Well, I still don’t feel very Christmas-y! I mentioned that I hoped that by the 25th of November that I’d feel all festive and cheery. Hmmmm, the 25th of November has come and gone, and I’m still not feeling it. I feel a little more excited that I did on the 14th, but not as much as I usually do! I’m not very happy about that either!

I usually decorate my house right after American Thanksgiving because then we have Christmas for 1 month. See, I’m a “tear everything down on Boxing Day” kinda girl! Christmas is done, over, no more use to leave stuff hanging around! I think that is one of those things ingrained by my father* – the jolly old guy! * snort *

We were never allowed(as kids) to set up Christmas until after his birthday(Dec 12th) and then everything got torn down on Boxing Day. Now the reason for everything getting torn down had to do with the fact that we had our whole entire family and always a few extras over on New Years Day – and you really can’t ring in the new with all of last years stuff hanging around. You need a fresh, new, clean start to the year! Oh, Yah, and there was – like – 400 people in my family that would come over! So we needed the space where the Christmas tree was to cram in 14 of my cousins.

I’m still not sure about the whole - not setting up Christmas until after his birthday - thing! Makes no sense to me – that’s when you were born – at Christmas time – roll with it. Any way, I ditched the late date set up, and held onto the Boxing Day Clean up thing. Now, I have the whole family over to my house on New Years Day. It’s nice to see everybody, but this year I’ll have nothing to talk about because they know all about my life by reading it here! Oh well! Maybe I’ll talk to them about my kids warts or some other such thing! Who knows – I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it!

To explain the whole Bah Humbug thing……The only day that I could set up, my decorations and tree and whatnot, was yesterday! Yesterday was also a Non-Instructional Day at my kids school! I can’t believe that they are missing more school after being off on strike for 2 weeks, but that’s a rant for another time and another place! So, Joy of Joy’s – How Blessed am I? – They were home on the only day that I had to set up Christmas at our house.

I know that some of you count it a joy, a blessing, nay a privilege to tackle lovingly trim the tree and deck the halls with your children.

Yah – I’m not one of the parents! My idea of decorating is that the kids go to school one morning, and when they get home…….YAH – Christmas came and just happened! It’s magic! Decorating with my kids is….is…..I don’t think I can say…..well, it’s pretty close to hell!

I figured that my house was already a terrible mess, and I always make a mess when I decorate….so, I might as well just get at it. We brought all the boxes up amidst squealing, jumping, and general happiness. As soon as the last box was up they turned into a pack of snarling hyena’s. They ripped the boxes to shreds as they clawed for their very. own. ornaments. Then, I spent the next couple of hours trying to explain that, “NO, they could not string the lights” and, “NO, they could not just hang that one ornament on yet” and, “NO, it was not Christmas Day yet” and, “NO, they could not have any candy.” Not really sure how the candy one fit in, but they asked a lot! I’m not really sure how it happened, but by the end of the evening(1am) my house was clean, and my halls were decked, my tree was trimmed, and my children were snug in their beds with dreams of sugar plums dancing in their heads. I was exhausted, but all was well with my world.

Until the next morning…………when they all woke up!

P.S. – I love my father, but all who know him can testify to the fact that he would never be described as a jolly old Santa Clause type guy. He’s more like Melvin Udall – the character that Jack Nicholson plays in “As Good as it Gets” AND I love him any way!