One thing I learned from previous years was to stock up on cold medicines, vitamins and tissues early in September. What I didn't anticipate this year was that we'd go through the supplies so early and so quickly. Pertussis was going around. While the test showed my children didn't have it, we still had to deal with hacking coughs for a number of weeks. I will buy a lot more next year.
I've been streamlining the service gifts (church office, bus drivers, mailman, trash men and recycling men) over the last couple of years to simplify things. It's either Pepperidge Farm cookies and Hot Chocolate or it's a bag of nice coffee. I realized that I could buy these earlier than I have been which then means that I could wrap them earlier than I have been.
I also saw first hand this year that the school secretaries and principals receive so many gifts that they make 5-6 trips to their car to empty their office the last day before Christmas break. I think I will move their gifts to St. Valentine's Day. It's not the same as Christmas but it might be a nice "pick me up" gift in the middle of winter here.
Decorating was done very late because I was trying to work with my teens' schedules. We kept it very basic which works for me at this time in our very busy life. However, we had the decor up for 11 days and then we took it down today. It didn't seem like it was long enough. Next year, it will go up during Thanksgiving weekend whether my children are home or not.
We host Christmas Eve for 18-20 people each year. Over time, I've developed a detailed list of Christmas Eve prep work. I am so thankful that I did. Two days before Christmas Eve, my dh wasn't feeling well. Then the on Christmas Eve, I woke up in a fog but knew things had to be done. I couldn't even think. I just knew that if the family could look off the list and do the work, then we'd be fine. I really believe that list saved us. took medicine and was feeling better by mid-afternoon. Whew!
This was the first year that, for the most part, I kept up with the wrapping as things were bought. I also bought things earlier when I could. Stocking stuffers were practical things like make up, hand warmers, pens, Chapstick, travel size toothpaste and tissues that I was able to buy in September. I'll definitely do that early shopping again.