Eeeek! How did Christmas sneak up so quickly? Just like that, it’s December 21 and I am checking my lists twice, thrice, and am still asking do I have enough presents?
With Thanksgiving being a little late this year, it seems like Christmas came tumbling at me and will be over in a blink of an eye. I do love this season, though, no matter how short. And on December 26, I am always sad to think that the next Christmas is so far away.
For as long as I can remember, I have decorated for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. When I was a child, this was a most exciting day, because it was one of the few times a year that I got to crawl up the creaky and weird attic ladder and get up into that mysterious and cavernous space that held secrets. I don’t have an attic as an adult, and going down into the basement is not quite as thrilling. However, opening those Christmas boxes is thrilling, even though I know what’s inside. Harper and Jameson help each year and are big enough now to know right where to put things. And so we decked our halls.
I would love to say that we have been doing nothing but decking the halls, baking cookies, giggling at ugly sweaters, and shopping all while merrily sipping eggnog and cocktails. But no.
We have spent a lot of time washing sheets, scrubbing toilets and bathtubs, and laying around hoping no one else will throw up. There must be other parents out there who are longing to see the truth in the following phrases:
This is the best time ever with your little kids!
Enjoy the magic!
Awww, it goes by so quickly!
I kind of feel like having small kids is a delicate balance between making plans for super fun magical things and anxiously awaiting when one of them will spike a fever or lose her lunch. And while it is true that I cannot believe Harper’s been alive for seven years and it has gone by quickly, um, some days are really quite slow. Like, painfully.
But in the spirit of the holidays, I am committing to optimism.
It helps to have a silly elf hanging around here these days. Emmett’s a clever one, and he always gives us a laugh.
There are always small joys in days that go astray, too. When Jameson was sick earlier this week, I ran into my classroom around 6:00 a.m. to get a few things ready for my substitute, and when I came out I witnessed the most vibrant and beautiful sunrise.
And last night, after a lot of rest, we perked up and went out for our annual cocoa and lights drive.
And we listened to Christmas music and taunted Daddy about how our house lights are lacking a bit this year. After all, said Harper, we want to live in a house that looks like this:
How do you suppose they sleep in there with all that glowing?
This weekend, we have a few things to do. Jameson and Harper are shopping and wrapping for each other. Then, we are whipping up a few batches of cookies to share. Most importantly, my family is in town so we have some visiting to do … hopefully sans barf.
Hoping your path to Christmas is merry and healthy and full of smiles.
