Christmas/Holiday Prep

[denlo]

We took advantage of the good weather and got our Christmas decorations/boxes out of the attic. And put up our outdoor stuff. We no longer do ladders so it wasn't really difficult. The worse being the lights attached to stakes that outline your sidewalk or in our case our shrubbery and oak tree. That type of bending definitely causes back aches for both DH and me.

But after we completed decorating outside, our neighbor chatted with us for awhile and we realized it was lunch time. So we went out and ate at Chick fil-a and did some errands. We also stopped by Walgreens to see if they had anymore Mickey Mouse Christmas decorations (bought a Happy Holidays sign). Unloaded the groceries. Added the new sign to the yard and the replacement red bows I had purchased and we are done outside! It won't win any decorating awards but everyone will know we love Mickey Mouse.

Now I'm out of the mood to decorate inside. We'll save that for tomorrow.

How are you all doing with your Christmas or Holiday shopping and decorating?

I thought we were done with the Christmas shopping up just realized we didn't buy any stocking stuffers and a great nephew has his 8th birthday on December 23rd and I haven't gotten him a gift. Is an eight year old too young to get a cash gift? LOL -- Bad Auntie!

[KNWVIKING 2.0]

We used to do the lights on the bushes, around the windows and such, but I REALLLLLLLY hate doing that so we stopped. We do a white, plywood cut out type Manger Scene (aka the weather station) with a spot light on it bracketed by two lite, white trees. Actually looks pretty sophisticated.

Inside, tree is up in living room, small tree in dining room, Mickey Mouse light strung in sunroom.

Millie will start adding all the interior trimmings little at a time.

[bakerworld]

In the middle of moving son home, re-doing bath and away on cousins weekend so decorations are able 2 weeks away - soonest.

[denlo]

Ken, that does sound nice.

Janet, sounds like you're pretty busy this month without adding in the holidays. I think I'd bring out only a table top tree and say we're decorated if I had your schedule.

[KNWVIKING 2.0]

In our area we had a company called "Santa's Best". They produced Christmas decorations and wholesaled stuff from Chineese venders. Every year in Oct/Nov for four weekends they would open the warehouse and have a sale for the public. When you went in you picked up a big box with a string attached and you'd drag the box down the isles, tossing in what you wanted. The prices were incredible, way better than Walmart Clearance prices after the Holidays. Lights were like 50 cents for a string of 300. Granted, they weren't name brands, but who cared. When it was time for the decorations to come down, we'd just throw the lights out with the tree. You could do a Griswalds house for about $20.00 and not worry about rolling up the lights afterwards or worry about the Light Ferry visiting your house in August and tangling the strings up & popping one bulb out just enough so that nothing lite when you plugged them in.

Unfortunately, Santa's Best is now nothing more than Santa's Unemployed Helpers.

[simbasmom]

That type of bending definitely causes back aches for both DH and me.

Ah, yes-my back aches just thinking about it. When DS #1 was home, it was great at Christmas decoration time-he was BIG on decorating, so he'd always be the ne to do it. Then he'd sit in the front window and get all excited when people would slow down in front of our house to look at the lights. Yes, he was Sparky Griswold Jr.
This year, we haven't done anything yet. Everything's still in the attic and virtually no presents bought yet. But this morning when I went grocery shopping, I bought the ingredients for our Christmas cookies. So does that count?

[DiZ NeE 08]

My mom put up a small 5 ft tall tree with most of my disney ornaments and some mickey head balls that I bought from the outlet store. She put out a christmas rug which"no one can step on" since I bought it for her.

[KNWVIKING 2.0]

Brad, are you an only child ?

[DiZ NeE 08]

Technically, I am 23 and my brothers are 38 and 45 but I go to school and work full time so mom usually does all that stuff. I plan on putting lights outside.

[denlo]

. . . But this morning when I went grocery shopping, I bought the ingredients for our Christmas cookies. So does that count?

Works for me!

My mom put up a small 5 ft tall tree with most of my disney ornaments and some mickey head balls that I bought from the outlet store. She put out a christmas rug which"no one can step on" since I bought it for her.

Nice gift for your mom Brad.

We opened the box that has our two table top Christmas Trees. Set up the trees and hung our stockings. Added all the table runners and pillow covers I've made. Set out a few snowmen and our Minnie and Mickey decorations. And said that's it. Since we be driving to Austin for Christmas I don't feel like we need to make the whole house cheery like I do when we host the family gathering. Now we're sitting here listening to Christmas music as we check out the forum.