Usually, the holidays are my favorite time of year. I love the smells of turkey and goodies baking in the oven, of peppermint hot cocoa and pine. I love decorating the house with all of our Christmas stuff and seeing the twinkling lights start to appear in everyone's yards. I love love love Christmas music as you saw in my last post. I usually can't seem to get enough of it. And the presents! Oh my the presents. I usually have all of my shopping out of the way months in advance for two reasons. One, I love Christmas so much, I like to try to integrate it all year round, and two because with three birthdays and Christmas all happening within a month of each other, I find it more cost effective.
But this year, something is off. I'm not even sure what it is. I still haven't finished making all of my Christmas purchases (not to mention stocking stuffers which I haven't even started yet!). I bought the main dish for Christmas dinner, but I'm not excited to make it and we've done zero holiday baking unless you count the Chocolate Chip cookies GG made for the Tweedles to eat after singing to the Seniors as part of a church event. I have nothing wrapped. I have nothing ready. The only decoration we have out is our 6' santa and honestly, where would we put him? And I've stopped listening to my holiday music - completely.
It just doesn't feel like Christmas. I think part of it might be that we have all just been so busy. Between work, school, and events, there hasn't been a whole lot of down time for any of us. The Hubs just wrapped up finals last week and is still working his day job. LW wraps up her finals this week and GG wraps up hers the following week. The Tweedles have holiday presentations starting Wednesday (which I'm still not sure I'll be able to attend!) as well as Brownie events, increased Church events and testing to see if they can get their yellow belts in karate class all before the holiday. And me? I've been working pretty much all the time between my day job and contract work. The money is great and is helping us afford all the extra expenses, but it's tending to dampen the mood.
So, here's my question for you my friendly readers, what gets you into the holiday spirit? What is it about the holidays that gets your heart pumping, gives you that holiday glow and makes you want to embrace the season?
Seriously.. Thoughts?
December 1st, when you can open the first door of the Advent calendar. December - the month that brings legitimacy to feeling the holiday spirit year-round. Ah, sweet December, when the fragrant scent of Pine trees reaches even the sunny beaches of Southern California. Yes, So Cal, where raisins take the place of sugar plums and mall Santas wear flip-flops and sunglasses. Mall Santas. They definitely get me into the holiday spirit. I remember one in particular: "What do you want for Christmas, little Bro?" said a Jerry Garcia-looking Santa to the little kid next in line, in front of me. Santa Garcia then told the kid he wanted brownies this year instead of cookies. Sitting on Santa's lap. That always gives me the holiday glow. Especially with Santa Garcia.
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