I don't know if it's just this year or I somehow didn't notice it last year, but Christmas seems to have come to our area really early this year. I was in a drug store the other day listening to Christmas carols play, and couldn't believe it. There's tartan plaid dresses in the kids' clothing stores, and Santa reportedly arrived at Cool Springs Galleria this weekend. Folks, it's November. Not even the middle of November. Thanksgiving is as early as it ever can be this year, so why is Christmas here so early?
I'm guessing it has something to do with the economy or stimulus something, but it's just nuts to me. It was warm, almost balmy out today, though windy with lots of crunchy leaves. That makes it fall -- which is not Christmas season. At my house growing up, we would put up the Christmas tree and decorate on my mother's birthday, which is the last day of November. That was the same day we would make our paper Christmas chain to count down the days to the holiday, one link for each day. In Wes's house, it wasn't time for Christmas until after his birthday, December 17 -- or from my experience at his house, sometimes Christmas Eve!
I haven't decided what Christmas will be like this year, except that we will be home. Wes works into Christmas Eve (on an overnight) and then the 26th and 27th. We might travel to my parent's house for a visit thereafter, but probably not before. We haven't decided about a Christmas tree. Emme is at a very dangerous age to put one up without constant supervision. I did just get her stocking in the mail, though, so the whole family will be represented on the hearth or wherever we hang them up. I think we'll do a paper chain, and maybe Ollie will even help tear the links this year (hopefully one per day and not all at once). We might do one kind of cookie, and I already have a short list of gift ideas. The one thing Wes and I have decided, about holidays in general, is that we prefer to spend the time just hanging out as a family and being together than doing things we feel like we should do because we did them growing up. We both loved the traditions of our own homes growing up, but a lot of it took time and effort that we don't necessarily have to give and don't want to spend in lieu of just being with the kids.
Thanksgiving this year will probably be turkey sandwiches -- or chili, or pizza. Who knows. Emme is having her next surgery -- a skin graft from her belly onto the top of her foot -- the day before Thanksgiving, so we'll be spending the holiday taking turns holding what we assume will be a rather fussy baby and as such are not setting any expectations for a full meal, let alone one that involves a bird of any sort. So Christmas will be extra fun -- I'll do a turkey and all the fixings. We'll say thanks for our two healthy children, a house that is in much better shape this year than last year, and satisfying and secure jobs. We'll watch the kids open presents, but still just a few. But for sure -- I won't do any planning for this until after Thanksgiving!
I'm guessing it has something to do with the economy or stimulus something, but it's just nuts to me. It was warm, almost balmy out today, though windy with lots of crunchy leaves. That makes it fall -- which is not Christmas season. At my house growing up, we would put up the Christmas tree and decorate on my mother's birthday, which is the last day of November. That was the same day we would make our paper Christmas chain to count down the days to the holiday, one link for each day. In Wes's house, it wasn't time for Christmas until after his birthday, December 17 -- or from my experience at his house, sometimes Christmas Eve!
I haven't decided what Christmas will be like this year, except that we will be home. Wes works into Christmas Eve (on an overnight) and then the 26th and 27th. We might travel to my parent's house for a visit thereafter, but probably not before. We haven't decided about a Christmas tree. Emme is at a very dangerous age to put one up without constant supervision. I did just get her stocking in the mail, though, so the whole family will be represented on the hearth or wherever we hang them up. I think we'll do a paper chain, and maybe Ollie will even help tear the links this year (hopefully one per day and not all at once). We might do one kind of cookie, and I already have a short list of gift ideas. The one thing Wes and I have decided, about holidays in general, is that we prefer to spend the time just hanging out as a family and being together than doing things we feel like we should do because we did them growing up. We both loved the traditions of our own homes growing up, but a lot of it took time and effort that we don't necessarily have to give and don't want to spend in lieu of just being with the kids.
Thanksgiving this year will probably be turkey sandwiches -- or chili, or pizza. Who knows. Emme is having her next surgery -- a skin graft from her belly onto the top of her foot -- the day before Thanksgiving, so we'll be spending the holiday taking turns holding what we assume will be a rather fussy baby and as such are not setting any expectations for a full meal, let alone one that involves a bird of any sort. So Christmas will be extra fun -- I'll do a turkey and all the fixings. We'll say thanks for our two healthy children, a house that is in much better shape this year than last year, and satisfying and secure jobs. We'll watch the kids open presents, but still just a few. But for sure -- I won't do any planning for this until after Thanksgiving!
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