Making Christmas extra special.... because of Covid!

[empress of self-improvement]

I picked up some wax melts at Squallmart. Now my house smells like my mother's. I don't know whether to cry or not.
I have led lights in my front window but those are up year round so I don't consider them decorating for Christmas.

I want a bookstore for Christmas. I would gladly quit my job, sell my house and move in.

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2020 16:38:17 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Dec 5, 2020 11:18:06 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

I'm the Grinch this year. Nobody to buy for, cat does NOT need anymore crap. The triplet's parents keep forgetting to tell me what they want for toys so currently they're only getting a couple books each. My sister said not to buy anything for them this year and since i'm still waiting for DH's pension to come through, that works for me. Bah humbug

When I asked DN1's wife what I should send baby, she gave me a list of books and names of baby authors.  He is at the age where he likes books he can hit and books make music and sounds.  Thankfully, she gave me the list.  They have already given the books to him because they said an 8 month old has no idea of what Christmas is and have told me which book he likes the best.

DN3's fiance sent a list of mostly books so that is what I gave her son.  He's 4, so totally different kinds of books.

I have bought myself some things.

I didn't decorate at all for Christmas last year with my dad being so sick.  This year I decorated in mid November and will leave them up for however long I enjoy them.  I've bought about $50 worth of small trees because they make me happy.

No outside lights to I look like bah humbug from the street.

For his birthday, consider a series available on Amazon called BabyLit.  These are board books.  Boy type books include Frankenstein, Huckleberry Finn, and The Jungle Book.  These are my go-to baby gifts.  They are loosely based on the stories but only loosely.  The Pride and Prejudice one counted suitors.  Lol.  Everyone has said that these are the coolest baby books ever, but, of course, I hang out mostly with teachers.  

[Tennesseer]

Dec 5, 2020 16:38:17 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Dec 5, 2020 11:18:06 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

I'm the Grinch this year. Nobody to buy for, cat does NOT need anymore crap. The triplet's parents keep forgetting to tell me what they want for toys so currently they're only getting a couple books each. My sister said not to buy anything for them this year and since i'm still waiting for DH's pension to come through, that works for me. Bah humbug

When I asked DN1's wife what I should send baby, she gave me a list of books and names of baby authors.  He is at the age where he likes books he can hit and books make music and sounds.  Thankfully, she gave me the list.  They have already given the books to him because they said an 8 month old has no idea of what Christmas is and have told me which book he likes the best.

DN3's fiance sent a list of mostly books so that is what I gave her son.  He's 4, so totally different kinds of books.

I have bought myself some things.

I didn't decorate at all for Christmas last year with my dad being so sick.  This year I decorated in mid November and will leave them up for however long I enjoy them.  I've bought about $50 worth of small trees because they make me happy.

No outside lights to I look like bah humbug from the street.

If one of your small trees has lights on them, why not move it in front of a window? Open the curtains to show off the tree to outsiders. You won't look like a "bah humbug" from the street.

[TheOtherMe]

Dec 5, 2020 17:27:32 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Dec 5, 2020 16:38:17 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

No outside lights to I look like bah humbug from the street.

If one of your small trees has lights on them, why not move it in front of a window? Open the curtains to show off the tree to outsiders. You won't look like a "bah humbug" from the street.

My living room faces the back of the house.  They all do in this neighborhood.  

The trees do have lights and I enjoy them.

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2020 11:18:06 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

I'm the Grinch this year. Nobody to buy for, cat does NOT need anymore crap. The triplet's parents keep forgetting to tell me what they want for toys so currently they're only getting a couple books each. My sister said not to buy anything for them this year and since i'm still waiting for DH's pension to come through, that works for me. Bah humbug

I'll join you in your Grinchiness.

I have few Christmas decorations because I was always visiting family.  I refuse to buy more- they're all made in China.  The ultimate irony.  Why enrich China?

I typically drive to SC to be with Dad and siblings but Dad has been in LTC since March, visible only behind glass.  Very hard to have a conversation even with cell phones.  And of course there are the hotel overnights on the road trip (one each way) and the family gatherings (probably limited to 10 and I trust them).

Or.... I could visit DS, DDIL and my grandchildren, a 3-hour drive away.  DS works at home, DDIL is a SAHM and they home-school the kids.  They will have a gathering, limited to 10 people and everyone is aware of the need for precautions because DDIL's dad is still on meds following surgery for colon cancer.

But, of course, if I choose either of the above two options I will be excoriated for my flagrant disregard for the safety of my fellow humans- mostly by people who do not live alone. 
  
Bah, humbug squared.

[Tennesseer]

Dec 5, 2020 18:54:08 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Dec 5, 2020 17:27:32 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

If one of your small trees has lights on them, why not move it in front of a window? Open the curtains to show off the tree to outsiders. You won't look like a "bah humbug" from the street.

My living room faces the back of the house.  They all do in this neighborhood.  

The trees do have lights and I enjoy them.

Tree in a bedroom window in the front?

I should be the last one to offer Christman decoration advice. I do squat when it comes to holiday decorations.

[TheOtherMe]

Not going to happen.  The bedrooms are store rooms.  They are the only windows that face the front.

My front door doesn't have a window pane either.  So a wreath on the door is it.

[dondub]

With Dubette #2 unable to attend, as she can’t test and quarantine like Thanksgiving, we are downplaying it this year. Much smaller tree, never have outdoor lights, think Dubette#1 can come up from Portland.

[Deleted]

I've put up about 2/3 of the inside decorations, and will put out a few more outdoor ones tomorrow. DH put batteries in all our Christmas village stuff and tomorrow we'll add the faux snow and battery-powered twinkle lights under the snow.  Then it's back to the storage locker on Monday for the indoor tree and the rest of the outdoor stuff like garlands, wreaths, giant stockings, etc.  Our tree is a pre-lit birch tree which requires no decorations, just a little faux snow wrap around the base. This afternoon I switched our hand soaps, candles and scent plugs to Christmas fragrances because my package from Bath & Body Works arrived. 

[TheHaitian]

Ok I think I am done lol! I went to target to pick up one of her magna tiles I ordered online and ended up spending $75 on just books for her.

She likes a Pete the Cat book series, I bought her 4 of those + Polar Express + how the Grinch stole Christmas. Also ordered Pick a Pine tree online to be delivered (another book).

I was also tempted to buy 2 more lego’s (toy story and frozen) but held strong, she has enough stuff. The books I can at least say I am cultivating her love of reading.

I got one of my wife’s gift, just need to get 1 more gift for her and then MIL gift. Maybe a gift for my brother...a winter jacket.

[Lizard Queen]

I used to have icicle lights that were made for inside windows, small sections with suction cups. Also batery powered candles that go inside windows. Just an idea from my apartment days. I'm a grinch, too, so I'm not going to give anyone a hard time about decorating.

I used to find Christmas ornaments made in Poland, not too long ago. I used to be tempted to get them even though I need no more ornaments. I could put up two trees--even considered it this year until I needed to make a remote school area for my kids. We are simply out of room now.

[mamasita99]

I have moved so much in the last six years and downsized decorations each time to fit in the places. This year I only have the stockings hung, my tree with lights, a garland of lights for my living room console and a tiny wooden tree from Germany that I use as a centerpiece for my dining table.

I’m going to take some of the kid Christmas decorations from school and turn them into laminated placemats. It’ll be a fun and practical way to preserve the memories!

The lights are the biggest thing for me. We have huge windows and it’s nice to look up from the street and enjoy the beauty of lights- it spans all religions.

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2020 20:01:01 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Ok I think I am done lol! I went to target to pick up one of her magna tiles I ordered online and ended up spending $75 on just books for her.

<snip>Maybe a gift for my brother...a winter jacket.

Wow- I just looked up MagnaTiles.  I can see why she'd like them but they're not cheap!

It's easy to go overboard on books- there are always so many good ones for kids.  My granddaughters already have piles of them. including many from DDIL's childhood that her parents saved, so I bring up library books and let them use my Nook reader to download more.

And yes, if your brother just got here this year from Haiti I'd think he could use a winter jacket. I'm not thrilled with winter weather and I can't imagine the shock of moving from a warm climate to a place that gets real snow.

[TheOtherMe]

@bamafan1954  I will try to remember those books until March.  If they are on Amazon Canada those are most likely what he will get.  I am not shipping anything from the US to Canada.

[andi9899]

Does anyone else find it hard to believe that Carlie is turning 4 already? I feel like she was just born yesterday.

[Deleted]

Dec 6, 2020 9:16:44 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

@bamafan1954   I will try to remember those books until March.  If they are on Amazon Canada those are most likely what he will get.  I am not shipping anything from the US to Canada.

I just checked, and they are!  Looking at them makes me wish I knew a baby to get one for!  

[trippypea]

I grew up in a house where we didn't even shop for a Christmas tree until the week before Christmas, and typically in MY house, we put the decorations up one or two weekends after Thanksgiving. This year, since we weren't having any company for Thanksgiving, the kids badgered me into putting up the decorations the weekend BEFORE Thanksgiving. And the tree went up the weekend after.

As far as spending goes, DH still doesn't have a job (since January) so there isn't a lot of extra to spend. Normally we go overboard, but this year will mainly be things the kids are going to need for college (both living at home this year, but next year both dorming), like bedding and coffee makers.

[Tennesseer]

Dec 6, 2020 8:10:01 GMT -5 mamasita99 said:

I have moved so much in the last six years and downsized decorations each time to fit in the places. This year I only have the stockings hung, my tree with lights, a garland of lights for my living room console and a tiny wooden tree from Germany that I use as a centerpiece for my dining table.

I’m going to take some of the kid Christmas decorations from school and turn them into laminated placemats. It’ll be a fun and practical way to preserve the memories!

The lights are the biggest thing for me. We have huge windows and it’s nice to look up from the street and enjoy the beauty of lights- it spans all religions.

Growing up we had a nativity scene painted on a probably 6' by 5' particle board in our living room's picture window. It was lite up by an outdoor spotlight. It faced the street and a city park.

My mother painted it. Don't know if she painted it without any help or maybe a paint by numbers job. But I do remember it blocking out a lot of daylight and good views of falling snow.

[TheOtherMe]

Dec 6, 2020 10:55:25 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

Dec 6, 2020 9:16:44 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

@bamafan1954   I will try to remember those books until March.  If they are on Amazon Canada those are most likely what he will get.  I am not shipping anything from the US to Canada.

I just checked, and they are!  Looking at them makes me wish I knew a baby to get one for!  

Yes!

Since both parents are college professors, I have a feeling he will get a lot of books over his lifetime.  

They started reading Good Night Moon to him as soon as they were home from the hospital.  

[toomuchreality]

Wow.

[raeoflyte]

I think we kept things pretty simple this year. Definitely did with extended family. For the kids they each have 5 gifts including santa. No clothes or needed items really because after 8 months at home I don't think theres anything left that we actually need? I am considering adding on something I keep seeing on facebook for my folks and in-laws. A service that emails a question each week to them about their life/childhood and at the end of the year you can order a book of the responses. Need to ask first if they'd appreciate it since ultimately the goal is a gift for us to have a copy of it.

I bought too many books for my nephews, but our own books were mostly 2nd hand and I know which books were read for years by my kids.

We have one of the projector lights out side the house. Total cop out, but its all thats going to happen.

[Lizard Queen]

Yeah, I love purses, but I even want one because I never go anywhere to even use it. Same with clothes for myself, but my oldest is always in need of the next size up.

[TheOtherMe]

Dec 6, 2020 13:21:09 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

 I am considering adding on something I keep seeing on facebook for my folks and in-laws. A service that emails a question each week to them about their life/childhood and at the end of the year you can order a book of the responses. Need to ask first if they'd appreciate it since ultimately the goal is a gift for us to have a copy of it.

I did for myself a few years ago.  The book turned out very nice.  

[TheHaitian]

Dec 6, 2020 9:31:57 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Does anyone else find it hard to believe that Carlie is turning 4 already? I feel like she was just born yesterday.

We cannot believe it either and it just flew by.

Corny and you don’t realize it till you have lived or but folks hug your kids, spend time with them, cuddle them... because before you know it they will be too grown.

[andi9899]

Dec 6, 2020 16:31:41 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Dec 6, 2020 9:31:57 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Does anyone else find it hard to believe that Carlie is turning 4 already? I feel like she was just born yesterday.

We cannot believe it either and it just flew by.

Corny and you don’t realize it till you have lived or but folks hug your kids, spend time with them, cuddle them... because before you know it they will be too grown.

I have a 22 yo sleeping on my couch right now. She came over to go through Christmas stuff and decided to let me watch her dogs while she sleeps. Turd.

[steph08]

Dec 6, 2020 13:21:09 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

I think we kept things pretty simple this year. Definitely did with extended family. For the kids they each have 5 gifts including santa. No clothes or needed items really because after 8 months at home I don't think theres anything left that we actually need? I am considering adding on something I keep seeing on facebook for my folks and in-laws. A service that emails a question each week to them about their life/childhood and at the end of the year you can order a book of the responses. Need to ask first if they'd appreciate it since ultimately the goal is a gift for us to have a copy of it.

I bought too many books for my nephews, but our own books were mostly 2nd hand and I know which books were read for years by my kids.

We have one of the projector lights out side the house. Total cop out, but its all thats going to happen.

Could you or TOM send me a link to that? That might be great to get for my mom.

[raeoflyte]

Dec 6, 2020 17:17:18 GMT -5 steph08 said:

Dec 6, 2020 13:21:09 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

I think we kept things pretty simple this year. Definitely did with extended family. For the kids they each have 5 gifts including santa. No clothes or needed items really because after 8 months at home I don't think theres anything left that we actually need? I am considering adding on something I keep seeing on facebook for my folks and in-laws. A service that emails a question each week to them about their life/childhood and at the end of the year you can order a book of the responses. Need to ask first if they'd appreciate it since ultimately the goal is a gift for us to have a copy of it.

I bought too many books for my nephews, but our own books were mostly 2nd hand and I know which books were read for years by my kids.

We have one of the projector lights out side the house. Total cop out, but its all thats going to happen.

Could you or TOM send me a link to that? That might be great to get for my mom.

This is the one I'm looking at: welcome.storyworth.com/

[ohmomto2boys]

We did outside lights early, as well as inside decorating around the beginning of November.  Turned on outside lights the week before Thanksgiving.  There are definitely more neighbors putting up outside lights.

Budget for the kids really hasn't changed.  We usually spend about $500-$600 each.  

Budget for the nieces and nephews has not changed either.

I need to stop my DH from spending.  He has bought himself so much stuff (clothes) and he said he wants to spend more.  

 

[Deleted]

Dec 7, 2020 8:00:31 GMT -5 ohmomto2boys said:

I need to stop my DH from spending.  He has bought himself so much stuff (clothes) and he said he wants to spend more.  

 

I mentioned in a thread on buying from FaceBook ads that I spent an unusual amount on Stuff the past few months- a new handbag, some spice mixes, a steam cleaner, a gadget that plugs into my car and diagnoses issues via a smartphone app (and then bought 2 more for DS and DDIL), an expensive bottle of scotch.. nothing that would wreck the budget but unusual for me.  I think I'm getting the Winter Blahs worse than usual, and it's not even officially winter yet.

I have to admit I DO love looking at other people's Christmas lights this time of year even though I never put any up myself.

[oped]

I’ve done weird ‘impulse buying’ all year, in reference to how my spending changes under covid... did we do a thread on general spending shifts like that? Little extras during Covid? Not just Christmas...?