[kicker]

OMG!!! I just Christmas panicked! I can't get out and drive, Christmas is coming, I've been buying rationally for twins over the year BUT WHAT ABOUT DH!!! We have an agreement after 37 years of marriage we buy as we go what we need. We know we are not good at getting other what they really want. But he's been hinting he got me stuff. But what? So got him male version of shirts of mine he wants. Henleys, well made, good material. He is known for getting glues, paint and cauking on his clothes, marking and staining them permanently. Got to trust him on this, not to ruin good stuff.

[Kitty]

Not being able to drive, either, I depend on home delivery for everything.

I still have had a few moments of "panic" as I thought about what I already had and what I still need to get.

A commercial stating "Just 10 Day Till Christmas!!!" set me off this time!

[NurseNancy]

it's hard when you can't drive. i rely on home shopping also. i buy thru the yr as i see things but always end up needing something at the last minute.

have a great holiday.

[SallyC]

No panic here.. I hate Xmas fa la la this year.
Humbug!!!
May the bird of paradise do a back stroke in your egg nog.

[Starznight]

Sally I somehow have a hard time imagining you as Scrooge . But the DH pulled a panic on me. "We" and by such I, of course mean I, had Christmas under control like every other year. I coordinated with my mom, to make some lovely homemade gifts for the GB and DSD, nothing fancy mind you, mostly clothes and a few toys for the GB and then some nice homey things for the DSD.

And what does the DH do? He goes nuts!!! "What do you mean you're going to knit up a teddy bear?" "What do you mean you're making her clothes? Clothes? She needs toys! She needs FUN! It's CHRISTMAS!!!" (keep in mind, GB is only 2, that's right T-W-O, 2 years of age, she has no concept whatsoever of Christmas, Santa... none of it!)

Next thing I know I'm dragged (well more literally pushed around by him) through Toys 'R Us on a weekend, 2 weeks before Christmas Madhouse!!! Then it's off to Target, then through Walmart, then to Kmart, then to Publix to get the makings for Christmas cookies (that he expected me to make up as soon as we got home... haha haha haha yeah right buddy)

The next day it was off to the mall, all three of the malls in Jacksonville... on a Sunday, 2 weeks before Christmas... All in search of (by that time) the ever elusive 'Rarity' from My Little Pony.

My Christmas tree is bulging with and overflowing with toys and gifts for the kid and not a single pair of shoes or set of clothes under the tree. 15 gifts are for all 5 of the adults, and the rest of the presents are for a two year old who would simply love a big box for Christmas. (I have photographic evidence that she loves it to death, a big box and 2 crayons kept my sanity for 3 weeks while her mother was out of town.)

And still my DH was not the most insane this year. My father decided to join my DH in his advocacy for anti-homemade gifts this year, and bought the GB her very own tablet. Like a 2 year old needs an ipad! (More like a 2 year old is going to snap the ipad like a twig within the first week)

And shortly even more presents will be joining the commercial overload under the tree, because my mom and I have not given up the ghost on the essential things that a 2 year old really does need... clothes!!! Slippers, shoes... DSD would kill for just a few free pairs of diapers.

I figure the GB will get tired of opening presents by about the 6th maybe 7th gift. Likewise I see over half of the store bought toys being broken, ripped or otherwise destroyed within the first week. (Honestly, the complete, and I mean every single pony from My Little Pony she has under the tree. Fluttershy, Apple Jack, Apple blossom, Rarity, Princess Twilight, Pinky Pie, Rainbow Dash the mean girls trilogy... and so on.... plus she has plushies of pinkie pie and rainbow dash) And let's not forget the 3' tall Anna doll from frozen complete with matching dress for her to wear. And I lost track of all the other toys he threw in the cart and wrapped up for her.

But does Grandpa spoil the GB? Does the GB have him wrapped around all her little fingers and make him dance like a marionette for her?... Oh no... not him... He's not going to be taken in by some little girl... He puts his foot down when it comes to spoiling her, she knows the Grandpa's word is law (about $500 worth of toys isn't spoiling a 2 year old at all... sure grandpa, you're the boss)

[SallyC]

LOL at Grandpa!!

[Hopeless]

Thanks kicker for this thread. It is nice to read what others go through in preparation for Christmas.

I have bowed out of Christmas giving for quite a few years now with the exception of my only sibling. So many things have led me to this and being somewhat home bound, not totally as I still drive, just hurt too much to walk. Yes, I resort to online ordering but never know WHAT to order for someone that gets whatever they really want for themselves before anyone else gets a chance. I also can't afford gift giving as I struggle just to pay for the essentials each month.

When it hit me that Christmas is THIS Friday, I, too, felt panicky. Only ONE person to get a gift for and even THAT is more than I seem to be able to cope with these days.

I feel like such a Scrooge and wish things were different but they are what they are and if my sibling's kids (grown with kids of their own) don't understand, then so be it. BUT, I still feel bad that I can't GIVE to them. I used to like giving and wrapping and all the trappings that come with Christmas. Now I just treat it as just another day of the week and I am OK with that for myself.

I still get that panicky feeling when I see it so close at hand.

I can't imagine what it is like for people with children, a spouse, parents, in-laws, etc.

And for those who have recently lost loved ones, I hope you will find some peace and manage to get through the holiday season without too much heartbreak. I will be thinking of all my NT friends and wish each of you the best you can experience whatever your circumstances.

[kicker]

Whew, it's over. I felt Christmas was getting too commercial and full of got to be great expectations and tried to tone it down this year. I hate idea of "Black Friday" and having people work on Thanksgiving to increase Christmas sales so jumped to "like" A black Friday in a circle with a line down through it on Facebook. Turns out it was for a Black activist group and I did wonder why a black activist friend of a black friend liked my like. My SIL asked me did I really mean it. Wasn't being political, just hate Black Friday concept!

We did try to just do it simple and enjoy the day here and turns out to be our best Christmas ever with much of pressure lifted. Christmas is just one day. Gone now.

[SallyC]

Yes a nice Family Xmas party here in my room. My new home.

Kicker
All

[Starznight]

Like a lot of holidays, many people don't know where they came from or why we should celebrate or "like" them. The Christian ones are a bit easier, since they've been around for centuries. But they've even morphed and warped into unrecognizable holidays from their initial induction.

Easter Bunnies, Halloween costumes, Santa Claus, Leuperchan's and copious amounts of alcohol. And then there's the holiday's that just kind of came up from seemingly nowhere that everyone knows about and most celebrate. Thanksgiving, complete with utterly non-traditional foods that may or may not have been eaten. The iconic Uncle Sam for the 4th of July (strange since he was created for WWI posters that have nothing to do with the 4th of July and might be better served for veteran's day or memorial day)... weird, weird commercial things we turn our holiday's into that completely miss the point of what we're supposed to be remembering and celebrating.

I mean why don't we fly the "Don't Tread on Me." flag for the 4th of July? Or have Paul Revere as the iconic figure? Or even just using the original US flag, the one with only 13 stars... wouldn't that better serve to remind people that it was really a small group of people who fought against an entire nation for our independence? Why do we use the guy from recruitment posters now? And worse still why do we use the guy from WWI recruitment posters when our independence wasn't at stake? It wasn't until WWII that it became potentially hazy (not really but... at least our soil was attacked).

Sorry I'm with you Kicker on not liking all the commercialism in our holiday's, I'd like to just remember what I should be, and celebrate what should be celebrated without worrying if my GBs have the latest "it" costume, or the TOY OF THE YEAR... I'd like for them to at least learn a little bit about what everyone is celebrating when the fireworks go off or the trees light up.