Last night we had our annual graham cracker house party and today and tomorrow I’m making snacks for gift baskets for my husband’s co-workers. I don’t think I’ve had a day without something going on in weeks! Starting sometime week before last we’ve had an event every single evening or afternoon. By the time my kids finish their end of year stuff, we go to our holiday parties, we throw holiday parties, plus any last minute shopping, December is the busiest month of the year.
Adding to it this year, I picked up 3 projects to start and complete in December. Now, these are for paying customers so I’m happy to do them, but my time is now totally maxed out! Every night after the kids go to bed I’m working to get as much done as possible.
Now, I’m enough of an extrovert that I LOVE all the activity! Come January when NOTHING is going on, I’m going to be bored…
Fortunately, as much as I love shopping, I really hate shopping with crowds so I had almost all my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving. There’s no Christmas Eve shopping for me. (which is good, because by the time we go to the Christmas Eve service, do our last Advent Calendar pocket, eat dinner, get the kids in bed, and set up the train set, I wouldn’t make it to the store before midnight).
However, all this stuff can make it so hard to focus on really enjoying Christmas. I’m constantly reviewing my schedule for the week, making sure that all the pieces fit. Trying to keep the house clean around all the activity. Our decorations went up the Monday after Thanksgiving so it looks like Christmas around here. I’m even playing Christmas music while I blog but I’m just not convinced that I’m ready for Christmas day. I haven’t figured out what I’m making for Christmas breakfast, I don’t know what time my Mother-in-law is planning Christmas dinner, and since I love planning I feel that I should pick out the songs we’ll sing Christmas morning before opening our presents.
My goal for next week, just relax and enjoy a few days (and of course clean the house in preparation for the ensuing onslaught of new toys and wrapping paper everywhere).