Merry Christmas

This is my favorite time of year, period. 

Everything and everyone is sparkly and shiny...houses are lit up brightly, Christmas trees peek from front windows.  I personally believe that if you use clear lights, it is permissible to leave them on the house all year long.  So happy and festive, don't you think?  Brian sensibly pointed out that the lights on the bushes would hinder trimming and what not, but really--how often do you have to trim bushes?

The music is happier and fortunately for me a local radio station starts playing it in Novemember, though I noticed that they started around Thanksgiving this time instead of mid-Novemember.  Might have been a deejay revolt.  All Christmas all the time for almost two months might be tough to take, no matter what they are paid.  I drove my students a little crazy with my Pandora Holiday, but at least I didn't start until December 1st.  They have already asked hopefully if I will be leaving up the Christmas lights I put up around the room past Christmas.  Uh, yeah!

I have decided that next year I am definitely wrapping some faux presents for under the tree.  The way the tree looks on Christmas morning with no wrapped gifts under it is a bit depressing.  Brian just laughs and shakes his head.  I started doing stockings for the fur-babies and Brian and me this year.  Next year, I may just add an Elf on the Shelf for us.  We may not have kids yet, but no reason why we can't have as much Christmas magic as possible around here.

Speaking of Christmas magic, despite the fact that both Brian and I were under the weather for the days leading up to Christmas, I did manage to make and decorate Christmas cookies this year, one goal I had this year...do some baking.  I would still like to put a muffin basket together for the neighbors.  Maybe a New Year's gift.

I still didn't get to look at Christmas lights this year, though I am sure that not many people will have already taken theirs down if we went tonight.  That was something I loved as a child; my parents would take us out on Christmas Eve...probably to get us sleepy early so Santa could come. 

The only child I am really around now for Christmas (except for a fleeting few hours a week ago) is my nephew, Zachary.  On Christmas Eve we unwrap our gifts to each other.  His unrestrained joy at each gift was a sight to behold.  As he ripped the paper from each gift and he realized what was beneath the paper, he would yell, "I've always wanted this!"  He's five, remember.  Always is a long time, hee hee.   But it makes the gift giver feel pretty good to have his undying devotion because you have such excellent taste in toys.

I am becoming a whiz at hooking up new electronics.  Hooked up 3 dvd players yesterday and a new stereo.  Today I will be working on the surround sound.  The trick is to stay calm and not overthink it, I believe.

So now as Brian heads out to work, I must try to put the house back in order.  Place all the amazing gifts we received this year and clean since I finally feel well enough. 
I hope your Christmases were as wonderful as ours.  And think about what I said about clear lights. If we all band together, we could really start something...just sayin'.