Last Weekend Before . . .

This was the last weekend before our family starts our Christmas celebrations. Next Saturday, my husband's family will get together for lunch and a gift exchange. The funny thing about that is that early on, when my husband and I, all four of my husband's brothers, and his sister were in our 20s, we decided we couldn't really afford to exchange gifts. Some of us, though, didn't really feel right about not commemorating the holiday in some way, so we started giving baked goods and homemade candies to one another. Once I started quilting, I also started making small quilty gifts on occasion. Others in the family started giving one another small gifts as well. Before long, we were all exchanging gift baskets. Perhaps, then, you can see how this whole thing snowballed into the insanity of Christmas preparations I've been engaged in. In our minds, I think, if we give each other homemade goodies or "little" things, it's not the same as actually exchanging gifts.

As I type this, my husband is laying in bed with a pad and a pencil, interrupting my writing, asking questions about what we have for the different family members on his list. He's off work this week and will work on getting a few things ready as well. A few years back, we discovered "stuff" in a jar. I'm sure you know what I mean. Entire books have been written, giving recipes for dry soup mixes in a jar, cookie mixes in a jar, drink mixes in a jar, etc. He's the jar guy. So this week he'll come up with some kind of "stuff" in a jar to give out with the rest of our non-gifts on Saturday.

Before that, though, I'll have to finish the gifts I'm making for my two work "kids"--my two bosses. I have the girl boss's gift finished and am working on the boy boss's gift now. I think I'll have that done in the next day or so.

Today I pinned two quilts out on the patio. It was damp and chilly out there, but I got them both done. My sweet husband made a Starbucks run and brought me a hot, reviving peppermint mocha to help me defrost. Then it was into a nice, hot bath for a long soak. A few minutes of heaven stolen in the middle of a busy weekend! Ahhhhhhh!

One of the quilts I pinned today is for my husband's aunt--the one my husband set up a Christmas tree for last weekend. I hope I can finish it by Saturday, but if not, I don't think she'd mind if my husband came over to visit her for a bit on Sunday or Monday to deliver her present. Slowly but surely, I'm making my way through the list of family members to gift with a quilt; this year, it's her turn.

I still have to make something for my son's girlfriend--I have that all planned--and do a little Christmas shopping now that I've gotten lists from both my kids. I also thought of something to get my husband--a KitchenAide mixer. He's been wanting one for a long time now, but they're kind of pricey. Still, I figure he's worth it, if only for his kindness in making Starbucks runs when I'm freezing to death! We had one a long time ago, but it broke. Then we "inherited" my mother-in-law's old one when she got a new one, and although it works in a pinch, I think this particular mixer was "born" in the 1960s, so there's no telling how much longer it will last.

Our Christmas day will be pretty low key, I think. The Wild Child won't be able to make it home, but my son and his girlfriend will spend the afternoon with us. I had been thinking about a big, fancy-schmancy prime rib meal, but my husband suggested we just have munchie, finger foods, and that sounds just fine to me. I may add a big pot of soup to that menu. We'll sit around and play board games or cards and snack on food and relax--something I think I've forgotten how to do!

Sorry I don't have any photos to share with you tonight, but everything is either a secret or isn't quite ready for its photo shoot. Hopefully in the next few days I'll be able to share a few things with you. I hope your Christmas preparations are progressing and you're experiencing the joys of the season!