Got most of my Christmas shopping done yesterday, to the grocery store, the pharmacy and one or two other stops. I got Danny's home theater system and it weighs like 2500 lbs. or something in the box. It's not the soundbar type as nobody likes those so I got a regular one with the tiny speakers, larger central speaker & still larger subwoofer, etc., though still they are very small compared to our old speakers. My neighbor had to help me get it into the house - well, she did it all actually - and then wrapping that thing was a fight to the death - the absolute death! I got it on the big piece of paper for wrapping, got it partially taped and realized the two pieces met on the top of the package. Well it has been a long time since I've wrapped a gift. Had to untape it, cut fresh paper edged, struggle to get it off the paper without tearing the paper, roll it over onto its top and ease it back onto the big sheet of paper! That took 15 minutes in all. Finally got the box wrapped - just had to sit down in the floor to do it and then gently turned back up upright, found a big, red bow about 16" across and very tall to go on the top, then I had to get it into the den and beside the tree without tearing it or rupturing discs. I'll bet wrapping that present took an hour in all, from getting out the paper, scissors, tape and wrapped and eased into the den under the tree. I was just about done for when I sat down to look at the tree. That box is so big it almost blocks off the way to the living room door. But, it's done!!! I can officially wish myself Merry Christmas now that all of Danny's things are under the tree. Now for the rest of them yet to wrap. Maybe later today.

Is anybody else done wrapping?

In my case the question is actually... Is anything wrapped yet? :p

And the bad part is my memory SUCKS so I can't remember what all I got for people over the year and have hidden in the house... Well at work too because I was just looking for something in my desk and found two things hidden here lol and I just got the email that the present Guinness got daddy will not be here till the 27th :(

Ohhhh, I went through that for years. I would buy all year long and then started the wild, frantic hunt through the house right around 12-20- and it wasn't pretty! I missed a few things, too, LOL, and later the next year would run across them and rehide them for the next Christmas and rehunt that December and so on. Now I just shop late and try to do it all within a few days. That's not pretty either as my back is always "out" for Christmas lately from doing all that shopping and wrapping last minute.

You should have seen the HUGE pile of stuff I found after my grandmother that raised me passed lol I was 29 then and found toys even she had hidden them so good lol All kind of gold necklaces, ear rings, bracelets too.

Ohhh, that's sweet. She was still giving that long after.

Yea it helped that year finding everything because she passed away the end of that Nov.

I'm late I'm late it's 1/2 past 5pm LOL
 

Well the Food shopping is done, all the gifts are wrapped:D and now under the tree except for some I think have foodie type stuff in them. silverware cleaned, and serving dishes too:) Oh yes I have to finish flower arrangements. Will do that tonight.

Dressings are made. Dessert is done. Just wash and groom the pups tomorrow, brine the turkey, and then at last....... It is Christmas time! Whoops set the table for Xmas...and last minute clean ups. But hey I think I am prepared!

We have a loverly Xmas with Church and then to a good friends home for supper.

Now that the pups are older we can sleep in a bit. :D:D the boys will get their Xmas hair ties on, and very last thing I put their new toys on the tree - hubby went and squeaked one and it was pandemonium with the boys - they KNOW the sounds of a new toy! I re hid them in the top shelf of the closet. Of course Karma our cat obliged by opening the door, Razzle scented out just where they were, but despite how tall Magic can stretch - Failure they could not get the new toys down;)

I really do love this time of year. My very best to you all in this wondrous Season.http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/images/icons/rose.gif

You have been one busy girl!

That's the only downside of the holidays - the constant fatigue! And I almost use that word literally these days!!! These last few days are nonstop and there is way too much always to do. Tibbe just had his bath and laundry is done. Tomorrow I will get last minute food and I just found out my wonderful chef neighbor is bringing Christmas dinner to Danny and me!!!!! We were just going to lay in some deli meats, a pizza and some breads, etc., and have all the sweet goodies as our main course, plus the egg nog. I've got the dogs gifts to wrap for Tibbe and Danny's Tex. Now, just sitting here numb, tired and watching the favorite Christmas video "The Sights and Sounds of Christmas" from the '80's the put out on DVD a while back. Such glorious music and all the wonderful Christmasy scenes are wonderful go see. All those toys, nutcrackers, decorations, Christmas trees, cards, outdoor lights and family scenes around the Christmas tree!!!! Glorious Christmas footage from all over! It's the best Christmas music ever, too, - even Bing's "White Christmas", "Rudolph", Gene Autry's "Here Comes Santy Claus". It you all don't own this 90 minute video, you should.

Awh Jeanie I know what you mean about busyness over this time of year.

As I've grown older and continue to deal with a chronic condition - I am in the process of learning how to pace things better. I think I've chosen to do less with more love. My house isn't as "perfect" anymore. I don't sweat it if all the decorations don't get up in one year. I spend less time wrapping, and more time choosing those gifts. I select recipes that freeze well, so I can make food and treats ahead of time and store in the freezer.

And even now today Christmas Eve I have time to choose to spend a little of it here on YT.

All the laundry isn't done - but hey it will be there on the 26th our special Christmas linens are washed, ironed and ready to be put on our beds. It will get done, without fuss or stress.

My hubby helped yesterday, well it was the first time, I asked for help in getting the shopping for food done. It went so well. He was there to do the heavy lifting for me. Such a gift. My butcher had put aside the meats I usually order and somehow forgot to do, so when we went there to hopefully get what I needed, he said of course Gail we have your usual order ready! How lovely what a gift!

I feel very blessed with all the love in my life. My family and friends, both here on YT and here in Toronto. This is our first Christmas without our gal Zoey, and I've been thinking about her a whole lot. I can so see her tail wagging, and the happy jumps she did. I do so hope she somehow knows I am thinking of her, especially at this time of year!

Sounds like you have learned how to do it right! Hoping you had the best of Christmases and enjoyed it all and are not too tired. Pacing yourself and cutting out some of the "extra's" are key in dealing with Christmas and physical hardships of any kind.

I had most of my decorations cleaned, packed away, a shower and was sitting on the couch in lounging pajamas by 12:40 p.m. yesterday. Still only have the Christmas Tree, with lifesize Santa Claus and 35" Shirley Temple standing beside it. I meant to leave my Ideal Baby Jesus but he got swept up, too, packed away. All the rest has been put away for another 11 months. I love to get my over the top decorating cleared up and put away very quickly after Christmas and have everything back to normal except for my favorite pieces - the tree, Santa Claus and Shirley Temple(the Ideal Shirley was just added last year - before that it was a 33" Danbury Mint Shirley). And now Baby Jesus by Ideal. He's coming back out of storage today and staying under the tree to keep Sana and Shirley company until January 2nd - that's usually when it all goes back to storage. I don't know, this year, Santa may go into storage soon. He is a little too Christmasy to me now. Unless I can turn him into Father Time for New Year's Eve with a long, straight wig/beard and Father Time robes, SC may be going back in the next day or so. If not, I might stick a champagne glass in one of his hands and put a NYE party hat on his head, cover him in streamers.

I shop all year. We have birthdays and Christmas to close to each other. I have 2 bins that I put all the gifts in, so no losing anything. I also have damage to my spine, neck and shoulder so I have to pase myself. I can not believe you have everything packed up already. Wow.

It's good to have the most of it gone now and things back to a neater look. Still enjoying that tree, though. Each year I hate to take the tree and lights down. It's so darn pretty. I wish we had lighted trees for other celebrations during the year!

Sorry to hear about your physical problems. Those are such a pain in every sense. I've had the awful back for years and then added the hip! Ugh. Thankfully, after surgery, my hip slowly getting better. But having physical problems sure makes life tough, huh?

Umm you mean I am suppose to already have stuff taken down? :p heck I still have a stack of presents under my tree even lol
Oh and I actually do have lighted tree branches in my house year round sooo I see no problem with a whole tree haha

Jeanie my dd has a small tree that she decorates for Valentines day, Easter and halloween..

Betty, I like that tradition of your dd's. I would love a tradition of something that is lit and decorated for Valentine's and Easter and FOJ. An appropriately colored tree that looked different from the Christmas type tree but was still something to decorate with lights. Maybe a flower tree for Easter that was pink or yellow or orchid colored? And a red heart tree for Valentine's. I just love the lighted Christmas tree so much I might get a decorative ficus for white lights or something. Still, that seems so plain.