Very Strange Happenings at the Frederick Home

There are some very strange happenings going on around here!!! For the first time in a very long time, and I mean a VERY, VERY LONG TIME, the Christmas presents are all purchased AND wrapped AND under the tree. This never happens - be assured! Not only that BUT, I have already sent the packages to my beloved family in Idaho - they should have it by Friday -- waaay before Christmas!!!! Not only that, but I have even purchased the stamps to mail out the Christmas letter (no, it is not written, the family picture is not taken, the envelopes are not addressed) but hey - look at all the other stuff I have accomplished. We even got started on the cookies but ate them all.

I actually had fun wrapping the presents (sort of) this year. Now, my wrapping doesn't consist of matching papers, ribbons, or bows. Oh no, you are lucky to have paper on it with enough tape to keep it a surprise AND a name tag! There must have been a sale on Christmas wrapping paper after Christmas 2006 because I used the same paper last year and there is more than enough for next year too! Whatever.

Back to my fun. This year the packages are labeled: Gingerbread Man, Tiny Tim, Frosty, The Grinch, and Jack Frost. I have to code them so my youngun's can't figure out who gets what. Plus, they love to sit by the tree and shake, rattle, roll the gifts to figure out who gets what. But don't worry, I have the shaking and rattling covered too. This year the packages are all wrapped in odd boxes -- I didn't buy any gift boxes as I hate spending money on them so I used my imagination and headed to the cupboard. Now the gifts are wrapped in cereal boxes, cracker boxes, christmas light boxes, pizza boxes,...you get my point. I even add "weights" to lighter packages and stuffed others with wadded up paper so they won't make noise.

On Christmas Day everybody gets a chance to say who they think matches with the code name. The person with the most right gets a $5.00 gift card. If no one wins or there's a tie -- I get the card! This is so much fun and it stretches the gift giving time. And the bonus -- bigger boxes look like more gifts -- "the economy" touches us all doesn't it? I can just hear it -- "Mom, you're crazy!! You bought me Rice Krispies???" "I thought I was Frosty!"

I just love it!

Here's to sentimentality -- "Christmas 1987" -- our wedding year.

One of our friends made this rocking horse for Anthony's birth.

I just can't do a themed tree because all the "memories" have to go up.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!