It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!!!

[alejorge]

I just got a package in the mail from my MIL. She sent us a box full of ornaments, a tree skirt, 5 stockings, 3 packs a bright red garland, and 4 boxes of silver tinsel. She is so sweet. Now we can finaly decorate our Christmas Tree!

Anyone else get any packages yet? Anyone getting help this year from family? This is the first year that we have ever struggled as bad as we are right now. I am so happy that my MIL is here to help out. She really does make our life easier sometimes.

[NewMum]

We're struggling, too... We had all our decorations and tree from last year, though and are using those.

Today, I took Granny out shopping. She doesn't usually go b/c she has a hard time walking- won't use a wheelchair, etc. She insisted she pick up an outfit for DS for Christmas Day... and ended up getting him PJs too! : )

My mom gives me coupons during the Holiday. They usually come in handy!

[MoonBound]

my Grams sent us her stuff like a month ago all wrapped snug. She's super scary organized though. She can tell you what she spent on lettuce in 1968.

We have our tree up and somethings on it. They little ones and cats knock about 15 ornaments off a day last year, lots broke so I refuse to put any that might break up for the next 5years at least. ds2 made a paper chain and we have some plastic balls up. They look a bit like disco balls and the kids keep saying disco dance party and dancing. It's cute.

We are making a lot of presents this year. My mil has a knack for finding out some big thing we need (example new oven) and making that be our 'present'. She is always bringing over a shirt she picked up. but more she was always willing to babysit or come over early before a party and wrangle the kids. We are really missing her since she is layed up after foot surgery. Hopefully the weather will clean enough for the out of town shopping and stop to kiss grandma I planned for tomorrow.

[Joyto5]

The only new thing I bought this year decoration wise was a cute little $.99 pink stocking to hang by the others for the baby.

We have 6 sets of lights on the tree. 4 of which have 4 strands that are burnt out and hidding in the center of the tree in a ball. We aren't doing anything to the tree except lights. I have some glass balls from 4 years ago, but I don't feel like puting them on. No tinsel or ornaments.

As for gifts.. It's going to be really small this year. DH found some knock off Ipods for $15 each. The 3 older kids will each get one. I'm still searching the classifides for a Thomas the train track and train sets for DS.. I'm still at a loss for what to get for DD#2. She's 4. The kids will draw names out of a hat and each buy that one sibling a gift so each child will get atleast get 2 gifts this year. Dh and I are going without.. but not really! Kyle being potty trained is enough of a gift for me and the upcoming birth of our daughter is also wonderful!

Ohh Yes and forgot about the Tie dye shirts I made today (Hope they turn out) and sweats for PJ's I got for the kids.

As for extended Family gifts, all of DH's siblings put names in a hat and we buy for one family member.

So Yes. Things are really tight this year!

[Bohemian]

We are struggling this year too and it's never been this bad. We have to wait until a week before Christmas to get our tree and gifts for the kids. Dh has had his hours cut short and combine that with an unexpected dental emergency and a vet visit for our cat and we are flat broke. My sil gave me a couple of boxes of Christmas decorations during Thanksgiving so I'm going to decorate even though we don't have a tree yet. I'm optimistic that even though we don't have a lot of money this year we will still have a nice, albeit small Christmas celebration.

[alejorge]

While I was going through the boxes of ornaments my MIL sent me I realized something pretty funny. All the ornaments have a piece of cand y in them. Now to just keep the kids away from the tree. They already figured it out and they keep trying to open the ornaments.