2024 lists and journal!

[Bevziibubble]

Yay, that's exciting you've ordered the biggest, most expensive gift

Sorry Jimi's gift hasn't arrived I hope Amazon will get it sorted or send a new one.

 

[motherofboys]

I really want to get on with shopping now, but they hardly know what they want, other than Reuben who circled something on nearly every page of the smyths book

 

[Bevziibubble]

Haha!

 

[motherofboys]

Ordered SIL, MIL, and BIL gifts

 

[motherofboys]

Ordered treats for our dog and my mum's dog, headphones for Reuben, and between my mum and her husband some Paddington bear mugs, and 2 Paddington bear tins one with tea bags and one with marmalade biscuits

 

[motherofboys]

Just ordered the boxes to put home made Gingerbread men in, plus a Poppy keyring and shower steamers for my mum and Avocado rechargeable handwarmers for my best friend

 

[motherofboys]

Few more bits ordered, jimi mentioned his friend had started playing tennis and that he wanted to get into it with him so ordered some bits to set him up to do that. And some wireless ear buds each for him and zac. Plus a couple of brain games for seth. Feel so behind. Usually have a full on stash going.
Picked up the pc tower today though

 

[Bevziibubble]

Lovely gifts. You're doing great

 

[motherofboys]

Went shopping with my mum yesterday, it wasn't as successful as I had hoped but I got a few bits like Selection boxes and advent calenders. Have updated lists with latest purchases.

 

[motherofboys]

Got a few more bits ordered today. Really not feeling it yet this year.

 

[SmartieMeUp]

Ah no do you know why? Early blues maybe? Once you're seeing some progress it may boost the vibes, get the tree up 'early' if you have to

 

[motherofboys]

Hopefully once the tree is up and everything I'll be fine. I think it still feels so far away until you remember that on Monday it'll only be a month and then I panic because I hardly have anything because no one knows what they want and I can't think of any surprises they might love so there's no present I'm super excited about giving them.

 

[Bevziibubble]

 

[motherofboys]

Not a great picture, but I got Reuben's Christmas eve pyjamas.

 

[motherofboys]

I think I'm going to get jimi, zac and nate a cinema gift card each so they can all go together and see something in the new year, and maybe a gift card you can use in restaurants for Jimi so he can take his girlfriend out for dinner somewhere. I may get him a Costa one as well for when he's out and about with his friends

 

[motherofboys]

Amazon changed the date of delivery for the Paddington Bear tea tin for my mum and it wouldn't arrive until after Christmas so I've cancelled it and will either stick to just the 2 items I have or find something else out and about.

 

[motherofboys]

I bought the boys some giftcards today, got the big 3 cinema gift cards, got jimi and Costa one and a restaurant one, figured he could take his girlfriend out for dinner.
But most exciting of all, my boss asked me why I haven't booked any time off over Christmas and I said that I figured being new I wouldn't be allowed, and that I'm used to working all of Christmas so having boxing day guaranteed was a bonus already. She told me to book some time at Christmas. I said I didn't know when to ask for as I didn't want to take the p*ss and she basically told me to book the 24th and 27th, so I did and today she's approved it. With the weekend as well, and the fact we are working from home over Christmas and new year I am going to get 12 straight days at home, I'll only have to work 3 of them between weekends, bank holiday's, and annual leave. The last Christmas I was home for the whole thing was 2020!

I also remembered that I ordered a new power cable for an old monitor which should have been delivered in with a bunch of presents, so had to go through the boxes and kept going "oh I forgot I ordered that"

I still want to get Reuben a couple more bits to play with, Jimi and Zac some clothes, pjs for everyone but Reuben, steam/xbox gift cards for the older 3. Maybe one or two more bits for Seth. That'll probably about do it, unless anyone thinks of anything they really want between now and then.

I need to make time to wrap presents too. Usually I'd do it on a Thursday morning when John took the boys with him to take his mum shopping, that won't work this year.

 

[Bevziibubble]

That's great you could book some time off and get 12 days at home over Christmas

Hopefully you can find time to wrap the presents. I still need to do the wrapping too.

 

[motherofboys]

I know! I knew I'd get Christmas day and boxing day and the weekends either side so felt pretty good about that anyway, last year I worked every day between Christmas and New year. Then I found out we would work from home Christmas week up until New year and figured that at least I'd be at home. The girls said that last year they didn't get a single call on Christmas Eve as we only really deal with emergencies over that time. But to actually be told to book that time off is amazing to me.

Can't remember if I mentioned it or not but this weekend we will put the tree up and I'm going shopping for some more presents, hopefully will be more of less done after this weekend. I'll have to attempt to wrap in the evenings when Reuben is in bed. The others all know now so can just tell them to stay away haha

 

[Bevziibubble]

It will be so nice for you to get time off at Christmas after so long

Yay for putting the tree up this weekend. I can't believe it's almost December!