Wrapping it all up
I have been so stinking stressed about the holidays this year, more so than in past years. I have so sick for over a week now because of the stress. It sucks. I think if I could crawl into bed and come out on December 26th, I would.
Now that Christmas is five days away, I have come to the conclusion that not much is going to change between today and then. After coming to that conclusion, I feel much better. There is nothing that I can do to change things drastically and so I need to accept things as they are. I have just a few more things to pick up and I am done with all of my shopping. It feels good to be able to say that. I’m not entirely sure what I need to get because I just need to grab two things for Jada so that the kids have equal amounts of gifts. A very important thing when you have more than one kid!! Remember that!!
The gifts are all wrapped and I am ready to go. Chuckie wants us to put all the presents under the tree now but I am waiting until they are asleep on Christmas Eve. There is something still magical about waking up and seeing all the gifts under the tree that weren’t there the evening before. Even though they know the gifts are coming from us, I want the kids to have a magical Christmas morning.
We are having my family and my in-laws over on Christmas morning for a brunch/gift exchange. We did this a couple of years ago and it worked out so wonderfully. We were able to stay home and stay in our pj’s all day and we didn’t have to load/unload/load/unload our car!!! Also, by early afternoon, everyone is gone and we have the day to ourselves!
We will have our Christmas celebration with Chuck’s side of the family on Christmas Eve as usual. This year we started the kid gift grab bag so I am anxious to see how well it turns out. I hope it works well and we can continue this tradition for years to come. It just makes it easier on everyone.
Every year, I vow that I am going to start my Christmas shopping early and be done by the first of December. I have done it only one year though. That was the best Christmas we’ve ever had and I am determined to do that next year. I may even start as early as February on loading up on the goods. Throughout the year I am going to buy gift cards that don’t expire and stock up to give out next year. It’s hard to buy for some people that early on because they may not be into what you give them by the time the holidays roll around but I am willing to risk it!
I am not big on the huge commercialization of the holidays and I’m not all about the outpouring of big, expensive gifts. I have reminded my own kids over and over again that this Christmas is not going to be crazy and they aren’t going to get all the stuff they want. I think that they understand that we are going to be together as a family and the love that we have and share is what is important. That what generations before us celebrated is somehow lost these days and the reason for Christmas needs to be found and celebrated again. I have a friend that hated all the hoopla surrounding Christmas and so she told her kids when they were younger that baby Jesus received three gifts on Christmas and so they would also receive only three gifts. I wish I had thought of that years ago as well! What a great way to minimalize the commercialization and to tie in the true meaning of Christmas with today’s craziness.
Every time the kids asked Chuck what he wanted for Christmas, he answered that all he wanted was peace and quiet. That sounds like an absolutely wonderful gift. I’m sure he won’t be getting that but the thought is just awesome!
This Christmas I am going to enjoy my family, enjoy watching my children with smiles on their faces and snuggle with each family member to let them know just how much I love them. That sounds like a wonderful day to me!
