Christmas up, Christmas down, I want it all put away now. I have been emptying cupboards and cabinets and now the Christmas stuff needs to be packed up. I read a book yesterday cover to cover in 8 hours. It was lovely! I have another already started, it is my carrot. Before my feet hit the floor in the morning, I assign myself three things to accomplish. Between each task, I read, so far so good, the book and the tasks.

Actually it is organized chaos, but having the mess around me, inspires me to get back to it. Piles of… what am I doing with this? The unhomed things are what slows me down. They have their own pile and will create a task of their own. I have to complete the three things first, so for now they are a distraction. This new book is good already, also a distraction!

This is how I like my days. It is beautiful outside but a storm is suppose to be coming. I hate being trapped by weather. Anything leaving the house is gotta go today. I suppose winter has to start sometime. I hope that it is brief and our lovely summer season returns to us quickly. I will not sit this winter, way too much sitting last year. I don’t know who I am trying to convince, I guess we shall see. Christmas treats are everywhere, I can’t stay out of them. However, I have four bins to pack up with Christmas decorations and a book calling my name!

Happy season! Already I want to rearrange rooms and paint and throw crap out. I’ll dream about it for a couple days and move on as always. I napped, so I have been getting up early. I am going to immerse myself in a book finally! That of course means I will do nothing until it is done. My cat stayed out of the tree, she preferred the presents. She has a love hate relationship with the dog. The dog is no longer terrified of her.

Hubby teased that the gifts for him were for old people and told the kids I was looking for a home to put him in. My daughter told him she would take him. Not me, my son quipped that he would keep me. He did mention that if I got dementia, he would never find me and that we should start playing Marco Polo now so it would be in my memory.

Of course I forgot team Canada is the focus this time of year. I’ll have to plan the next round of visits around this precious tradition. Insert eye roll, don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy the games. Right now, pick up the clementines off the floor is the game the cat is playing! Must be a full moon as the pets are nuts this am! All of this gives me lots to do and get nothing done. Where is that book?

Big huggers around here! Fam needs to brace themselves for a smackaroo too. When you’re leaving, a big squeeze, kiss your cheek and I love you. If I’m up hubby gets the goodbye hug and kiss. If it’s the weekend and one is going, hug and kiss. Some think that’s weird. Kisses and hugs good night, goodbye, good morning, hello. Dogs and cats too! We love around here! If a family member gets away without one, we chase you.

I have friends that don’t kiss, that’s perfectly fine, for you. We love in a text, a call, in person, kiss face emoji is very well used. I haven’t hung the mistletoe, I changed ceiling fans and it messes everything up. Me and hubby have a three kiss rule for lights out. My kids get the forehead or cheek. I kiss the grands as much as I can, usually in rapid succession before they complain.

Pucker up, lemme lay my lips on ya!! It’s automatic, just the way it has always been. I kissed mom and dad, momma dropped by today and there was hugs and kisses. Sure was, she brought me Christmas baking! we always kissed the kids, always tucked them in. Well at least until they let us. They are grown now, so they tolerate our affection without complaint. What was it Momma that Grammie use to say? “ A bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck.” My grandparents used to hug and kiss me a lot too! I miss them, and that is what happens..

Shortest day, longest night. Daylight will now start to get longer. I wrapped five presents, got delay of game from the friendly neighbourhood flu bug. My car is all nestled in the garage waiting for me to hit the ground running. I didn’t want it to go this route, it is what it is. I’ve done it before, seven kids, university classes, storms galore, crossing the finish line at Christmas Eve. I remember my oldest girls doing all the Christmas baking without being asked. Our family is a team in the crunches of life.

I got 15 hours sleep in the last 24 hours. I would say it is a waste, but the body knows. I knew that power outage was going to get my immunities out of whack. However, I will do this! Body says sit, brain says go. I need a clone. I need time. I need a nap.

My star keeps falling off the top of the tree. I used to have an Angel but she was always bungee jumping off the top. I can’t reach up there properly! Who needs a tree topper anyways? I am pretty lucky the kitty has left the tree alone, if anything the dog wants the tree skirt for a bed. It does look comfy. Christmas is a comfortable season. When you get to take a minute and look at it. Something very comforting in the silence and in the decorated spaces. We create the stress really. Be sure to take a minute, put everything aside and just look at it. I think I will grab a pillow and lay under the tree with the dog.

Exhausted from a power outage. Nothing like complete silence to mess up your sleep. It’s the calm before the storm inside the house, big days are coming and haven’t got time for set backs. Trying to make it to 10 pm is a chore now. Then being obligated to sleep by the absence of electricity, was a tad annoying. Pets are antsy too, so much pacing lately. Late night zoomies are not appreciated. I am gonna need a hard reset for a sleep schedule.

Trying to stay focused on what I did do, instead of what isn’t done. Someone asked what was the first thing I was gonna do this holiday season, that is too much thinking. I do believe that will be the first thing I will do, not think! A whole bunch of nothing with a little nada on the side. Tonight, I wrap, I have said for the third time this week! Currently, stuffing my face with more Christmas candies!

Hope everyone has the best of intentions lined up. I hope you are okay with the bumps and dips that happen. I lost a present one year, didn’t find it until the new year. I also had a platter explode just before setting the feast on it, 30 minutes delay of dinner sweeping tiny shards of glass from everywhere! Timing dinner is always fun. I’ve had to wait for kids to wake up, and also had them wait for me wake up. Their dad always tells them the presents have to be back by five. Old times, new times, good times! ….Almost time!

Ho Ho man as I used to refer to our holiday dude, is my favourite. I just realized the other day that I had not called him that in a few years. I went to the mall, I think last year and saw him in his big chair with all the little children. I was with my daughter and grand daughter, I am a child at Christmas, so I hollered, “Hi Santa!” My daughter is used to me, my grand daughter was a little alarmed. I went on to talk about him for an additional 15 minutes, confirming that he saw me and how great he is. What can I say, I love Christmas.

Two days ago I was driving with my son and I interrupted our conversation to blurt out “Ho Ho man!” That is when I realized I hadn’t said it in a while. My poor son was totally confused, and I had to explain that Santa in full garb had just driven by us. I went into a detailed visual since he can not see. He was patient with me, he is grown and does remember what Santa looks like. What’s left if you don’t believe? Santa wraps with Santa paper, Santa does all the tags with Santa writing. His gifts only arrive Christmas morning. He drinks the milk, eats the cookies and Rudolf nibbles the carrot every year! It will never change in my lifetime. It will be my social responsibility to carry on traditions that have begun before I was born.

Well it doesn’t matter, my kids are grown. It matters to me. It makes me soupy happy, warm and fuzzy, cozy. I feel young, I feel like I know something others don’t. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Clause, is one of my favourite Christmas shows. It inspired me to write as a child. The meaning has changed over the years, but the editorial response is my epilogue. It makes me cry. It is so hard to find now with all of the shows being created. Hallmark has cornered some of Christmas with love at Christmas. Love is all year, I’ll take an order of Ho Ho man please!

Dusk and dawn are the hours to reflect. Such beauty these times of day when the sun rises and sets, or the moon lifts into the night. You made it, whatever it was, you did it. Bask in the moment. If it was the day, the week or month, spend time reflecting as the orbs in the sky do. Meet yourself where you are. No more, no less. We spend too much time worrying about tomorrow, just accept the new day and go from there.

No matter what is on your plate, picking away at it or eating the whole meal does not matter. Sitting at the table does. It’s easier to see how far you or others around you have come, by looking back. Don’t get stuck staring into space, really see. We all think too much, biggest obstacle are the ones we imagine. Create your happiness.

Santa is coming soon, do good things. Get rest, eat well, be happy! No matter what, do that! Share, be kind, enjoy. Christmas is not the head banging distraught mess some have made it in to. Small joys can reap big rewards. Stay in the childlike state Christmas evokes. You should yearn to feel young and full of wonderment ! I love that sappy meaningful good feels this time of year has. Get into it. Sure things change, family dynamics shift, it is a time to shift with it!

My tree is up, no decorations. The other day I had the urge to just give the presents already!. No wrapping paper, just pass them out. We have had fakesgiving before to line up various schedules. Always a challenge this time of year. Not everyone gets an extended holiday and some have little to none. It seemed mandatory in my memory, but I can’t rely on that.

We did Christmas early one year, just by a day. It was when I was a kid and I think wobbly pops were part of that. Christmas Eve was Christmas. It was crazy and silly and on actually Christmas Day it was weird. Easy to get caught up in the season. I have decorated in November, I have decorated last minute. Either way, Christmas arrives regardless., ready or not. Sometimes being ready early just makes it easier to buy more.

I prefer the people, the time, the relaxation after the hub bub. I do love to decorate and bake, it just isn’t feasible sometimes. I like to see the inspiration in other peoples homes. I sure miss a real fire warming up a home. I miss my dad, I miss the kids being little. I take what I can get, it changes every year. I haven’t really thought about how close it is, I’m not panicking yet. Cheers to holidays everyone!! Enjoy!💝

Sometimes the rear view mirror has a caution sign, so we move forward. The past has a lot to offer. You can be selective on recall. I have a video of hubby laughing, deep, hardcore laughing. I played it during supper the other night and although the details are vague, it was infectious. Probably should have waited until we were done eating to avoid choking. I’m glad I have the video. I need more of my family laughing. What a sweet emotion to carry around.

I was trying to get rid of pictures off of my phone, but the distraction of all the different times had me sucked in for hours! My phone is my memory bank, don’t really want to curb that. It is so easy to get caught in events and life and forget to shine a spotlight on better times. A constant highlight reel playing the key positive moments. The old show, “This is your life,” just good times! Maybe that is why so many people are hooked on Tik Tok and movie clips, feel happy little clips.

Bad moments happen, maybe even necessary. They help us reflect and do better. It allows us to have true gratitude and appreciation for our lives. Sounds counterproductive, but in the bigger picture and hindsight we really do relish our good times more after experiencing the less than moments. When my gal pals get together, the ugly, scary, rough stuff comes out, but now we can laugh at it. We poke fun at ourselves and create good out of bad. Maybe we need to check mark our good days on the calendar. Just checks and x’s don’t want to write out a docudrama. Make yourself some fun, every day!

I am sure the picture of your darlings milling about in their school fills your day with sparkle. We do that to feel better about our own day. In our minds eye, they do no wrong. We recant days with them, ignoring the dropped dilemmas, the averted gazes. Are their failures ours as well? Is character created by us as parents or lack of parenting. Do we have guilt for our absences in their day? When we shuffle them out the door, hurry them into bed, make light of their worries, who is it for? Do you know all the truths of their day? Probably not.

A child needs community too. The experiences they are exposed to outside of home has an impact. Just as it takes a community to raise a child, it can also tear them down. A lifetime of you building them up and giving them self esteem can be cast aside so easily. Friends can hold more value than you. They hold the opinions of companions over family. You only get to watch the repeated actions deflate your child slowly over time.

Just like an abusive relationship it changes the targeted person. Their self worth starts to dissolve, their sense of adventure leaves, until there is just a shell of a former vibrant person. You can tell them, the others are no good for them, but they are stuck. You can be their community too. You need to be their voice, when no one else listens. Some parents almost long for the sass to come back when they are clinging to you for change. Be that!! Get in there, it’s easy to throw your hands in the air with frustration, do the work and help them claw back their peace and belonging.