Busy, Busy, Busy

December is going to be a busy month to say the least. I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed. Totally just focusing on what's not done yet. Today I plan to house clean the hallway and bathroom and tonight I am going to finishing painting the kitchen, so then I can finally begin decorating the inside of my house tomorrow. This year has been really weird. Usually my house is completely decorated by now. I think when Grandad passed away, it kinda set me back a little. Anyway, here is our schedule so far for the month of December.

Dec 2nd - Jason's payday which means grocery day
Dec 3rd - Kids have their first dentist appointment
Dec 4th - Underhill Christmas Party
Santa Clause Parade
Dec 5th - Sunday School
Jason's Work Christmas Party for the kids
Dec 6th - Sunday School St. Nicholas Party
Dec 10th - Go to Moncton for Magi Dominic reading
Dec 11th - Finish Christmas Shopping in Moncton
Dec 12th - Sunday School
Our Anniversary
Put Christmas Tree Up
Dec 17th - Paulina's Birthday Party
Keenan Christmas Party
Dec 19th - Sunday School Pageant
Dec 20th - Possibly having Christina and Philip and kids over for dinner
Dec 24th - Christmas Eve
Party at Mom and Dad's
Dec 25th - Christmas Day
Dec 26th - Boxing Day
Possibly spending the day at Jason's parents house
Dec 28th - Noah's Birthday Party
Dec 31st - New Year's Eve
May actually get to go out this year!

This of course does not include the little things one must do during the holidays like wrapping presents, writing out Christmas Cards, printing out pictures to go with the Christmas Cards, delivering Christmas Cards, making peanut brittle, decorating inside of house, baking Christmas Cookies with the kids, etc.... Most of these things I thoroughly enjoy, it's just to find the time to do them.

And as for visiting family and friends during the holidays? Who knows how people find the time for that. When I was going through my really sad phase after Grandad died, I invited Christina and her whole family over for dinner. I thought it would be really nice.......in theory. She and I never visit each other over the holidays. We used to, before we had kids, but now it just seems there is no time, or we can't find a day that fits both of our schedules. Right now we are thinking the 20th, but Christina has to check with Phil and make sure he is not working. The idea of gathering both of our families together during the holidays is really nice, especially since we never do it. We used to exchange presents but then the costs was getting too high so we said we would start and give the gift of time- spending time with each other. Now the last few years we haven't even done that. Of course, it will not exactly be a Norman Rockwell moment but who really has those? We don't have a big house and between us there will be seven kids. Plus there is the cooking and cleaning, etc.......................What was I thinking?? Oh well, tis the season.

Although I have been complaining a lot lately, I really love Christmas and wouldn't have it any other way. It's nice to have so many parties to attend and things to do. We are very fortunate. Last year was the worst Christmas I can remember. Jason had to work the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th. So we actually re-scheduled Christmas and had it on the 23rd. The kids were too young to realize and Jason got to see them open up all their presents. But then when the real Christmas Eve and Christmas Day comes, your's is all over with. It sucked. Now we swear to never reschedule any holiday ever again. Lately, I've been dreading Christmas coming. I have put too much pressure on it to be perfect to make up for last year, that I know there is no possible way it can ever live up to it. But now, as we enter December, I realize that even though it can't be "perfect", it will be a "Merry Christmas". I get to spend it with my three beautiful kids and my husband I am lucky enough to still be in love with.