Ds is 100% done, birthday and Christmas (in the same month). Dh is not done but we got each other a grill so we're just doing token gifts this year for both birthday and Christmas. My inlaws are totally done. I even have the teacher's gifts, and school secretary gifts and principals gifts done! The only other ones are the family drawing, and everyone wants gift certificates so that is super easy. I'm wrapping this week! My goal is to be done and wrapped before ds goes to school.

Why the rush? From now until February are super stressful for me. I got really sick last year and ended up in the hospital twice (one was caused by anxiety I think) and I decided to just get it done early this year.

Can I tell you a secret? I hate making Christmas cookies! Dh and ds always want this one and that one and I end up making a huge beautiful assortment. Then none get eaten! They sit there for months! I end up throwing them away! So this year I'm making 2 different kinds one ds likes one dh likes - small batches - and being done with it!

I'm planning on making a big batch of freezer jam and decorating it with the Christmas fabric squares and giving that to relatives/neighbors/friends/and co-workers this year instead of labor intensive goodies that I do every year. Most people don't even acknowledge them - except for last year when I posted about when I was in the hospital and one of my neighbors called and told me they 'absolutely' had to have the cookies I made last year, raved on and on, and when I told her I just got home from the hospital she just kept going on and on that I 'HAD' to make them - I offered her the recipe!! (And do we get anything from this family at any time, either? NO) So this year I'm going to *try* to make it as simple but as nice as possible.

WOW! What you don't have done, you have planned for! Fantastic!

My planning downfall is CHristmas cards. I really want to get these done at the beginning of November so the can go out the day after Thanksgiving!

Marlene

I wrapped this morning and afternoon while dh and ds were occupied outside. We're making jam for the neighbors and for ds's friends at work. I still have dh to do, but it is going to be something little.

I can't believe I'm all wrapped! :happy dance:

WOW! That is so awesome!! I am starting my Christmas shopping now and will do little bit at one time until December. Of course, I will clip some coupons to save some money for my Christmas shopping and will try to shop during Black Friday in November too.

That's great! My husband just got laid off...but I'm confident he will find another job soon. As soon as he does...I'm going to knock off my Christmas shopping!

I always get so stressed every year! I plan and plan and plan. But somehow I always wind up being the one who is running around at the last minute prepping.

So this year...it's all going to be done and wrapped by November 1st! I'm also going to make chocolate chip cookie dough and freeze it! I love homemade cookies...they are better than the kind you roll out and bake....but I never have time to actually make Christmas cookies....so yeah...that's a good idea...in fact I could even do that this week. If you store it in an airtight container...it stays good for along time. I used to make cookie dough and college...freeze it in smaller portions...and defrost it when I wanted it and would make like a dozen cookies at a time. Yummy! Great! Now I'm hungry!! =)

I shop Black Friday but am generally done after that

__________________

I have most of the kids done. Just need to start on teacher gifts.

Good for you Stormy.

allgirls

__________________
allgirls, mom to 3 girls

Great job! Later on today I am going through everything I have and see what is going on!

I bet you feel great with the big load off your back already! Good for you:happy dance: !

Wow - great job!!!

Can I get your jam and cookies recipe?? I'm always looking for new ideas of goodies to make!!!

(I'd love the cookie recipe from both of you who mentioned cookies)

Thanks!

__________________
Stay at home mom to my 3 boys... ages 5, 3 & 1!

I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13