I'm in the middle of cards--got two lists done, started a third, am waiting for addresses on the fourth. I hoarded stamps all year, bought extra whenever I could, to get enough for this holiday season.

I bought a few Yule decorations this year at the dollar stores. Found metal--lots of jingle bells, especially--because even plastic is not safe from the "Jaws of Death" that is a year-old lab. :rolleyes:

Now I just need the energy oomph to get the tree up, and the outside lights as well.

On Sunday we got out the decorations and went to pick out a tree to be flocked. My Amy has wanted a flocked tree for several years now, but my Mom wouldn't have one in her house....so we went to pick up the tree last night; flocked and so very beautiful.

Sunday was...a mixed bag of Mommy Dearest and poor pitiful me. We got out all the Christmas decorations, but there is nowhere to put most of the stuff! Same stuff, different house, no more Mom....sigh. Thank God I have a family that loves me...LOL

I have begun baking..yumbo, but to tell you the truth it is hard to be jolly, it is going to be 78 degees by the end of this week!! Ho ho ho:|

That is one thing I do not miss about living in Los Angeles, Christmas with Palm Trees and relatively warm weather.

I have not put up Christmas decorations for a few years now. I think maybe it is time. I love the Christmas Season. The music, the smells of the tree and homemade Christmas treats; the feel of crisp cold air on my ear lobes and face.

I really want a Christmas tree and enjoy decorating the fireplace but I have three cats from hell that enjoy opening drawers, taking stuff out of there and trash then tossing it about. I dont even want to think about the havoc they would wreck on a tree or shiny tinsel draped about.

I don't buy a lot of gifts but what I do I buy before thanksgiving. I will buy a big ass prime rib and cook dinner. I'll spend Mia, my granddaughters first christmas, at her house since she'll only be 9 days old.

I might make a lot of cookies and give them away real fast!

We got our first Christmas card today!

Our tree is up and lit, presents have started arriving, recipes planned! WOOT!

princessbelle,

I am so sorry. I did not know that your brother passed away.

My father passed away this Spring and my maternal grandmother a couple of months ago.

It is going to be a tough Christmas.

My sister will not be in town this year, so it will just be me and mom. We have decided to change things up and she will come stay here at my house Xmas eve and then we will both go to my gf's for Christmas in the morning.

This way we will be doing nothing like we typically do every year. I don't want to see his empty place at the breakfast table on Christmas morning, and I don't want to notice the lack of ever present video camera in my face. I think this will help. You really might want to change some things up.

She does not want a tree and this is ok. It sounds like you guys made a good decision in putting up the tree, so that your mom had the option to decorate.

Hang in there. Know you can PM me if you want to talk.

Will be doing the cutting down the Xmas tree/decorating this weekend with the gf and her son to put up at her house. :cuttree: I tend to never decorate my house.

Has always been a family tradition to go pick out your own tree and cut it down (at a Xmas tree farm). This is something I have carried on into my own life as an adult.