it's beginning to look a lot like christmas...

the tree is up.

it's even decorated.

while there's evidence (more pine needles on the floor than i could shake a stick at) that the cats were climbing the tree prior to it's decoration, they have not yet brought it crashing down, nor can we see any indication that they have climbed it since being decorated.

there's a wreath hanging on my door.

gifts are wrapped, and under the tree, facing 16 days of culring-ribbon-torment by certain beasts of the feline variety.

and i'm beginning to stress out about the number of items to buy, things to bake, and functions to attend over the course of the next two and a half weeks.

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas.

want to hear a confession? i paper-code my gifts. we attend three family events that include gift exchanges. to make life easier as we pack up gifts to attend each event, i've taken to wrapping the presents for each event in a coordinating paper: one for the gifts with matt's family; one for the gifts with my mom's family; one for the gifts with my dad's family; one for other gifts that don't have a designated 'event' but will be given during the season. this way, we don't have to worry about getting gifts mixed up or dropped into the wrong bags. i love this system, even if it is a little anal!! :)