Christmas is coming, and I am so excited. In my world right now, I'm just sort of skipping over Thanksgiving this year. Don't get me wrong - I love Thanksgiving. I almost went to a college very far away, and one of my reasons for staying local was because of not wanting to miss Thanksgiving with my family. I have a big extended family (6 grandparents, my mom was one of 4 kids, my dad was one of 5), and I LOVE big family gatherings. I love all my cousins. Love it, love it, love it. I actually am very sad that my kids won't be able to enjoy the big family gatherings that I have. I have one sister and hubs has one brother. At most, my kids will have 2 aunts and 2 uncles. That is so weird to me.
Last year, I hosted my first Thanksgiving. It was just for hubs' immediate family, so there were 5 of us (hubs' brother isn't married yet...we're praying... my kids will need all the aunts and uncles they can get). I loved hosting and thanks to all my spreadsheets and planning, I think I actually did a pretty good job on the food, and getting it all ready on time. I love Thanksgiving.
This year, we are moving between December 5-10... that whole week. Well, we won't have a truck until the 9th/10th, but I refuse to let my new house sit empty from the 5th-9th. As soon as we have the keys, I'm in! So, with that timing, my mind has just sped through Thanksgiving, plowed right over it, has gone straight to planning for the move, and Christmas in our new home. I will thoroughly enjoy Thanksgiving at our parents' homes this year.
So...my head is all into Christmas. As much as I love Thanksgiving, I ADORE Christmas. Not only are we dealing with the move this year, but this is the first time I'm really trying to hold to a Christmas budget and tighten this belt a little this year.
I need ideas! I need ideas for decorating our new house, for semi-homemade gift ideas that are still nice, and ideas for just ushering the Christmas spirit into our home.
- I can't list my gift ideas here, incase the recipient sees this.
- We celebrate Advent and have an advent wreath that I made last year - we
will celebrate Advent every night. (I made an advent wreath for my sister too for her gift last year - she loved it.) - I have been thinking (today) about hosting a cookie exchange and cookie decorating party at our house for friends.
Any decorating ideas? Gift ideas? Does anybody still go Christmas caroling?
Merry Christmas!
- kel
1 comment:
You know, my DH and I made all our ornaments for our first couple trees. They were sad, but the tree looked cheerful. I always have a picture of us by our tree. As our family has grown, I hang a picture ornament for each child on the tree. Usually the ornament is handmade, but is occasionally a store bought frame ornament. It always has the year on it. These are my very favorite ornaments that make me cry when I hang them. Every year.
Get a Yankee Candle-- Mistletoe smells just like a tree-- and burn it through the season. I really associate smells with things and this just smells like Christmas! Have fun!
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