Seasons Greetings

Wow.  Is it already December 3rd?  For those who've known me while growing up, you might be flabbergasted to know that I do not have up nearly enough Christmas decorations worth mentioning at all.

A Snoopy ornament and a Mickey Mouse Santa ornament take up residence on my kitchen counter as we await a weekend trip to the storage unit to get our tree out.

I have a hand-made ornament on my mantle alongside a paper-plate Christmas tree made by Noah, and two reindeer faces made out of paper plates that the boys created on Tuesday.  :)  I also have a faux bundle of mistletoe resting on my vanity dresser, but I'm not sure where to hang it that isn't cheeky.

When we drive home in the afternoons, I try to admire the Christmas decorations of homes along our path.  Michael was disappointed the other day during our drive and told me that we can't do any decorating because we don't even have a tree.  Bless him.  I reassured him that we do, in fact, have a tree and lots of ornaments, but they are in our storage building and we'll get them this weekend.

Usually, I'm completely Jessica Riggs from "Prancer."  I would play Christmas music all year long and watch Christmas movies whenever they came on TV.  In fact, Michael asked to watch Prancer on a few different occasions throughout the year.  It drove Aaron insane, but my heart let out an inner fist pump and my Christmas-loving soul was happy.

This year, it's just a bit different.  This is the first year we've ever had a storage building.  We only have one since we're trying to keep our house much less cluttered as we have it on the market.  So-- Christmas decor was sent to storage way back in June.  Also, a family came to look at our house the week before Thanksgiving, and there's talk from our realtor that they want to come take a second look soon.  So, we were trying to keep the house exactly as it was when they looked at it the first time.  This is why we have hardly any Christmas decor in our home.

If I was my normal self, I would be chomping at the bit to put up Christmas decorations shortly after Thanksgiving, but Aaron has a rule that no Christmas items can go up before December 1st.  I've respected that rule since we've been married.  This year, it's so odd for me to think that December 1st came and went and my house is still very non-Christmasy.  I mean, I have an advent calendar that I need to get out and do with the boys and it's already December 3rd!  Come on, self!  Get with it!

I have faithfully been recording Christmas movies, though. I have already watched one of my favorites "Christmas Under Wraps" and tried out two new ones "The Christmas Parade," and "A Holiday Engagement."  I have "Christmas Detour," "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "Jim Carrey's How the Grinch Stole Christmas," the legit cartoon "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "The Santa Clause" and "Polar Express" on the DVR ready to go.  I'm part-way through watching "A Window Wonderland"-- which I watched last year but really enjoyed.  I'm waiting for "Christmas Vacation," "Holiday in Handcuffs" and "Arthur Christmas" to come on TV so I can record those. I already own Charlie Brown Christmas, Prancer, and the Christmas Classics (Rudolph, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Frosty) to watch as well. In the evenings when we really need time to just sit down, a Christmas movie is quite the relaxing and festive way to wind down.

Today I've been listening to KLove Christmas stream. Usually I don't listen to music while I work, but this has been cathartic.

I've been VERY wrapped up in solving a medical supply issue for Michael (my 3 year old with Type One Diabetes) and that has taken priority over any blog update, or decorating session.  My heart is also heavy with the recent loss of my aunt (who also had Type One) and that makes this holiday season bittersweet.  I cherish the memories she spent at our house on Thanksgiving many a time when I was growing up.  Not having her around this holiday season is difficult, and I'm still working on compiling memories to write a remembrance post in her honor.

I think all of these things combined have halted my heart a bit from its usual decorating fervor.

Hopefully the decorating will fully take place this weekend.  Check back on Tuesday as I hope to reveal some decor pictures.

Until Next Time,
Much love, Reba