'Tis the Season

Christmas. I love it...most of the time.

For my family, Christmas starts 1-2 weeks before Thanksgiving. Yes, that's right. Thanksgiving. This is not really by choice. If I had my way we would start the day after Thanksgiving. However, we can't usually do that due to everything we have going on.

We start "celebrating" (more acurately...preparing for) Christmas before Thanksgiving by putting up the inside Christmas decorations. I refuse to put up the outside decorations until after Thanksgiving...I don't want my neighbors leaving hate mail!

The day after Thanksgiving, hubby usually works and Peanut and I spend a day playing. That evening, one of my favorite friends holds an annual party that I try very hard not to miss (he lives out of state and I only see him on this day each year). The next day we travel across the state to see the in-laws and come home on Sunday.

The following weekend usually consists of taking my son to my dad's work Christmas party and to our adoption group Christmas party. This year we added a trip with my brother and his family to the tree farm to cut down a tree for them. I wanted Peanut to have the experience that is a major part of my childhood memories. Next year I'd like to have a real tree, but I'm not sure it is practical for our family.

The second weekend of the month is taken up with a trip out of state to celebrate with hubby's father and that part of the family. This year, everyone has been absolutely fantastic, and we are traveling to a central location (although this "central location" is 1 1/2 hrs from our house and 2 1/2 hours or more for everyone else) and eating at least an hour earlier than normal to meet the needs of Peanut. Usually, this is the side we get the "Granny Death Letters" from and tons of drama. This year it is gone. Yippee!!!

The following weekend should have been fairly relaxed, but that would be asking too much. We are having company (hubby's brother and his girlfriend)...this is NOT the problem. I love these two and wish they could visit more often (hubby and I started dating with my brother-in-law was in 5th or 6th grade and it's been wonderful watching him grow up into the great guy he is today)! But I digress...the stressful part of the weekend is due to the fact that we are going into the city to see a play (1/2 hr. drive) and our babysitter for that weekend has cancelled. The only person available is my mom who lives an hour away. This means driving an hour up to drop off my son, driving an hour and a half back to the theater, then making the 2 1/2 round trip drive back up to my mom's after the play to pick up my son (no...she won't keep him overnight). Yippee. Five hours on the road (if the traffic and weather co-operate) then a couple of hours sitting through the play. Hubby offered to make the trip up (hopefully, he'll remember that he said he'll do this and not get all pissy when the time comes to make the trip). I suggested we all ride up to pick up Peanut, that way our visitors can see a part of the state that they haven't seen in years.

The weekend after that will hopefully be "relaxed." At this point we are planning on staying home (making one trip to my parents in order to visit my cousin home on leave from the service) and taking care of last minute items for Christmas. However, I expect this to all be blown away because we still have to work in some time to spend with hubby's mom and that side of the family (makes me thankful my parents are still together...4 Christmas' would drive me nuts).

The last weekend of the month is MINE!!! I will be doing what I want! It's my birthday and New Years. As of right now, I have no plans and will probably keep it that way. The most we'll do is invite friends in for movies, drinks, snacks, and to watch the town's fireworks from our front porch.

Actually, this year is going to be less stressful than last year and I am SO grateful!

Happy Holidays (if you celebrate them) and may you be safe, happy and healthy (regardless of your beliefs).

Ha