my initial reaction to the holidays (as our baby was due the on january 2nd) was to just forgo the holiday festivities.
yeah, i know. how very bah-humbug of me.
we were counting on being so close to delivery that celebrating was the furthest thing from my mind.
the history
i have always been a lover of the holidays.
from halloween straight through the new year.
i love the autumn colors, the rich palette of colors.
i love the bounty of thanksgiving, the cooking and making of the feast.
i love the searching for *a* perfect gift (no matter how small) for each recipient, the lights and decorations. i love the family gathering.
i love the idea of starting our new year together, no work, no big parties. i love our quiet evening with our boys (the three dogs and two cats) by the fire, a nice movie to watch.
what i think i might do
so, i guess this year i might opt for things to go a little differently.
as i have a new job at a convenience store i will likely end up working on thanksgiving and maybe even christmas, so no big commitments. and i am okay with that.
i may make a few casseroles and even some stuffing for just me and the hubby for thanksgiving. (as my mother is buying the turkey and she can hardly be trusted to find safe food for me -allergies- to eat, i will have to forgo the turkey this year. it's just not in our budget.)
so maybe a small dinner by the fire with our boys and some good music or a movie. and i am okay with that!
for christmas i would love to tone it down.
just stocking gifts and one regular-sized gift to exchange with the hubby.
nothing big. for the stockings small tokens, essential oils, soaps, clementines and lemons... that would be perfect for me. (for him, coffees, sugary treats -i never buy them, popcorn and stuff.)
instead of looking for a tree (honestly, my favorite to date was our little charlie brown tree a couple years ago. it cost $11. i loved it.)
i don't know why, but the smaller and more sparse the tree, the more i love it.
but instead of trying to find a tree i love, instead of taking that time and energy, i am looking at just stringing up lights. ...maybe into a christmas tree like pattern. ...and maybe i'll hang some ornaments off the lights.
like this, but smaller and with some decorations:
maybe i will use some of the new essential oils and the new diffuser and my extensive music collection to create a relaxing atmosphere that smells and sounds like christmas.
maybe i will do less, but try to enjoy more.
i love wrapping gifts. it is my absolute favorite thing to do. but maybe this year i will volunteer to do that for my mother.
maybe i can get to the library and get some books to read by the fire with my music and incense.
maybe i can get some fancy tea or make some extravagantly flavored hot chocolate to sip.
maybe i can spend a bit more time cooking meals for us, and less out finding that gift or decoration.
maybe this year we can scale down everything.
and maybe this will satisfy my craving for christmas spirit while allowing me time and privacy to weep for what almost was, if need be.
maybe this will help remove the pressure of the whole big happy christmas festivities!
...maybe...
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