The one with the brief glimpse of summer. It’s countdown to Christmas thread 3!

[SideOrderofSprouts]

Here it is!

What were we at 247?

Have done a wash and hung it out, in the Sainsbury's café, the DC had bitesize breakfasts, I had eggs and bacon. 👔😋🍳

Good lord, that menu looks amazing.

Mrsmadevans - Thank you

WheelyCote - I feel very relieved. I passed them but only just with two of the modules, but it's still a pass.

Wreck - I hope you had a lovely time. It sounds as though you did.

I can not believe we are in the 100's already! I'm going to have to make a start on the Christmas Folder!

I have started a list of presents for the children but only have X-BOX live vouchers on there at the moment and a bike for DSS 2 as it's still a bit too early.

I'm debating whether to write out cards today, so it's over with and ready to send out.

I also need to start printing off recipes for the hamper I am determined to make this year for the grandparents who have everything.

I'm going to make skittle or buttermint vodka for the girls. I can make this and leave them in DP's loft to do their thing as no-one goes up there, only me.

DP, DS and DSS2 will love the bacon jam I am planning, maybe even DSDog will like it.

There will also be a variety of chutneys, crackers, breads, cheese, olives, pork pies and other foodie bits to go in. I just hope that they will like it. There will be a lot of effort going into them.
I really need as much done as possible before December when all of DS's school fetes start and as he is in a special needs school there is a lot going on in December to help the kids cope.

Depending on whether DP's kids are at their dads this year (we didn't last year) the menu will also need forward planning. DSS1 is extremely fussy and will only have a traditional dinner, as will the others, DS is autistic so has a million needs of his own and DP and I will want curry again, so I think that is a matter of just ordering it in the day before and reheating - but I'll have to make the naan and bahjis (sp?) on the day.

Even just writing it all down is starting to annoy me a little.

At least this year I'm a bit more excited about it. Last year I just couldn't get into the spirit of it at all, although I do think a lot of that was due to my depression....still, onwards and upwards. Urgh.

I hate this, there's so much to do but can't start on any of it.

Oh, there are also birthdays around that time of year too, including one on Boxing Day.

So if anyone could hep with gift ideas for two 19 year old girls and a 17 year old boy I would be very, very grateful.

Has anyone else started on plans or is it just me?

What sort of a budget for the 19 year old girls Giggage?

DD2 is about that age and would love you forever if you bought her

New DMs
Driving lessons
Tickets to a show or a gig - she's seen Wicked, Les Mis, The Lion King, Katherine Ryan
Makeup
Makeup brushes

She likes Morphe palettes and Real Techniques brushes and gets them from a website called Beauty Bay.

To be honest, about 50 pounds each. I can split the more expensive stuff with DP.

You did remind me to look at theatre tickets for DSD or concert tickets for both. So that's an option.

DSD was bought make up brushes last year but I could get some decent ones this year. DD doesn't wear make up. Ever. So she'll want cinema vouchers to watch her horror stuff...in fact DSD would as well.

They are like chalk and cheese in every way except for their love of horror, blood and guts and stuff that scares most normal people.

DM met us in the Sainsbury's café, DS2 had a cheese and tomato pizza, a chocolate chip cookie and a double chocolate muffin, DD had a cheeseburger, chips and salad and a chocolate chip cookie, DM had a beef lasagne and salad and triple chocolate fudge cake, I had a Mediterranean vegetable lasagne and salad and a Magnum Classic, had Lancashire hotpot for supper, DS2's in bed now, DD will go at 9.20. 😋🍕🍔🍟🍪🍫🍪🍰😋🍜😴

Forgot to say thank you, as you've got me thinking now.

God, dire day with the kids today. DS has been on the naughty step about 5 times and DD a few. Their behaviour would've turned John the Baptist to drink, I can tell you!

Got them in bed and asleep by 7 ish, so hopefully they'll wake in a better frame of mind tomorrow. Told DH I was just going to walk out and never come back, he can deal with them, earlier. I think it'd be a race to which one of us could make it out of the door first!

DS still has his rash, so I think he's maybe not feeling great. Combined with waking too early, it's a perfect storm for bad behaviour.

Anyway...send Make it vodka though, actually!

Evening,

Well done on your exam results, Giggage.

DS is only 3 and doesn't watch TV with adverts, so hoping to avoid the must-have toys for a while yet. I am intrigued by Poopsie Unicorn Surprise, I'll admit. Although it looks even scarier than those dolls last year. My cousin's daughter got two, and I had to pretend they were cute...

That menu looks lovely, I'm very jealous, Wreck.

Nearly halfway there, now. Friends' kids are all sorted. They all get tons of toys, so we do PJs and a book. I get exciting PJs (in the character.com sale in February!) and fun books.

If anyone is looking for something for kids aged sort of 7-11, there's a book called 'destroy this journal' or something similar. My friends' girls were 7.5 and 8.5 last Christmas and loved those, along with some bargainous Smiggle pens from the 5 for £5 sale. Boys would enjoy them too, I reckon, and Amazon did a version in their 4 for £10 deal last year.

That'll teach me to refresh! Sorry, too busy writing an essay.

Giggage - if they're into more popular cult-type horror, or generally geeky stuff, this site sell geek/cult merchandise that's a bit more unusual. Might be worth a look. Their stock changes often, so you could keep an eye out over the next few months.

Sorry to hear you're having a hard day, Fluffy. Have and more and 🍷 and 🍰

Oh Fluffy, sorry to hear that you've had a crap day. Kids always know what buttons to press to make everything 10 times more stressful. Hope tomorrow is better.

I'm on the app so can't remember who posted that link, but THANK YOU.

It's not great for DSD but her stuff I can get anywhere, but that is Perfect for DD who I've always had trouble buying for. Thank you. Thank you thank you.

I think most if not all of her gifts will be coming from there! Thank you.

Firefly.

198

Morning! Another hot and sticky night. It's grim! And another glorious day ahead, apparently!

We will take the kids to the squirrel woods this morning and maybe have a run on the beach too. See how it goes and if it's another day of being naughty!

... leave them there, Fluffy?

Hopefully your plans will tire them out!

It's just overcast here. No sun, and not very warm either!

Morning Lovelies

Hope you're all well. Fluffy I hope the children are good for you today. I've got a tired tired little one - she's had a busy weekend so today is going to be fun!!

Morning

Hope the kids behave for you today fluffy!

Morning! DS2 woke me up at 6.23 for breakfast. 😠😴

Had chocolate pancakes, DD isn't hungry yet. 😋🍫

Morning all
Fluffy the DC sound tired and it is not a great mix bless them. I am sure normal service will resume today fingers crossed , have a good visit to the Squirrel woods , it sounds lovely there.
You all sound so advanced with the Christmas planning l am starting to feel a bit lacksadaisy about it and that will never do!!!
Am just going up to the parents to sort them out for the day
Have a good day everyone

I don't even think about Christmas until October! 😂 We don't have much money, and we all have birthdays in August and September except DH.

Ds' birthday is November and dh the week before Christmas. I usually start Christmas shopping seriously once we're back to school after the summer holidays. I find the dc so easy to buy for, it's my grandparents, aunts and uncles that are difficult.

Making chicken, ham hock, leek and tarragon pie for lunch. 😋🍗

Hot and tired, Mrs. And prone to starting arguments in an empty room in the case of DS. DD can be mardy too; god knows how bad it'll get in 6-8 years' time! 🙈🙈

Firefly, it was very tempting to leave them there, I can tell you! But we all made it back and it's marginally better so far today. Thank god.

Wreck, I'm November and DH is just before Christmas. The DCs are this month and next.

I've got their stocking stuff and I've also got them Peter Rabbit / Cotton Tail TY Beanies as part of their presents for Christmas. And DS' Batman Lego. I'll wait til nearer the time for more, I think. Unless something really leaps out at me!

Had pulled pork burritos for supper. 😋

I have to think about Christmas about now properly as we have 3 birthdays in September and 3 more during the 3 weeks up to and including Christmas day.

Because of this, the last 6 months of the year are very expensive and very busy and that is not factoring in my Birthday, DP's Birthday, half term or any summer holidays!

The saying "failure to plan is a plan to fail" really does apply to us and become even more expensive as we are doing things off the cuff.

I do love it though so it's not as bad as it may be for some people.

I hope the kids were ok for you today Fluffy. If it's any consolation, next doors kids have been playing up all day according to the screams and fighting coming through the walls. So it's not just you.

Hope everybody has had a nice weekend.

I read them the riot act at dinner time. It made DD cry, but never mind, she'll get over it. They need to know that we won't tolerate consistent, deliberate, misbehaviour. I think it got through to them, thankfully.

We packed them off to bed early tonight too. I'm sure that the persistent heat and low level sleep deprivation is to blame, plus DS and his weird rash probably making him feel a bit shitty.

Tomorrow is another day, hopefully a far better one.

Over the last few years I've bought loads of decorations and table stuff, so I'm left without much to buy other than presents, which suits me just fine really. Though I do get a hankering to buy more, but rein it in as much as possible! 😁

Fluffy .l am sure they will be great teenagers , you wait and see . The apple doesn't fall far from the tree
Been beautiful here today , did the parents, put a load of washing out , had a sit in the garden with the papers, twas lovely! Stewed some Rhubarb for the DH to have with his ice cream and just going to have a veg curry now. Saw Sandringham Countryfile which l really enjoyed . Did anyone else see it?
Right better go eat, have a lovely evening all