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Good day all! I hope everyone is getting the amount of snow they desire this February!

Hello; I hope everyone's year is off to a great start! I see that I am not the only one that had to start back to work today after a lovely break. Working today would not have been my first choice of how to spend my day, but still, I have much to be thankful for! Last year I was glad to see 2018 end. After seeing what 2019 had in store for me I don't think I would have been so delighted to be starting a new year if I had known. So hopefully I learned my lesson well, and will cherish each day and each blessing, large or small, as it comes. All in all 2019 was really not a bad year if I look at the big picture.

Merry Christmas; I hope everyone is able to look beyond the to-do lists and find some time to relax and enjoy the holiday!

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving!!!

I wrap on the floor usually, and prefer boxes. Seems funner to unwrap a box I think. My youngest daughter is the only reliable wrapping helper left around; I've been know to tape boxes shut and have someone wrap their own present. I tend to not label gifts, I like to keep them guessing. I will use a code on the bottom of them, like the second letter of their name, or whatever.

I am wondering the same thing about the Converse socks; another fan living here!

I have never known anyone that had to work a holiday (retail or otherwise) that was happy about it. I would like to see things go back to Friday openings.

I am looking for a new tracfone, will be watching HSN and QVC. For anyone tired of Verizon but liking their coverage if you get the right Tracfone it will use Verizon towers. Most of their smartphones aren't the fanciest but they do the job.

If there is a local organization you like to support you could find out what their needs are and shop for them and donate. Or adopt a family or child from an Angel Tree or similar program. Or shop for yourselves!

The first or one of the first years my son went black Friday shopping I remembered my son had left his jacket in the car after he went to bed. I was nice and brought it in for him. However he woke up earlier than the rest of the family going and went outside to get his jacket that he thought was still in the car. Unfortunately while he was out the door locked behind him, and no jacket anyway. He was trying to be nice and did not want to wake anybody so he went to the back yard and curled up on a piece of deck furniture. There might have been a blanket out there. It worked out pretty well for him because he got to see an owl out there, and was happy about that. That made the cold and inconvenience more than worth it for him. He was around middle school age then. My husband usually does the actual in-store black Friday shopping, and I shop on-line. Last year however our usual Thanksgiving gathering was delayed because my mom got sick that week. My daughter wanted some Pyrex from Wal-Mart so off we went. Of course the parking lot was overflowing. I dropped off my daughter to get the Pyrex. I finally found a semi-decent parking spot. My son was home sick with the respiratory influenza and had mentioned wanting to eat crackers. We were low on them, so after I parked I figured I could slip into Wal-Mart and quickly grab some from the grocery section which should be a ghost town. Then hand them off to my daughter to pay for with the Pyrex. Yep, there were masses of people of course, and the way the store had aisles blocked off made it difficult to even get to the grocery section. I probably should have just gone under the tape blocking aisles. I finally got the box of crackers and started making my way to the front. Of course by this time my daughter had already paid for the Pyrex. I ditched the crackers. I got my crackers later at Target; even there I had to go all the way past the blocked off area to get into the food area and I think the lady standing guard thought I was crazy when I told her I wanted a box of crackers. The food area was right before the registers and they were telling people to have all their purchases before getting in line.

Thanks Peppysfireball. Good to know.

Thanks. When I ordered I got a delivery date some time in January. Interestingly enough within a day or two of ordering I got an email saying the item had shipped.

I am currently using my free trial for Amazon Prime. I just ordered something that may ship after Christmas, and possibly after the free trial expires. What happens with the shipping cost then? I'd prefer the two day ship, but I signed up for standard shipping not knowing if they would charge me for the two day ship if I am no longer on Prime. Thanks!

Today it was myself with one of my daughters. My son probably would have gone, but he ended up sick. Usually hubby goes by himself, with occasionally a teen kid. I don't do the early morning stuff. I will do the online stuff.

Our church distributes food boxes to families in the community who would benefit from the fixings for a Christmas meal. We will provide for two boxes this year. We have done Angel Tree gifts and other things in the past; not sure about this year. Will see what needs and opportunities make themselves known to me.

One year I put mint extract in my son's stocking because he loves mint and likes to cook. More expensive dark chocolate that I would not usually buy for my son. Tea for my kids that like tea. Just the kids get stockings; I would have to fill my own if I had one.

New headphones for older kids, if they are into that. We got my 11yo a MP3 player for her birthday. I like the camera idea. And whatever hoodies or shoes they would be into. One year I got a thinkgeek t-shirt or 2 for my teen son.

Our neighbor usually has a garage sale the day before Mother's Day, and she sells a lot of plants and home canned items. A couple of times my kids have gotten me a jar of her dill pickles, so yummy. I think pickles make a great gift! One year my then 3 or 4 yo daughter wanted a magic wand that really worked. Me too honey. Me too.

Nations that Long in Darkness Walked

Nigh Bethlehem

When my oldest moved out I quit sending family pics out at Christmas for a few years. This past year I did send out pictures including the kiddos still at home. With us it is generally a picture that I include with the Christmas card. I like the collage idea for a card.

I think wrapping now would be fine minus bows/ribbons; like PogiPorkchop said. If I started wrapping now I would put a sticky note saying what the item inside was (in addition to the to/from tag) because my memory is just that bad. I could probably remember most of it, but I would forget something and it would drive me nuts.

If you are on Facebook there are probably local buy/sell groups where you could find baby items for sale for good prices.

Wearing my jammies My clicker finger ready Online sale starts now! Give list to hubby He shops, I sleep, a great plan I hope he has fun

I agree with taking the littles to the miniature golf place or wherever; make a fun day out for them! As the parent of a daughter in college, I think the food is a great idea; I know my daughter would sure think so!