(well, it was before 10am when I started typing this anyway… )
I’ve washed the sheets, washed the dishes and bought groceries already this morning. Woohoo for a good night’s sleep (the first in AGES) and some strong coffee! ;-P
Still trying to get back into the hang of life again. Some of us are still sick. One or more of us has been sick at all times since before Halloween, it’s getting old. I can’t wait for us all to be healthy again so we can enjoy the cool weather and the holidays.
Speaking of holidays, I’m trudging along. Jag and I put the tree up over the holiday weekend. He was such a huge help! I totally underestimated him, he did at least 1/3rd of putting the tree up (fake tree again this year, one day I’ll talk Jason into a real one) and put on more than half of the ornaments. Granted, he likes to bunch the ornaments up into spots along the middle of the tree still but he had fun and it got the job done (I went back and only moved a few, didn’t want him to notice I moved them but did want some ornaments on other parts of the tree, hehe).
I took a new route with the tree this year. I didn’t get out any of the old family ornaments. I feel kinda lousy about it, but the majority of them are breakable and I just didn’t want to fret about the kids touching (which is inevitable). So I bought all new, unbreakable ornaments. Lots of plastic, wood and paper. I did the whole thing in a theme of red, white and silver (with the occasional green ornament tossed in for good measure). It’s actually quite pretty, if I do say so myself. ;-) And it’s GREAT not having to worry about little fingers exploring the decor!
Also bought all new stockings and tree skirt. I get bored with them so easily, so buying new is a bad habit of mine. Most of the trim (silks, candles, etc) can be re-used no matter what my theme, but my stockings are usually retired every 2 years or so. This year I got cute, felt craft-style from Macy’s (I think they were from the Martha Stewart line) - ya know, for the $10 I spent on them each (on sale), they’re really very nice. Just as good of quality as my Pottery Barn stockings from the past years, if not better. Honestly! (and this after I went all over town, spent 4 hours going into 7 or 8 stores looking for stockings - I saw a lot of shapes, styles, colors and qualities)
Also finally broke down and got something to count down Christmas with. I’ve been looking at advent calendars for ages, of all different types. The little wooden houses, the calendar looking kinds you hang on the wall, etc. Ended up going with a Kaethe Kruse advent stocking garland that was probably over priced, but is just so so darling. I hung it up on the mantel already and the kids love looking at all the different little stockings. Now I just need to go out and get some little treats to stuff in them! Jag can’t wait for December 1st!
Oh and speaking of my mantel - I’m almost done. I went a bit overboard this year, it looks kind of overdone but I still love it. I’ll post a photo when I’m done, still need to add my “G” monogram letter on the mirror and still need to decide if I’m going to add lights or just leave it as greenery, berries and candles.
Welp, that’s enough rambling about my Christmas decorations. I’ll spare you the long list of things I still need to do. ;-P
One of these days I’ll type up an update on the kids. They’re doing really well, of course with the typical challenges, but still - really well.
