Just 3 more days and....

[Rei-chan]

the fun can begin!  I must say that I've done well......the presents are wrapped, the pumpkin bread is currently baking, and the butter is melting for the cherry yum yum.  Now all I have to do is bake cookies and get through 3 more days of retail Hades and the holidays are here!!!
 
Now for the topic:  how are all ya'll doing on the holiday festivity planning?   Any special presents or events you can't wait for? 

[Clara Bow]

I'm going to buy the groceries on Friday and the party begins on Saturday with my inlaws, then the stepinlaws will be here Christmas Eve and my folks are coming Christmas afternoon. And I am going into hiding after that!
The gifts are bought, the giftbags are ready to recieve them and my hubby is going to get my son's fishtank all set up Friday.
Joyeaux Noel!

[Rei-chan]

I hear ya about going into hiding.....I work the next 4 days (including Christmas Eve) then its off to my Dad and stepmonster for the nite.  Christmas Day will be the inlaws (I LOVE my inlaws!) and the 26th I will hopefully be in hiding as well, and playing Final Fantasy XII (provided that DH got it for me!!!) 

Hope you have a great holiday with your family!   

[Clara Bow]

Can I come to your house??!! I'll bring Rex a goody...and I'll sit in the corner and be real quiet...I'll even bring my own can of soup....

[blue2000]

I am going to be working up until Christmas Eve afternoon, then din-din with the relatives on Christmas day, (with very little food. I have allergies, and they don't believe in allergies ) then more work. I don't get holidays until January.

But I am soooo looking forward to them! I think I'm going to try baking an apple pie, and doing some painting and crafts.
I was looking at some big paintings for the living room, but I'm pretty picky about art. And then I thought, "well, DUH, I took all those painting classes in college, I should just do my own!"
So I'll be spending the whole time stuffing myself, and covered in paint - my favourite way to spend holidays!!!!

[fklwmn]

I.
am.
so.
far.
behind.

*sigh* I started out the season reasonably on track. bought all the kids' santa stuff and some clothes on BF and then within a week or so had finished up the extended family.

Then my kids were bad. I don't mean little tiny boys-will-be-boys kind of bad. I mean NAUGHTY LIST bad. SO I've spent the past few days returning their santa stuff. yesterday I went to Staples to buy them school supplies, which Santa will bring in lieu of coal. But I went overboard, so today I have to return about 1/2 of it, lol.

In the midst of the christmas crazies this year, my kids both had birthdays, and one of my best friends got married. Oh, and I got a horrble sinus infection that I just CAN'T kick. So I am exhausted. Which is probably why i can't kick this sinus infection.

I still have to find my son some shoes, and maybe a little more clothes. And I have to wrap 90% of their gifts.

And I have to find the Marine some PJ Pants... Maybe something else too. And one of his gifts said it would be here by the 22nd, but when I track the shipping, UPS doesn't even have it yet (I ordered it on friday), they are saying billing information recieved. UGH. They won't track it until AFTER the scheduled delivery date though, so...

*sigh* I'm at work today and tomorrow and just barely functional from exhaustion and illness. I haven't managed to make it to bed before 11 yet this week, and it doesn't look promising for the next 2 days. I'm hoping to have all my running and wrapping done before Sunday though so that Sunday night I just need to put out the santa stuff and can get to bed at a decent hour.

And for the first time EVER, I am SO GLAD I am not getting married in 3 1/2 weeks

[HogwartsAlum]

I'm waiting for my present from my sister (Hannibal Rising book-  wheeeee!) that should be delivered today...then I have to work tomorrow, then I'm going to do WHATEVER I WANT for the weekend.  I went to the library yesterday so I have stuff to read.  On Christmas I will make myself a yummy dinner and watch "A CHristmas Story" in my pjs.  I might have either a Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings film marathon, or both.

Everybody have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

[Secret]

My DF and I recently moved into a newer, bigger house and it is our turn for the first time to host his family christmas on Saturday.  My first turkey as well.  17 people at our house.  Lets hope it goes okay.  I've baked tons of stuff and have my list of things to do. 

[Shoo]

I've been completely done and ready for Christmas for a couple of weeks!  I'm one of those people who finishes early and spends the weeks leading up to the big day just planning our treats and meals and enjoying the decorations.

Today we're scrubbing the house in preparation for the weekend, so we don't have to do anything but relax.  My dd and I are going to go through our recipes and choose our favorites, then go through the pantry checking for ingredients, and then on to the grocery store.

I usually make a dozen different things, but this year we're cutting back to 3 or 4 of our favorites.  It's going to be a great weekend, with no holiday stress.  Even if it kills me!   

[Clara Bow]

Hogwarts, when I get done at rexsmommy's house, I'm coming to your house for movies. I'll bring the popcorn and lots of sodas...and a nice bottle of wine...and I'll be real quiet...

[Morty'sCleaningLady]

I finished the last batch of cookies last night.  That upped my total to 23 dozen. (Seriously!)  Additionally, I succombed to the pressure of making an ornament for the immediate family members and I completed that this morning on the train.  (Yep, needle, thread and scissor working away to put red ribbon hang tags on little woolen sheep on the 6:45 Express.)  The shoppings done.  The gifts are wrapped.  Tonight, after condo board I hit the in-laws. Tomorrow after a couple loads of laundry, re-watering my 7 foot tree and giving a couple more local gifts, I head to the folks in Maine.

I'm looking forward to going back to work on the 26th with nothing to do at home!

Merry Christmas!

[sweedetobee]

I love Christmas so i can't wait. For Saturday at least....

MY DH and I will finish everything up Saturday (we really only 2 presents left - I mean my 90 year old grandpa can only get sooo many family photos so what the heck do we get him?) then we can spend Saturday night quietly by ourselves. Sunday we go to his mom's, Monday to my mom's, Tuesday we recover and Wed is back to work

I asked for perfume this year so I'm hoping I get it. But other than that I just like to be surprised, I really don't care what I get.

[Sandi Papaya]

Ugh. It's the 21st and things are bought. But nothing is wrapped, no Christmas cards have been sent (I bought them last year and now can't FIND them), I'm still recovering from my stupid accident, and I don't even have any idea what I'm doing either on the 24th or the 25th. My cousin "June" is hosting Christmas day at her house but...it's June, and I'm not sure my presence there will be welcomed (although I know my presents are, because it said so on the invite - "Bring lots of presents!"). I bought each of her kids a token gift and am splitting the cost of the adults' gift with my mom just to avoid having to go through the hassle of finding them some kind of stupid present at the last minute.

To top it all off, I'm sick (got a cold), and I have to go to the doctor's tomorrow to arrange for a biopsy of my liver.  I am EXHAUSTED, and I'm not even looking forward to it all anymore - time completely got away from me. I just want to stay in bed and forget the whole holiday exists. I had been so looking forward to it when I was still recovering from my accident but with my grandma still in the hospital, me being sick and having to go in for liver biopsies...well, it's not looking so merry and bright. I might end up a couple of days behind on account of being sick, but we'll see what happens.

[KenveeB]

No one hate me, but I finished my Christmas shopping two weeks ago.  And everything's been wrapped and under the tree for a week. (More than a week for 99%, but I had one gift I had to wait to wrap!)  Now my tree looks bare, though -- everything's packed and in my trunk in preparation for leaving in the morning to drive to my parents' house for Christmas!  My kitties will have to get their Christmas presents in the morning, so they have something to keep them occupied while Mommy is off celebrating...but I've already seen a present addressed to them from "Grandma & Grandpa" under my parents' tree!

[Clearbrite]

Everything is finally done! The tree is up,presents are brought and wrapped,our Christmas Lunch and dinner organised.
Now just to sit back,relax and enjoy..to a point anyhow..as with most families,there is always bound for something to happen*L*

Had to rush out today and get SIL a gift for Christmas.Hubby rang and said that she was actually getting me something,and he wasnt sure if i wanted to get her anything.
After my jaw was picked up off the floor,i said yeah,ok,i guess so.

Hubby and i have been married for 6 years,been together for 8..and not one time during the 6 years married has she given me a gift.

Which is fine..cause she can hardly talk to me,so i have never been overly concerned.

And cause she has bearly spoken 2 words to me the whole time i have been with Chris(hubby..her brother)im not really sure what she likes,so i saw a really nice triple photo frame,and got that for her.

I know i cant blame someone for having a mental disorder(thats my therory anyhow..the family wont discuss it,they just say she is 'jelous)but to me,there is never any excuse to being rude and not acknowleging someone..when ever you like them or not.

Im very happily married to her brother and have given her a beautiful niece(with 2nd on the way)

Cant she be happy that her brother is happy?

Anyhow..to much ranting.

Not sure why the change of heart,but i hope she likes her gift.

Merry Christmas all