Christmas Cheer

There are two things that are always true about this time of year. I am always full of Christmas cheer and enjoy partaking in the the various activities of the season. AND there is never as much time as I think to fit in all the things that need and want to be done before the holidays are over.

When I gaze at the uncluttered google calendar page in mid-November, I think, "Ah! This year there will be plenty of time.." for this and that and the other thing. The problem is that by mid-December, "this and that and the other thing" have to muscle their way on to the calendar in between all the other things that have popped up on there.

It's all fun stuff. Crafts and cocoa and songs and parties and music and church and friends and lights and family. I love it! And it's horrible at the same time.

I start to feel like we're running a race and we'll get through it if we just pace ourselves.

That's not an entirely awesome way to feel, but I think it may be an unavoidable situation. I WANT to say yes to all of it.

This year, I had wanted to take the kids to a performance of the nutcracker or A Christmas Carol, but I'm a day late (literally) and a dollar short (somewhat literally). All the performances that we could get ourselves to without supernatural intervention have sold out (since yesterday when there were at least a couple of seats left).

Ah, sigh. It's ok. We'll go to the Mormon Temple and to see the Garden of Lights. To make gingerbread houses with friends and cookies with cousins. And to THREE! unexpected birthday parties. There is plenty to do.

For the moment, I'm a little cheer-less. My (new-ish) computer has stopped working AND I lost a bag of craft-fair gifts (somewhere. Where is that thing? My house is not that big! Did it get tossed by accident? Argh). Also, I realized that now that the temp has dropped in earnest, so has my will to get my butt outside and exercise. I'm trending to Grinchy at the moment.

A walk with the dog. A cup of eggnog. Some carols. A deep breath. And plunge back in.