Ok, so...its now the 16th of January and my Christmas tree is still up. As is the lighted garland going up the staircase, the stockings on the fireplace, and the nativity scene. I feel like such a slacker. The staircase garland is my favorite decoration. It just looks so pretty, wrapped around the railing, with pretty white lights and red bows and berries. It only takes about 15 minutes to put up, and even less time to take down, but I haven't done it. My tree is also amazing. I only put about 9 strands of lights on it this year in order to save time while decorating (I usually put on 15). We then put on 331 ornaments. Yes, I counted. Well, my mother helped me. She is where I get my Christmas obsessions from. My decorations can't hope to match hers. She has a tree in almost every room in her house, and hangs a couple thousand ornaments every year.
Christmas is such a marvelous time of year, and January is so cold and boring, taking down the decorations makes me sad. I know there are people out there that take the decorations down as soon as they can. I just can't do it. Now, my mother drilled into my head that the decorations need to stay up until Epiphany, to celebrate the wise men visiting baby Jesus. But that was 10 days ago...
We did spend last weekend in Wisconsin having one final family Christmas party. This did stop me from starting taking the decorations down then. The kids had only 6 Christmases this year. My parents came down from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and we celebrated Christmas with them on December 17th. Then we went to Chicago to visit with my dad's family on the 18th. Then Christmas Eve with Tim's extended family. Then Santa came of course on Christmas morning. Then Christmas afternoon with Tim's immediate family. Then last weekend, January 8th, in Wisconsin with my mom's family. We have to have "the talk" with the kids before every party. The, "it doesn't matter what you get or don't get, you need to be grateful" talk. Alex, at 8 years old has the hardest time with this. He hasn't learned the art of censoring his thoughts before they leave his mouth yet. We have to explain that it doesn't matter that Aili got the largest present, his presents were just as good. So frustrating!!
Anyway, back to the decorations... I'll get them down. I'll get all the ornaments wrapped up and safely stowed away until next year. The living room furniture will be moved back to its usual location, and life will return to normal. But before we know it, Christmas will be back again. The Hallmark ornaments will be unveiled in the middle of July, decorations will be in stores before Halloween, and people will start planning their Black Friday shopping strategies long before Thanksgiving. Then it'll be over, and we'll all wonder where the past year went, and I'll be fretting about leaving my decorations up way too long again.
So here's my final toast to Christmas, to twinkling lights and candy canes, to wrapping paper and bows, to visiting with close friends and loving family...see you again in 343 days!!
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