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[C.Ann]

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[xyzabc33]

Sure come on over and I will pop my ready to bake cookies in too. LOL That is about as far as I go for baking cookies from scratch. Non-scratch means opening a pak of Oreos....LOL

 

[Cindy B]

Relax--its no big deal.

If you have your health, your family and a place to stay, its great with the world.

No one is going to notice if the house is decorated nicely or at all--and if your cookies are store bought.

You don't need to make a picture perfect Christmas--just what you can handle. Its not worth having a coronary or nervous breakdown over. Its one day on the calendar.

 

[JVL1018]

Oh noo!

I was in WDW from the 8-16, but I learned my lesson last time I was in WDW in early December.

This year I bought all the gifts before we left, made all the cookie dough, and froze it all. Had the tree up and decorated the first weekend in Dec.

All I have to do is wrap gifts, buy GC for teachers and bake the cookies(the dough is thawing in the fridge right now)It's tough to be gone for a week or more this time of year!

 

[Hedy]

 

[C.Ann]

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[kdibattista]

Come visit our "Where can we find the Christmas presents that everyone seems to be sold out of" thread :

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1298977

We've had some pretty good luck!!!

 

[Cindy B]

--------------------------

You're 100% correct.. With the house still under renovations we couldn't make it "perfect" if we tried - LOL..

I just want it to be nice for my DGD.. She means the world to me and in another year or so, Christmas won't be the "same" - if you get my drift..

It really IS a lot of work and fuss for ONE day, isn't it???

I understand completely. I am in full time school/working/with kids, DH works 12 hours a day and in school as well... lets see, some things just aren't getting done.

We never did the gingerbread houses this year, and no one cared. We haven't sent cards out--and it may be New Years cards at this rate.

I haven't cooked really anything and I'm just happy to have someone else cook (brother in law).

Its just not worth being stressed over. DO what you can, and nothing else. Don't let the expectations of the holiday get to you.

 

[C.Ann]

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[Cindy B]

When my kids were smaller, I would buy Christmas items in Sept/October for them. I remember getting an original Tickle Me Elmo back in September before all the hoopla began.

I also asked my kids for Christmas items in September as well.

Now that my kids are older and don't believe they just know what is going under the tree. My son slept out for a Wii with my DH.

Toys do come in all the time in stores, you just have to be flexible with stores/travel time and pick up arrangements. If you live in a rural area you are stuck to what is available. (that is what my sister is going through).

Maybe expand your travel radius (drive an hour away instead of 1/2 hour) or ask in more obscure stores for the items. I've found hard to find things in CVS and Walgreens of all places.

 

[Serena]

Take a breath woman and relax. It will all be fine, it's not like you'll have it any other way, right?

It might not be what you want it to be, but your grandaughter loves you and probably won't ask you if you bought the cookies at the store, or you made them, until after she's eaten them. lol

 

[C.Ann]

This is so funny.. DD called and said she was on her way home from work.. I told her she could NOT come home from work - because I was on the DIS on the thread that was telling me where she could get DGD's things..

So now we're going back and forth on the cell phone and I'm telling her which store she needs to be in to get what.. She's actually gotten a few of the things, so we're BOTH feeling much better now..

I just LOVE the DIS.. You guys can handle ANY crisis..

 

[CamColt]

LOL, CAnn! I feel your pain. I had the bright idea to make a solo trip 12/7-12/11, then go back with my family 12/21-12/29....And DS's birthday is right in the middle of it all, today! This whole week Ive been asking whose bright idea this was?

I hope things will fall into place for you soon. Enjoy the holidays.

 

[minniecarousel]

ahhh...yes - leave it to the DIS to help you out! I hope she gets enough things from "the list" to make everyone happy!

Now - no more decorating. What you have is fine! Did you know that Costco sells a lovely tray of very-homemade-looking Christmas cookies? So do bakeries and grocery stores. Just do some sugar cookies with your DGD on the weekend.

 

[crz4mm2]

C-Ann,
We just got home from Hawaii..... So I feel your pain. I THOUGHT I would do a bit of shopping over there and bring the gifts home with me........... NOPE. Didn't happen.

Still playing catch up. sigh. won't do THAT again.

On the other hand, pre made cookies and telling everyone I couldn't do it cause I was going to be out of town worked out pretty good

 

[mickeyfan2]

Sure you can come on over. I just don't bake cookies. I can bake but we don't need any this year. When we do there is a fabulous bakery that makes all their cookies from scratch the same as I would and the cost is really cheap.