August 2008 - I wish it could be Christmas every day, with the TV rows and the ILs you'd like to slay-ay-ay.

[steaknife]

Hmm might be a bit early for a festive thread title but thought we could get in the mood.

None of that tasteful two colour decoration scheme in my tent - oh no. The gawdier the better.

Ah, Dizzy, I see you get up a spell every day. .

No Christmas shopping done here either, although don't panic everyone, we have the internet and a whole month. I think it is TS' uber-organisation that has got me in a tizzy.

Glad you are feeling better today Dizzy but also at the poor abandoned horsey balloon. My little friends let go of my birthday balloon and were pretty upset about it, I can understand why a constant reminder is for DD2. Can't you send DH up a ladder to get it down?

Aaah, DS is in love with Makka Pakka , he has been kissing him and trying to feed him banana. Poor Makka Pakka is getting a bit slimy though...

yes sorry Lentil - tis a poor show

hots I only did some Christmas shopping online last week as I was trying to fool myself into thinking I was achieving something without even leaving the house.

The tree is a touch awkward - its in our garden but the majority of the branches hang over next door where the massive budlea (sp) bush is so tis hard to get to - will see if I can convince him otherwise its a trip to the balloon shop to take her mind off it!

hots - poor Iggle Piggle met a very similar fate here

I'veliterally just sat and written a list of everything I've got/who for etc so I can work out what else I need to sort and who is missing!
30% voucher?! fab I never buy anything from Gap full price!

List is a very good idea Sazz, I keep meaning to do one of those too. We don't even have that many people to buy for, we just don't have very much money to go round. I get fed up because I seem to be the only one who thinks about presents, DH only gets presents for me. I have tried making him do it, at least for MIL/SIL but he just spends too much money... I would love to spend a day mooching round Leeds but used up all my leave before I came back off mat leave and my flexi is being used for my driving test (next week, eek)

Oh please ignore me moaning, Christmas is a time of great joy for all mankind, not a ridiculous exercise in stress

Better go and get the Birthday girl

Well I have bought/made 1 present as I need to post it next week for our 1st deadline

I have made a few more and DD and I are about to start making white handprints for angel wings on our Christmas cards.

I have DD's wooden food/potand pans on hold and have looked at a pushchair for her too today. Now just DH's 2 Goddaughters, our Godson, 4 nieces and nephews (all under 3)my sister , 2 sets of parents, DH and more than likey a whole load of forgotten people!

HP - our Makka Pakka was flavour of the day until I took out his batteries Now he sits unloved under the stairs.

Sazzles - are you planning to go to the NAilsworth Christingle this year? I am trying to persuade DH as we are missing out town ones this Friday as he has to do an airport run to collect the ILs (who amazingly we have not heard from in 6 whole days!!!)

HP - sounds like my DH when I get him to buy his mum a present she just heads forthe nearest shop and throws money at anything she might every have looked at in hopes something is right!

hots mine doesn't buy anything, including presents for me which he gets from the 24hr tesco in a blind panic on the 24th I have asked over and over again what he wants for his parents/nieces/nephews etc and I'm tempted not to do it again this year

we've no money either so this is why I'm on ebay trying to get the cheap of the cheap and looking for the more reasonably priced stuff

Look it's me 2 days running

Well done hotpot on successfully redirecting both mine and dizzy's periods . Af arrived today without so much as an apology for lateness

I have been forced by dh to got a few prezzies for the boys, its just everyone else I need to buy for!!

How about another northern get together (ok so I have southern-meet-up-sleepover-envy )?

DD is at cue factor 100000000000000 this afternoon she has just made lion soup (plastic lion in a bowl, stirred madly) and feeding it to me

AAwww sazz you make me feel so welcome

I don't do dh's shopping either - he has a much bigger family than me so has to buy 3 times the amount of prezzies.

Poor little O is full of cold and cough. I've just dosed him up with calpol in the hope that we get a peaceful night

And I forgot, Happy Birthday to hotpotette

Crap! It's my neice's birthday today too, I better go and ring her (she's 7)

Yes please Sazz, I tried to sign up with their website after a friend told me about the 30% deal but somehow signed myself up for the US version so have plenty of dollars-off codes already

Hi CC

We're another household that buy for our own families separately - just as I refuse to buy pants for any grown man in my life, I would never consider doing his family Xmas gifting unless he was seriously incapacitated and he likewise, I'm sure. Although he still has the best deal tbh as my family are fucking IMPOSSIBLE to shop for, am dreading it as always.

I like the idea of making DH buy presents but in reality it is not worth the hassle I also sometimes buy his pants too

Well DD is spark out after a lovely day, it's amazing she went to sleep with the amount of sugar going round in her bloodstream but in the end she just couldn't keep her eyes open . Time for me to do my HotMama duty and try to undo some of the cake damage...

Cece I am always up for a northern meet

Yes, more northern meets please! I'm most jealous of the London sleepover Would love to claim that a pre-Xmas meet up will be possible but going on past evidence the day will be here before I know it, so maybe something in the Jan-Feb range?

hotter I ate two massive cupcakes today Very non-HM. A friend was selling them at the food fair last weekend, she had about 20 boxes left over so is frantically foisting them on everyone in an attempt to avoid eating them herself. Next time I will simply refuse to let her in if she comes bearing cake.

Glad T had a lovely day, she's a little darling. I bet you can't believe she's 4 already!

I am feeling a bit uber-broody at the moment, thinking back to the magical days of having one's very first newborn. The learning! The loving! The amazing range of fluids needing to be cleaned up! Okay, maybe not that last part, but...new babies are awesome, in every sense of the word.

Roll up roll up Buckets has something else to plug. This time it's my friend's album which is choc full of catchy tunes, some funny some serious, gobsmackingly gorgeous harmonies and general girly loveliness. Ideal gift for ladies of all ages and any men into vocal stuff.

Another crap night here, Kurt's back to his yodelling again - at 11.30pm I looked at the clock and cursed that I had the rest of the night to get through. But today I slapped on some make-up and my superstylish hat and battled through the day, despite having a cold. DH on the other hand took the day off and slept til 3pm. Has announced he's having tomorrow off too so it's MY turn! Will probably have to do the schoolrun myself though (don't really mind as long as he's working on the kitchen.)

Buckets you should be on QVC

Cyteen stop it, you are making me broody too. I love my DD and she is soooo fabulous (mostly) and I am loving watching her grow into a bigger girl, but I miss toddler Tabby . Luckily I just imagine DS with brown hair and there she is . I've been reading that thread asking those with three if they regretted the last one and mainly everyone is saying NO!!!!! but I think I need to get over it and just relish the two I have got

In January I should be able to drive to a meet up

Ladies - I have done it, DH and I are having a night away on the 11th December for his Birthday! We are going to here it is a bit of a chicken out as it is only 7miles away but we are going. I confessed to DH I had a plan but was worried about offending his parents by booking for whilst they are on holiday and he said if they are away it's their problem and if I feel ready then do what I want. So my mum is coming on the Friday afternoon and will take over here at about 4pm and we will dissapear and return refreshed on the saturday morning after breakfast and a swim!

I know this is all a bit PFB so many of you go away regularly I just don't feel very brave

Bouquets - You are going to end up with 20 copies of that for christmas now you have it on FB

Sorry sorry to be so rude as to stick my head in and not catch up with anyone but have to just yell over to Miamla - sorry and very (not to mention ) but I am a definite no for Saturday as I am babysitting and staying over with my god-daughter in Cambridge (two toddlers... all afternoon and evening. May put me off having another for good).

Hope you are all ok and HP that DD had a lovely day!