Wrapping, wrapping, and more wrapping

Not only is it 'tis the season to be jolly', but tis also the season of decorating, shopping and wrapping.  Wrapping is one of my very favorite things to do.  I love to put on old Christmas movies, sit on the floor and wrap away.

I like to get my area all organized with my wrapping needs, such as, boxes, bows, paper, scissors, tape (the wrist holder tape dispenser) tape refills, tissue paper, and name tags.  Start the movie and the wrapping begins.  I love the 'surprise' part of unwrapping a gift, so I never wrap gifts in 'predictable' packages.... one never knows what they will find inside the boxes.  I can get a tee shirt into a jewelry box and I can hid jewelry in shirt boxes.  I will add weights and/or marbles or such just to throw the person off if they decide to squeeze or shake the packages trying to guess.  It's all about the element of surprise along with the prettiness of the package.

I love buying wrapping paper on clearance, so I always have lots of choices when selecting the perfect paper for the perfect gift.  I only wrap one gift per person in the same paper, because I like having lots of colorful packages under the tree.  However..... I wrap all the 'to take' gifts in the same paper.  Like the gifts I take to the Grandparents houses are all wrapped in the same paper.  This helps keep me organized to know what gifts go to what house, and whatever paper I use for those 'take away' gifts, I don't use for any of the gifts here at home.  This method has been working well for me for years, having to travel as much as we do during the holidays, it does help to be organized.....and/or anal..... I've been called both and I do wear those badges proudly!  :  )

My husband..... as wonderful as he is..... and he IS WONDERFUL!!!!.... has absolutely no clue what goes into putting Christmas together.  His rule of thumb is...... he doesn't start shopping for his gifts (which basically are my gifts and the two gifts he needs for our parents gift swap game) until Dec. 20th!!! EVER!!!!!  But, I must say, he does an excellent job in the 4 days of shopping that he does endure, he sweats over the few gifts he has to purchase and usually gets it all done in one day.  I however, shop for months with a list for his parents, nieces/nephews; my parents, nieces and nephews, our friends, all our girls and their significant others, all the stocking stuffers, and all the gifts for the paper delivery boy, postman...etc.  It is exhausting!!!!!  And of course this is on top of all the Christmas baking, Christmas card writing and coupon cutting and sale flyer scouring for the best prices and deals.

I 'endure' the shopping part, but I absolutely and immensely enjoy the wrapping part.  Each gift is like a creation all in itself and a work of love.  I know that the gift wrapping will only be admired for split seconds before being torn to shreds to discover the treasure inside..... but..... for those split seconds, the package does present itself in as much glory as is possible..

I myself love being surprised.  I don't want to see or know how many, how few, how big, how small any gift I have is until Christmas.  My husband wants to buy, wrap and stick gifts under the tree as soon as he is done with his duties..... I however, refuse to put a single gift for anyone under the tree until Christmas Eve, so the tree goes from a beautiful decorated tree with just a tree skirt, to a beautifully decorated tree with a colorful mound of gifts underneath.... and then there is no question about whether or not Santa has or has not visited yet!

I'm all wrapped up for this year.  While Joe is on his road trip with our baby (Lauren), driving her home from LA, I pulled everything out last night, sorted the items per person (I have to have the same number of gifts for each person to open) and watched "It's a Wonderful Life", "White Christmas", "A Christmas Story",  and "Love Actually" as I wrapped.  It was a late night, but..... I finished wrapping every single gift and even managed to get the wrapping mess all cleaned up and stowed away.  Now.... I'm ready to start making the chex mix and the Christmas cookies!

Merry Christmas!!! And Happy Wrapping!!!