SO nice that the kids are old enough to help w/ Xmas prep

[KKB]

DD12 loves to write--she did a TERRIFIC letter.
DS10 helped DH dust/vac Friday plus brought up the decor.
DH & I were out of town this weekend & Mom & the kids decorated the tree.
DS15 & DD12 both make cookies (even homemade!)
DH & I have been in grad school (plus working full time) for the last 3 years...I BARELY got the tree/stockings/creche up the last 2. We are taking next semester off (I only have 1 class to go; DH 2)--I am actually EXCITED about Xmas! (and thank goodness for online shopping--I have had NO problem getting the shopping done each year; almost done already!!)

 

[lovesmurfs]

DD12 loves to write--she did a TERRIFIC letter.
DS10 helped DH dust/vac Friday plus brought up the decor.
DH & I were out of town this weekend & Mom & the kids decorated the tree.
DS15 & DD12 both make cookies (even homemade!)
DH & I have been in grad school (plus working full time) for the last 3 years...I BARELY got the tree/stockings/creche up the last 2. We are taking next semester off (I only have 1 class to go; DH 2)--I am actually EXCITED about Xmas! (and thank goodness for online shopping--I have had NO problem getting the shopping done each year; almost done already!!)

Yep!! DD11 put up the tree herself this year! Usually tree assembly puts me in a really rotten mood.

Have a great Christmas!

 

[StephMK]

I love having helpers too! DD16 loves to do the lights of all things! So she put up the tree & strung all the lights. Tomorrow we'll do the ornaments & I unpacked all the holiday "stuff" on Sunday.

DD16 also made my calendars last year and all 3 kids love to bake. That's on the schedule for this weekend.

I'm almost done w/grad school too & it feels so good! We all keep saying how we can't believe we're here already because we used to talk about getting to this point.

Online shopping has been great for time & the budget! I can't get caught up in impulse buying when it just comes in boxes to the house.

Happy Holidays!

 

[Marionnette]

Im really missing my eighteen year old son this year. He was always the one to drag out all of the decorations. And he would cover every shrub, tree and bush with lights. He is away at college right now and our outdoor decor is sadly lacking. Im glad that the op has the opportunity to enjoy her kids and there holiday preparations. Merry Christmas!

 

[bjscheel]

This is the first year we have had a full size tree that needs assembled. DDs 9 and 12 were great help!

 

[ah1126]

This is my first year with help! Only I am sure my 8 month old isn't as helpful as your older kids! Between the baby and the cat I hope the tree makes it to Christmas!

 

[Carina]

My 11 and 13 year old are helping right now, ( as I sit here on my hiney - lol actually oven is pre heating for my cookies)

We are just doing a bit of decor tonight , no tree or lights yet. not even my pine garland will go up until present wrapping stuff is out of the way.

 

[KKB]

This is my first year with help! Only I am sure my 8 month old isn't as helpful as your older kids! Between the baby and the cat I hope the tree makes it to Christmas!

I was trying to figure out why the kids had not put any ornaments on the bottom third of the tree--then I realized THEY were the smart ones--1 year old kitty in the house!

 

[Ava]

This is my first year with help! Only I am sure my 8 month old isn't as helpful as your older kids! Between the baby and the cat I hope the tree makes it to Christmas!

Hahaha, I can sympathize. I have a 19-month-old and 2 cats. The cats actually pretty much leave the tree alone but DD thinks its way more fun to take ornaments OFF the tree than it is to put them on. I am hoping once the novelty wears off she'll leave it alone, and if not I guess the bottom half of the tree will just be empty.

I still decorate my mom's tree for her, although she puts it up & does the lights. We spend Christmas down there so on Christmas Eve we decorate the tree.

I also have really fond memories of helping my grandmother decorate her house for Christmas the couple years before she passed away. She had cancer & wasn't able to do all the cleaning & decorating herself any longer, so my mom took me (I was 13-14 at the time) over to her house for the day to help her. She passed away when I was 15 so I'm really glad to have had that special time with her.