I Really Don't Hate Christmas

Wait it was just Thanksgiving, how is Christmas in 4 days?

(insert panic attack here)

Like everyone at this point in the holiday season, I'm gathering the last of the gifts and wrapping like a maniac.

Every year I feel that the reason for the season gets more hidden below the layers of Santa paper and scotch tape.

Every year I say I want to adopt a family to buy for and hope that my kids understand that we have SO much that often goes unappreciated.

Every year I hope that one of my children says, "mom, please take everything you bought me and give it to a family who doesn't have the money to buy it for themselves."

Every year I wish for less stress and it doesn't come.

I'm normal right.

My kids deserve their gifts.  They are wonderful kids, bright, loving, hard-working, so good at everything they try, I love getting them things that make their eyes light up with joy.

It's just the crowds, the traffic, the lines, the rush, the last minute, the cleaning, the prepping, the cooking, the build up...it's all so wild and crazy.

Curling up in bed with my iPhone and sleeping until January 1 sounds SO appealing.

Really though, I am blessed beyond words.

My blog has lead to my second blog that's lead to the most amazing opportunities I would have never imagined 10 years ago.

The fact that we will travel to our 3rd and 4th Hawaiian island in less than a year in February is beyond explanation.

The fact that my family is healthy, we have a home, and my husband has a job is a feat of it's own.

How do you feel this holiday??

Oh Christmas Cow...Oh Christmas Cow...

HOW.Is.It.December 23?

No, really, because it was just my 37th birthday, February, we were on a wine tour in a limo.

I got my favorite toy in the world as a gift, my iPod Touch.

I blinked.

Now it's almost 2011.

I'm almost 38, and we have a MAJOR road trip planned on Christmas day.

You hear that??

It's the thumping of my heart.

As it races at about 150 beats per minute.

Clearly not normal.

At least we did get a Santa visit in.

She was invited into his lap, but looked at me with her "oh hells no" eyes and I said, she's in just the right spot.

10 minutes prior to this she was a star in her preschool Christmas play.

By, star I mean she was a cow.

But the CUTEST ONE that ever graced a manger.
See, told you!

No lines, just stood there, looking adorable.

My Boy was the InnKeeper in this very same play 6 years ago.

His one line about there being no room at the Inn was dazzling.

DQ was Mary.  No lines, but the "lead" no less.

Good thing we're done having kids.

I'm not sure there's anything lower than a cow in the program.

Well maybe the hay beneath baby Jesus.

Though we moved down the acting ladder this year, it was definitely a darling production.

Now that the big day(s) are just hours away, I'm rushing about looking for those last minute presents, trying to find all those hiding spaces I stashed gifts, and hoping they don't get shaken and then guessed before opening.

Where's the surprise in that?


From my family to yours, we wish you the happiest of holidays, travel safe, and remember those diets can all start after New Year's!