Lights on the floor.

Originally uploaded by Suze3000.

We had a fun evening putting the ornaments on the tree. Daniel really got into it and was upset to discover the bottom of the ornament box. Andrew successfully hung one ornament and probably removed several more. Maybe we’re building some family traditions here. J participated and even turned on the Christmas music. Yippee!

We put up our tree today. Or maybe I should say that we unfolded our Christmas tree today. I’m still not done unfolding it actually. It’s taking longer to put up than a real tree.

My mom never let us put up the Christmas tree until several days before Christmas. I hated having to wait to put it up, especially when it was already selected and just waiting in a bucket of water in the garage. We were letting the bugs crawl out of it before bringing it in the house, or so they told me.

So, at our house, we put the tree up much earlier, but as much as I like having it up earlier, I just couldn’t do it before today.

Anyway, D located his stuffed Christmas Bear this morning on the floor of our closet. Not sure when it got left there, but listening to a rousing rendition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with Christmas Bear’s bright red nose, blinking in the early morning light and the kids humming along seemed like a fitting way to start December.

OK, sorry to deviate from the Christmas theme for a moment. My other blog does not seem to be up at the moment, but strangely enough this one is fine.

On the Christmas theme front, why don’t we have a ChriBloPoMo! A post here a day starting tomorrow. Now that we’ve honed our blogging skillz, let’s keep the momentum going.

Here’s my update:

Gifts: All done! Yay! (well, except for another little thing for my mom.)
Decorations: None up yet. Hoping to start this weekend.
Cards: Cards, stamps purchased. Letter being printed out.
Travel plans: set.

Christmas cards for 2006.,
originally uploaded by Suze3000.

I’ve got my Christmas cards.

I followed Jennie’s tip and headed to Tar-ghey for cards. The ones on the left say “Peace” on the front which I like given the state of the world in the last year. Inside, they say, “Blessings to you at Christmas and always.”

Then, I usually get a box of cards that don’t have any religious overtones or refer to Christmas so I can send to friends who are less into the whole birth of Jesus thing or may not celebrate Christmas at all. I got these cards at Big Lots - yay, Big Lots! - and they have a snowy Vermont country church (oops, church, just realized that that isn’t so secular, hmmmm. . . ) on the front. Inside, they say, “May you find peace in the beauty of the season. May joy be yours now and throughout the new year.” I’m a sucker for a Vermont scene.

(an aside — some of you may already have realized this, but I’m always checking to see where things were made, out of curiosity. For the record, the Target cards were made in China and the other cards were made by a company in Scranton, Pennsylvania www.papermagic.com)

So, yay, cards! I have my return address labels, just got a new roll. Just need the stamps.

I usually spend a fair amount of time, inputting my list of addresses into some or other computer database program or shareware Christmas card tracking program, and then go down the list in alphabetical order. Finding that to be tedious and again time-consuming, I’m just going to use a list from last year, plus my address book, go in whatever strikes me and then keep a list as I send them out. Probably more detail than you really care to know, I know.

I’ve decided against a Christmas letter, per se, this year. What I am doing is going back through my pictures for the year and putting together a collage of shots that cover the year. It’ll be nice once I get it done, but going back through five gazillion pictures has been a little, um, shall we say, time-consuming.

I use a cute little program called PhotoMix www.photomix.com to put the collage together. It’s got templates already in it, depending on how many pictures you want in your layout, and has the usual editing tools. I used it last year to make an album for my parents for Christmas.

So, where are you with the whole card-sending fanfair?

Dottie is my mother. I always have the hardest time figuring out what to get for people, so I’m hoping to get a headstart this year.

Dottie enjoys classical music — a CD perhaps (Segovia?) maybe.
She has an African grey parrot that she loves.
She and dad just redid their kitchen — new calendar w/ rings?
She’s addicted to free-cell and likes those word-puzzle books.
Doesn’t like cooking.
Jewelry - eh.
Grand-child item. Don’t know.
One of those digital photo frames for them both?

Dad — enjoys going to the gym. Surfing the net. Flyfishing. A new tie w/ grandkids on it? Reading.

Big Lots
Dollar Tree/Store
Target / Walmart
Michael’s / ACMoore / Joann’s
Barnes & Noble - calendars, novelty books, etc.
Linens & Things / Bed, Bath, Etc. - kitchen gadgets
Tuesday Morning - housewares
World Market
10,000 Villages
One World Market

Online:
kidsurplus.com

What are yours?

I know, it’s a bit early, but I’ve giving myself extra time to stress out this year. Heh.

Starting to get the gift list together and think about what kinds of things that I could maybe make to keep costs down. I already did bead bracelets one year, so that’s probably out. Although I do have lots of beading stuff left.

Gifts for Daniel’s preschool teachers and for Andrew’s PMO caregivers. Little gifts for my sunday school class, for my bible study people (or maybe just cards for them).

Gifts for co-workers, for bosses.

Goodies for neighbors.

In addition to the family, of course.

I’m also looking for a nativity set for the boys. Andrew loves to play with the one in the Sunday School room at church. I’d like to have one here that’s OK for them to play with.

Starting to think about Christmas cards. Photos?

So, what about you? Have you started thinking about it all yet?