So This Is Christmas...

If I could sum up my Christmas season so far in one word, this would be it:

CHAOS.

Well, perhaps that's a bit dramatic. Still, this season tends to get a little nuts around here, what with working, shopping, making presents, and, this year, preparing for the wedding (1 day less than 3 months! YEEEEE!).

For those of you who don't know, I no longer have a job. I'm still looking for one, however, and I found out that I qualify for unemployment, so that's a good thing. Also, Alex and my parents are helping me out with some things, so life is not as stressful now as it was a week or so ago when I was in the thick of things. Thank God for my family. *huggles them tight* (I consider Alex family; we're practically married.)

My Christmas shopping is completely done now (thank God). I hate shopping at this time of year--the malls are incredibly crowded and people are stressed out and grouchy. Well, not all of them, but the majority. Next year, I'm seriously considering just doing all my shopping online--or at least getting it done earlier.

Yesterday was a fun day. I went to church with the fam, had lunch, and then played Santa with Alex (delivering presents, you naughty-minded people!) for a while. Now most of my Christmas presents are delivered, YAY! After the present-delivering, Alex and I went back to his house and exchanged stockings. I GOT THE CHOBITS POSTCARD SET! HUZZAH! AND TOE SOCKS! Yes, I'm odd, but I love toe socks. *huggles her wildly-striped toe socks* Alex knows me so well. I got Alex a couple of medieval mystery books. He seemed pleased. ^_^
Then we went back to my parents' house and played games and talked and stuff with my parents, my brother, and my brother's girlfriend. All in all, a very pleasant day.

TODAY'S PLAN:
1. Finish Alex's present (almost done!).
2. Make peanut butter balls.
3. Be useful in whatever other way I can--maybe convince Mom that we need to go see Harry Potter again!

I would also like to say that I refuse to go and see the second Lord of the Rings movie until after Christmas. The lines are outrageous, and I want a good seat. That is all.

I was going to put a long, meaningful rant here about what Christmas means to me, but I think that can wait for a couple of days. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah (even though that's over, I believe), Joyful Yule, Happy Solstice (also over), and Here's Wishing General Joy, Peace, and Love to all. Take care, guys. I'll write again when I re-emerge from the lovely chaos that is Christmas.

At Last.

I have been working on this special project for Alex for the past two years. It involves a piece of embroidery that was filed in triplicate, lost, found, submitted, returned, lost again, and then buried in peat for six months and recycled as firelighters.

No, wait. I just lost it for a couple of months, and then worked on it on and off. It was a rather complicated piece of embroidery. And if you recognize that rather butchered quote up there, you get ten brownie points! Good for you!

In any case, the embroidery is done. The project is done. The gift is finished, and I am very, very happy. It is lovely and shiny and I'll post pictures of it here after Christmas if I can get some. I am VERY pleased with the results. ^__^v Hopefully, I'll be able to make more for gifts for other people later. It's a LOT of work, though. Next time, if I want to make Christmas presents, I'm going to start in June, and it's NOT gonna take me two years to finish! ^_^;;

Today was a wedding sewing day, and I am so glad we got one in the midst of the chaos that is the Christmas season. Alex got a lot done on Josh's jerkin, and it has trim on it, and it is GORGEOUS! ^___^ Also, Mom fitted my wedding dress to me, and it fits beautifully. We were worried that it wouldn't; last time I tried on the bodice, it was too small. But now it fits. I am HAPPY! HUZZAH!

Tomorrow, Josh's girlfriend and Alex are coming over, we're all going to my church's annual candlelight service, and then we're going to have a big sleepover and wait for Santa. ^_^ It's gonna be fun!

The Bad News: My brother has been reacting negatively to soda lately. This is unfortunate, as I bought a 2-liter bottle of Pepsi Blue to put in his stocking this year. Bummer. I'm putting it in anyway. It'll at least make him laugh.
Also, going shopping during the week of Christmas is insane. I know, because I went with my mom today. It was quite...scary. And what kind of bridal shop is closed on Monday?!?!

Well, that's all the news just at the moment. More after Christmas, I think. Tomorrow: Cooking!