Are those Christmas Bells I hear.....?

The kids are back in school. There is a slight (very welcome) chill in the air. I've flipped my calendar to September. And panic is setting in.

Because these things are all signs that Christmas is just around the corner. We have entered "The Season".

Never mind that I still have 4 birthdays to celebrate between now and Christmas. Never mind that we still have Halloween and Thanksgiving yet to come. Nevermind that I am ahead of even the most ardent retailer in my Christmas quest. I'm still worried about Christmas.

My worries? Will Jacob be able to come home for Christmas? If he can come, how much will I have to pay for a ticket to get him here? What do you get for the man who has everything and needs nothing? (my dad) Or for the kid who has everything, wants for nothing, but still needs something to open on Christmas morning?

I'm done shopping for Mary. I've actually been done with her for months (shopping, I mean!). And I have gotten a few little things here and there for the boys in my life.

But what if I get inspired and want to make something for someone for Christmas? If that's the case, then the ispiration had better come soon! It takes time to put these things together, you know. And what if I buy the wrong size? Or the wrong color? Or the wrong game?

You can see where this might be an issue. Maybe I'll just go on strike this Christmas. Maybe we'll just relax, enjoy each other's company, watch a movie and eat take out. Nah.....It'll never happen.

Now if you'll excuse me....I think I have to go call Travelocity.

The Stash.....

I come by it honestly. "The Stash." I got it from my mother. My mother would buy gifts FAR in advance of when she would need them.

By the time the that Kristin and Jennie, the two oldest granddaughters, were 2 years old, my mother had dresses stashed for them that were sizes 6-8.

"But, mom..", I'd say, "they're only 2!! Why are you buying a size 6?"

"Oh", she'd reply, "these dresses are so adorable! And besides, they'll grow into them!"

She would also buy presents for other people's children. Just because. She would buy dresses, or hair ribbons or outfits or other surprises. Just for fun.

So I guess you could say that my gift of Stash was inherited.

When my kids were small, I'd shop the after Christmas sales and stock up on 'friend presents'. That way, when someone got invited to a birthday party and needed a gift we'd just go to my closet and pick something out. I had puzzles, games, toys....I always figured it was better to spend ahead and get 80-90% off than to wait for the last minute and overspend!

I also started the Christmas shopping for my kids months in advance. I once got an awesome remote control car for Jacob (I think he was about 8) that had an original price tag of over $60 for only $15. Granted, that meant that I had to hide it for 9-10 months, but it was well worth it. My only problem was: where to keep everything, and remembering that I'd bought it!

I still Stash today. I'm already done Christmas shopping for Mary. And I hit Kohl's 90% off racks today and picked up a couple of other Christmas gifts. I'm not sure who they're for yet, but it will all work out. And just think of the money I've saved!! Between Mary's Stash, and the things I bought today, I've saved close to $200!! (I'll have to make sure Joe reads this when he starts complaining about how much I spend on Christmas!)

I have to redeem myself here by saying that I don't just buy randomly, and I really don't go overboard. It's not like I have to have an outside storage unit to hide everything. And I don't have things stashed for Chrismas 2012!! Just one year at a time. I think it helps my budget to spread the cost out over an entire year instead of just the month of December. And because December in my house includes two birthdays I need all the help I can get!

So if anyone knows of any great deals out there, send them my way! After all, there are only 247 days until Christmas!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own...(Christmas Edition)

How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, his precepts! O! 'tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.
--Benjamin Franklin

Merry Christmas to all!!

Christmas Spirit........

(Yes, this is my actual Christmas tree, a little sad, I know, but lots of good memories come with those handcrafted ornaments! And I'm more about preserving memories than having a 'Martha Stewart' tree)

I'm having a really weird Christmas season this year. Lots of mood swings. One day I love Christmas, the next I'm depressed about it. Here are a few of my issues:

My Christmas tree:

I love Christmas trees. I have always loved Christmas trees. They make my happy. I love to sit in the quiet darkness of the late evening or early morning and just look at the lights. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and sometimes I get a little nostalgic thinking about Christmases past.

We always get a 'real' Christmas tree. We've talked about getting an artificial one, but the kids always protest. 'It's not the same!', 'It won't smell like Christmas!', etc. I'm sure you're familiar with the arguments against artificial trees.

Yet, as I get older, I'm leaning more and more toward an artificial tree. I mean, really, who likes vacuuming up pine needles until Easter? Because no matter how many times I vacuum I can NEVER get them all up. And while I do love the smell of a 'real' tree, I'm starting to feel guilty.....It has occurred to me that all I'm really doing is keeping the tree on life support until I'm done with it. It's been cut down! It has no chance of recovery. Yet I water it, and take care of it like there might be some hope of saving it. All I'm really doing is prolonging the agony until I'm through with it, the season is over, and I can 'pull the plug'. Then it sits in my backyard firepit until it's dryed out enough for Peter to torch it. (This is Peter's favorite thing about Christmas trees. They go up in flames in about 20 seconds. It never gets old for him, he even collects trees from our neighbors for more 'flammable fun'. We usually end up burning 3-4 trees every year.)

Christmas music:

Every year as Thanksgiving rolls around and the Christmas music starts to play on the radio I have to smile. I love those first few strains of 'White Christmas' and 'Jingle Bell Rock'. I get that warm, fuzzy feeling again, and smile to myself. I love listening to Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, Kenny Loggins and even the new Barry Manilow Christmas song. (my personal newest favorite!)

There are times when Christmas music makes me feel whole and happy, like all is right with the world. I even love, love, love the Chipmunks Christmas song because it brings me right back to my childhood Christmases when all WAS right with the world.

But then I hear Elvis's 'Blue Christmas', or 'Grandma got run over by a reindeer' or 'Santa, Baby' or Dean Martin or some Country music 'has been' or someone else who really, really has NO BUSINESS singing Christmas songs and it makes me cringe. They should have a radio station that only plays what I want to hear. (Oh, wait, maybe that's why they invented CD's.)

Christmas presents:

I love presents. I love seeing them piled up under the tree. I love the anticipation they create, the excitement, the curiousity, the pure joy of wonder. I love searching and finding 'the gift', you know, 'the gift', the one thing that you just know they will love. The elusive perfect gift. It's so fun to know that THAT gift is under the tree. You know it, and they don't. I love to see the kids look at the presents, find their name on it, and speculate. I love doing it myself. I can't wait to see what treasures my kids have picked out for me this year. Will I get the malted milk balls I love so much? The chocolate covered pretzels? What fun, fun things might be waiting for me under that tree?

But, really, I hate shopping. I have always hated shopping. I never go to the mall. When my kids were little, they thought that Santa lived at the mall because the ONLY time we ever went there was to see Santa at Christmas time. Even now, when someone needs new shoes, or clothes, or even when I need groceries, my plan is 'get in, get out'. I don't want to linger, wander, and window shop. And I really hate it when I can't find or even think of 'the perfect gift'. I hate not knowing what to get someone. This year, it's Joe. I can tell you this because I know he never reads my blog. I have NO EARTHLY IDEA what to get my husband for Christmas!! He's one of those guys who, when he wants or needs something, he goes out and buys it. He has everything he needs and I am really at a loss. My Christmas shopping is done, but for Joe. (Any ideas here would REALLY be appreciated!)

Christmas Cards:

Again, some love and some loathing. I love hearing from those people that I only hear from one time a year. I love the Christmas newsletter from my Aunt Pearl, to hear that, at age 86, she is STILL waterskiing and loving life! I love to hear from my step-mother's Aunt Helen. She is a kind, loving, gentle woman that just oozes comfort. (the woman MAKES her own caramels!! What's not to love!) I also love hearing from my friends and family far away. It reminds me of the love we share and the family that we are.

What bugs me about Christmas cards are the bogus newsletters that some people send out. 'My little Tommy got all A's on his report card!' or 'I made 5,000 cookies for the homeless' or 'We won the lottery this year and retired to a villa in the south of France!'......you get the idea. Whatever, people!! Get real! Tell me what's really going on in your life. Tell me about the lost job, or the kid who failed the 7th grade. Life is not a Christmas newsletter!! I know that we like to share the good things with each other, but if we're really friends, shouldn't we share the other things, too? I, for one, like to know that I'm not alone in my troubles. Yet, when I read some of these Christmas newsletters, that's just how I feel. I must be doing something wrong if my kid doesn't get all A's, or I neglected to donate my entire life savings to those less fortunate, or if my life isn't perfect.

Despite the fact that my Christmas spirit comes and goes, I really do love the Christmas Season. And being that there's really not much time left to revel in it, I guess I'd better quit wasting time complaining and jump in with both feet!! So, Merry Christmas to you and yours, and I hope you all have a GREAT Holiday Season!!

Ho, Ho, Ho....Merry Christmas!

Okay, I realize that it's only August, but haven't you ever heard of 'Christmas in August'? We lived in a ward once that used to have a huge Christmas Homemaking (Enrichment) Activity every summer. We would have classes on different crafts, cooking, etc., all while listening to the sounds of the season! It was great fun, I miss it!

Other than that reminder, I have two people who have made me think about Christmas already.....one is a friend (Diane) who has a boy on a mission and therefore can't wait for Christmas to come to recieve her phone call from her missionary. The other is my SIL, Marcie, who quilts like crazy and already has a Christmas project on her website to encourage all of us slackers to get busy, after all, Christmas is right around the corner!! (See her sidebar, it's a really cute project, and the pattern is FREE!)

That being said......I'm sending out my Christmas request early this year in order to give you all plenty of time. I know that there are those of you out there who make things to give for Christmas gifts. One year my sister was into making 'quillows' and made one for each of my kids. Another year, Marcie (the aforementioned SIL) was going crazy making Christmas Baby Quilts. It happened to be the year that Jacob was born (4 days before Christmas) and the lucky boy scored two of her adorable Christmas quilts!! (He is now 22 and often stumbles out of his room in the morning for family prayer with one of the quilts wrapped around his shoulders!)

So, for those of you who like to make things for Christmas in bulk to give to friends and family, put me on your list! It doesn't matter if it's cookies, brownies, a mix in a jar, quilts, blankets, pillows, whatever, just add me to the list. I realize that this is a shameless request, but really I'm just not very creative and am simply too lazy to enjoy the fruits of my labor and would love to instead enjoy the fruits of your labor! I know that I have many talented and creative friends and I can't wait to see what you come up with! Remember, start your projects early......Christmas is right around the corner!!