The Vince Gueraldi trio "Charlie Brown Christmas" is one of my favorite CDs to listen to around this time of year. The music always just feels like Christmas to me. This season is one of my favorite times of year. Possibly also one of the most stressful times of year (preceded only by the beginning of a new semester).
I have always been a bit of a procrastinator. I guess I never learned those crucial time managements skills. So, if I have a project I need to get done, I usually way underestimate the time I need to complete it, and then don't even leave myself the time I've estimated needing. So I cram, and work my butt off for a day or two at crunch time, when I could have been leisurely working on it way before.
Another element of my stress is that I try to do way too much stuff. For example, this year, I just finished a project for a client (late), and I still need to make Christmas PJ's for my two adorable nieces, as well as for their baby dolls, along with baby doll quilts that match the quilts that I've made for the two of them. I need to make a fleece tie blanket for my nephew-to-be, and soooooo many more projects! In addition, I end up singing. The last couple of years, I would just sing with the adult choir at one of the services on Christmas Eve, but this year, I've sung at church every Sunday, at least once. I'll be singing in both the 7:00 and the 10:45 services on C.E. and I've been singing and playing piano and guitar at home pretty constantly.
But, really, I don't think I would do anything different. I love feeling busy, and having things to do with my hands. I love making things for my friends and family, and giving them something that no one else could give them. I love spending time with my family and friends (though I prefer small doses of the big family gatherings, otherwise, I pull an Uncle John and disappear for a while in the middle of the party). William (my brother) is finally home!
Another of my favorite things about Christmas is the food. We have so many necessary foods here that we have to have to make it feel like Christmas. Chocolate Star cookies, Peanut Butter Chocolate cookies, Stollen (a fantastic German fruit bread), THE chili. Mom was so excited the other day when Molly dropped in to make cookies! They made the stars and the peanut butter ones and the candy cane cookies (which, as far as I know, are no one's favorites, but they are such fun to make and look so neat that we make them every year).
This year, I have been enjoying every moment of Christmas. It's been a while since I have felt like this. I think part of it is that I've been in town so I have more time to enjoy it, instead of shoving a month's worth of "Fa La La" into a week. I also think that my changing expectations and outlook is to blame. I am enjoying the life I'm living and I look forward to the life I have planned. So, I guess, Merry Christmas to me.
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| The girls at the Nutcracker Tea. I actually got to see the full one, but no pictures. We used to dance it when we were kids. |
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| William's surprise arrival at Papa Pancakes |
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| In front of the Christmas tree at the church after Carol Sing and Ring, the Christmas Program for the church choirs. |
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| My "Muppet-tree" (I LOVE it) |
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| Beaker, Kermit (x2), Swedish Chef, and a sneaky Muppet Baby Miss Piggy (who's not really an ornament) |
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| The "Angel" tree |
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| Pointsettas |
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| The "Big" Tree. Note to people who have Hallmark Ornaments which plug into light strands. They don't work with LED light strands. Oh well. |
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