Procrastinating

We are leaving for China in less than 12 hours and I haven't packed a single thing and I've done absolute NO research.  For the 1st time ever, we're doing a tour package so it's very strange for me not to have to do any research   We asked Jason's uncle who lived in China for a year if the tour we had selected was good and he said yes so we just booked it.  It hit me yesterday that since I didn't do any of the planning, I also didn't do any research and I have absolutely no clue what I'm about to do.  Hopefully things all work out but it just feels strange not to know exactly what we'll be doing on our trip.

Instead of packing, I thought I'd do a bit of a Christmas prep recap since that's about all I've done for the past 3 weeks.

My mom sent me a Thanksgiving card that included the names for our family's secret Santa gift exchange

I found last years Christmas card list which made sending cards this year MUCH easier!

We did a little decorating around our house.  I can't wait to own a house with a real fireplace/mantel, but for now this will have to do.

We finally put ornaments and lights onto the tree we purchased before we left for Bali.

Buster was very sad that his bed was moved to make room for the tree.

I love this snowman refrigerator idea I saw on pinterest!

I decorated a gingerbread house with one of my students.

I baked 250+ cookies in 8 days and I don't want to bake again for a LONG time!

Some of those cookies were decorated with the wonderful ladies I teach English.

I spent 15 hours wrapping gifts at the PX as part of a fundraiser for our unit FRG

Our FRG also spend 3 days painting a 4x8 ft "Christmas card" that is now displayed near one of the gates to post.

I mailed/distributed the homemade vanilla extract I made as Christmas gifts.

Jason "wrapped" my Christmas gifts.  He couldn't find a box so he put one of my gifts into a cooler, put a piece of wrapping paper on top, replaced the lid and added a bow.  You have to appreciate his creativity!

We also purchased ourselves a couple of early Christmas gifts.

This entertainment center has been on my wish list since we arrived in Japan.  It's actually 3 pieces, but the "steps" are stacked together on the left hand side because the Christmas tree is in the way for now.  I can't wait to get it set up for real.

Jason also purchased the bar he's had his eye on for quite some time.

He wasted no time stocking it!

We're hoping to put it to good use on NYE =}

The dryer containing my last load of laundry just stopped so I suppose I should go pack now.  I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and I'll talk to you all when we get back from China.