I love Christmas... duh!

I made the big mistake of asking mom what the menu for Christmas is going to be this year.

I NEED to know. Christmas is a rough time for scheduling for me. Jerry and I typically head to Hillsboro on Christmas Eve and stay the night with his family. There is just something adorable about the excitement of the niece and nephews on Christmas morning (ok, the surprise on Pop's face, as well).

Prior to dating Jerry, my Christmas routine was pretty set - if I was working on Christmas Eve, then the festivities began as soon as I got home from work. I would change into my Christmas-working clothes and help mom with as much prep work as possible. This typically includes baking something and prepping the spices for her famous lasagna sauce. Late nights are usually followed by early morning Christmas present unwrapping, followed by cleaning, more cleaning, and more cooking.

But, as I said, things have been different since I have been heading to Hillsboro. Now, Jerry and I pack up and head to mom's, bake my contribution to Christmas, and help her with as much food prep as possible. Jerry is very good at helping Dadu prep the beer - you know, making sure temps and CO2 mix are just right. Then we head to the 'boro and mom is left with only Mindy as a helper.

So planning for Christmas ALWAYS starts early. That's why it wasn't unusual for me to ask about the menu now. I was informed (as I am every year) that mom wasn't making a big to-do about the Christmas menu this year, but that she figured that I could make some cupcakes and she would buy some other quick prep desserts.

Here are the flaws in her theory...
- Christmas is a Saturday, so if I do get the Friday off work, that more time for baking!
- I am already thinking about making some kind of candy (thinking Christmas trees and Snowmen) picks to stick in the top of cupcakes.
- Last year, I bought a cool cookie stamp thingy to make holiday sugar cookies - and I WILL use it this year.
- I have a cookie press - and I WILL use it this year.

So, what am I getting at here?

I love Christmas and I am already shopping for this year's dessert options - but Michael's doesn't yet have holiday candy molds. how can I practice and perfect the Christmas menu if I can't get the candy molds yet?!?!?!