How is everyone holding up?

MrsAmers

Consider this a place to brag if you are ready for Christmas or vent if you feel like you'll never be ready!

I'm feeling pretty good this year. Everything in my possession is wrapped, with only a few more items coming the next few days. And I've done the gates grocery shopping, too. All that is really left is to clean up my house more and get somewhat caught up on laundry. My family members don't care and our cleaning person came last week...so it is really just about making the place clean enough so that I can relax and enjoy the holiday!

I have a lot to do at work the next two days, so I'm hoping that they will go fast...

Luckystar2

I did most of my wrapping last night! Was up till 12:30 but glad to be almost done. Just a couple more santa gifts to wrap that Dh had gotten and I didn't know where they were (he was asleep!) and I need to make a stop to pick up a few more gifts. Nothing major just small things. I have to stop at the paint your own pottery place to pick up something that dd painted. It's not a convenient location so I haven't done it yet.

Apparently we need to make a quick store stop for paper towels otherwise we won't be getting much cleaning done tomorrow! Tomorrow will be cleaning since we are hosting Xmas Eve and then my parents may be coming up on Xmas.

Yesterday we did baking so most of the sweets are done. Still need to frost sugar cookies.

I'm feeling pretty good. Just want to check some things off the list and want the cleaning over with!

amyjoy18

Compared to years past, I'm behind. 

• I've left instructions with DH today to clean. 
• Tomorrow I'm off, so I'm planning on wrapping while DD is at school and I'll send DH to the store to pick up the remaining items for Christmas dinner (with the kids to give me more time).
• Then finishing my baking with the kids.
• And cleaning whatever DH doesn't, which will likely mean the playroom and the kid's rooms

lishie

I feel super behind this year.

I still have to run out at lunch to get a few things that I hadn't thought of--I printed photos and wanted to frame them with photo mats from our summer vacation. I bought the mats solo and needed frames. i went to Target yesterday to get them. They had not a single empty 11x14 frame.

They had 11x15 frames--who needs an 11x15 frame for anything?

So I'm running to BBB for lunch to attempt to get frames.

We also have to do a lot of wrapping. I need to finish making my toiletry bags for my aunts/cousins.

I also need to run to the store tomorrow to get bread and ice cream for my dinner christmas eve.

I did the big packing for our trip yesterday, but I need to finish packing some toys and toiletries, and our carry on stuff.

I need this upcoming time off. I'm wiped out.

bride2003

I'm cautiously optimistic right now.  Got all wrapping done Saturday am so that was huge weight lifted.  Grocery shopped & got gift cards yesterday, made cookies & candy too, will finish teacher gifts tonite. 

Of course I haven't picked up my Christmas cards but that is last on my list of cares.  

My biggest concern right now is we are having Christmas Eve & Christmas day dinner so making sure I get all the food ready & not being on my feet for 2 days straight.  Hoping for a few hours Christmas Eve morning to enjoy with the kids & not run around. 

Finally gave up on gift for inlaws & leaving that squarely in John's hands to handle.

MrsAmers

For those who still have wrapping to do, the kids were able to help me this year! Obviously not on their presents, but I taught H to wrap, and she could make labels. T helped me by getting tape and decorating packages with foam stickers and putting them under the tree when they were done.

I don't hate wrapping, but it was definitely more pleasant when I wasn't doing it alone!

I just added notes to my google calendar for when I need to cook various "make ahead" things. I tried to spread them out, so I won't be in the kitchen for 4 hours straight. At least, in theory. ;-)

Meghan&Rich

I was on track to be ahead, but as always, work has thrown a wrench in those plans.  I have family gifts wrapped, but we still need to wrap for the boys which is the bulk of it.  I need to clean, cook, and everything else since we're hosting Christmas.  I'm sure it will all get done, but I'm feeling very overwhelmed!

sarahandtim

We're more or less ready. I wanted to be as ready as possible before my gallbladder came out, so I was pretty ahead this year. Thank goodness, because I had some major complications after surgery and now christmas is basically all on Tim. Short of cleaning and making dinner I think we're good to go.

denalea

lishie said:

I feel super behind this year.

I still have to run out at lunch to get a few things that I hadn't thought of--I printed photos and wanted to frame them with photo mats from our summer vacation. I bought the mats solo and needed frames. i went to Target yesterday to get them. They had not a single empty 11x14 frame.

They had 11x15 frames--who needs an 11x15 frame for anything?

So I'm running to BBB for lunch to attempt to get frames.

We also have to do a lot of wrapping. I need to finish making my toiletry bags for my aunts/cousins.

I also need to run to the store tomorrow to get bread and ice cream for my dinner christmas eve.

I did the big packing for our trip yesterday, but I need to finish packing some toys and toiletries, and our carry on stuff.

I need this upcoming time off. I'm wiped out.

All of the frames at Michaels were 60% off last week.  Not sure if they still are, but they may have more selection that BBB!  If it is close to you, I would call and see if they are still on sale!

amyjoy18

MrsAmers said:

For those who still have wrapping to do, the kids were able to help me this year! Obviously not on their presents, but I taught H to wrap, and she could make labels. T helped me by getting tape and decorating packages with foam stickers and putting them under the tree when they were done. I don't hate wrapping, but it was definitely more pleasant when I wasn't doing it alone! I just added notes to my google calendar for when I need to cook various "make ahead" things. I tried to spread them out, so I won't be in the kitchen for 4 hours straight. At least, in theory. ;-)

DD helped wrap our gifts for others this year as well.  It wasn't perfect, but she got the job done, and Nana and Papa probably prefer that she wrapped them herself anyways.

AmandaJLewis

we cut way back this year. No christmas cards, I didn't get anything for my parents or sister. All I am providing for dinner is a ham, my ILs and family will bring the rest.  Honestly I just really want to have these babies and I have no control over that. so, moping around and knitting a lot.

denalea

I am stable.  I am always behind, but that is just par for the course. I envy the people who have beautifully decorated homes, and perfectly wrapped stuff.  It's just not in the cards for me.  I am so busy at this time of year.  (Probably actually not busier than most....it just feels that way.)  I try to focus on the important stuff, and if someone complains my house is not clean enough, then they don't have to stay....

We got our cards done (yesterday!) and I have a few more things to wrap, and I have all my bows to do.  (If I put them on ahead of time the cats eat them and then puke them back up.  No one has time for that.)   I THINK I'm all done shopping.  At this point it would have to be pretty significant for me to go back out.

I also have to clean the guest room because FIL is coming and S's favorite game lately has been "hotel" which means he has to pack the "car" which entails grabbing whatever he can find and stacking it in some random corner of some room.  (Last night, the guest room.)  He grabs blankets off of beds, all of his stuffies, and last night, he got every.single.book off of his shelves.  I LOVE the hotel game.  8-|

At some point I need to go grocery shopping to feed my family.  MIL is cooking Christmas Eve (at my house) and my mom is cooking Christmas, but it is funny how people expect to eat every day!  And with FIL coming, I feel like I should have something besides cereal to offer!

Oh well.  It will all get done.  I just hate how it feels like a race.  I really do LIKE the wrapping and backing (not so much the cleaning!), and I want to slow down and relax, but can never seem to!  There are so many things to fit in, it seems like even the fun things become more things to just get through.

I loved this article I read.  It has a faith bent to it, but I think it speaks to a lot of our hearts at this time of year!   (Sorry for the swears....but let's face it....we've heard (said!) those words before!)

egpitt22

I feel ok going into this week!  I would say wrapping is about 90% done, I had a few things delivered over the past week that I need to do.  Most of my grocery shopping for christmas day is done, just a few last minute fresh things I'll pick up tomorrow.  My in laws arrive tomorrow night, so I just need to make sure the guest room is picked up for them.  I'm sure I'm forgetting things I need to do, but I am pretty good overall!

4EvR&4AlWz

Everything wrapped and ready.

I may try to make a headband holder but that can be a post-Xmas craft if the big guy doesn't get it done.

On Xmas, since it's just us (I work on Xmas so we aren't doing a family Xmas until the weekend...actually I work today through Sunday every day but on the brightside, I'd rather be the provider than the patient), we may try to make some homemade pasta for our weekend family dinner.

lala5507

I'm feeling pretty good about where I am at.  The only thing left to wrap are the Santa gifts, which I will do tonight.  Tomorrow, I have to make the icing for my shortbread sandwich cookies and make soup for Christmas eve.  
Oh, and I have a sick kid (  It seems to be a just a mild cold.  Hopefully it won't develop into anything else.  I thought we paid our dues at Thanksgiving when croup came visiting.