Gporter34

My oldest three have known for a while now, but I thought I had a feww good years left with the two youngest. They are 8 and 10 this year and last year I overheard them talking and one asked the other, "What do you think Momma will get us from Santa this year?"LOL So, I know they know, but they don't know I know they know! So Santa will come as long as he pleases!LOL

I'm the "Clark Griswald" of our family. I am not complaining I wear that title with honor!LOL I use a few hundred lights on the house and in the yard, I have three large inflatables, 48 large candy canes, 25 small candy canes, three lighted candy canes that go on the side of the house, two wreaths for the doors, a wreath in each of the 8 windows in the front of the house, 6 small lighted trees along the driveway, two small trees lit and decorated on either side of the "Merry Christmas" sign, and I am desperately seeking one of the older Santa and reindeer sets with all of the reindeer to go on the roof. I think that's everything but I haven't taken inventory since last Christmas and I may have gotten a couple of things after Christmas and forgotten about them!LOL I also use two large trees in the living room and small ones throughout the house. I am looking for a tree to go beside the fireplace in the bedroom but haven't found the right one yet!

I love everyone of our traditions so I can't pick a favorite. We have quite a long list that starts pretty soon!LOL The tree and the outside decorations will go up the first of November, then we will go to the Christmas parade, Winter Wonderland, looking at Christmas lights, watch Christmas movies and lissten to music, band concerts, living nativity, then we have DD(12)'s birthday party Christmas Eve morning, snack on finger foods, dips, and such. Then we open gifts from each other and my parents. After my parents leave, we will go and exchange gifts with hubby's Mom. Then Santa will come for the kids and the dogs. When everyone wakes up, they will tear my living room apart and play while I cook breakfast, then dinner with my parents. Whew, I am tired just thinking about all of that!LOL And that's not even including Thanksgiving and BF!

I love baking for the holidays. My Grandmother baked for almost a week before a holiday, I don't bake that much, but quite a lot I guess. The kids' teachers really like getting a basket of goodies.

We have a SuperCenter and it only closes at 6pm on Christmas Eve and reopens at 6am the 26th. We can go in at any time on Thanksgiving, or that night. I like it for many reasons, one being that I don't like standing outside in the cold!LOL

Wish we had a Costco!LOL We have Sam's about an hour away, but lately I am not thrilled by going there.

We bought our kids one three years ago on BF at WalMart. We love it. Both of us and the kids have used it so much. It's fun to go out every once in awhile and pretend to be a kid again!LOL We didn't get the net and our kids are 18, 14, 12, 10, and 8 now. No one has been hurt as of yet except for the occasional scrape from climbing on/off. The two youngest boys 10 and 8, flip on it all of the time, and our daughter 14, has used it many times to practice her jumps for cheerleading as well as just jumping for fun. We don't allow other kids to jump simply because we would be liable, and besides, with our five, other kids would never get a turn!LOL

In the BF 2005 archives there is a great thread on holiday centerpieces, I am just too lazy to look for it.LOL I use different ones every year and I think I am going to use a live Evergreen centerpiece this year for the smell since I use artificial trees.

I am very excited about giving our oldest son a new laptop. He will be going away to college next year and we thought he needed one, so I am hoping to get a good deal on one BF, but if not I will just suffer and buy one anyway.LOL

I am going to try the breakfast casserole this year. I found the recipe for it last year and figured I'd give it a try.

I'm not sure what toys are going to be hot this year because my kids are sort of out of the "toy thing" but my MOTHER obviously isn't!LOL She wants me to find her one of those damned Elmo TMX things! I thought I was finished with Elmo when my youngest child outgrew him!LMAO

I always get the Christmas stamps. I just love getting Christmas cards with little Christmas sstamps on them.

I am making pj's for everyone this year. I have all but two sets made and I am going to try and get to them soon. I love the idea of matching pj's for everyone!

The gift sets always look much better to me AFTER Christmas when they get marked down. But if there is one that I really want I will go ahead and buy it before it's gone.LOL I usually don't get them as gifts because I like giving more personalized gifts, but I like getting them myself!LOL

Well, we buy for 16 family members and then kids' friends, teachers, coworkers, and neighbors. Some of those are people that I will probably just make goodie baskets for. Others are ones who will get baskets made from the great deals at Bath & Body Works that I have gotten through out the year.

I like to get them for the kids because they like the popcorn and they use the containers to keep up with things like hair accessories and small purses, I think the boys use their's for small toys.

Yes, that's him!LOL He is gorgeous, but I just can't justify it.

Hubby, the 5 kids, and the 5 dogs, and myself

I do all of my Christmas shopping on BF so that I can get it all over with in the same day. I wrap everything as soon as I get home and put it under the tree.

It looks great! I just love it when there is something Christmasy to look at in every room. Even if it's something small, I try to put at least one thing in every room. I love the snowmen. I saw a new Santa at our WalMart the other day and hope I have the restraint to not buy it.LOL

I am pretty sure that they will as long as it is the exact same item.

Creamy Nutmeg and Pumpkin Spice are my favorites. I loved the Maple scented oil and spray from Bath & Body Works from their "Perfect Autumn" collection, but they don't have that one anymore.

I have five kids and I don't spend anywhere near that much.LOL I jusst pay close attention to sales ads and shop my hiny off on BF!LOL

I listen to Christmas music all year!

I use alot of lights, candy canes, and decorations. The kids get irritated because all of the outside decorations go up Nov. 1st here. As do all of the trees, wreaths, and garland. I use three of the huge inflatables (Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and Mickey Mouse.