Happy Holidays Really! (So far) - -

Good Tuesday afternoon to you!

Okay...normally I will just post once a week, but I thought I would at least update the mission we are on to make the Holiday Happy Really! 

We were gone for Thanksgiving for over a week and did not get back until Sunday.  I am just now getting caught up with laundry (last load is in the wash now...yeah!!) and my e-mails have finally all at least been looked at (no internet for 5 days = over 500 unanswered e-mails!!)  I am sure many of you can relate!  I at least have the Thanksgiving decor gathered and 90% of it is stored away for next year...well, the last post mentions how that happened.  :-) So now...it is time to get the house decorated for Christmas (this is where if you were sitting here, you would hear an audible UGH!!).  That sound effect would be due to the fact that we have tubs and tubs and tubs of Christmas decor. (again...does this sound familiar to anyone?!).  I LOVE how our home looks when it all decorated, but it takes about 5 hours or so to get it all done.   Well - I will skip all of the background conversation that my husband and I had about how it is just us, no one sees the house all decorated except for the kids, etc...., but this year our Holiday is going to be Happy Really! because we are only putting up the 2 trees (the children have their own), decorating the mantle (we can't skip the stockings!) and putting out the children's most favorite items (of course their favorites involve buttons to push and singing/dancing).   

None of our Christmas traditions are being altered (we still read them a Christmas book each evening, have our advent candle out...), but what we have gained is reduced stress during a time where the tasks are more than time available to complete them.  Now, I can use that saved 5 hours from the decorating and saved 3 hours from the undecorating to do something like...get my Christmas cards mailed out BEFORE Christmas Eve day, watch a movie with my children, take the walk I have been meaning to take for 3 days now, etc.

So...off to enjoy more Happy Holidays Really!!  How have you been doing with that? Let me know...it is always so nice to know you aren't alone on things, isn't it?!

Smiles,
Andrea