Shopping Days Left till Christmas.......
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: Shopping Days Left till Christmas.......
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Archive through November 18, 2002 25   11/18 10:07am
Archive through November 23, 2002 25   11/23 06:16pm
Archive through December 02, 2002 25   12/02 09:57am
Archive through December 03, 2002 25   12/03 06:57pm
Archive through December 04, 2002 25   12/04 01:20pm
Archive through December 10, 2002 25   12/10 09:15am
Archive through December 14, 2002 25   12/14 02:54pm
Archive through December 17, 2002 25   12/17 05:22am

Knightpatti

Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 07:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Santa Phatcat, your true story made me cry! What a truly beautiful person you are! Jesus is the answer for the season and you have shown in your life to many that this is true! Thank you for sharing your letter!

Phatcat

Wednesday, December 18, 2002 - 01:52 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Knightpatti, I pray that you will have the most blessed of holiday seasons...filled with peace, joy, love and prosperity.

I was the one who was blessed by getting to share just a small part of the lives of these little ones who came to see Santa. What amazed me was how the children seemed to feel free to come to Santa and ask for prayer...or just to pour their little hearts out. I don't think they would have done that had I just been sitting there as myself. It made me wish I could do it year-round. And I am not real happy this year because the Walmart where I'd been for so many years decided they wanted to do something different this year...and I had sooooo many precious children who came back, year after year.

Hopefully, by tomorrow, I will have one of my Santa pictures on my profile. Check out the Christmas Song/parody thread to find a little gift for you and all my precious friends here at TVCH.

Jkm

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 09:38 am EditMoveDeleteIP
5 more shopping days and 1 Saturday!!!

I'm not ready -- but trying to enjoy the season!

Wargod

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 09:29 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I went tonight and got almost all the rest of the kids presents. I still need to pick up socks and undies for them (yes thats a present!) LOL.

I also finished hubby....except for stocking stuffers. And I need to pick up some picture frames for my mom, aunt, and sister. Then I'm done. Almost.

I finally decided on Dakota's big gift. I swore I wasn't going to do this, but, I saw the perfect doll for her...her name is Dakota, and she's not a baby, shes a little girl. We're going to build furniture for her....couch, coffee table, bed, dresser, table and chairs. Only thing she won't have is a little house. She has a doll standing wardrobe, and I bought a couple more outfits for her doll. The fun part is going to be getting it done before Wednesday. Hubby has to work all day tomorrow...and Saturday. Saturday morning he'll go pick out the wood, then Sunday morning and night, he'll work on building it. That gives me Monday night after she goes to bed to put the furniture together and paint it and put fabric on the couch and make bedding. I might have some time Tuesday night....but as thats the only day I'll have for wrapping presents and cooking Christmas dinner, I'd rather have it done by Monday.

Northstar

Friday, December 20, 2002 - 01:36 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I have yet to figure out something for my in-laws and am beginning to panic. Hubby is out of the country and isn't responding to my frantic e-mails. I guess he's at a loss as well. Everyone else is done, the gifts are wrapped and mailed, and tomorrow I'll start baking bread for the neighbors. I saw this monster size bottle of Karo's white syrup today. Just struck me as odd I guess.

Any suggestions on buying for in-laws with everything will be appreciated.

Phatcat

Friday, December 20, 2002 - 05:21 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Northstar, Merry Christmas.

Cracker Barrell has beautiful gifts and they gift wrap free. Last year, I got little music boxes with a nativity scene on them for some friends. Maybe your inlaws would like something like that.
Or a special Christmas ornament. That way, each Christmas they will be reminded of your love when they get out their Christmas decorations.

Also wishing I was one of your neighbors! I'll be praying for you and your hubby.

Juju2bigdog

Friday, December 20, 2002 - 06:51 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Hahahahahha, just watching Early Show with Bigdog, and a commercial came on for buying the husband some tools for Christmas. Naturally, I was here at the computer reading and typing. I heard Bigdog mutter to the television, "You don't let women buy men's tools."

Goddessatlaw

Friday, December 20, 2002 - 06:55 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I have a hard and fast rule about not buying tools for men - not unless they've been hankering for a specific tool, point it out and stand beside me to make sure it's the correct one. Men get crazy about their tools being just right and just so. Pointless for me to try to scratch that particular itch.

Wargod

Friday, December 20, 2002 - 08:48 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Northstar, I feel your pain. I would never attempt to pick out a gift for my mom in law. There's a reason I let hubby do it.

So just a couple of ideas. A couple of nice wine glasses and a nice bottle of wine. Movie bucks and a gift certificate for a restaurant for a night in. A sword (ok, a weapon is not for everyone, but I'd like it, LOL.)

I've bought hubby tools.....only when he writes down exactly what he wants though. I'd never just pick something out like that. Of course, he'd never just pick out a book for me unless I wrote it down for him....he usually just buys a gift certificte and lets me pick out my own. Makes both of us happy that way, lol.

Weenerlobo

Friday, December 20, 2002 - 09:04 am EditMoveDeleteIP
LOL about buying men tools. If my husband wants something he either picks out the specific tool in a catalog (complete with page numbers and catalog number on his list), or we just go and buy it together.

My family has purchased some well-intentioned tool gifts for him that, well, he would consider an insult, if they knew what they were buying. But he knows they've got no idea how serious a subject that is!

Goddessatlaw

Friday, December 20, 2002 - 09:05 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Real men read the Sears hardware circular every Sunday so as to plan their next tool purchase.

Mware

Friday, December 20, 2002 - 09:18 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Uh oh! <Checks hair on chest, makes note to read Sears hardware circular on Sunday>

How do they find time to read circulars after making breakfast for their wives, dressing the kids, making the beds, and leaving the house to go work 10-12 hours?

I guess I'm not a real man - but I'm willing to learn! If my wife lets me, that is.

Goddessatlaw

Friday, December 20, 2002 - 09:20 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Got to read the circular, babe. Got to work it in along with all those other manly chores.

Northstar

Friday, December 20, 2002 - 12:42 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Phatcat and Wargod, thank you for the suggestions on my inlaws. Ironic you'd suggest an ornament; she just gave me all hers last year because they don't do a tree anymore.

My motto on giving tools: If I want him to use it more than the wants to have it, I need to spend my money elsewhere. Case in point, the tablesaw I gave him 6 years ago, that was finally used by the hired handyman four years later. Oh he likes it alright, just doesn't seem to want to plug it in!

Wargod

Sunday, December 22, 2002 - 12:02 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Darren got up early this morning and went to Home Depot without me. He came home and built a small couch, a bed and a table for the Dakota doll. They turned out great!!! I'm so impressed. Now all I have to do is paint the bed and table, make a blanket and a pillow, and cover the couch with fabric. I bought some of that poly whatever filler stuff, and am going to glue it all over the couch. Then cover it with the fabric. I'm pretty sure I have a good working plan on that one. The only thing I'm nervous about is the pillow...because I can't sew for nothing, LOL.

Other than buying the fixings for Christmas dinner, I'm done with shopping. I spent a couple hours last night cleaning walls and windows in the living room, kitchen and bathroom...the kids got up early and cleaned their bedrooms. All I have left to do is polish the wood panelled walls in the den, clean the windows in the kids rooms, and go over all the carpets with the carpet cleaner and my Christmas (admittedly slightly obssessive) cleaning will be done. Mom is going to watch the kids for a few hours this afternoon so I can wrap presents without them either hammering on my bedroom door or running into the living room every 3 minutes. Christmas eve is two days away and I feel like I'm ahead of schedule. So, I'm feeling pretty darned good about it.

How's everyone else doing? Are you all done shopping and wrapping or making mad dashes to the stores today?

Jkm

Monday, December 23, 2002 - 05:00 am EditMoveDeleteIP
2 Christmas gatherings down. (only forgot three presents!!)

3 more to go!!

Shopping not finished, wrapping not finished....

But looking at Christmas lights every chance I get.

Wargod

Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 09:35 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Three years ago was the hardest Christmas my family went through. My step dad had passed away on December 6, and everyone kind of lost the holiday spirit. We decorated half the tree, didn't decorate the outside of the house, skipped most of our holiday parties, and if it wasn't for the fact that most of our shopping was done at the time, I doubt we would have finished. My mom insisted on making the Christmas as special as possible for the kids. And in the end, it was a very special day, even if at times each of us would tear up over, "oh, David would have loved that, he would be on the floor playing with the kids." That Christmas more than any other taught me it was spending time with the family that was more important than anything else.

I've been a bit obssessive in making Christmas as special as possible. This year has been tough in a different way. With Darren working as much as he has been, all the planning, shopping, and everything else has fallen on me. But, there are times he does something that just makes me want to throw my arms around him and tell him, yet again, how much I love him. Sunday when I got up to discover he had gotten up early to go to the store and buy wood to build Dakota's doll furniture...and was done with it by the time I got up was one of those times. Last night was another.

After the kids got to sleep I pulled out the furniture and got to work on upholstering the couch. I needed some staples (for the staple gun, hehe...I can find a reason to use my favorite toy in almost any project,LOL,) so he ran to Wal-Mart. While he was gone I pulled out the bed, and started to paint it....I took extra care in making sure I did a great job on it. He came home and told me how great it was...and hoped I'd do as good of a job on the top side as the bottom, LOL. Anyways, Darren stayed up til 1am, helping me to uphoslter the couch...when he had to get up at 4:30am to go to work. He could have gone to bed...I would have totally understood, but he stayed there helping. It was just another reminder to remember whats important during this season.

Next year, I won't remember coming home after shopping and crying cuz I couldn't find the perfect gift, I won't remember stressing over the house being spotless, or the countless worry that I'll never be finished with everything. I will remember Darren staying up half the night to help finish a gift I'm pretty excited about. And I will remember how much fun it is to have two small kids who fully believe in the magic of this season, and yet can tell you the reason for the season. I'll take comfort in knowing that my family, both biological and adopted, are together and happy...even if they drive me slightly batty.

Thank you guys for putting up with me, while I've been nutty, and excited, and depressed, and now content that Christmas will be just fine. It's been helpful to come here and post on how I'm doing on the part I dislike about Christmas....shopping, LOL. I hope that everyone was able to finish their shopping, find the perfect gifts for their loved ones, and not go broke in the process...but more important, I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas with their loved ones.

Kstme

Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 12:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
War...YOU and DARREN are BOTH VERY SPECIAL people!! What a terrific story!! BIG (((HUGS))) to ALL your family!

Earthmother

Wednesday, December 25, 2002 - 07:42 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I may never buy tools again, but it was an experience. My youngest is in school to become an auto mechanic and I wanted to get him something special as a surprise. I spoke to the head of the automotive dept. at Sears and he was wonderful. He went with me through the store and explained exactly what I would need to get and what works with what. I guess I did good because to watch a twenty year old, two hundred fifty pound, 6 ft. man cry is my proof.

Did you know that Air Compressors come in 7 different sizes and that each one is for something different? Did you know that Air Wenches come in 3 different sizes and that they each have special ratchets? This is valuable information for some future game show I may be participating in? As soon as I find out what the hell a ratchet is I think I will be well schooled in Tool Trivia!!

Crossfire

Sunday, December 29, 2002 - 07:00 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Only 360 more to go, get your lists ready.

Wargod

Sunday, December 29, 2002 - 07:01 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Heh, I'm starting next week!!!! I swear I am!!!!

Crossfire

Sunday, December 29, 2002 - 07:02 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Wowie!

Jkm

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 06:08 am EditMoveDeleteIP
My sister in law usually buys all the exchange gifts the day after Christmas -- usually buys my daughter's presents, too. (only problem - if it's clothes they usually do not fit or are totally our of style..... it's the thought that counts.....)

Goddessatlaw

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 07:18 am EditMoveDeleteIP
That's a really sweet story, Earthmother - a great, useful gift for your son and a show of support for his chosen profession at the same time. Sounds like it meant alot to him on many levels. Wargod, thanks for your story, too. I think alot of us have grief-related reasons for sometimes dismissing the holidays, but you've worked your way through it and made them the best possible for everybody in your family.