2021 Christmas Not Do List

I did not go over board with anything really. One gift each kid then I gave them a check for the rest of what I would have spent. Stocking were mostly stuffed with food, chocolate etc.

I did not really cook. Not from scratch anyway. I warmed some stuff up that’s all.

-only half as much decorating
-only half as much baking
-no make up or dressing up on Christmas day. It feels so good to just wear lounge pants and a sweater

I didn't do much cooking. Bread pudding for breakfast, then we ate the last couple pieces of leftover pizza, and for dinner just lunchmeat sandwiches. I woke up at 5 am and realized I hadn't put the frozen rolls in the fridge to thaw overnight, but we ended up not being hungry until much later than usual so it didn't matter.

2018-2020: Only the living room tree was put up and decorated. Gifts were minimal. More thought put into them as a result.

This year, we bought a fake tree for the family room and decorated as had been our tradition. Honestly, we are all struggling terribly with this being our first Christmas without Mom and Girlie, who was our Christmas dog. She loved Opening gifts and destroying the paper. Her excitement was always infectious. The whole thing was an attempt to help with the spirit of the season. Did not help.

Dad asked to go out for dinner too late to get reservations. DH decided to make a ham instead of the traditional turkey dinner. Mom and Dad always made the Christmas turkey. Dad has done his best to keep busy around the house with extra projects. DH has baked and cooked for two days straight. It’s easier than facing reality. If I could have, I would have slept through Christmas Eve until it was time to get up for work on Monday morning. The Boy did his best to help everyone.

One thing I need to do for next Christmas is to buy a stocking for Dad. Of lesser importance is finding lights for the trees.

Also, I really need to find a hiding place that I will easily remember. Never did find the elusive gift. Wondering if it is holed up with my 2022 planner, as it is also missing.

The oldest cat seems to have taken Girlie’s place in the Christmas Joy. It’s the first year she has shown any interest in the tree. She loved the boxes and wrapping paper. I wonder if she is just feeling better after the procedure or if she is more comfortable now that the only dog in residence is smaller than she. She would share Girlie’s bed and love seat, so I don’t know.

I love to bake. The problem is, who’s going to eat this stuff now that my kids are grown and it’s just DH and me… so I cut way back on baking.

And I bagged instead of wrapping, an activity I despise. So freeing to give up the dreaded wrapping of the gifts. 

We had Christmas breakfast and a small gift exchange w/Ds and SO. I did not take one picture….

Our son and his family just got here yesterday, due to a canceled flight. I told my BFF we were not have an Instagram worthy dinner, we were having a good enough dinner. That is what I did. One veggie, no salads, and put out a bowl of grapes instead of a fruit platter. No one cared.

I gave up making gifts years ago. Most were not appreciated. I did always make chocolate chip cookies for my FIL as he appreciated them but no one else. I still enjoy crafting snd if someone appreciated them I would but it’s nice not having the stress of crafting things for gifts.