It's begining to look a lot like......

C H R I S T M A S

I know, it's not even Thanksgiving yet. I know. But it was 50 degrees outside today, and as that is not normal for the end of November. So we took advantage of the nice day and put up our wreaths.. and the lights across the porch, and the lights/garland/bows on the fence. If we can figure out a way, there will be lights and garland around the front door again this year (hasn't been since we installed the outside lights and have no exterior power out there). I have given up on lights around the frame of the house.. and am quite happy with how it works out.Besides, I like how the wreaths look better. Especially now that the house has been painted. They really pop out, where as before they kind of blended in a bit. Friday is the day we decorate the rest of the house/porch and start playing Christmas music. Although, as we only have 2 days of school this week (hooray for short weeks!) I might do the porch on Wednesday like I did last year. That is a project in itself. 

The house is almost clean. 2 rooms left to go, and I purposely leave them for last, as they are the two main rooms we spend the most time in. The kitchen and the family room. I know a lot of people don't do "spring" and "fall" cleaning anymore.. but my big old dusty house requires it. I've started the baking, but Thanksgiving really kicks the baking into high gear. I've started shopping...only 2 people are getting homemade gifts this year (why make them if they aren't appreciated right?) and one is more than half-way completed. I'm still waiting on the yarn for the other one, it's on backorder until Friday. (yikes!) I didn't get my cards made over the summer due to all that work we did on the house, and once school starts, forget it... so I spent last night writing out cards and envelopes and stuffing photos..and all they need are stamps and I can mail them off Dec. 1st. No one will care that they are store bought but me, and I don't care this year.

All in all it's looking good. I bought 2 more books to add to our Christmas book reading. I forget what number we are it.. but I know we are more than halfway to 24, so that is great. Last year we started a Christmas movie collection and we haven't decided which movie we are going to buy this year. However, now that everyone is "in the know" we've decided (well, I did, stole the idea from a co-worker) that each person has to purchase a gift, or several gifts, that costs no more than $5 for everyone else's stocking, and it can't be candy. So instead of me having to figure it all out, they get to be elves also. And then I'll just pick up the goodies. I think it's going to be great fun. I have a lot less stress about the holiday's this year, and I hope that continues to be the case.