January Rudolph Day

I missed it! Yep, it went by without so much as a hello! I vow to do better next month! I've already got some ideas swirling in my head about a Christmas in July thing for the kids...like an Ornament Hunt or something like that. I'll think about it more during the February Rudolph day. I'll let you know what I decide!

Is it really over?

Where did the time go? 2008 just flew by! Of course a move to a new place in the middle of the year will do that, I suppose!

For the beginning of the year, I will use this blog to talk about my Rudy Day activities and any preparations I make in anticipation of the Christmas Holidays of 2009.

Stressed for the Holidays!

Ugh! I have tried to be organized before the holidays got here and was doing really well and then...well, I'm not real sure what happened! Well, ok, I do know what happened and I take full responsibility for taking on too much stuff!

And now...I'm really stressed out! Gifts are bought but not wrapped, I need to send off the cards for the MHH group, I need to take pics of the girls and order them so I can mail those off, I'm struggling to find places to put my holiday decorations so my house looks like a tornado came through. I need to bake cookies and some sweet breads too!

I am just not as organized as I wanted to be. A lot of it has to do with the move and I realize that but it doesn't help much! lol Next year should be better because I'll have all of my decorations packed away in a way that will make it easier to put them out. Until then, I'll have to muddle through! Keep your fingers crossed that I can get everything figured out before the parade of homes...otherwise, well...what you see might scare you! lol

Elf Invasion!

Forget the British invasion, we're fixing to have ourselves an Elf Invasion! I don't know if your family has little Elves that come and visit over Christmas but we do. We were adopted last year (or voluntold, if you like) by a quintet of Elves. Cousins, as I understand it. They showed up the day after Thanksgiving and I'm thinking that's probably when they'll make their appearance this year too.

I had figured out everything that they would be doing while here this year but then I found out my Dad was coming and well...we've got to include him in the fun! So, now I have to go back to the drawing board and see what I can come up with! I'll probably still do most of what I planned, just tweak it a little to include Dad somehow.

I know some of you out there are also hosting some Elves so I thought I'd post the things that our Elves did last year and what the plan was this year...just to give some ideas.

Last year:

They showed up in a sleigh with passports, reindeer shot records, an advent calendar, their own cups and plates, reindeer bowl and food, Santa's magic key...since we didn't have a fireplace.

Reindeer were found on some Pillsbury cookie dough that looked a lot like them.
Blond boy Elf ran away to a friend's house.
Small Christmas tree appeared in daughter's room.
Elves were caught playing poker with miniature cards and poker chips.
Elves were caught watching a "new" Christmas DVD and eating popcorn and leftover Halloween candy.
Advent Calendar pieces for the 6th went missing and wound up in one of the Elve's bags.
Snow Angels found all over the kitchen counter.
Elves removed all of the Christmas tree ornaments.
Elves built a house out of Legos.
Elves made a snow family out of styrofoam balls and left instructions for 1 more.
Elves offered up the Elves sticker story book for DD.
Elves hung DD's underwear all over the Christmas tree.
Snowball fight in the living room.
Reindeer were hanging from ceiling fan…learning how to fly.

They also left some gifts of storybooks and such.

I'll post this year's stuff a little later. I'll try to update my pictures too.

Christmas Countdown Week 3

At least I think we're still in week 3. I've been so busy lately that I can hardly remember my own name these days! lol

So...here's my to-do for this week...better late than never!

()Write and address one-fifth of the Christmas card list this week. I need to start this...especially since I got the list for the MHH card exchange.
(X)Finish all catalog and online shopping. Print our catalog / Internet tracker page to keep track of catalog purchases. I ordered one last thing from Amazon yesterday so now I just have to wait for it to get here.
()Finish making all gift lists. I'm going to re-do the list again and consolidate my list.
()Plan Thanksgiving Dinner using the holiday menu planner. Order turkey. Check serving pieces, and write the contents on a Post-it note. Make it easy for other to help! Did that this weekend. Purchased everything needed except for the fruits and vegetables...I'll get those the weekend before Thanksgiving.
()Keep tight tabs on the holiday budget. Add gift purchases and other expenditures as you make them. I'm pretty sure our budget is shot this year. :o)

It's in the Air...

or maybe it's just me! Every store that I go into these days, I find myself needing to make my way over to their Christmas area. Yesterday, I went to Wal-mart and bought some holiday window clings and some goody containers...really cute and only a dollar a piece! At Hobby Lobby, I got some of those foam crafts for Christmas...gingerbread men, snowmen and reindeer. They were 40% off and will keep the little ones entertained, I'm sure.

I'm itching to get into my Christmas boxes to see what I've got and what I need. First and foremost on my agenda is a wreath! I do not have a Christmas one and I would really like to get one so I will keep my eyes open to one that I really like. It's gotta have pinecones...other than that, I don't know. What can I say, I'm from the Pine Tree State so it's a must!

Christmas Countdown Week 2

I'm a little behind on this posting, sorry. It was a hectic weekend and time got away from me. See last week's posting for that week's updated list. Only one thing remains on there so that will carry over to this week.

To-Do List...

( X )Figure out how our Christmas pictures will look. The kids will be wrapped up in lights.
( X )Take any remaining Halloween decorations down and put bins away. That's finally done!
( X )Make a list of remaining gifts to buy and any items needed for Elf visit. Yikes...and here I thought I had everything bought and then I went and made of things left to do! Ahhhh!!! lol

Well, that's about all I need to do this week. Which is good, I've got other things I need to concentrate on this week.