And now it's the Christmas stress. I have several friends and cousins who have told me it's a super stress time. Bah humbug! 😂 They're just kidding. I think.
To be honest, I just got done with one stressful but happy holiday and now it's on to another.
What I'm grateful for.... WISH LISTS! I've asked our kids to give us wish lists for our grandkids and now my nieces have kindly agreed to give me wish lists for their kids each year. It makes my life so much EASIER.
As for my kids and their spouses, we each buy for just one person every year (using their wish lists). It's wonderful! I love it! I start thinking of extravagant things I would like throughout the year that I would not buy for myself so I can present it to my Not So Secret Santa.
However, I still need to start thinking about baking my fruitcakes for neighbors and other loved ones. It does happen to be one of Art's favorite holiday treats.
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Many families have Christmas decorations with lights already hung around their homes.
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So you can imagine our surprise when we saw this on the road recently. OK... maybe a little extreme but I did burst out laughing.
POSTSCRIPT:
Hawaii, like Florida, looks like Christmas only at night. In daylight, this northerner finds decorated palm trees a bit jarring.
ReplyDeleteOur family has had a long standing gift truce for Christmas. We don't give each other gifts other than perhaps some of their favorite foods but even that isn't expected or required. I do give a gag gift to my sister-in-law when we are together over the holidays and she returns the favor too. As for nieces, we just give gift cards to their favorite store.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Holiday Stress is here again... just kidding (kinda). And yes, the baking and mailing, etc. is in full force. As for gifts, not too big a thing anymore, Kay. The kids and their spouses used to get gifts, but after grandkids started coming, the kids get holiday home-baked goods and all the gifts go to the grandkids! As for us, DH and I pick out one thing and put it under the tree... and of course the ferals outside get their catnip toys...
ReplyDeleteThe only time that Christmas seemed stressful to me was when I was working. It was our 'busy time' and mandatory overtime was the rule. I just wanted the holidays to be perfect! They never were. I vowed that once I retired, I would make our holiday perfect. Guess what. They aren't. Now, I just enjoy it. I'm going to start my baking in the coming weeks, just half batches of everything. Well. Everything except for the fruitcake.
ReplyDeleteWe have kept the tradition of Christmas stockings, even for the adults. It's fun, but we try to set limits about the $$ that goes into them.
ReplyDeletePeace 🕊️ Thank you and bless you, Kay
ReplyDeleteI have to send out my seasonal emails
ReplyDeleteLin Floyd says we mail off checks for our children to buy gifts f rom us for their families. Everyone is happy and its easier!
ReplyDeleteWe stopped giving each other gifts a long time ago. We just enjoy being together and delight in the season. :-)
ReplyDeleteChristmas can be stressful. Christmas celebrations have changed since families have spread far and wide.
ReplyDeletePerhaps January is my favorite month because the holidays are done and life goes back to normal. I am a bah humbug kind of person but with 2 toddler grandsons around I have to get with the season and look for gifts and stocking stuffing. Since my husband was a Jehovah's Witness we didn't have a decorated Christmas tree and gifts under it in our house. Instead, our dear friend (I called him my 5th child) who lived downstairs would get a tree, let the kids decorate it, all gifts were stacked under his tree - and on Christmas morning we would all go downstairs and the kids would rip open their many gifts with delight.
ReplyDeleteMy grands know how to use Amazon to make their wish lists and supply links. Ordering is easy and the gifts have already been delivered to my door. Stressless.
ReplyDeleteI am really trying to get into the holiday spirit. We have done some of our cookie baking. We did all of the decorating, of course. A few visits are planned, in-between appointments. It will all come together.
Wishing you happy holiday preparing.
I got out the Christmas mugs and towels when the grandkids were here for Thanksgiving. Our granddaughter decorated her room with Christmas lights the day after Halloween. I am wearing some holiday attire, but otherwise, I'm not "doing" Christmas. I will go to lunch with retired teacher friends on Monday but I declined the invite to the party for the resiliency coaches (those of us who read to first graders).
ReplyDeleteTerry and I will light the advent candle at church on Sunday with some liturgy and prayer and Terry will sing carols in the choir. It's too much work to put up all the decorations and then take them down.
We will be traveling to the kids' house the day after Christmas for the rest of that week. The house sitter will be here with the cats, and she isn't big into Christmas so won't be bothered with a bunch of decorations that the cats would probably terrorize anyway.
It's hard to believe that Christmas is coming up so soon
ReplyDeleteIt's still early.
ReplyDeleteIt's still early for a tree, in my opinion. You have plenty of time and it will all get done. I do find this time of year stressful but try to balance that with lots of coffee dates and outings with friends. We tend not to give gifts unless they're to the Littles or are edible. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the trunk!!!! That's a hoot!
ReplyDeleteFor us, Christmas trees come out right after Halloween and I'm into zero stress holidays.
Happy Baking to you! And Happy Christmas!
I like to get things ready early so I don't have the stress of getting it done in time. With kitchen redo, fully decorating was held up. But now kitchen is done except for folding cupboard doors that were missing the special hinges. Granddaughter #2 helped put out the nativity scenes and the Father Christmas decorations this afternoon. So I'm feeling good. Started meal planning for the week Sarah and family will be here from Buffalo.
ReplyDeleteWe tend to start getting ready for Christmas quite early ...
ReplyDeleteWish lists for the grandchildren are definitely helpful :)
All the best Jan
I avoid Christmas. It wrecks havoc with my depression.
ReplyDelete