I am stealing this idea from Elizabeth, Emily, and A'Dell. That's a lot of stealing. But, I like the idea of organizing my to-dos since Christmas is a blink-of-the-eye away. It'll also be easier to refer to this list instead of the usual list I create on paper and toss into (then lose in) my purse.
1. Decorate! We need to get lights on the house (ahem, Mike, ahem), a tree from Home Depot (where we've found the best tree deals to be), and the decorations down from the loft.
2. Create advent calendar and finalize activities. Last year we made an activity advent calendar (activities here), and I loved it, even though Kyle wasn't quite two and a little oblivious to the entire holiday season. This year, I hope he's excited about a few things. To make it easier on us, we'll just do the 12 days before Christmas. (Didn't get to this. Is a January Activites Calendar a ridiculous idea?)
3. Christmas cards. Get them, address them, stamp them, send them.
4. Make card-holding wreath. I am putting 11/27 down on my calendar as the day I create this wreath, paint some pine cones, and decorate the house. (Fail!)
5. Gifts for Kyle's teachers. We usually go with the old Starbucks gift card/homemade cookies combo. I'm not sure if I'm feeling any more creative this year. (We got them mugs filled with candy.)
6. Plan our Book Club holiday party menu, decorations, and music. I think I'll ask Elizabeth to be my simple design consultant and go really simple with the menu too: drinks, appetizers, and bite-size desserts.
7. Deep clean the entire house. (Of course it's already dirty again.)
8. Round up a group for the Christmas on Main Street events in a nearby city. (Fail!)
9. Find a volunteer opportunity for the family. (Fail!)
10. New Christmas pjs for Kyle. I love this tradition. Year one and year two, for oohing and ahhing.
11. Gifts. Oh man, what to buy everyone? I guess I make a list, pick out thoughtful-yet-reasonably-priced things and get to getting. We never buy much for Kyle, but I'm thinking this year we might get the cart, food, and cash register that's been a big hit for him at Claire's house.
12. Gifts for my Lush writers. (Purchased! Just need to send them.)
13. One nice, holiday-related date night. Mike and I have been insanely busy this year, feels like more than any other year, and I want one night to pause time with him. (I'm counting my company holiday party as our fancy night out!)
14. Plan Christmas Eve menu and pick out Christmas morning cinnamon roll recipe. We started a tradition a couple years back to do breakfast-for-dinner on Christmas Eve (or sometime around the holidays) and then cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning.
15. Pick out a restaurant for my company holiday dinner. (Victor Tango's, baby!)
16. Tea at the Ashton in Fort Worth. Very blatantly stole this (fantastic!) idea from A'Dell.
17. Look at lights on Christmas Eve. One of my favorites.
18. Take Kyle to visit Santa. Santa is usually at Mike's work, and I'd much rather go there then to a mall or some other soulless place, so that's probably what we'll do. (He would have none of this, and that's fine. He got a candy cane and liked talking about Santa, so that's a win in my book.)
19. Hot chocolate, holiday movie, snuggle. I'm putting this family fun night on the calendar for 12/23. WE WILL HAVE FUN BOYS.
20. Convince Mike to buy me a puppy for Christmas. I'm telling you right now, this one won't happen, but I'm going to work on my Wearing Him Down skills. I'll keep you posted. (NO. PROGRESS.)
