Originally Posted By melekalikimaka The first year I did the party I just invited my nieces and nephews to come over. The original plan was for the kids to come over and their parents could do a little Xmas shopping or whatever. The parents wanted to stay and decorate cookies too.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling Well I wasn't freaking out until I read this thread and it said right out loud that Christmas was 17 days away! LOL. Now it is only 16!!! AAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Originally Posted By bloona lol, I think its really interesting how we are so similar yet so different. Ive never heard of this tradition, it sounds great, kinda messy , but great. I tend to not do any baking cos I havent got a sweet tooth and neither has my hubbie or eldest, but now my 4 year old is showing he is the sweet toothed one in our family, I might have to!
Originally Posted By ilvdland YEAH..... Everytime the mailman comes and he brings me something from somewhere other than Michigan I know I'm about to freak out, since that's one more present I have to wrap.... I'm kind of looking forward to seeing just how much stuff this really ends up being. I wonder if I can send some stuff to HoJo's. Knowing Willie, he'd probably think all of the stuff was for him.....
Originally Posted By threeundertwo less than one hour to go. The kids are getting a wee bit excited. Ours is both an exchange and a decorating party. Cleanup is easy - I just throw the frosting/sprinkle drenched tablecloth in the wash, vacuum, and mop the kitchen floor. Then we have a million cookies to eat over the next weeks. For some reason, my husband really likes this party. . .
Originally Posted By trailsend ilvdland is freaking out because she gives such neat gifts and makes each recipient feel special. I know, because she was my Bash Pal last Christmas and she did such a wonderful job. She cares so much and puts a little pressure on herself. But in the end, everything turns out fabulous!!! I know that for a fact! Also, sounds like we have some really good cookie makers! Baking is hard work but it's just one of those traditions each year. Then you can talk about how worn out you are from baking so much; but boy, everything is delicious!!! I love cookie swap parties!!!
Originally Posted By smedley <-- I'm in denial, so couldn't possibly post in this thread... But if I were to post it would be to say that I have finished shopping, but haven't started either decorating or wrapping, and have a sum total of 3.5 free days between now and the day to complete everything, the half day being this coming Friday once I get up having worked nightshifts Friday night.... Worried? Me? Nahhh.... (fingers are crossed)
Originally Posted By LuLu LOL, yeah, I, of all people, probably *should* be freaking out... I just have too many things higher on my freak-out list right now, than Christmas ;-) I don't buy many gifts... my nephews prefer gift cards now, I'm sending off my mom's gift today, not sure what to do about DD. I don't think I'm bothering with client gifts this year, and at this point I may just forget aout cards too! As far as house decorating - I keep waiting for DD to have some time to join me, but it never happens! We have a bare tree up now! (Thank goodness for prelit fake tress, I bought one 2 years ago after DH moved out...) Maybe I'll freak out later, too busy for that now :-D
Originally Posted By TiggerPooh1973 I'm fraking out a little bit. I usually have all my Christmas cards out by now, but I haven't started yet. I do have a lot of shopping done, but we do have a good bit more to finish. The only baking I have done is several loaves of banana bread which I stuck in the freezer about a week ago. I have a lot of baking to do...... But it's been hard this year with feeling yucky. I have to try to really take advantage of the times I feel good, but then there is so much to do!
Originally Posted By ajnhollysmommy ok I am not freaking out. I just realized today that I only have this week to do all my prep work - Andrew will be home all day long next week as this is the last week of school until next year!!!! oh my! Hollys 1st birthday party is on sunday, we are having the whole dang family over (only 30+) and I feel so guilty because I ordered her cake. I have always made Andrew's. His 1st year I made a 5ft train cake- and this year I cant find the time to make a tinkerbell cake AHHHHHHH <--- off to go breath in a paper bag!
Originally Posted By debtee ok while not freaking out I'm flat out! I can't remember being so busy in previous years or do we just say that and it's busy every year?? LOL The heat is NOT helping me one bit here as I have to be out at the shops at the crack of dawn to get a car spot then rush around and get everything else done before the afternoon heat sets in. Yesterday was 102 degress in the shade! Phew! I can't wait to come to DL and escape the heat in 14 days time! Yipeeee!
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka I have to make 6 batches of marshmallows today. I need 6 cups of corn syrup! Meh.
Originally Posted By ilvdland I just finished wrapping everything. It took me 3 and a half hours. I'm still freaking out, because I have to time my SP package just right, since there is no way it's going to Michigan and then to its other location in time....
Originally Posted By u k fan I'm actually a lot more chilled out this year than normal. First, because my job has changed over the last year and is now not so manic at this time of year. Second, because I did all of my Xmas shopping online in August! And third, because all of my effort had been put into my trip to WDW that I just got back from. That said, I don't have many free days left now to buy the food and decorate the house, direct a christmas play and help organize the church christmas party etc. etc. But still I'm calm about it all!!!
Originally Posted By TiggerPooh1973 OK.....I am one step closer. I made soem Eggnog Bread last night. *sigh*
Originally Posted By TiggerPooh1973 The Christmas cards are done! Yay! Also I made some chocolate chip cookies last night with chocolate chips and these white chocolate swirl chips I found. They are swirled with red and green. Very Christmassy looking.
Originally Posted By ilvdland I am soooo excited, since now that everything is wrapped I just found out everything fits into my ginormous suitcase!!!! WOO-HOO!!! I'm so relieved!!!
Originally Posted By smedley Still no cleaning, still no wrapping, still no decorations, cards still not all done, baking still not done. 3.5 days off between now and Xmas
