It's beginning to look...

....like a mess at my house. While, yes, i know that it's much too early to decorate for Christmas, i have started. Mainly because Emma and i will be visiting my sister for a week and that will put me a week behind in dragging out decorating. As much work as it is to decorate, i want to put the stuff up and enjoy it as long as possible. Of course, i'm sure that by the 26th of December, i'll have had enough of the 'festive' season and want to take it all down before the new year.

Emma, of course, is thrilled about decorating. We have huge stuffed Santa's that are being dragged all over the house, angels who are now bed-time friends and the Little People Nativity scene has had elephants, giraffes, snakes, penguins, and tigers added to the manger part. Some, it's hard to imagine them there as i try to tell Emma the Christmas story, but she's happy that they are there, so i'm happy, too.

I've been going through my recipes and hunting for new ones to bake for neighbors. We are finally settling into our neighborhood and have met others. I'm planning on setting aside a weekend morning to bake and deliver baked stuff with Emma. I want her to understand the joy of giving to others very early in her life...and i think that baking and delivering is somewhere to start. Some of my best memories of my Mom are of us baking during the holidays...i don't remember many of the gifts that i've been given, but i do remember baking with my Mama in the kitchen during the holidays. No gift could ever replace that sweet memory...

For the past 5 years, i've tried to convince my sweet husband (who has all of the patience of this marriage, btw) that we should throw away all of the Christmas lights at the end of the season and buy new ones for the next year. Sweet Husband, being the tight wad that he is thrifty, has always objected. And sometimes, quite loudly.

Not this year.

hehee.....

Out off all of the strands of lights, only 2 of them completely light. Even the handy-dandy light tool he bought last year didn't help. And so, our upstairs tree is only half with lights. The downstairs monster of a tree isn't up yet, so i guess we will deal with that later in the week.

But, i do have to say, it is exciting. Mostly because of Emma, and mostly because i love this season. It's the season to remember traditions, start new one, enjoy friends and family and remember the true meaning of the season. It's also so important to teach Emma the 'why' of the season: Why Christ died on the cross for us. I don't know if at the age of three she quite understands any of it, but baby "Wesus" from the Little People is now sleeping with Emma at night.

And that makes my heart smile.