So Much To Do, So Little Time!

[Josiegirl]

Christmas is coming way too soon. But then if it was still a month away, that wouldn't be enough time. Maybe(I hope!) I work better under pressure!
There's baking, wrapping, making, oh my!
Cleaning, decluttering, errands, oh my!
Cooking, planning, inviting, oh my!
More stocking stuffers, cookie decorating, delivering, oh my....

I either need a couple gallons of coffee or a nap.

So tell me, is everyone else prepared?

[Maria2013]

it used to be this hectic for me too, then in the latest years, dh and I decided to have Christmas at home with the kids and meet with family in between Christmas and New Year, it really slowed things down for us and the kids are so much happier

PS. I'd go with the nap:hug:

[melilley]

I just started shopping yesterday! I went with dh and we only went to one store and of course he wanted to be in and out so I still have more to do.

[Patches]

I haven't even started shopping yet. I'm not prepared at all

[Laurel]

it used to be this hectic for me too, then in the latest years, dh and I decided to have Christmas at home with the kids and meet with family in between Christmas and New Year, it really slowed things down for us and the kids are so much happier

PS. I'd go with the nap:hug:

That is a great idea!

Laurel

[Laurel]

Christmas is coming way too soon. But then if it was still a month away, that wouldn't be enough time. Maybe(I hope!) I work better under pressure!
There's baking, wrapping, making, oh my!
Cleaning, decluttering, errands, oh my!
Cooking, planning, inviting, oh my!
More stocking stuffers, cookie decorating, delivering, oh my....

I either need a couple gallons of coffee or a nap.

So tell me, is everyone else prepared?

Of course not! ::

I celebrate VERY minimally. I just buy for grandkids and do a dinner. No cookies (too fattening), no cards (the hassle), no lights outside (no one will put them up), etc. I usually put up the tree but gave it to my son and his family this year.

Right now I am taking a break from ordering gifts for grandkids online (my favorite way to shop). I am at Barnes and Noble looking at craft kits for my granddaughter. I am on page 19 of 395!!!

My grandson is into all things play-doh so I looked for an hour for just the right thing online but I found it at Toys R Us.

At the mall I got a gift certificate to Game Stop for the older grandson. Still have one more grandson to figure out something for.

I kind of have this urge to make ornaments for my grown children's trees though. I am in a hot glue gun mood. ::

Laurel

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

me too! Having a little "party" here Monday night and I have had 7 million things happen. Just hoping to get my house clean and food made
I have no gifts for kids... they may or may not get something this year....

[e.j.]

So tell me, is everyone else prepared?

Getting there but not fully prepared yet. I've got the dc kids done as of today but I'm still working on parent gifts with the kids. I've started buying for my own kids and husband and am almost done but still have a couple of things to get for them. I also still have to buy for nieces and nephews and we have a snow storm heading our way for tonight which will cut down on shopping time this weekend. Panic is starting to set in!

[MarinaVanessa]

We minimize the Christmas craziness by shopping online if we have to or by doing and getting our shopping during the year.

My DH and I both have semi-large families and a lot of nieces and nephews (12 in my DH's family, 14 in mine plus our own 3 kids) so we celebrate Christmas Eve with my family and Christmas with his so that it's not one great big enormous party.

We also have an agreement with both of our families that we only buy gifts for our own immediate families (I buy only for my DH and 3 kids etc.) and the other kids get small gifts. This year my family opted not to get each others kids presents because there are so many family members and gift opening got ridiculous and lasted 3 hours last year, mostly kids gifts.

We also have the tradition that whoever hosts the gathering makes the main meal and plans the sides and desserts which get assigned to everyone else. This helps out ALOT since each adult brings one food item.

[Crazy8]

I haven't even started on xmas yet. My DD cheers and had a national competition in Disney last week - I had to get thru the craziness of that before even thinking xmas. Now I'm ready to order like crazy online. The one (only?) positive of having such a light daycare crew right now is that I should have some time to get other things done.

[Sunchimes]

I feel like I lost 2 weekends of Christmas prep time. Thanksgiving was a week late, then we lost an entire weekend to the ice storm. (I know, I know, but this is not something we deal with-last year, we didn't get any ice.) I couldn't even use the 3 day weekend (due to schools and businesses closing on that Friday) to put up decorations because all of my decorations were in the attic. We have an outside staircase leading to the attic, and it was covered in ice. I keep dropping traditions to keep from going crazy.

We aren't buying for (grown) kids or (mostly grown) grandkids this year. We have so many that we have to limit what we spend-usually $25 each. That was fine when they were little, but they are adults now, or close to it. Now, if they want something, they either already have it or it is out of our budget. The things we buy them, although selected with a lot of care and thought, are just clutter. I got tired of wasting money for something they didn't want or need. It's certainly made shopping easier.

[TwinKristi]

Not ready at all!! I have a few things for each of the kids and all but 1 DCK shopped. Nothing for dh yet and we also have a party next weekend I need 2 gifts for and leave for a week next Sunday. Never done Xmas away from home before so this is all new to me! We have to do food shopping up there but I want to be done gift shopping by then. Still need gifts for my dad and dh's dad and my older boys.