Christmas Time is Here

It's that time of year.  With Christmas only 19 days away, it's hard to believe.  Next week I have exams and then I go on break until January 4^th when I come back for interterm.  My cousin and his wife, along with my great aunt and her husband are going to be spending Christmas with my family starting the 19^th.  I'm so excited to be spending Christmas with them (they're from the Deep South).  I'm trying to think of things for us to do (mom and dad working, brother is in school) and I know we're going to go snow tubing on the Sunday after they arrive (coming Friday).  I'm thinking of also taking my cousin and his wife shopping if they want, if not we can always go to restaurants and eat or watch movies.

I'm also proud of myself...I'm almost finished with my Christmas shopping.  I managed to get almost wrapped too so now comes the hard part...waiting to give everyone their presents!  When I shop I don't go by money, I get my friends and family what they want (though I need to pick up a b-day present for one of my friends, a CD for grandmother and a giftcard for my dad).  Otherwise, just a little more wrapping and waiting.  I also officially love dollar tree because I got all the supplies to wrap (minus the paper) there and it was cheap!

I left this morning around 7:30am and did some shopping.  I've noticed that more stores are carrying these socks with little balls on the side and other cute designs.  When I went to pay for my sweater and socks, I found out JCPenny is doing a promotion for the Boys and Girls club through donation so I 'rounded' to the nearest dollar.  I know Dollar Tree is doing Toys for Tots too.

I have final exams starting tomorrow.  I technically only have two; one in Child Growth and Development and one in Family Economics.  The other two days consist of reading the books we published (and turning in our newsletter project for Literacy) and in my other class presenting 'What I want to be when I grow up'.  This semester has gone by fast, but I'm excited about Christmas!

I'm planning a christmas party for later this week with my friends.  My Bible Study did a christmas party and gift exchange.  The only thing I've missed so far this year is the Empty Stocking Fund.  It's a local organization in my hometown I've helped out with for about ten years, but this year I couldn't do it :(  But, I've been helping out several other charities (salvation army, Toys for Tots, Boys and Girls Club), it's just not the same.