countryshopper1

I usually have my niece & nephews go thru the ads one Sunday sometime in November and write their name next to items that they would like for Christmas, to give myself and my Mom some ideas for them. About 3 years ago when my niece was 7, she was looking thru the K-mart or Target ad and seen the page with cereal (Raisin Bran) on sale that week. She asked if it was OK to want some, we said sure if that's what she wanted. I got her the Raisin Bran that year and she was so happy to have her own box that she didn't have to share with her brothers.

QVC has puzzle boxes that you put the gift card in and they have to solve the puzzle to get the gift card out. Come in a set of 2. I am giving them to my niece and nephew this year.

Cook the potatos, but have one of your guests mash them just before dinner is served. I'm sure one of them makes the best mashed potatos in the family. :) My Mom cooks dinner, but I mash the potatos while she is making the gravy and getting things out of the oven. Others move the dishes into the dining room.

I like so many too hard to choose a favorite. I start listening to my cd's Black Friday and listen all the way to New Year's. Rusty Chevrolet and LeRoy the Redneck Reindeer are two good comic ones, but the traditional would have to be White Christmas and I'll be home for Christmas.

Usually right after New Year's. My birthday is New Year's Eve and I like to have the decorations up. I would keep them up alot longer, but everyone else wants the house back to normal ( I think the house looks bare after all the decorations come down, probably because I have so much stuff and keep adding to every year.) I love Christmas!!!