In preparation for Christmas today I will……

[Beautifulsunflowers]

…….organise the freezer space and get if it stops raining I’ll go into town to WHSmiths to hopefully get the dark chocolate toblerone for ds’s stocking. I’m also going to make a few more Pom poms for my Pom Pom wreath.

Whst are you all doing today in preparation for the big day?

Today I did the majority of the food shop (going to DD3s for Christmas day so she's cooking, but we're all taking contributions). Also bought bits for me to tuck away so I can have some nice nibbles when I come home on Boxing Day night, am back at work on the 27th, so life will be back to normal for me then.

Fridge and cupboards look nice and full and I will have forgotten what I've got by the time I come back on Boxing Day and will be struck anew by all the goodies I have to eat!

I’ve just wrapped 28 of ds’s gifts… he’s somehow getting 34 gifts from us 🙈 4 of them aren’t getting wrapped as they’re used from Facebook marketplace and not in boxes so will just be out and ready for him to play with (3 HappyLand and one Leapfrog Ice Cream Cart). The other 2 I haven’t wrapped are a selection box and a hoodie as I have run out of his wrapping paper 🙈
Out of all of his gifts 12 are toys (or 7 if I put them them into categories - trains, HappyLand, mega bloks), 5 are arts and craft things, 3 are puzzles/shape sorters, 7 are clothes, 2 are shower/bath things, 4 are sweets/snacks and some glow sticks so at least it’s a range of things 😂 I thought he only had about 22 so I’ve clearly lost track somewhere 🙈 It’s all cost under £300 at least 😅

Hoping I can join in here, I need to be held accountable over the next few days as I’m working shifts over most of the holidays and need to get sorted asap. Should really have been more organised before now 🙄
I’m working Christmas Eve, Day & Boxing Day this year, starting early in the mornings.

To Do over next few days off:

rehang outside lights (DH tried but tbh did a terrible job 😂)
fix tree outside that keeps falling over (need better string/rope for when it’s windy)
sit down with what I’ve actually got DC (presents hidden in various places atm)
check DC lists for last bits that are missing
check what I’ve got DH/last minute panic buying
put away decoration boxes in loft cupbaord
get spare room ready for PIL (tidy away spare bedding that’s dumped in there)
wrap everything! 🙄
General tidy before PIL get here on 21st
get stockings ready before Christmas Eve
get DH to sort Christmas food shop as he’s cooking

What else??

*@BaconAndAvocado thank you, looks nice, I'll give it a go

I’ve just wrote 4 cards (3 that need to be posted tomorrow) and 1 for a friend I’m seeing tomorrow and my hand hurts 🙈😂 I think I’ve only got 4 more to write but I still have time to do them 😊

Bought hot chocolate for DD1’s Christmas stocking. Apparently she no longer drinks coffee so the coffee pods are going to food bank.

What kind? I was thinking the same.

I bought Clipper instant hot chocolate.

The coffee pods from Cafe Nero.

My friend said as well as the roast, it's delicious with cold meats.

This thread is a huge testament to all amazing Mums performing the gargantuan task that is known as Doing Christmas.

Something we do consistently and, certainly in my case, thanklessly.

Well I'm very glad I'm organised as dh is unexpectedly in hospital awaiting heart surgery, which has changed all plans!
Ho hum. At least he's in the right place

Hope everything well goes well for your DH @Hedjwitch

Wishing him all the best and hope you're ok

All best wishes to @Hedjwitch and family!

I'm working tonight but today I've managed to get a couple of loads of pre-Christmas washing done and nearly dry! Praise be for blue skies and a brisk wind!

Have also, thanks to another thread, ordered a Book Nook for eldest daughter. I went through her present list yesterday and it was looking a bit...thin. Lacked anything 'wow' and I'd been thinking about Book Nooks, so when someone recommended one I was hitting that 'buy' button. Am hoping that when one of her sisters comes to visit before Christmas, that we can build it and wrap it for her so she can open it and use it immediately (she has ADHD and ASD, so although she's very good about 'stuff' she can sometimes be paralysed by things with lots of bits). Anyone know how long it might take two not-very-techie people to put together?

Thank you all very much

Wishing your DH all the best @Hedjwitch hope you're coping ok too.

@Vroomfondleswaistcoat i don’t know what a book nook is - some kind of reading corner?

To Do over next few days off:

rehang outside lights (DH tried but tbh did a terrible job 😂)
fix tree outside that keeps falling over (need better string/rope for when it’s windy) DONE ☑️
sit down with what I’ve actually got DC (presents hidden in various places atm)
check DC lists for last bits that are missing
check what I’ve got DH/last minute panic buying
put away decoration boxes in loft cupboard DONE ☑️
get spare room ready for PIL (tidy away spare bedding that’s dumped in there) DONE (except hoovering) ☑️
(this included getting the spare bookshelf into DS’s room to put his bag of books on there, well overdue job)
wrap everything! 🙄
General tidy before PIL get here on 21st
get stockings ready before Christmas Eve
get DH to sort Christmas food shop as he’s cooking
Christmas meal out Sat
last Christmas concert Sunday afternoon
pop into care home I used to work at with chocolates
drop off teacher wine x2 at DD’s school as she’s not sure about walking it in herself
One last box of decoration stuff I’ve just spotted downstairs to tidy away/commit to last bits of decorating

plus usual loads of laundry/dishwasher/rehoming random crap that seems to generate itself around the house 🙄
What else??

Cleaning the whole house! The whole thing. All cupboards, wardrobes just everything!!!

@LivingInaBuildingSite

A book nook is like a puzzle that you build and it makes a thing like a tiny illuminated room that you put between books on a bookshelf. Pretty.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/CUTEROOM-Miniature-Wooden-Bookend-Holiday/dp/B0BMFYR6N5/ref=asc_df_B0BMFYR6N5/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=606806055805&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17730451477214784029&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046401&hvtargid=pla-1943951619733&mcid=2d2e4dac2ac431f69709c77dd390e814&th=1

Bought the only Christmas cards I write. One for DH and one for DD and the other side of her family who she is spending Christmas with. So rather than Daughter the front says To all of you.
I know some people think it’s ridiculous exchanging Christmas cards with your spouse but it’s a Christmas Eve tradition that’s stuck and we like.
DD and I don’t usually do them but I know she will like me sending a card for her Dads side of her family. Her Dad and I separated on good terms so he won’t think it’s strange.

I have bought more Christmas presents today. Only three to get. Bought cranberries to make cranberry and orange relish mid week. I've also hand delivered all the cards to the neighbours. Tomorrow I'll get the last of the presents and do the wrapping.

What sounds really tacky?

I just ordered another gift for DD(21). It’s the same Elephant print cosmetics bag I bought for myself two days ago.

When it came I just thought it would be so nice to give one to her as an early present just before she went on holiday and heck if she’s got a wash bag to take already my daughter isn’t short of things that need storage. She still hasn’t got herself a basic home medicine kit together. Eg: plasters, painkillers, olbas oil (for colds), adult bonjella, antiseptic cream etc…so she could use it for that.

I wasn’t intending to buy anymore but 🤷🏻‍♀️