It came without ribbons, it came without tags...

It came without packages, boxes, or bags! Wouldn't it be nice if that's how Christmas really worked? Heck no! I don't think so, either! Half the fun of the holidays is buying gifts for the people you love! All in moderation, of course.

And on that note, I am very excited to say that, with an exception of a very few items, we are totally done with our Christmas shopping! And, my friends, that is pretty much the best feeling in the world when you have two big families to shop for!

My best holiday seasons are the ones in which I can just relax and enjoy time with my family. Those times compare rather poorly to the seasons in which I am frantically shopping up until the last minute, wrapping gifts, and passing through the week of Christmas like a whirlwind. Call me crazy, but I don't really enjoy those times. So, to keep my panicky and overwhelmed self to a minimum, Clint and I made a big effort to have most of our Christmas shopping done early this year. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE shopping for gifts, but I prefer to do it without the pressure of last-minute purchases.

Yesterday was a fantastic day up in Medford, hitting all the big stores to find the perfect gifts, and we had the best time! We met up with Clint's sister and her husband for lunch, saw the in-laws as well, and I couldn't have asked for a better day with my husband. We came home, watched Elf, and finished decorating our Christmas tree together. All in all, I'd say we had a pretty successful and happy holiday weekend in the Singleton house.

Maybe Christmas, they thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!