I’ve told you all how organized I am…or try to be. I got the majority of our Christmas shopping done before Emily got here, because I’ve been through the newborn stage twice before and I know how all-consuming a baby can be. Add that to two existing preschoolers and you have a recipe for a mental breakdown total chaos.
Matthew and I had a date night (with Emily) a few weeks ago and got the remainder of our Christmas list checked off, save for a few minor presents and some stocking stuffers. I should be happy about that, right?
Sure, except I forgot about the WRAPPING part. I love giving presents. I hate wrapping presents. I suck at it. The paper never lines up, and the ends become this crumpled mess of paper, haphazardly taped with a prayer that it will all stay together. It looks horrible, and while I’m anal a bit of a perfectionist, I know where to draw the line. I can’t match those lines up, but I know where to draw them. Not how to draw them, either, but that’s another story.
And then there are the Christmas cards. I love making cards; stamping is a new passion of mine. I bought a beautiful Christmas stamp set. I had shown it to Honey along with the example in the book, and he gave it the A-OK. When I got the set, I made one just like the sample in the book. He didn’t like it…so I made a different card using different colours. Sigh. And the enjoyment of making cards goes out the window once you’re on card number 37. You think I would have learned my lesson after all those baby announcements I made.
I got the cards done, though.
And then…the Christmas letter. I could just tell everyone to read the blog daily, but some people have a mental block when it comes to that. They can email, and chat on Messenger, but somehow can’t click on our blog to see what we’re up to. Thus, I have to spell it out in the letter. Which is fine; some people are computer illiterate, and I have to write the letter for them anyways.
Good. Cards are done, and letter is written. Oh yeah…now I need to address all those cards. For the love…
I had a great thought. Next year, I’ll just tell everyone who wants a Christmas card to let me know in August if they expect one. Then I can make them ahead of time and make the perfect amount. If they could also send a self-addressed stamped envelope to me, that would make this so much easier.
OK, venting is done. The cards are addressed and stuffed. I had to wait until I picked up our Christmas photo (another vent could be done here), and they have been stuffed too. It seems a bit of a hassle to get the photo done, but it is so worth it to at least have one family photo done per year:
This was done with the self-timer and me running back and forth. Not the best lighting, but everyone looks pretty good. Except for Emily, but she’s a newborn. Can’t expect her to smile on cue.
I really do love Christmas. The lights, the love, Baby Jesus, the family time. Now that I’ve vented, I should be able to enjoy the rest of the season…including the baking.
A little chocolate will definitely cure the remainder of my bah humbug mood…
That’s a great family picture. You all look happy.
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Aw. Beautiful photo.
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Glad to hear I am not the only one multi-tasking! Family photo looks great-a feat in and of itself!
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You look great in that photo! I still haven’t coaxed my boys for a family photo. I showed mom the photos I took of just the little guys, and she said a Christmas card should include the whole family. I don’t know…I haven’t changed much since highschool!
You’re quite the over-achiever with homemade cards and all. I think I’ll just order photo cards if I ever get to it. Last year I made a pile of cards for all of Rileys preschool classmates. Not so this year!
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You guys look very happy. Have a great relaxing Christmas season…
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Wow!! yOu are sooo ahead of the game…I have barely started shopping….we did family photos in October, but they are not printed yet….baking….I love to do it, but with working full time until the 22nd of December (including organizing Christmas concerts–and trust me..not all teachers are musically gifted)..I may actually not gain 10 pounds before Christmas this year!!! However, Christmas comes whether we are ready or not…and the love of Jesus shines!! Families get together and fun is had by all!! I am aiming for Christmas Eve emails and a few Happy New Year cards!! Your family pic is awesome and one day I too will make all my Christmas cards. Enjoy the wonderful spirit of the season–crank up the tunes and blow away the bah humbugs!!
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Love that family shot!
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You got me beat hands down. I only hope that one year I am half as organised as you. You all look GREAT in the pic
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I’ll wrap your gifts…I love wrapping (and ironing) I HATE shopping (only at christmastime — to busy).
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I wish I was half as organized as you! I’ve started my baking (barely), started my shopping (barely) and….that’s about it! I had good intentions to stamp and make my cards but didn’t see it actually happening so I gave up and bought a box! Love the family photo (another thing on the list that hasn’t happened!)!!!
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Tip for the wrapping – we do bags. The paper ones you can buy and I have cloth ones that I made on the sewing machine.
It’s much faster and they look very cute under the tree – like many little santa sacks
Great picture!
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I love all the parts of Christmas that made you bah-humbug, but I agree that it totally adds up at the end of the day. Your family shot is great! I can’t believe you got both boys to smile at exactly the right time. Awesome kids!
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Lovely photo of your family, Angella.
I know what you mean about the wrapping, I don’t particularly enjoy it either. And the cards do get a bit tedious when you are making so many. But I’m sure yours are beautiful and people will be so happy to receive them. And now you can relax – and it is only the beginning of December!
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Awesome family pic.You guys all look so great! I really can’t stand wrapping as well. I am good at it but definitally don’t love it.
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Ah, yes the old self-timer and running back and forth. It is a handy thing to have though. The picture turned out great, family pics are always so nice!
I don’t mind wrapping aside from all the time it takes… there is never enough time!!
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That’s why I love gift bags. I haven’t started shopping and 1 month old twins, when will I get it done….Feb maybe?
Great family picture!
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Nice picture!
So speaking of chocolate…I made the brownie bites from your Recipe for Disaster blog and brought them to some of my classmates to chomp on during our final exam. They were a real hit! I’m not sure if they’re your contribution or Karen’s but they were yummy.
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Good work with the self timer. I love the picture. You are so much more organized than me and I don’t even have a newborn. I can count the christmas cards I have made on one hand so I am glad I don’t have that many to send. Now you can sit back and enjoy the season.
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You’re ahead of me. Things have really gotten away on me this year. Your family photos great.
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That is a great family photo.
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Listening to all that you’ve done made me feel tired. And lazy. We don’t even have our tree up yet.Part of me feels “why even bother” Christmas is less than three weeks away.
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The more I read your blog, the more I think we must be alot alike. The only difference being I am a MAJOR procrastinator. Mix that with perfectionism and one could certainly drive themselves and EVERYONE around them loopy!
Beautiful family pic…very festive with the trees outside the window in the background=)
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