Keeping busy with Christmas preparations, work and lazy time.

We got our tree up and decorated last Sunday and it's beautiful. I love having a fresh smelling tree in the house. The rest of the decorations are very slowly coming out.

Once DD and DH come home this afternoon all of the gift shopping will be done. They are out picking up gifts for two kids off the giving tree. A 10 year old boy and a 12 year old girl.

A few gifts I am waiting to get from online shopping, but all are set to arrive by Friday.

I sent off five boxes of little goodies to family yesterday afternoon. It took about 30 minutes to weigh, tape and address the group of packages. That made me question *why* I didn't just buy gift baskets and have them shipped as I have done in past years. The answer was this year I could put goodies made here in our town, favorites of ours, and in larger quantities than a premade gift pack. Didn't save time, but I did spend a bit less and did have more gifts.

While at the post office DD found a sheet of stamps. I would have been happy to give them to their rightful owner, but no one came in to ask about them while we were there. I don't use many stamps so 20 might last all year. I already sent out our Christmas cards earlier this week, so can't use them for that - Darn.

Went grocery shopping this morning. Bought a bone in ham for $0.88/lb. Now I need to figure out how I want to cut it up. Some we'll eat right away and another chunk and the bone I want to freeze for later.

Lastly, hug and kiss everyone you love every chance you get.