And We're Off...

The Sleigh Race--Currier & Ives

I always feel, the first week of December, that I am coming out of the starting gate to compete in some twenty-five day steeplechase. I don't know why. It's not like there's some great prize for the first one with lights strung or tree decorated or cards stamped.

And the obstacles on the course are self-made. Really. No one else in my family cares whether the ribbons on the banister garland are spaced evenly. Or if the nutcracker collection looks balanced on the mantlepiece. But these simple obsessions are pleasurable in their way and my little elves indulge me.

This year, the decorating plan was going to be Christmas Lite. Since we're flying south for the festivities, I had promised to leave the baubles in the basement. But ladies, you know, there is no greater motivation to pull out all the holiday stops than 65 of your closest friends coming over on Thursday for the Relief Society Progressive Dinner.

Needless to say it looks like an evergreen explosion around here. But I love it.

Now we are in full jingle at our house. The wreath is hung. The tree is lit. And seasonal music is blasting every chance we get. (Celine Dion and I sang a lovely duet--O Come All Ye Faithful--on the way to the dollar store today. Too bad you missed it.)

Am now looking forward to Christmas cards, candy making, cookie exchanges and collapsing in a heap on my in-laws' driveway December 22nd.

**If you want to see what my house looks like, click here. Add two years' worth of aging to everyone (except me, of course) and you will get the general idea.

**Coming Soon: The Carbface Report