I have to say I think I'm going to enjoy this Christmas more than any other.
My shopping is almost finished. I didn't buy a lot. I have definitely stayed within my budget, but I tried to pick gifts that I knew would be appreciated rather than buying a gift for the sake of buying a gift.
Mike and Abby went and got our tree on the weekend. It's a good 2 or 3 feet smaller than we normally get. Meaning we can put it in the smaller corner of our living room. So we haven't lost a chair, side table and lamp to make it fit. And I didn't have to find a place to store an extra chair, side table and lamp elsewhere in the house. Also for the first time in many years.... maybe even ever.... the star fits on the top of the tree.
I didn't put the tree up in my office. For the last few years I've put up a 6 foot fake tree by my desk. Last year the idea of packing up 4 trees worth of decorations (the girls each have a little tree in their rooms)... well hate isn't a strong enough word. I hated the idea of post Christmas clean up with the heat of a thousand suns.
Why do I put up two big trees? Well I have a very large collection of ornaments and I try to get as many out as possible. I didn't do that this year either. I went through the boxes and picked out my favourite pieces and spread a sprinkling of Christmas cheer through the house.
I let the girls decorate the tree. So there is clumps of ornaments together and some random bare spots. I only moved ornaments that were in peril. A lot of my ornaments are heavy and our tree was not the strongest tree in the field. I have lost more than a couple to breakage, I like to avoid it when I can.
What am I looking forward to the most? Time with my family. Uncle Dave and Aunt Mel will be here, for too little time, as always. I plan on a week of sleeping in, jammie days, movies, books and games with the girls. Sharing food with my favourite people. Talking, telling stories and laughing. I also plan on stealing hugs whenever possible.
Yeah it's pretty much going to be the best Christmas ever!
4 comments:
down scaling it all seems to do you very well...I think you now have more "room" for what truly matters . Great you are enjoying it!
This sounds amazing. I need to take a page from your book and take it down a peg - being with the family is what really matters.
YAY Christmas! I am really focusing this year on enjoying it rather then the stress that I normally have.
I hear ya -- my Christmas shopping for everyone except the kids is pretty much done. It felt kind of weird to be done wrapping so much earlier. I feel so much calmer than I usually do at this time. Four trees? Yikes -- I think you did the right thing.
Post a Comment