Where are you? | Pad Patter 12.4

[SanVHM]

We put up the our x-mas tree last weekend, love the little lights in my house. My girls got a make-up adventcalender and I have to buy some presents, don't know what they all want, they have everything the only present I've got already is for my dog. I don't know what the plans are gonna be... got 3 weeks left

 

[jk703]

My parents are difficult to buy for these days. They have so much "stuff" and don't really want more.

This is my issue. They don't need more stuff, and they really buy anything they want. It's sort of annoying, lol! Mom mom is asking for things for my boys.... and I'm sending one item at a time, so I can ask for something on their list!

 

[HavaDrPepper]

This is my issue. They don't need more stuff, and they really buy anything they want. It's sort of annoying, lol! Mom mom is asking for things for my boys.... and I'm sending one item at a time, so I can ask for something on their list!

I struggled for quite a few years with gifts for Dad and Martha. I finally got to the point that I got them Target and/or Applebee's gift cards. They ate at Applebee's once a week so I knew it would be used. And, Target was one of the stores they shopped at the most that I could get a gift card easily. That way they could spend them on what they wanted. Dad never knew what to give me since we were so many states apart so he sent me checks. One year it bought me a Rebel T5.

 

[Memaw2Wm]

This is my issue. They don't need more stuff, and they really buy anything they want. It's sort of annoying, lol! Mom mom is asking for things for my boys.... and I'm sending one item at a time, so I can ask for something on their list!

My father is a hoarder ... not a "goat path" one, but bad. He simply can't bear to get rid of anything. Last year for Christmas I paid for a year's service for his prepaid phone. A gift for him and for me b/c I didn't have to go online each month and buy (with his cc) another month's service.

 

[jk703]

My father is a hoarder ... not a "goat path" one, but bad. He simply can't bear to get rid of anything. Last year for Christmas I paid for a year's service for his prepaid phone. A gift for him and for me b/c I didn't have to go online each month and buy (with his cc) another month's service.

My parents don't like to get rid of things... but I am a cleaner and organizer. So twice a year we pick a new spot and clean/organize, etc. This helps in getting rid of unwanted things! I have to do the decoration closet early next year and then the garage. ugh.

A subscription is a good idea. I may try to get the Kindle Unlimited book subscription for my mom. She reads books like crazy. Good spark for an idea!

 

[IntenseMagic]

I bought a few gifts and many more to go. I put up lights on my dining room window and a wreath on the door. I put out boxes to set up the tree. That's about as much as I have gotten to right now.

My outside stuff is up and my tree is up...undecorated, but up! I'm not sure my cat is going to let me decorate it at all lol.

We’re done. And when I say done, I mean done. My daughter, her husband, and our granddaughter are here visiting. The tree is up, the gifts have been opened. We visited Santa at Disney Springs. It’s been great! Seeing them has been the best Christmas gifts.

That's awesome!! I'm sure you've had such an amazing visit!! Merry Christmas to you all!!

Ummmmmm……haven’t even started!

I've barely started!

Decorating is done. I don't buy gifts for others but I just pushed the button to buy my gift. I have a monitor that is dying so I'm buying 2 brand new ones my dual setup is both being the same. And, I'm going to 24" monitors to replace my 22" monitors. I will keep the one monitor as a backup since it is only a couple years old. The one that is dying is maybe 8 years old.

Oooh what an awesome gift to yourself!! Enjoy those monitors!!

We’ve bought a lot but I still have to figure out stocking stuffers. The tree and decorations are up thanks to my kids.

Yay for a new baby coming soon! I hope you get lots of baby snuggles and find the time you need to get ready for Christmas.

Just got to see baby for the first time tonight!! She is the sweetest! Hopefully I can now stay away from the hospital for a while and focus on Christmas!

Decor is up & done- although I'd love to get a big snowflake for our 2nd level window- but just haven't seen anything that works yet.

Shopping is almost done- just a few random things or people I just haven't figured out yet (dad & stepmom!) I've wrapped most things. I've gotten most stocking stuffers too- just maybe a few more little things. It's probably the earliest that I've been mostly done, but we have a busy NEXT few weekends, plus our house is in disarray from a water leak & all torn up (WHOLE 'nother story) so I feel like I have to be done early this year...

Oh no!! Water leaks are the worst and what a crappy time of year to deal with it! But yay for being mostly done!!

 

[IntenseMagic]

I'm done all the shopping, decorating and bought the turkey yesterday. All I need to do is some baking and wrapping. It's the first time I've gotten it all done so early.

That's so awesome!! Good for you!!

Tree is up and a few random decorations around. No outside lights yet although I'm not sure that is even going to get done this year. I'd say I'm about 2/3 done with shopping but have not even thought about wrapping yet!

My goal every year is to wrap before Christmas break starts so I can enjoy it, but I don't think that's going to happen this year. I've got to get shopping!

I am not ready. I have not started. But, I also have the best excuse because I had a planned hysterectomy 2 days ago and so if it's not done, it's not done! I am super excited to be uterus free! I do wish the Christmas tree would magically put itself up this year, though!

Huggles!!
~Sarah~

Bless your heart! I hope your recovery is going well!!

We don't buy gifts and we don't decorate, so ... that's done. LOL

Need to get started on planning and preparing the food though. I usually say that we don't celebrate Christmas, we celebrate Christmas food. LOL Ground beef was on sale last week, so I've made the meat balls for my son. Plus we got a box of 3 small British Cheddar cheese. And got some chocolate on sale last week as well. Now it's just the rest left ... i.e. TONS of cooking LOL

Whew! I haven't even thought about the food yet! I haven't made the bread that I was going to make 2 weeks ago LOL!

now my son's birthday has happened we are starting to think about Christmas. I have made all the Christmas cards, but they've not been written or posted yet.

OH the birthdays this time of year. My granddaughter's is this weekend, so I've got to get past that to be able to focus more on Christmas. Now we are going to have 2 December baby birthdays.

You definitely aren't alone in being "behind". We bought our tree the day after Thanksgiving and even put it up, but I didn't get it decorated until yesterday. It was the saddest thing just sitting there all n@ked in our living room until then. Lol.

As far as shopping I'm definitely not done with that either. I've purchased a few things and ordered some more that I'm waiting for to arrive. There are a few people I'm done with and a few that I have no idea what to even get for them. Sigh. I haven't wrapped a thing. And this year we are traveling to my sister's house, so I can't wait until Christmas Eve to wrap stuff.

I'm all like "whatever" about it all too. It'll get done eventually and I'm not stressing about it yet.

Very exciting about your DIL in labor... hopefully she's had that baby by now? Eek! Long labor is no fun!

My butt is spending a period of time planted this year, so I can at least make a plan for what I need to get and what I've got! But yeah, it will get done...I'm trying to be "whatever" lol
Baby came yesterday and I got to see her this evening. She's precious! Now if they'd just decide on a name hahaha

I've started, and that is an accomplishment. lol!

I ordered some gifts on Friday, and we put up our tree and decorated it yesterday! It was actually perfect timing. Boys and hubby home and helped. I'm better than most years at this point, lol!

I may squash my Christmas cards. I don't have that extra cash. I am leaning on doing one every other year, as they for awhile were a chore. I enjoyed it last year after taking a year off.... and I think I'm going to continue that. I have to come to terms with it, and then I'll be ok.

I am thinking I may have to come to terms with not having my tree decorated lol The cat is being a pain and like guards it with his life and claws, we aren't allowed near it. I think the every other year cards is a great idea!!

 

[IntenseMagic]

Congrats on the new grandbaby! I'm on "schedule." I should be baking today, but I think that I'll wrap gifts instead. I have most of them in house, so I'll be easy to wrap up the few stragglers when they arrive." The tree us up and decorated, but I cut WAY back on the decorations this year. I'm just not feeling it.

Thanks!! She's a sweetie!
I am really hoping beyond hope that after this weekend I will be a little more on "schedule". I've cut way back on decorations the last couple of years and it's been really kind of nice.

I am about 1/2 way complete. To make things easy on my husband, I bought my own Christmas gifts...hahaha. Seriously, I did. Some more Posca markers, a new journal book, and an Art Journal magazine. My parents are difficult to buy for these days. They have so much "stuff" and don't really want more. So, it was a magazine subscription for my mom. It's a science based one and will spark conversations between us. No idea what to get my dad this year. It's gift cards these days for my sibling and his family. That way, they can get something they really like and/or need. My hubby wanted a special book - its on order. That made things easy. And I'll get him a few more items, like clothing for work.

I've bought my own gifts for the last couple of years lol It really is just easier. I give them to him to wrap haha.
My mom is tough, too. I'm still kind of stuck. I did a meal subscription for her one year that I don't think she ever used and last year I got her a service to convert old photos to digital and I don't think she ever used that either.

Done! Decorated and gifts bought. The only left to do is wrap everything. Yay!!!

Woot!! You are my idol!

Most gifts bought, just a couple to go for parents (mine and his), haven't wrapped a thing. Need stocking stuffers. House is decorated, 1/2 baking is done, and need to do Christmas cards.

Getting there!

Parents are tough, aren't they? lol And yes! I need to add stocking stuffers to my to do list.

I have done nothing. So behind with everything. We usually have the outside lights up and wreath at least but nothing so far. Maybe this weekend

I have high hopes for this weekend as well!!

We put up the our x-mas tree last weekend, love the little lights in my house. My girls got a make-up adventcalender and I have to buy some presents, don't know what they all want, they have everything the only present I've got already is for my dog. I don't know what the plans are gonna be... got 3 weeks left

I totally meant to get an advent calendar, it just didn't happen this year

 

[G.J.]

Decoration is done, but I need to buy and pack the gifts, I haven't decided the Christmas dinner, and I have a lot to scrap, clean the house, etc., and I feel like the Everest is falling down over me, lol.

 

[G.J.]

Congrats on the new grandbaby my dear!! for sure that is gonna be the BEST Christmas gift

 

[G.J.]

I am about 1/2 way complete. To make things easy on my husband, I bought my own Christmas gifts...hahaha. Seriously, I did. Some more Posca markers, a new journal book, and an Art Journal magazine. My parents are difficult to buy for these days. They have so much "stuff" and don't really want more. So, it was a magazine subscription for my mom. It's a science based one and will spark conversations between us. No idea what to get my dad this year. It's gift cards these days for my sibling and his family. That way, they can get something they really like and/or need. My hubby wanted a special book - its on order. That made things easy. And I'll get him a few more items, like clothing for work.

Lisa dear, that's a great idea to buy own Christmas gifts, and gift cards are really a great gift, they can buy what they really like.

 

[IntenseMagic]

Decoration is done, but I need to buy and pack the gifts, I haven't decided the Christmas dinner, and I have a lot to scrap, clean the house, etc., and I feel like the Everest is falling down over me, lol.

Congrats on the new grandbaby my dear!! for sure that is gonna be the BEST Christmas gift

Thank you!! Yes, she is the best gift!!
And yes, Everest falling down over me is exactly how I feel as well!!

 

[G.J.]

Thank you!! Yes, she is the best gift!!
And yes, Everest falling down over me is exactly how I feel as well!!

Now feeling better knowing that I'm not the only one. Sending lots of love and relaxing vibes