Are you already working on Christmas?
It’s Nov. 3 ladies, how far along are you on Christmas?
About three weeks ago an old friend announced on Facebook that she had just finished her Christmas cards! It totally stressed me out! About a week later, she announced that had finished a bunch of her Christmas shopping online.
Is this friend uber- organized or just plain crazy? (I think there’s a fine line.)
I was inspired (panicked?) by her getting a jump on things and decided to get a little ahead myself. After the kids went to bed on Halloween night, I uploaded a bunch of photos and designed our Christmas cards on Shutterfly.com. It is a relief to have that project done.
I also started working on another time-consuming holiday project – a calendar filled with photos of the kids and family for both sets of grandparents. (I even make two versions of the calendar so the Giarrussos aren’t looking at Walshes and vice versa.) I think I’ve got about five months done so far.
I also bought a few Christmas presents last weekend when I ran into Target. The toys are all in stock now. The aisles are wide and clear. (The only catch to this is if they change their minds about what they want.)
I am planning to buy all the teachers’ presents in the next week and order my Godmother’s and Godson’s presents.
My dream is by the time December hits to have all the work done so I can just spend time with the kids – baking, looking at lights, doing some charity work, watching movies and just hanging out as a family.
So it worth stressing out your November to finish by an arbitrary date? Or should the goal be to finish half or three-fourths so you just have a little bit to do in December? Are YOU working on Christmas already? If not, when will you start?
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102 comments Add your comment
motherjanegoose
November 3rd, 2009
7:18 am
I FOR ONE think having your Christmas cards ready now is a bit too much. Maybe it is just me.
Theresa, does this mean that only ladies will be contributing today:
“It’s Nov. 3 ladies, how far along are you on Christmas?”
I would love to hear from men who are handling the holidays at this year or in years past. My husband puts up the tree with our daughter and also the lights but it is a bit too early for that…right?
@ Vork or the Vork imposter from last night….please check in with Kathy, DB or Newmom before you call me a windbag on yesterday’s topic of going out together with other woman. These ladies HAVE been out to eat with me and each has indicated she would like to go again……hmmmm.
We are really cutting back on Christmas. It is not about the money at all but about all of the hullabaloo!
Since our families are spread out all over the United States, we are not sending gifts anymore. The shipping was well over $200 to get everything out. My kids are older now and having oodles of brightly wrapped packages is not a big deal. I truly have plenty of stuff.
We are looking at what we can do for others. My daughter read the mail and is interested in buying a heifer or goat for poor folks. Does anyone know anything about this? We also try to do some volunteer work.
motherjanegoose
November 3rd, 2009
7:21 am
RE: the $200 shipping, again, it is not about the money but spending $200 to get things THERE seems like a waste to me….just wanted to clarify. Have a great day all!
Vork
November 3rd, 2009
7:21 am
You buy Christmas presents for your kids’ teachers? Are you friends with the teachers? If not that is kinda lame and could be construde as kissing ass.
Vork
November 3rd, 2009
7:24 am
@motherjanegoose
Crazy lady I am done with you. You are about as exciting as getting a root canal and irritating to no end but ultimately you are not worth my time…….unless you say something that pisses me off.
Christina
November 3rd, 2009
7:38 am
We made a couple purchases online last week because a steal-of-a-deal was ending. Aside from that, I’ve made a list of everyone we’re buying for, how much we’re spending, and a few likely gifts. We traditionally do a lot of shopping on Black Friday, and usually set a goal to be finished by December 1. We usually are 90% finished by December 1 (including Christmas cards out the door), but there inevitably is a last-minute surprise.
deidre_NC
November 3rd, 2009
7:50 am
vork do you have kids in school? its kind of standard to get the teachers a little something…not kissing a**…you need to either get off this blog or stop being so mean..if i was theresa id ban you from here
as for christmas…i dont do it…way too much commercialism (SP) it all pretty much makes me sick. i will buy each of my grandkids 1 gift..usually a book…they will get tons of stuff…no one needs as much stuff as kids get. i will take a ornament off a tree and get a needy kid something…i do that every eyar..sometimes i get more than 1…this year it will be 1 because im broke…and it wont be the ornamant that says the kid wants an X box!!! thats my christmas…i wont get off work long enough to go to my family in atlanta for christmas…so i will do something here…i may volunteer at a shelter or something….
ZachsMom
November 3rd, 2009
7:51 am
I thought when I first read the topic line, that is was going to be about people who have to WORK on Christmas and ideas for still being able to celebrate.
I was dismayed when I went to Kroger and they had all their Christmas candy and displays up. This year Zachary has only asked for one gift and since it is approx $350 it will be the only one that he is getting. It is kinda sad to not have toys to play with anymore on Christmas morning. He will love the TV but it is not the same for mom.
@motherjanegoose It is called HEIFER INTERNATIONAL, we do it at our church. THey have a great web site.
Going to enjoy my last day off this week by doing laundry and try to figure out how to celebrate christmas while at work.
deidre_NC
November 3rd, 2009
7:59 am
MJG–the “Samaritans Purse” has gifts like that….go to their website….you can donate anywhere from $7 to hundreds to go towards certain things…its all laid out on the site…and i have looked into it and it is a great organization..im thinking of doing that this year rather than the tree ornament…
Belle
November 3rd, 2009
7:59 am
I am finished with the Christmas shopping. I buy things all through the year since I hate getting out in all the insane crowds. Everything is stashed away until I can get it wrapped. I’ll get the lights up in the next couple of weeks. This will be the first Christmas that my daughter understands what is going on and I’m excited to see it all through her eyes.
Kathy
November 3rd, 2009
8:03 am
No….it is not worth stressing out ever to keep up with anyone else or have everything “done” by a certain time. I personally don’t care when my friends have all their Christmas stuff done. I am only concerned with what goes on here in my house. It is against the law in our house to do anything even related to Christmas before Black Friday!! I think it is bad luck. Just like leaving your Christmas tree up into the New Year…..just plain old bad luck in my opinion. It disgusts me when I go into the stores and the Christmas stuff is up before Halloween is even over.
In my humble opinion, if Christmas stresses you out, then you are either doing too much, the wrong stuff, or you have just plain lost the whole point of Christmas.
motherjanegoose
November 3rd, 2009
8:09 am
Thanks for the tips all.
Deidre….glad to see I am not the only one who thinks that asking for an extravagant gift ( on the charity tree where others are buying it for YOU) is a bit much.
I saw a tag last year with a little girl asking for an American Girl Doll and specific outfits to match.
That blew me away! I never bought one for my own daughter, as I thought they were too expensive.
Just my choice and I am not saying that no one should buy one. Anyway, I mentioned this at church and was poo pooed…seems some children are used to nicer gifts and when their parents lost their jobs, the rest of us were being asked to step up to the plate…what?
I am not saying you need to ask for a 6 pack of socks from BIG LOTS but some kids are clearly spoiled and this is why I feel I may buy a heifer or goat for families who WOULD appreciate it.
Theresa Giarrusso
November 3rd, 2009
8:10 am
Not just for ladies — I just like using the word. Absolutely teachers deserve a Christmas present — they spend 40 hours a week educating your children. They should be given something extra (beyond just pay) for those efforts.
As far as shipping, I hate shipping so much — I hate going to the post office. I hate waiting at the post office. I only send online or catalog presents to my Godmother and Godson where the shipping is taken care of by the company. No time to box up and send presents. What a pain!
We are also cutting back on how much we are spending this year on everyone.
I don’t think I’ll be done with the kids by Dec. 1 but I think I can have a lot of it done where Dec. is more relaxed. We’ll see.
We don’t do lights on the outside of the house so that makes decorating the house easier. the former owner left us wreaths for every window. they’re on long ribbons and you just pop those puppies over the top of the windows, close the windows and boom you’re done.
April
November 3rd, 2009
8:15 am
@MJG – Samaritan’s purse is a great organization. You can buy a goat, chickens, cows, etc. You can donate all or part of the cost. They are the same organization that does the shoe boxes to ship to children around the world.
(BTW, I hope you saw my clarification to my comment last Friday)
@Deidre_NC – I agree. I wish all the mean people would go away. If you do not agree with a poster – don’t read that post but picking on a poster over and over is tedious, boring, and just plain childish.
Photius
November 3rd, 2009
8:20 am
Ah Christmas: celebrating the birth of the ultimate non-materialist, Christ, by spending ourselves into oblivious buying things people really don’t need…. such as buying teachers gifts. Spend more – you’ll feel better aboout yourself America tells us! Go Baby – SPEND!!!
deidre_NC
November 3rd, 2009
8:20 am
MJG i am so with you on that….i know some kids are used to getting huge expensive things…thats my whole problem with christmas…the things these kids ask for blow me away…heck i want WII but i dont have one…i do get whatss on the ,list…shoes etc–those requests break my heart…but i always get a nice toy for the age group…when we started this i had my kids pick out a ornament of a child their age and they picked out the ‘fun’ part of the gift…i do think this year i will send a check ot Samaritans Purse….there are so many social service and organizations to help the local kids..i am leaning towards the SP gifts….i dont decorate either…just got tired of it lol….last tree i had i left up til march…i said then nevermore….(i was just to lazy to take it down..my son finally did it lol)
Kathy
November 3rd, 2009
8:21 am
When I was teaching we had the “Angel Tree” for families who were struggling. I would always get items off of the tree until one year the tree was filled with requests for things like Sean Jean jeans, a Play Station 2, and a year of cell phone service with a brand new phone!!! The people who selected the families to participate should have been more aware of the things the people were asking for. Also, you should have the common sense to realize that if you are struggling and sign up for the charity tree, you need to be asking for essentials to keep your family afloat…..grocery store gift cards for food, clothing essentials for your kids (NOT request specific name brands), gas cards so that you can get your kids to school or yourself to a new job. I wouldn’t mind paying a bill for a family in need at Christmas time, but I am certainly not buying your daughter an American Girl doll!! I agree with MJG on that one.
Vork
November 3rd, 2009
8:22 am
You know I find it interesting that a lot of you moan and complain about how you are “so busy” and you work, “so hard” yet never have time to do anything you want to do and here you are posting comments to a blog…..hmmm…..sounds a little fishy to me…..like maybe some of you have your priorities out of wack.
Together for 15
November 3rd, 2009
8:22 am
Oh, you bet I started… in August! I’ve hated the Christmas season since I became an adult and had to do all the work. (Nevermind all the birthdays between now and then!)
If you get the work out of the way early, you can ENJOY Christmas and the parties and social stuff. I’m nearly done with shopping for my side of the family! If only the in-laws were more cooperative, I could be done in another week or so with shopping. If I got done with the work stuff early on, I could spend December baking cookies with my daughter, enjoying some Christmas specials on tv with the family, going around to see Christmas lights, buying the toys for our church’s “Giving Tree” families, and doing other stuff that truly makes Christmas memories for us.
I can’t imagine how your friend got her cards done (unless it was just picking them out and addressing/signing/stamping, etc.). I write a letter, and like 40% of what’s in the letter is the stuff that happened Oct-Dec! :)
Good luck to all you type As like me out there! Here’s to a stress-free Christmas Season!
Vork
November 3rd, 2009
8:24 am
@Photius
Because stimulating the economy is not something we should be doing….right?
deidre_NC
November 3rd, 2009
8:26 am
i come to this blog because i enjoy hearing others opinions on things….it is part of my day…i work lots of hours and have long driving times to get back and forth to work so i dont have a lot of free time to go out or whatever…i am now gonna start ignoring vork becuase he/she is an ass…i wish we could have the option of ‘hiding’ people like we can on facebook lol
Photius
November 3rd, 2009
8:31 am
It’s obvious in this narcissistic society that many parents equivilate “how much I love my kids” by how much they give their kids at Christmas; it’s sick.
deidre_NC
November 3rd, 2009
8:35 am
@photius—well my kids know i love them from the way i act everyday…(well maybe not EVERYDAY LOL) but i dont have to give them stuff to make them know it…most parents dont…they just like to give their kids stuff….i dont equate love with gifts and probably most here dont…i love to give gifts to people…i just cant afford it…
Vork
November 3rd, 2009
8:39 am
@Photius
I blame the parents…..and this blog.
Patrick
November 3rd, 2009
8:39 am
I’m thinking of giving away homemade cookies this year to most of my friends, coworkers, and take some to the family in Alabama, if we go. I usually set up a big tin in the breakroom at work, but I think this year I’ll do up several small tins for people in my department, and do the big tin for the breakroom.
I have a very awesome gingerbread cookie recipe that uses some substitutions, additions, and subtractions. Everyone who has had these cookies loved them, even those who never cared for gingerbread. I think I may change up the recipe just slightly, too give the cookies more *oomph*.
No, I don’t decorate them. I tried that last year, and realized why I don’t do it. Too time-consuming and messy. Usually I just spread plain white icing on the cookies, with little red and green colored sugars crystals mixed in. I’ll be going back to that, or sprinkle the sugars on top. What I might do is use different colors, depending on the shapes. One thing I did last year, that was neat, and will probably do again this year is I mixed in a little peppermint flavoring in the icing for the candy cane-shaped cookies.
Looks like I need to hit up Wally World tonight to begin purchasing the tins and some of the ingredients. Baking will commence in mid-December. I never bake these cookies no sooner than either the 15th of December, or the second weekend of December, whichever comes first.
clyde
November 3rd, 2009
8:40 am
As noted on another blog yesterday,Christmas shopping here is completed and wrapped.I’ll watch the good sales this year for next year’s gifts.We don’t send cards,that’s one expense annulled.For the last two years we haven’t bothered with any decorations and this year will be the same.We’re older people and Christmas means different things to us now that the children are gone.We keep the Holidays completely stress free.
FCM
November 3rd, 2009
8:41 am
Theresa “that she had just finished her Christmas cards! It totally stressed me out! ” this concerns me. It seems like Facebook stresses you out since people can post constantly about what they have done. This is not a contest. If it is a contest it’s the lamest I have seen.
Diedre–I don’t think Vork should be banned. I do get tired of some of MJG goings on about her travels, her being paid to talk, etc…unlike Vork I just skip that part of her posts. I love to hear from MJG but I don’t really care if she is in St. Louis, Alaska, or Duluth. I also think some of what she says is not only from a different part of the sidewalk, but out of date with the modern family…doesn’t matter though since I can still consider and accept or reject what she says for myself.
Presents for teachers — I found when my Mom taught that they get a bunch of junk they don’t care about. Last year we ‘adopted’ a few of Clark Howard’s kids–go to his website to learn more–that are foster children. Each child in my family took pride in letting their teacher know that because of the teacher’s love of children, an underprivledged child was reminded they were thought of in the teacher’s honor. The teacher’s thanked me for not getting yet another useless gift and for making sure a child was loved at Christmas.
Santa is looking for one big gift. I have already bought and put up several clothing gifts for the kids. His family usually out does it on toys — maybe to make up for not being around?–and so they do not get many toys from me. They do get a few key things only an ‘elf’ (or Mom) would overhear them wanting though.
I am currently resetting the livingroom from Halloween to Thanksgiving. Thank God! Lots of the decorating starts in Sept for the fall stuff. Thanksgiving sees it all packed up and that weekend will be dedicated to setting up Christmas. The boxes are color coded and organized so it should not be hard this year. The whole house (even bedrooms) get redone for the season. I love the hoopla!
I have already set up my decorating plan, the baking schedule, and the party schedule is coming together.
Like FlyLady says “Let’s Fly through the Holidays.”
deidre_NC
November 3rd, 2009
8:42 am
amen clyde!
new mom
November 3rd, 2009
8:42 am
I have definitely started with our Christmas planning and shopping. For me, the hardest part is figuring out what we want to get our family members. I try to pay attention throughout the year and find things that they may want but never ask for (ie–we gave my mother-in-law a really cool coffeemaker last year, she never asked for one but hers was about 100 years old, and she’s a huge coffee fan) We also don’t want to overdo the commercialism of Christmas, so that’s why I try to get the ‘administrative’ stuff out of the way early, like cards and shopping.
Another organization you can use for buying goats, etc., is World Vision. We have sponsored a little boy for the last 10 years, and this year they added an option to send a special gift for him and his family. We did that, and usually we buy a few goats, sheep, etc. for other families. Last year we asked our family members to buy goats on our behalf, but only one believed us and actually did it. I think it’s just too out of the norm for most of our family, oh well.
One other suggestion is to think of ‘experience’ gifts, whether it’s tickets to a game, museum, theater, etc. It makes memories and doesn’t clutter up your house, or end up in a garage sale in a few years! ;)
Vork
November 3rd, 2009
8:43 am
@clyde
I think that even after my kids have moved out I will still decorate the house for the holidays.
new mom
November 3rd, 2009
8:45 am
Oh, and I agree that doing the picture cards and calendars, photo books, etc is very time consuming. Especially when you have thousands of pictures to sort through and upload. I wouldn’t do it, but it’s what our family loves the most. We do either a calendar or photo book for grandparents, as the gift our girls give them.
Vork
November 3rd, 2009
8:45 am
@FCM
You understand me so well…thank you.
deidre_NC
November 3rd, 2009
8:47 am
my sister always gives to a charity of her childs choice for her big gift…she gets a gift for herself but always chooses a charity for her ‘big’ gift…i think thats pretty cool for a teenage girl to want…it was actually my nieces idea once she was old enough to understand the idea of gift giving…
Andrea
November 3rd, 2009
8:49 am
I am done with the shopping for Christmas. I don’t think I am uber-organized but my budget allowed me to get done REALLY fast this year!! I tend to purchase from one store and I can ship the items for free. Multiple addresses are generally $1 to $2 extra so for me, it is worth it to have the store ship everything for me. I have all of my cards (both Thanksgiving & Christmas) ready to mail. I have already bought my photo stamps and I am expecting them any day now. The only things I will have to do is to decorate the house (which will be done Thanksgiving weekend) and then bake the food items I will be giving away.
I totally enjoy this time of year. It is my favorite time of the year. I go to the stores with my relatives and while they shop, I enjoy the holiday atmosphere. The month of December will pretty much be for fellowship, parties, and family time. I like to be done early because I get to enjoy the months of November and December with my kids and family.
Yes, my kids teachers will get gifts -
Theresa Giarrusso
November 3rd, 2009
8:51 am
FCM — I like to do movie passes for the teachers so they can go with their kids or husbands and enjoy an activity with their family. It’s one of our favorite things to do. I also sometimes do Pizza Hut gift cards since the holidays are so busy that may help them do dinner one night. So I try to make them useful.
Fred
November 3rd, 2009
8:51 am
I am a teacher and I appreciate gifts around the holidays, nothing expensive but just something that shows that you are appreciated by the student. Gifts from parents are no biggie to me. I still have a ceramic dolphin that a student brought back form a vacation, a straw hat from Florida, 4 teddy bears that couldn’t have cost more than $10 together..the list goes on and on, but these are reminders of the kids that I have taught in the past. They still litter my office now that I am out of the classroom. I know that some are freaked out about home made treats from the kids but I think they are great. It shows that the kisa really put some effort in.
Now back on topic. I do all of my shopping on the internet. I hate mall crowds especiallly around the holidays. There is nothing that says happy holidays like fighting over a parking spot, standing in endless lines, hearing kids and parents whining about some thing or another and my inevitable “where did I park the car” I would much rather stay at home with the family.
I put up decorations when we get back from out thanksgiving trip to visit the parents. I think it is still to early but my wife disagrees, so up they go. The girls are finally old enough to help me out with that, so it has become alot more fun. I don’t do X-mas cards, I just sign when told to.
My one and only pet peeve about the holidays is stores and radio stations pushing it earlier and earlier every year. I was at Kohls 3 weeks ago and they already had trees, ornaments and snow globes for sale. ugh!
Wow that was much more long winded than I had originally planned. Sorry.
Vork
November 3rd, 2009
8:53 am
Are there any teachers on this blog? I would love to know what they think of the gifts they receive from their students. Whether they are like, “Oh good more crap I have to find a place for,” or if they truelly do appreciate ALL the gifts they get.
Personally, if I were a teacher, I would rather you just wish me happy holidays, bring me an apple….atleast I can eat that, or do something like what FCM was talking about.
deidre_NC
November 3rd, 2009
8:54 am
my dad was a teacher and he loved getting little small gifts..its just a show of appreciation…and i love the movie pass and restaurant pass idea for the teachers…i plan to give the principal nd 1 teacher a gift this year…they really helped my kids and i still appreciate it….and my kids dont go there anymore…its a gift of love/appreciation..whatever…
new mom
November 3rd, 2009
8:59 am
I only taught one year and I still got more ‘world’s best teacher’ crap then I could handle. My favorite gifts were dry erase markers and paper for my classroom–exciting, huh? This year, for our daughter’s two preschool teachers, I plan to get them either a gift certificate for a pedicure, gift cards for a restaurant, or for the movies. Something they can enjoy! :)
RJ
November 3rd, 2009
9:08 am
Vork, I really enjoy the gifts kids have given me over the years. I still have every single ornament I’ve ever been given! I put them on the tree each year. I have always worked in urban schools where parents don’t have a lot of money, so when I get something, even when it’s from the Dollar Store, I am appreciative. Parents rarely give gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week, so Christmas is the only time I really get gifts. It show their appreciation. I never think of it as “crap”. They could’ve chosen not to spend their money on me at all.
I haven’t started shopping, however this weekend I will go ahead and get my son that PS3 he’s been wanting before they’re all gone. And I want a Disney Tiana doll for myself. Thank goodness Disney finally developed an African American princess. If only my daughter was still 5!
oneofeach4me
November 3rd, 2009
9:10 am
I have not yet started shopping… I am putting together lists based on the budget I created. My kids are still relatively young (4 and 8) so I can get away with $100 each and it comes out to 4 or 5 gifts a piece. They already get so much stuff from their grandparents that I limit what we give. I usually order my stuff online and have it shipped to my job.
I ALWAYS have gotten something for the teachers, even the daycare teachers, but never “things”. Every year I get them a Starbucks gifcard that comes in a tree ornament. I put my child’s name in the from section and keep it moving. Being that most of the teachers go by Starbucks on the way in… this gets used up before they return form winter break and they really appreciate it. Teacher’s are important and WAY underpaid. Spening an extra 20 or 30 bucks is not going to hurt me.
I do Xmas cards sometimes… but dangit my intentions are good, however most of the time I just can’t seem to go to the post office to get stamps and the next thing u know I throw away the cards I spend HOURS preparing. Not to mention the time I spent obtaining addresses. I haven’t sent them in 3 years.
As for decorating we always do it the weekend after Thanksgiving. I really don’t want to go through all that trouble just to take everything down 2 weeks later. The decorating I actually enjoy.
My mom and sisters LOVE the Black Friday stuff… I go along for fun.. to watch them sqirm and stress out about how everything on their list is already out of stock. That’s when I mention the internet.. lol
FCM
November 3rd, 2009
9:13 am
I have done movie and dinner cards before. However, after hearing how many of those never get used, I stopped. It is a good idea though. Better that then World’s Best “X’ stuff. I have the kids do a handmade card. The teachers have told me they have scrapbooks of the cards they flip through like photo albums. Seriously, when someone has been teaching 10 – 20 years they have stuff and can afford a movie too.
NewMom, 1 — glad to hear the new little one and the older little one are getting along!! Having a pair of sisters about that far apart in my house I can tell you it will be a ton of fun and work! Every bit of it worth it. I also get something for the classroom through out the year, just not at the holidays.
new mom
November 3rd, 2009
9:14 am
Just to clarify–I always appreciated the ‘thought’ behind the teacher gifts. Just dealing with all the generic teacher gifts, just for the sake of giving a teacher a gift, is a lot to handle. IMHO teachers don’t need new paper clip holders, coffee mugs, etc every year. I really appreciated the handwritten notes and pictures that the kids made for me–now those gifts I saved and cherished. And they are nearly free, kids and parents don’t need to spend money to show a teacher that they appreciate them.
Vork
November 3rd, 2009
9:15 am
@RJ
My friend I think you are the exception, rather than the rule, but good for you.
On another note….a PS3? And listen to me because I’m a hardcore gamer and own all three current generation game systems, Seriously…..unless you already have an XBox 360 or a Wii I would NOT get a PS3.
If you want family gaming get a Wii. If you want a good mixture of family, hardcore, and casual gaming get an Xbox 360. If you want a serious lack of available games to play but some really good first-party games from Sony…..get a PS3.
JJ
November 3rd, 2009
9:17 am
I do my christmas cards the weekend after Thanksgiving.
I don’t leave the house on “Black Friday”, it’s not worth the hassle.
I shop year round.
I have a christmas cookie party the Saturday before Christmas.
I have NO stress at the holidays….It’s not allowed!!!!
madmommy
November 3rd, 2009
9:23 am
Let’s see. I am just about done with my gifts, but I prefer to make them all verses buying things. I make jams and mini scrapbooks for gifts as they are things that you can’t put a price tag on, plus it shows my daughter that sometimes it’s better to give your time and creativity to show how much you really care. We pretty much have all our family on the west coast, so shipping can be a bit much, but the flat rate boxes really help in that area. You can purchase a pack of them and just drop them off when your ready and you don’t even have to stand in line either. I do try to have everything done by the second week of November and the cards ordered and addressed by December 1st. A bit much, but it always seems to workout in the end since while everyone else is running around, we can just do as we please since were done already. I try to do crafts with our free time together for bonding and just a way to understand the season a bit more.
As for the teacher gifts, we try to give them little things through out the year verses just once a year. A pound of really nice coffee and cookies is what I generally gift at Christmas since it is something that the teachers can enjoy and relax a bit with. Sometimes a batch of homemade cookies and some coffee in say June, is more meaningful or after a really rough week with your child. (Mine is 3 today, so they have those days)
Off topic, so today is my little one’s 3rd birthday and we are waiting until Sunday to have a family dinner to celebrate. Should I wait and just do all gifts then or allow her to open one now? I did decorate the house last night so when she woke up there were balloons, streamers, signs and a birthday tiara for her to mark the date. She was really excieted and couldn’t have smiled more for just waking up, but I just can’t figure out what to do on the gift front. She’ll get more than enough from family and friends this Sunday, but just don’t want her to think mommy and daddy forgot. I guess this is the joy of her only being three, in that she doesn’t know any different.
clyde
November 3rd, 2009
9:27 am
Vork,
I have a friend that decorates every room in the house,complete with separate tree.It takes her about two weeks to put it up and about a week to take it down.To each his /her own.
lmno
November 3rd, 2009
9:32 am
I am really becoming a scrooge the older I get. I dread Christmas for the most part. Too much feeling obligated to travel here and be sure to buy this and that.
How did a simple religious holiday turn into this?
I wish we just went to church, maybe had a dinner, and thats it.
MJ
November 3rd, 2009
9:32 am
I love going out on the weekends 2 weeks before Christmas and wading into the crowds at the malls to do my shopping. I’ve always done it this way; most folks are in a good mood, talkative and polite. Yes, I’ve met some bah humbugs over the years, but the majority are just fine. I have been doing some online shopping the past couple of years just to get the hard to find stuff; it may cost a bit more when you add the shipping but is worth it to me.
I never start shopping till December by the way.
JATL
November 3rd, 2009
9:42 am
MJG -I got my cards done because the company I use had a really great deal if you purchased by October 30th. We’re on a tight budget, so I try to do some shopping and holiday spending a little here and there in the months leading up to Christmas, so we’re not hit all at once.
Uconn
November 3rd, 2009
9:42 am
MJ- I am the same way. Shopping before the holidays is more fun to me than doing it before. I usually can do it in one day.. I just LOVE the people.