was grumbling about his car being totalled and I told him at least HE wasn't totalled. Cars can be replaced. I watched their 2 year old all morning while BIL and sis were at the hospital. It forced me to stop running around and we made cookies. It was great!

Sheryl

my kids are still young enough that they're a bit of a pain, and not much help at all.

But I'm in pretty good shape--we have a simple Christmas this year, and I somehow managed to get presents, and not go broke. And not feel rushed.

Don't ask me how I did that--partly, I guess, I didn't buy a ton, but it feelsl as though I did. I think each kid will have 12 packages to open, by the time they're all wrapped. (Not all toys, and not all expensive stuff--a shirt, pajamas, shoe-lace ties, breakfast cereal, socks, books). but it didn't feel stressful and it didn't feel expensive.

(I haven't done a Christmas spreadsheet--probably I should, and probably THIS year I should have, since it feels like money's tremendously tight).

I have Christmas Eve Day off, which is nice; I'm hoping the kids wil get homework done this afternoon, so we can make cookies.

Well, no. LOL But I'm getting there...finally. DH and I finished our shopping last night, so that's done. I took yesterday off and baked all morning, so we have cookies to offer guests tonight. And I got more work done on MIL's afghan too - I'm off work tomorrow, so I'm going to stay up as late as it takes tonight to finish it (sometimes they open presents christmas eve, so it *has* to be done tomorrow). I also need to marinate some water chestnuts tonight to wrap in bacon and bake for christmas eve tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be pretty busy. I'll take DH to work (poor guy has to work a full day tomorrow), and then go home to wrap gifts. After that's done, I'll take a gift and some cookies to my grandma in the nursing home, and visit with her for a bit. Then it's home to finish a pair of gloves I'm crocheting for my BIL, set up a meat and cheese tray for christmas eve dinner at my in-laws, and bake those chestnuts. I'll drop a batch of chestnuts off at my parent's house (dad *loves* them) and my mom's stocking (stuffed by my sis and I), and then DH and I will head to my in-laws with gifts after he gets off work. After we get home, I'll crochet another pair of gloves for my Dad (last gift to finish), and hit the sack.

Christmas day, I'll finally be ready. LOL Brunch and gifts at 10am with my parents, home for a little while, and then back to his parent's house for dinner, I think. Then home to figure out where to put all the *stuff* people will inevitably give us... ;-)