Christmas Season 2012

December was a really insane month for me.  It's my own fault because I didn't get enough of my "need to do's" done in the earlier months, to save room for the "want to do's".  But I decided I really wanted to do fun activities with the kids each day in December so I was just going to have to make it work.

We have a wooden advent calendar with 24 doors on it.  In each one I put a mini ornament to hang on our wall hanging tree, and also a slip of paper with a fun activity to do that day.  I figured it all out at the end of November and made sure to include all the parties and activities that I knew about, so I wouldn't over schedule the day.  But it was still crazy.  Here's what we ended up doing: 

Dec 1-  Decorated the Christmas Tree

Dec 2 – Had a Lasagna Dinner with the Oldhams and Walkers and watched the Christmas Devotional.

Dec 3 – Went shopping to pick out a Christmas Ornament

Dec 4 – Assembled and mailed a care package for Daddy.

Dec 5-  Put together a Christmas puzzle.

Dec 6 – Live Nativity in Henderson, and Ice Skating

Dec 7 –Luke’s Christmas playgroup at the house from 9:30-11:30.  In the evening we played a family game.

Day 8 – Ward Christmas Party

Day 9 –Christmas Book – Read "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"

Day 10 –

Day 11 –  GRINCH NIGHT

Day 12 – 

Day 13 – Relief Society Christmas Party

Day 14 – Cole’s Christmas Party at the Stuarts, and Luke’s Christmas Party at the Dustins.  Aspen spending the weekend, along with Taylor and James Jenkins.

Day 15 – Mia’s Christmas party at Lexi’s.  Visited the Bellagio to see the conservatory.

Day 16- Visiting Teaching open house at the Stevensons. 

Day 17- Delivered Neighbor Gifts

Day 18-

Day 19-

Day 20- Luke’s Preschool Christmas Party.  Military Friend Christmas party at the Oldhams 7pm

Day 21 –  Nutcracker Field Trip.  Decorated a Gingerbread House.

Day 22 – Drew’s Work Christmas Party.

Day 23 –Christmas Piano Recital at Osbornes.  Then watched the POLAR EXPRESS and drank Hot Cocoa.

DAY 24 – CHRISTMAS EVE.  Dinner with friends and act out the nativity.   Open Christmas Eve Gift.

 I had to tell the kids up front that we might not be able to do EVERYTHING.  And as you can see, a few nights were just to crazy to make the activity work.  That's why they are blank.  I think what added to the exhaustion was that we also had basketball practice twice a week, volleyball practice twice a week, games every saturday, piano lessons and practice, scouts, and activity days. 

I found that I was going to bed at about 1:30am every night.  I didn't get enough of the shopping done while Drew was able to help me, so I suffered in the end.  I was starting to turn into a scrooge.  The Reese family was so sweet to invite us over for Christmas Day Dinner and I told them that I was sorry but I was going to spend the entire day in my pajamas and do my best to lay around like a lazy person.  And that's what I did.  Well, almost.  I didn't get ready at all, but I spent most of the day assembling things and running from kid to kid to make sure things were working.  

I'm documenting this Christmas schedule so I can remind myself next year NEVER to walk into December unprepared again.  I thought I was doing great with having my Christmas cards done and stamped before Dec 1st, but I could have done better than that.  Christmas is a time for love and happiness and being with family.  I need to make sure I am able to feel that!  

As soon as Christmas was over I felt so free.  The major stress was gone.  The kids were happy.  I had pulled it off.  Just in the knick of time too.  If I had to go one more week at the pace I may have killed over.