2006 Christmas Challenge

[Strawberry]

uggggggg, I'm not going to make my goal

It really has been outside my control. We have had such bad weather; first a huge dump of snow, then freezing rain, then the teimperature dropped to -36C, then it warmed up and we got another dump of snow. We've lived with weather warnings for the past 3 weeks.

Not much I could do about it. I did get almost all my christmas gifts purchased; just two more. I am almost finished grocery shopping but I can't finish because of the weather. Besides the fact that I'm not going to try push a full shopping cart through deep snow (I have a bad back) or shop when it sooooooo cold, I can't finish because the trucks aren't making it through on the roads. Yesterday I went to a store and there was almost no veggies or meat, and I'm not kidding...the shelves were empty. So I will try be finished of gifts and food by Monday. There's no way I'm going on the weekend and deal with super busy stores.

My christmas cards are almost ready to mail

I enjoy reading about everyone's progress. You're all doing so well

[peanut]

Well the Christmas cards are addressed. I just haven't made it to the post office. We're having a winter storm...have been since Monday really. It's a pain. I just need to bundle up and get out there and walk to the post office. Brrrr!

[peanut]

How is everyone doing? I decided to rescue this thread from the bottom of the board.

I managed to get my Christmas cards mailed by the end of November. I got all my parcels mailed by the end of the first week of December. I finished the doilies for dsis#2. Finished the lap quilt for dsis#3.

Made turtles twice - once for the guys in the extended family and once for a year end goodie night - and Tamari Nuts. We've already baked 3 batches of Christmas cookies...and eaten them. I'm not baking any more until Thursday.

Mom phoned and wanted her old acrylic paints back for Christmas...the ones she'd given me 2 or 3 years ago. I packaged them up with a few extra tubes (stuff I'd used), brushes and a canvas and sent them back nicely wrapped. She was quite impressed. I'd even cleaned her old paint box for her!

Dad was more problematic. I ended up giving him a hand towel for the kitchen and a doilie. I doubt he'll appreciate either gift, but who knows. He has a girlfriend now who appreciates stitchwork. She might be able to enlighten him about it. I just find it so hard to buy for a 76 year old man. I'm almost ready to throw in the towel and just exchange Chapters gift cards with him! That's what he sends us every year.

I had a bit of a curve ball thrown at me when dd#1 and her dh asked to move into our basement so they could afford university. Meant spending an intense last couple of weeks cleaning out the basement and helping them move. I had thought they wouldn't move in till after Christmas, but they decided to move in this past weekend. It was very hectic.

Plus I have my own volunteer work I do this time of year. And my manuscript at the printer's. I've been proofing it the last week. It's been a bit much. Thankfully the church has been cancelling events right, left and center. It's given me time to do all the other things on my list.

Now we have a screen door being painted in our sunroom (long story short: the other one got wrecked in the move), so no way is a tree going there at the moment.

So less than a week before Christmas, no tree up, or decorations. I do have some cards hanging from a string in the living room. Our stereo isn't working properly, so there's no Christmas music to cheer us through the season. DD#2 has made sure the outside Christmas lights get plugged in every now and then. I still need to do a final grocery shopping run...I'm hoping Wednesday morning.

On the other hand, we are all in the house and having a fun time so far. The best Christmas gift I ever got was to have some cheery young adults in the house. Some kind soul is shovelling our walk for us. I am so thankful! DD#1 is having company in tonight. It's a bit noisy, but I think once I get in my room and close the door, it will be alright. If not, we'll talk to them tomorrow.

The advantages of melding two households are becoming obvious. Their cat likes to eat and attack their artificial Christmas tree. So they've offered it to us to use this Christmas. The cat is confined to the basement. Means one less shopping trip to buy a tree. I think dh is relieved. I know I am! We had bought one the other day, only to get it home, out of the box, take an instant dislike to it, and ship it back to the store.

Aside from that, dd#1 moved all her kitchen baking supplies in today. I have enough food in this house to feed us baking for months. She wants to do a complete pantry inventory with me Friday. This could take awhile! And my menu planning I did before they decided to move in (we had about 24 hours notice) is all past history now. Need to redo it.

I have presents for everyone. I shared with dd#2 for dh. I gave dd#1 hers early (an updated copy of "The Homemaker's Journal"). I have gift certificates for everyone. I'm just a wee bit concerned about my lack of gifts for my SIL. DD#2 will also get something homemade. But SIL I think needs a sweater from a store for big tall men. DD#1 says she'll go shopping with me Friday for something. I hope we can find something 2 days before Christmas!!! If not, it's another gift card.

Wish me luck! What is everyone else up to?

[danni]

stay within my budget - I DID IT!!

-get all shopping done by Nov. 30th, this includes gifts, baking suplies, and groceries(except perishables) - ALL DONE

-all decorations up by Dec 5th - DONE

-presents wrapped by Dec 5th - ALMOST DONE

-mail out the presents by Dec 6th - ALREADY DONE

-have all baking done by Dec 15th - finished all the chocolate covered cherries, peppermint patties, chocolates, mincemeat tarts, lemon raisin tarts and whipped shortbread

-and get all christmas cards mailed on the first - DONE

-Make up a menu and maybe freeze a few more meals - DONE

[peanut]

Well the tree is up and decorated. The house is decorated too. Dh and I decided to ask dd#1 whether they wanted sweaters or university gift cards. She picked the gift cards...so no shopping for sweaters.

I've got my Christmas Eve tortiere all put together and ready to bake. And an extra one for New Year's Eve ready to go into the freezer. I'm going to be baking some Christmas cookies this evening.

I'm all set to go! Thanks heavens we scaled back Christmas this year. It was just too hectic for much of anything.