Good Old Fashioned Family Christmas

For the past several years, the Christmas season has been a hectic time of year for our family. Tithing settlement took Aaron out of the house more than usual during the years he was Bishop or Branch President. Some years we traveled 1700 miles to visit family, or we had family who traveled 1700 miles to visit us. We anticipated the births of two babies (Savanah in December 2002 & Vanessa January 2005). We even moved last year during the Christmas season. This year will be the first time in a really long time that we just have a good old fashioned family Christmas.

Christmas Photo 2005

My eyes popped open at 5:00 a.m. last Tuesday. I realized Christmas was only 2 weeks away. It's not like Christmas isn't on the same day every year. It's not like I didn't know it was coming. We decorated the house and trimmed the tree right after Thanksgiving like we always do. I've had our Christmas cards since the end of November and yet I had done nothing with them. As most people are finishing up shopping, I hadn't even started! AAAAAHHHHH!!! (this is me screaming). It had been so calm and quiet (not literally, I do have four-n-more) that I had been on a little "Christmas vacation". It's was nice not to feel stress and have deadlines. Well, that all come to an end as I realized how much I need to do and how little time I have left. I got up early that day and wrote my lists of things to do, to buy, and to make.

Things are getting better. Most of my cards are mailed off and already half of our shopping is done. I really do love the Christmas season. I love to do all the things on my list. Now, it's just a matter of getting it done. I enjoyed my little "Christmas vacation" even if I have to make up for it over the next week.