Time to Slow It Down

I always want to love the holidays. But I always end up hating them or dreading them. We are always normally broke when Christmas comes around. I know you would think that we would better prepare for them by now but no. We have so many places to go between Thanksgiving through Christmas evening. Well I have decided that this year will be different! We have slashed our Christmas list in half this year. The children will not be getting everything that they want that comes from a store this year. We won't be running here and there and everywhere this year to try to make everyone else happy. This year we will be making our own traditions.  Tomorrow we will be going to get our Christmas tree. Yes I know it's a little bit early. But Jay has plans to leave on a river trip on Friday so this works out. For Thanksgiving we were planning on having dinner at our house and cooking but once we figured out that Jay's entire family would be in attendance we had to move it to his parents house. But we are still doing the turkey.  We will not be racing off though and running to Wilson. This is part of our take it easy and enjoy life plan. Normally we run here and there for Thanksgiving, giving us heartburn from eatting so fast. This year we can go down and eat and relax and then come home before dark!  I am so excited about that. I love to see my family but being able to relax for a change is something I am looking forward to. Friday we are decorating! I love to decorate for Christmas. It puts me in the mood for the holidays. I remember decorating with my mom when I was little. We spent the whole day putting up tree decorations and putting candles in the windows. And how good the house smelled with a real  tree! I miss a real tree. This is the first year in about 5 that we will have a real tree. I am so excited about that too!
The kids will be learing the TRUE meaning of Christmas this year. They will be learning why we celebrate Christmas and then what we can do for others and the importance of family. I don't want them growing up thinking Christmas is just about presents.
So here's to slowing down and enjoying the holidays this year instead of worrying and stressing and rushing through them. Here's to remembering memories instead of having to look at the pictures to get a glimpse of how the evening went.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays