Got a lot to do?????

[Janet]

I really don't have much to get ready for Christmas this year. We got out of school at noon yesterday and I will be off until Janualary 7th. I am so happy. I just hope time goes slow..lol.

Yesterday afternoon I finished shopping...I hope I finished and today I'm planning on wrapping everything. I'm gonna clean the house..nothing too much, just dust and sweep. Sunday night we go to my mother's house.

Then Monday night, we use to get with my in-laws, but of course they are no longer here and this year will be so sad without them. So we will probably be here at home. Later in the evening my mom comes out to spend the night with us and then we open gifts Christmas morning. No one really likes a big meal on Christmas...just snacking so I have no cooking to do. Mom will go to my brother's house after opening her gifts and then eat dinner and spend the rest of the day with them.

Won't be long ladies and it will all be over.

[Forgivenmom5]

I got off about 3:30 yesterday and go back the day after Christmas. Last night people from my Sunday school class came to sing Christmas carols. I had a few finger foods for them. They fussed because they were trying to do something for me and I turned it around but it was really nice. We go to my Mom's Christmas Eve. Like you Janet it will be a little sad since it is the first year without my step-dad.

On Christmas day, The girls and their families come here.

That is if everyone gets well. My son that lives with Mom has been sick along with 2 of Traci's children. Nothing much but you know how careful I have to be. Maybe they will all be well by Monday.

[rivermom]

Janet your days off sound so wonderful!! Lucky you!
Do you enjoy wrapping? I love it! I could wrap presents all day.
I hope the absence of your inlaws are replaced with fond memories to warm your heart and make you smile on Christmas day.

[rivermom]

Debbie ~ I hope everyone's sniffles and coughs go away by Christmas so your entire family can be together.

How sweet the Sunday school children came by and sang carols. Darling!!

[DianaB]

Originally Posted by Janet

I really don't have much to get ready for Christmas this year. We got out of school at noon yesterday and I will be off until Janualary 7th. I am so happy. I just hope time goes slow..lol.

Yesterday afternoon I finished shopping...I hope I finished and today I'm planning on wrapping everything. I'm gonna clean the house..nothing too much, just dust and sweep. Sunday night we go to my mother's house.

Then Monday night, we use to get with my in-laws, but of course they are no longer here and this year will be so sad without them. So we will probably be here at home. Later in the evening my mom comes out to spend the night with us and then we open gifts Christmas morning. No one really likes a big meal on Christmas...just snacking so I have no cooking to do. Mom will go to my brother's house after opening her gifts and then eat dinner and spend the rest of the day with them.

Won't be long ladies and it will all be over.

Janet, it sounds like you have everthing about ready for Christmas. Good for you!!! I'm getting there. I

It's sad how life changes from year to year. My Mom and Step Dad are only here every once in a while for Christmas because my Step Dad's family is usually at their house. For the past several years I've just gone ahead and had the Thanksgiving and Christmas meal and if my Mom comes, she comes.

It won't be OVER for a while for us. I have my husband's family all over for Christmas on the 29th (my husband's birthday too). We'll have around 50 or so here that day. Then on Jan. 5th I'll be having my family over, but I have a much smaller family so it won't be too bad.

We also have Christmas Eve at one of my husband's aunts. We go there every year because it just doesn't seem like Christmas for my husband if we don't go. Then on Christmas day we just have the kids and their families.

[DianaB]

Originally Posted by Forgivenmom5

I got off about 3:30 yesterday and go back the day after Christmas. Last night people from my Sunday school class came to sing Christmas carols. I had a few finger foods for them. They fussed because they were trying to do something for me and I turned it around but it was really nice. We go to my Mom's Christmas Eve. Like you Janet it will be a little sad since it is the first year without my step-dad.

On Christmas day, The girls and their families come here.

That is if everyone gets well. My son that lives with Mom has been sick along with 2 of Traci's children. Nothing much but you know how careful I have to be. Maybe they will all be well by Monday.

How wonderful!!! You had carolers!!!! That was so sweet of them!!!!

I sure hope that everyone at your house is well for the holidays because we sure don't want you to get sick. Take care of yourself!! You're very special to us!!!

[Mandy]

Noooooo i'm not done yet - my husband went with me this afternoon to get the biggest loads, so i can cross that off my list. On monday i will get the last little bits like different breads, and pasteries for Christmas breakfast.

[Tink]

Debbie, having carolers sounds wonderful! I'm so glad they did that for you. Good on you for being well enough to offer them something back though. LOL

I have a totally different attitude about Christmas this year, so am not going all out like I normally would. It's not a bad thing... just different. I see it as my year to shift from being "mom" to "myself" and putting more of the obligations for things on others. The time has come.

[Janet]

Originally Posted by Forgivenmom5

I got off about 3:30 yesterday and go back the day after Christmas. Last night people from my Sunday school class came to sing Christmas carols. I had a few finger foods for them. They fussed because they were trying to do something for me and I turned it around but it was really nice. We go to my Mom's Christmas Eve. Like you Janet it will be a little sad since it is the first year without my step-dad.

On Christmas day, The girls and their families come here.

That is if everyone gets well. My son that lives with Mom has been sick along with 2 of Traci's children. Nothing much but you know how careful I have to be. Maybe they will all be well by Monday.

How wonderful for you to have carolers...I would love that!! Holidays are hard, especially that first one without a loved family member. Not that it gets better year after year...just a little more tolerable. So, we'll see how it goes.

I sure hope all your family members get well quick!!! Please don't take chances we don't want you getting sick.

[Janet]

Originally Posted by rivermom

Janet your days off sound so wonderful!! Lucky you!
Do you enjoy wrapping? I love it! I could wrap presents all day.
I hope the absence of your inlaws are replaced with fond memories to warm your heart and make you smile on Christmas day.

I wish I would have read this before I wrapped all those darn presents.. I would have come up with the money somehow to fly you here to wrap them for me...

I put as many as I could into those Christmas bags with paper. Then the rest I had to actually wrap. The first few I put a bow and some ribbon, after that...they just got a name tag. Maybe if I would wrap them as soon as I bought them, I would be okay, but then I never know if I would have to take it back before Christmas. Next year...you and I are going to have to work something out...

[Janet]

Originally Posted by DianaB

Janet, it sounds like you have everthing about ready for Christmas. Good for you!!! I'm getting there. I

It's sad how life changes from year to year. My Mom and Step Dad are only here every once in a while for Christmas because my Step Dad's family is usually at their house. For the past several years I've just gone ahead and had the Thanksgiving and Christmas meal and if my Mom comes, she comes.

It won't be OVER for a while for us. I have my husband's family all over for Christmas on the 29th (my husband's birthday too). We'll have around 50 or so here that day. Then on Jan. 5th I'll be having my family over, but I have a much smaller family so it won't be too bad.

We also have Christmas Eve at one of my husband's aunts. We go there every year because it just doesn't seem like Christmas for my husband if we don't go. Then on Christmas day we just have the kids and their families.

Sounds like you all have so much fun at Christmas. Everything is spread out and enjoyable. I'm already getting the shakes and bad case of the nerves and we're not even doing much. I don't know why I let myself get so worked up.

On Sunday evening when we go to my Mother's, I always get so nervous and half sick to my stomach. My younger brother's wife is a real 'b*t** and I can't stand her. She always has some smart a$$ thing to say and I've already decided that she is not going to say anything to upset my mom like she did on Thanksgiving.

My older brother, well, he likes to tease, but he just doesn't do it very well and feelings get hurt. Someone will end up crying...happens every year. Totally sucks!

Christmas Day is what I actually look forward to. We get up and open our gifts. I love watching my son open his...even at this age. He is always totally surprised, I can't wait. Usually by 9 or 9:30 Mom takes off to go to my older brothers house for dinner and stays most of the day with them. We have the rest of the day to ourselves. Just don't think I'm going to fix much. We'll just snack, take it easy and play around with our gifts.

Your family Diana sounds so warm and loving....I wish we had that so very bad.

[DianaB]

Open your gifts then come on over!!!! We would love to have you join our family!!!! There's nothing I would like more than for you to meet my family!!!!

[Gina]

Janet it is sad the first few years without our loved ones. You sound like you have it all together. Debbie that was so nice of your friends to do that. How nice is that.

As for myself the count down begins lol , I am showing two houses this weekend. I finished shopping and wrapping. I am in the middle of cleaning. I am having the Christmas Eve dinner about 20 people from my side are coming. We italians on this night make fish dinner, so I am making lots of shrimps, filet, and a ham for those who don't eat the fish, plus a white clam sauce with spagetti, and lots of side dishes. My SIL is helping make me make some trays to, if you remember I helped her on Thanksgiving. I baked two batches of cookies thats it. Don't have time to bake all my cookies. My company will bring lots of dessert.

Christmas Day I go to my inlaws, My MIL also passed away a few years ago so its different there. But my BIL is having all his family over so there is a big crowd of about 30.

Everyone seems to have it all under control...

[DianaB]

Gina, an Italian Christmas meal sounds like it would be very good. We always have a traditional meal but that sounds really yummy!!! It sounds like you have everything under control. I'm still getting there!!!

[Forgivenmom5]

Originally Posted by Janet

How wonderful for you to have carolers...I would love that!! Holidays are hard, especially that first one without a loved family member. Not that it gets better year after year...just a little more tolerable. So, we'll see how it goes.

I sure hope all your family members get well quick!!! Please don't take chances we don't want you getting sick.

The Carolers were great. Since they had 4 kids with them, my little maltese-"Chipper" was the hit of the night in his Santa suit.