MM and I have been traveling over the Midwest to visit family for Thanksgiving, and returned late Friday night – thanks, Traffic!  Luckily, he suggested that despite our weariness, we head to the grocery store as soon as we drop our stuff off at the house, so that we wouldn’t have to leave the house for the rest of the weekend. 

Which was great, because I was then able to spend most of the morning doing nothing more than compiling a Christmas wish list to handover to the various people asking for one over the previous few days.  But then, sometime after lunch, I finally got the bug.  The decorating bug.  I asked MM nicely to help get all of the containers from our storage area (not an easy feat, given the number of them –he nicely suggested that I couldn’t possibly need that many decorations, to which I laughed and told him every single thing would be used).  Once all of the containers were on the first floor, I located a bunch of my Christmas movies, threw a favorite into the DVD player, and got to work. 

It took me White Christmas (The best things happen while you’re dancing…) and The Muppet Christmas Carol x2 (It’s in the singing of a street corner choir, it’s going home and getting warm by the fire…), and at least one episode of Fixer Upper to finish.  And most of that was because a section of my pre-lit Christmas tree is failing to light. It’s still not lighting, so a new one will probably have to be acquired.  After the New Year, I think to take advantage of sales. 

Still, I’m happy with things turned out.  In the early years in this house, I really only had a tree and one surface area decorated. Now there’s a lot more, and I absolutely love looking around my living spaces and seeing lights and color. 

I used today to go through my normal pre-week work (salads,anyone?), and then continued my Christmas card routine.  There are 76 on the list, including the next door neighbors, the postman, trash and recycle guys.  I have a few that need updated addresses, but otherwise, everything is stamped, addressed and has return labels.  Just need to seal them, and they can be send on their way! 

Next up?  Christmas gifts need to be purchased or made.  And I do have ideas! 

How about you?  What are you doing to get ready for the holidays?