My family doesn't do big Christmases, so I don't really have to do much to get ready for the holidays. This weekend I'm taking my dd to Target to have some Christmas pics made to put into Christmas cards, but that's all I'm doing right now. I don't do a ton of holiday decorating, so that can wait for a while.

I know that a lot of people have to prepare their homes for holiday visitors. Also, there are many people who really get into decorating for the season, so they start putting things out in November.

So, what things are you doing to get ready for the big holiday season?

I have started buy a few things for our big Christmas dinner and some baking supplies. I'm almost done shopping for presents and just about ready to start wrapping them. We usually put our Christmas tree up on Thanksgiving so I've been getting a few boxes of ornaments out of the attic everyday.

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DS-16
DD-12
DD-5
DS-2

SO far I've done almost all the shopping for my nieces & nephews and my boys! I still have almost all the adults to buy for though (and they're all on dh's side of the family - makes it even harder). My hope is to have all the shopping done by the end of November so I can get it all wrapped early in December and be done!

At some point I will need to get our Family Photo taken for the Christmas cards! Usually for this we go out to a Park out here (more like woods) and get either photos of our boys, or of our family as a whole (especially when we have a baby - like this year). Then I'll take the favorite pic to Wal Mart, get cards made and hopefully get them sent out within the first 2 weeks of December!

Sometime during the weekend after Thanksgiving is when we'll put up our tree and other decorations! (while blaring Christmas music!)

Usually the weekend before Christmas my sisters & their families go to my parents house and we all make sugar cookies with my mom's Christmas cookie cutters! Then we get all the kids to decorate them!

This year I hope to do some baking myself! I plan on giving some family member and maybe a few friends some loaves of bread, caramel apple butter and maybe some candies or something so I'll have to plan that baking time too!

Then just have to sit back and wait for the big day(s)!!

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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

Well, now that I've cleaned out my closet, I can no longer hide presents in there -- no place to hide! LOL! I've got some things under my bed but I want to start wrapping so I can put things in a box or bag and into the attic. I'm hoping to start that Sunday night.

As far as decorating goes, I do like to decorate and have TONS of decorations but I don't get them out until the day after Thanksgiving.

I finished buying for my girls today. I scored Hello Kitty stocking stuffers for $1 each at Target. My husband and I are only doing stocking stuffers. I bought him a couple things and pre-ordered a Harry Potter DVD.

As far as Thanksgiving, I will do my shopping next week. I get a discounted turkey with my bonus points at the grocery store. I'm scaling back the assortment of side dishes because I always make too much to eat!

We decorate the house the day after Thanksgiving. It is our tradition to get the tree Black Friday or Saturday after.

I am very proud to say...if Christmas was tomorrow I would be ready! All gifts bought, wrapped, and stockings stuff ready to be stuffed. I have even checked to make sure the lights on our pre-lit tree work. I leave for my cruise tomorrow morning and when i get back in a week I wanted no stress.

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Illini Bob's wife....mom to 3 little chiefs

After reading your post I feel less anal

I have 3 gift cards to buy and the candy to put in Christmas boxes for teachers and for stockings (can't do this yet, because I'll eat it before Christmas . . . ).

I have to find a cute DS pic to put in the bookmarks I bought for grandparents.

I have to wrap and write my Christmas letter. I put pics on one side, and that is done.

I have to buy the pre-made gingerbread houses DS and I decorate, and I have to get cookie supplies.

And, I have to find a GREAT gift for my sister -- hard!

Other than that, I'm ready!

Marlene

Wow- all of you are making me feel like a slacker!

We don't have any family gatherings here, but on that note- I like to do a big decluttering cleaning spree before Thanksgiving- since the day after I pull out all the holiday decorations and take care of that right away. That is the thing I am currently working on. I am done buying for the girls (DH actually wrapped the youngest presents last weekend!)- as for the other people- I still have to buy for them and DH (that reminds me- I have to get his birthday present too!).

As far as shopping goes, that's pretty much done, so no stress left there. As for the house ....I took down all free standing pictures (mantle, shelves, tables) So that will make it easier to get decorations up. And I printed out my Holiday checklist (organized Christmas.com) that I swore by last year and am following the weekly steps...it is what gets me through the Holidays so organized!

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