Martha Stewart doesn't live here

And neither does Santa. This year we had to prioritize. I HATE rushing over Christ-mas. The point is not to spend all my money, run errands all day, cram something into every minute, and pass out in a bad mood (swing) at the end of the day. I like Christ-mas way too much. Yet, we went out of town the weekend after Thanksgiving and suddenly we came home to the entire world already decorated for such a "jolly" holiday.

The stress began.

Then I began to be the party pooper. Johnny decorated the front of our house and about 2 weeks later, he said he was ready to climb the roof to put more lights up. See, we like to be the griswolds. we go the day after Christ-mas, collect as much lights as we can and decorate even MORE the next year. But what did I say? "Johnny don't do it. it's too late. I'd rather you hang out with us than decorate the house anymore." I think I saw a tear come out of johnnys eye.

that same week we had lent our christ-mas tree to ella's ballet company and finally got it back. we set it up and as johnny pulled out the decorations, what did I say? "let's not decorate the tree. we're doing advent anyway, let's just let the kids make paper decorations and we'll just turn on the lights" yah, I got sad faces from everyone.

Everyone keeps calling me for decoration ideas, cookies, gift ideas, cooking ... and um,we're taking it slow. We tried to go to the festival of lights, but 2 hours later we decided it'd be better to just tour neighborhoods....

you know what? Touring neighborhoods was more fun. we've had lots of hot chocolate, snowman poop, and learned to wrap presents. We've been raising money for samaratin's purse to provide doctor supplies. We drew names for our sissies to make home made presents. Each night I take one girl and we work on their present. We're doing a new kind of advent with games and time together. We've made ornaments, and laid under the stars. I think this is going to be the best Christ-mas ever!

We didn't need martha's ideas, or Santa's business all we needed was a book and a savior to be born... what a gift and a joy