Deck the Halls

You'd think with all the preparations for Christmas (Shopping, wrapping, cleaning, decorating) not to mention the birthdays (Dad, Kelsey, Rob), and throw into the mix my ability to get overwhelmed at the mere IDEA of doing it all that I'd be exhausted and cranky and well, a little like...

But Surprise! I'm not. You see my friends, Christmas is like crack for me. I LOVE it. It is the hap-hap-happiest time of the year for me. And not just because I get to bake (and eat) cookies with abandon. That's part of it (except this year I have to watch the cookie intake b/c I have to conquer Chimney Rock next summer, right Dad?) I also get to hang out in sweatshirts and pants and NOT feel guilty, because really, most days all  I am doing is driving the kids to and from school and really, who do I have to impress? The Dog?  Please note though: I do get dressed even on those days though, for simple fear of breaking down and then having to stand outside the truck bra-less with my flannel pink PJ pants on, and Rob can't say Boo about it.I'm comfy and warm. Even if my hair isn't brushed ( doing my part  to maintain my standing membership of the Ugly Moms Club!)

We started decorating a little earlier than usual~ The Monday after Thanksgiving! I wanted to start small thinking I'd do it tasteful, but as soon as I opened up the first box of Christmas decorations, Rob saw the crazy gleam in my eye and went back up to the attic to get the rest of my boxes~ I think we only left a bubble blowing Santa, my villages and the Disney Christmas plates up there...and I'm still trying to figure out how to work them in!

See? Not so bad right? Kels was a little freaked out by the Santa and the Mrs, because well...they're in the bathroom :) Hey, I had a big empty corner, what's a Christmas Crackhead to do?!

Every year I put the big ol bows on the kitchen cabinets and I have to tell you before I go any further, because this was a big step for me- I put decorations ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER. I loathe with all my soul counter clutter. If I could have NOTHING on the kitchen counters I merrily would. But I had too many decorations and just not enough table space in the living room, so it overflowed to the kitchen...

Now follow me outside (bundle up, it's cold down here this year!). If you remember over the summer Rob took down the railing on the front porch, and so went with it my Christmas Garland. What to do? What to do? Giant Candy Cane poles of course! And I couldn't just stop there. The Garage looked blah- add a little ribbon and a bow to the drain! And you Mr Mailbox, why so blue? Let's spruce you up a bit too, so you don't feel left out!

Then....Then came the tree. Ah the tree. Note please- I am still losing the war of the artificial Christmas tree. Rob Will.Not.Have.One.  BUT I did win a little tiny battle and we got the tree just a tad over a week earlier than usual!

Last year I was pretty lax about it and the Ornament Nazi didn't show  up, I think alcohol is definitely the trick (remember   Uncle Butch? ). Last year Mama got her Christmas Cocktail on and the tree went up without a hitch.  This year Rob was on call, and I was left in charge so Christmas Cocktails would have to wait, but surely I could do this without the help of my good friend Mommy Juice, yes? No.

The Ornament Nazi showed up...and she had RULES. Only sparkly and glass ornaments on the tree this year. We're going to skip the colorful "character" ones okay?  And please don't bunch the colors~ we don't really need 3 red ornaments hanging from one branch do we?!

Not only did the Ornament Nazi show her face, but she brought along her evil twin sister the Light Nazi. Oh I won't even go into the details. She was U-G-L-Y. But the end result is fabulous even if it took us 6 times to hang the lights, and by us I mean poor Kelsey working quietly side by side with  the evil L.N.

In an effort to overthrow the Nazi sisters, I declared a side of the tree "the most special side" and the kids could hang whatever ornament they wanted....on that side. Colin quickly caught on that it was in fact, the back of the tree, but whatever- they had free reign! Rob came home for lunch and just in time to help Kels plop the Angel into her spot of honor

 

So from our Crazy House to yours~