* Rocking around the Christmas Tree * - It's the 2018 Christmas Chatter Thread

murie

Nic- its not you x. I think kids get tired at this time of year as its a long ish half term for them and if they are in the middle of important years there is extra pressure on them with work at school. Plus they are getting excited about the big day, and you are probably more pressured than usual because Christmas is looming x. All contributing factors. (or it could just be the dreaded 'teens kicking in x).

Your plans for Saturday sound lovely, but don't put pressure on yourself for it to be 'perfect', just take it all as it comes in your stride. (best way to deal with teenagers in my book lol).
We are off to The Good Food Show on Saturday, then Vienna on Sunday. Had a look at the weather forecast and its going to be warmer there than it is here! We are going to cook in our big coats and Christmas jumpers!!

radioactivepig

It's not your fault nic, you could always try the wrapping up empty boxes and then throwing/giving away their ''presents'' if they don't behave :rotfl:
Your weekend plans sounds lovely, hope you have a great time

patentgirl

Hello everyone not been on here for a while i pad not working and I struggle with my phone reading threads let alone posting. I am way behind as been suffering with sore throat cold which went to sinuses not good haven't felt like doing anything struggled to work each day but that was all.
Going to read through last months posts for inspiration have started and trying to wrap as I go but not even brought cards yet, my trouble is fitting it in with very poorly dad, work and looking after 4 grandchildren most weekends lately, got lots of work events on too out of hours which isn't good need to stop feeling sorry for myself and get the Christmas spirit I am reading Christmas book and watched couple of films think will talk grandchildren into Elf this weekend that always gets me in the mood.
One good thing my DS and DIL and two grandchildren are now coming for to us for Christmas Day which is not meant to be our turn this year but have decided to come anyway so that will be lovely 13 in total now.

mandco

Nic its so draining when the kids are playing up some days you really wonder why you bother this time of year esp they seem extra grumpy, annoying and whingy the combo of cold/bad weather dark evenings/mornings and the long school term def make it worse.
Your weekend plans sound lovely hopefully the kids will be distracted enough to forget to be so annoying

I managed to get the other version of the switch and actually saved £20 as its on offer this week so might get a game to go with it - must admit I was little surprised at how expensive the games are even 2nd hand

The tree is kind of decorated Taz did it all by himself :rotfl: so it needs some work but he did a pretty good job

I was really surprised this week at how many people already have trees up too

forgot to say
m&s have 1/2 price on the more luxury style advent calendars was quite tempted by the salted caramel one @ £5. They also have a lot of the xmas biscuit tins at £5 including the revolving musical tree.

kerri_gt

murie wrote: »

Nic- its not you x. I think kids get tired at this time of year as its a long ish half term for them and if they are in the middle of important years there is extra pressure on them with work at school. Plus they are getting excited about the big day, and you are probably more pressured than usual because Christmas is looming x. All contributing factors. (or it could just be the dreaded 'teens kicking in x).

mandco wrote: »

Nic its so draining when the kids are playing up some days you really wonder why you bother this time of year esp they seem extra grumpy, annoying and whingy the combo of cold/bad weather dark evenings/mornings and the long school term def make it worse.

Nic agree with mandco and murie. Plus they are cooped up more with the cold / dark weather so prob irritating each other because they can't get away from each other so much and have their own space.

If all else fails, stick a good slug of Baileys in the hot choc (yours not theirs :rotfl:) and let it wash over you.

Well we finally have some progress on the 'to do' list - Xmas cards are now written and mostly posted bar one I need an address for and a couple that need to go via the post office with gifts. Hurrah! It's prob my least fav job as I don't like my writing but ploughed through them this year and got it done. Not sure that I won't need an extra pack of cards for next year - will keep an eye out for those come the sales.

I've also finished a mammoth craft project that was ongoing since last year. A few years ago I appliqued my DN a personalised santa sack thinking she'd be an only child. DB and his GF only went and had another...also with a long name :eek: So I started a second sack last Christmas for DN2, including sourcing a virtually identical sack which a supplier had to make especially for me as they'd stopped doing the one I'd prev used to make DN1. However, I was scuppered at the last hurdle last year as a ) the sack didn't arrive before Xmas b) I spent most of the week before xmas which I'd planned to do stuff ill on the sofa instead.

So, sack got rescheduled to this year's gift and I finally got my finger out and did the final parts that needed to be done, completing the finishing touches / checks tonight. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out but very glad they're not planning any more kids :rotfl:

They were the two big things that were on my list, now it's present wrapping for which I will try and do some this weekend.

Still no sign of one of the pairs of trainers I ordered for OH - Hermes tracking has had it 'on way to local courier' since 23rd Nov

kerri_gt

Picked up a pack of cards from Wh of Smith for next year via OH O2 app today.

Also picked up a jumper I'd ordered for OH from TU so that's done.

Chased the site I ordered OH trainers from as Hermes tracking hasn't updated since 23rd Nov saying 'on way to local courier' still...they've now determined it's lost so are issuing a refund. It was the pair I ordered that were half a size bigger for OH (the ones in his usual size have arrived thank goodness), so refund is being issued. It was the last pair the site had so I hope to goodness the ones I have him fit.

Also planted some bulbs for DM today in the empty pot I'd kidnapped from her front door (and a couple in a pot we had as there were some left over) so hopefully she'll have some nice daffodils in the spring.

Getting there slowly...

mandco

kerri_gt wrote: »

Chased the site I ordered OH trainers from as Hermes tracking hasn't updated since 23rd Nov saying 'on way to local courier' still...they've now determined it's lost so are issuing a refund. It was the pair I ordered that were half a size bigger for OH (the ones in his usual size have arrived thank goodness), so refund is being issued. It was the last pair the site had so I hope to goodness the ones I have him fit.

fingers crossed the ones that arrived fit I hate buying shoes online as you just never know.
hermes are awful they take forever to deliver at the best of times but seem to be way behind with deliveries at the moment. I too have parcel sat at on the on its way to courier stage that was meant to be here by weds :mad: fingers crossed jt turns up this week and they haven't lost that too

elves arrived today with advent calendars and some reward type charts for taz so hopefully that will encourage a little more effort in the trying to behave in a good manner area as he's been really difficult lately.
He also keep changing his mind as to what he would like for xmas nothing unusual as he can be very fickle but he's under the impression that as long as he decides by xmas eve its ok and he'll still get what he's asked for :eek:

Was going to put up some decs today but feel rubbish(think I'm coming down with whatever viral thing taz has had this week ) so settled for burning the candle from my advent calendar hot choc and a xmas movie instead

kerri_gt

Mandco you're right, Hermes are a nightmare at times, I saw a driver once reverse up the drive (very fast) open his window and throw a parcel out of it for our neighbours!
I don't necessarily blame the drivers, it's a cheap service and they must be given so many drop offs each day they don't have time for 'niceities'.

No decs up yet, not sure when that will happen tbh.

Hope you feel better today, there's a lot of bugs about ATM. Must dash...off to a Santa Dash this morning.

StokieBecks

One of my friends text me yesterday saying Primark had the disney advent calendars back in . I missed her text as was in the cinema and she was home before I saw the message but asked other half today if he would go and look for me. He's a good egg as bought me one home hurrah!

Desperately need to make family cards tomorrow. Hopefully won't take too long as the prep for them is mostly done. Then need to finish the wrapping. Hoping by Tuesday evening I will be totally finished and ready to go.

Tree is going up at the weekend

nic2075

Thanks for the kind words regarding my tiny terrors. They are good kids really. They don't give me any real issues. Just wearing me down with their fighting. They have been better behaved and nicer since the elves arrived

We put the tree up yesterday and spent most of the day decorating the house. It's like a grotto. A very tacky grotto. Just the way I like it.
We went to the Christmas tree lighting. It was a lovely afternoon. The shops were all open late and doing something different. It was nice browsing shops I don't go into often. The free Prosecco and mulled wine was nice too :beer:
We came home for hot chocolate and watched Home alone. I'm starting to feel very festive.