Christmas in August

I love Christmas time! Being with family, giving, the lights, the food, the anticipation of Christmas morning, the food, the music, the winter clothes, and did I mention the food. 🙂

It’s so great!

But there is one thing that taints it all…

Shopping.

I HATE shopping in December.

It’s so crowded. Where were all of these people the whole rest of the year?

Seriously.

Irony is everywhere. ‘Tis the season of giving and charity, and caring for your neighbor, and I’m ready to have a throw down in the parking lot with the person that just cut me off with their shopping cart. Stores are packed! I spend twice as long waiting to check out as I do finding what I would like to purchase. And no one will wish me a ‘Merry Christmas!’ for fear of offending me.

So, I do all in my power to avoid it.

I already have my entire Christmas list done.

Actually, it was done 4 weeks ago.

I’ve already planned out what each of my kids, family, and friends will receive from me, and about how much it will cost.

It is not completely set in stone (It’s already seen a few revisions). But it is there. 🙂

Having my list for half a year means I can look for bargains, get my shopping done early, and completely avoid stores in December, except to buy milk. That way I can keep the spirit of the season, instead of wishing for a complete stranger’s demise because they cut me in line, or took my space in the parking lot.

It also means I have months to shop online.

I have been there. Two weeks before Christmas you find the perfect gift online for the hardest person on your list (at the perfect price too), only to find out there is a 3-6 week processing time, plus the week it will take being shipped to your home.

That will kill the spirit of giving.

My favorite part of not having to go Christmas shopping in December is that I have more time.

Instead of running around like crazy trying to figure out what to buy for my kids, I get to be at home with them, making and sharing some of that delicious holiday food I mentioned earlier.

My favorite memories of Christmas as a kid are things we did as a family. Not the shopping, and not the gifts. It’s the time we spent together.

Getting the shopping done before the holidays opens up SO much time to play, and enjoy, and anticipate Christmas morning with my kids!

Now my only problem is where to hide this stuff for 4 months….