One Week...

...to get all your presents wrapped, all your ribbons tied, all your treats made, and all your preparations finished...I am so far behind.

In years past I have been known to make up to 17 different kinds of treats and goodies, but this year so far I have made NOTHING. I just haven't been up to it. I have even bagged out on making my Christmas morning cinnamon rolls this year. I just have nothing in me right now as far as cooking goes. I delegated the fudge to my sister, and I plan to make truffles because I fear for my life if I don't.
My shopping however, is pretty much done, although not wrapped up yet ;o) Every day I think to myself...I should wrap some gifts and get a head start...and yet...still I sit. I love Christmas... but I am not in the spirit this year. I don't think its only the nausea, there are other stresses I am thinking about.
So tell me...how do you get in the Christmas Spirit? We have decorated, we have made ornaments, we have watched Christmas movies, but I am just tired, and stressed, and I want to make the last few days before Christmas fun for the boys...so hit me with your best ideas!

My Favorite Christmas Music

Since there is less than a week left until Christmas, I thought I would take a page from Victorian Rhapsody and Dirty Dishes and actually talk about Christmas. Today I am going to talk about my favorite Christmas music. I can't narrow it down to my five favorite songs the way she did, because I just love Christmas music in general. I could categorize my LEAST favorite Christmas music though...Which generally includes anything to do with Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, and Jingle Bell Rock.
As for my favorites...These come in the category of Favorite Christmas CDs...
Any Christmas CD from the Blenders. The Blenders have three A Capella Christmas CDs. Its hard to pin down a favorite out of the three. This year I think my favorite is Most Wonderful Time, mostly because it is the one we just bought this year. Then there is When It Snows and Nog. All three of these CDs offer great vocal harmony, unique arrangements, traditional as well as original Christmas music, and they are just relaxing. The Blenders have a smooth vocal blend that just makes you feel good. I highly recommend them. (And they haven't put either of my least favorite songs on an album yet.) Next on my list of favorites is Three Kings by Eclipse. They are also a group that sings A Capella. (Hey-its what we like). They have a great version of The Little Drummer Boy that we love. Other favorites include Stephen Curtis Chapman's The Music of Christmas, Every Christmas by Gary Morris (sorry-its out of print, I had to really hunt to find the copy I have of it) who some will remember played Jean Valjean in Les Miserables for a time, and was a country singer before that. Any Amy Grant Christmas music (except of course...for those Rockin' and Rock songs), Manhattan Transfer's Christmas album, and Trans Siberian Orchestra are also favorites. We just love Christmas music in general here. I could listen to it all year round. People always complain that I listen to it well past Christmas, and tend to start listening to it again as early as August every year...but I say...the Gift of Christmas was given to us for every day, so why not listen to that music whenever we feel like it?