Christmas Time Is Here!!

Haven't posted in a while and what better time to post the now!! It's that time of the year again. The time of the year we all get to go rushing through crowds buying gifts for everyone on our lists. The time when everyone bundles up (unless of course you live in Wilmington, NC where it's only 70) and goes to buy or cut down their own Christmas tree. We can all listen to and sing Christmas music and nobody looks at you funny for singing

"Jingle Bells" in the middle of July. Thanksgiving is officially over so NOW I can get excited about Christmas (we'll save that point for another blog ;) ). It's been a tradition in our family the past few years that as soon as Thanksgiving dinner is over and cleaned up, we all get comfy cozy on the couch and watch the movie Elf. This year was pretty much the same other than the fact that Matt and I hosted Thanksgiving at our house since it was our first Thanksgiving as Mr. and Mrs. Anyways, back to my point here. We all sat down and watched Elf which of course immediately put me in the Christmas spirit!! Since then, I have been pestering Matt about when we were going to get our tree. The week past and December 1st arrived. I was starting to get antsy. I love Christmas time. Everything about this time of year I just love!! Ok, minus the crazy shoppers. There's a line that I've gotta draw somewhere. I love driving around at night and seeing the houses lite up with Christmas lights. I love going to Lowe's or Home Depot and smelling the Christmas trees. I love decorating the inside of my house. I love baking cookies and maybe even decorating them!! :) I love decorating my Christmas tree. But what I love the most out of this whole season?? That moment when you have your tree decorated and you turn those beautiful, glittering Christmas lights on for the first time. That moment when there's no other light on but the tree. Maybe a candle or too but nothing that is disrupting from the grandeur of that shedding, wonderful smelling, sparkling tree standing in your living room. That moment when those lights first come on and the instrumental Christmas music is playing on Pandora. That moment when you are able to stand back and just stare because you can't tear your eyes away. That moment, that moment, is what I look forward to ALL year long. I had my favorite moment just last night actually. Matt FINALLY ;) let me go get THE tree. Jon-David and I went across the street to Home Depot (he joked the entire time that we could have just walked across and carried the tree home we lived so close but alas, I didn't want to get sap, pine needles, or anything else that might drop outta that tree all over me. Sorry. There was my girly moment for the day.). I walked up to the tent, found the one that smelled the best and looked the best which took me all of 5 minutes. :) I don't like to take too much time in any kind of shopping. Find what ya need, get the size, color, shape, whatever and get outta there. Bottom line. :) Walked inside to pay for my new little chunky tree while the guys were getting it ready to go on my car for the "long" drive across the street. As all things go, nothing ever comes quick and easy. I figured we'd get it home, clear a space for it, put the lights on, find the ornaments, plug it in, and bing-bang-boom!! We've got ourselves a decorated Christmas tree!!!!! Yea right. Only in the movies does that happen. One thing led to the other but Jon-David and I finally got it inside (I guess I should add that during this whole process, Matt had 2 soccer games that he was playing in so he did not get to experience the joy of such purchase and the journey of the tree entering our humble abode. Oh well. Perhaps next year?? Ha...). I had diligently been working on untangling the lights which, might I had, looked they had just been waded up and thrown in a bag.....that is NOT how they will be put away for next year I can tell you that right now!! All of this while watching the UNC game of course. :) Had to have a little entertainment while doing this. You will be happy to know that as soon as the game was over, I turned my Christmas music back on and sang right along. The lights became untangled, the tree was placed in its stand, and finally put in its spot in the living room. Before he decided to get up and help me, Jonathan sat on the couch laughing and watched me struggle with trying to get the lights around the tree. Thanks. In the end, the lights were on and I was happy. I had a dance rehearsal at 430 so before Matt and I left, I plugged the tree in so it would be lit when we came home. As soon as we pulled in the drive way, I saw it. That beautiful tree standing in my living room. As we walked inside, the smell of it overwhelmed me and I was so excited for it to be Christmas. We sat down for a moment on the couch and didn't say a word. My perfect moment had come. My husband beside me, no other lights on but the tree, and a comfy couch to sit on. Christmas has arrived!! :)

A hui kaua.....