Mastering the calendar though this year is going to be for enjoyment and not for "should". I get enough should or musts placed on me for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. No need to dwell on the anxiety potential DH's family causes with a full day on Christmas Day, but even in my large, yet more easy going family, there's still a schedule to fit. I feel good giving myself the permission, the flexibility to hold off decorating another week. It would be adding chaos to chaos this weekend, not in the spirit of enjoying the season. I have specific events on set nights, but everything else I can fit in or not, as I choose.
Here's the calendar:
November 30-College (where my daughter may attend) Holiday concert
December 1-Pick-up and deliver Poinsettia's, and pick up and hold onto friends/DD2 friends order as they are out of town on the 1st.
December 2-Community Band Holiday concert with DD2
s vocal jazz performing
December 5-Book Club meet-up-pick the January and February book
December 11-District Orchestra Holiday Concert
December 15- High School Choir Concert
December 19-ELF the musical with my mom friends
DS arrives at 5:30 am. on December 22. I suspect he will crash for another 4-5 hours since he will have only slept on the plane. Our tentative plans are to go down town for dinner and drinks early evening, letting him connect with anyone he wants to later. Sunday will be my families Christmas, still figuring out what we will have but probably salmon DS can cook, and a vegetarian/alternative options for DD1 and myself. Both DD1 and I may have to work Christmas Eve, but the plans then start at 5:00 at my sisters, and by 11:00 on Christmas at my mother-in-laws. I have the day after Christmas off, so hopefully either a last family lunch or dinner before DS heads home that evening.
It might look busy, but it's really not so much. I will have some late nights at work as we prepare for changes after the first of the year. This is part of the reason why I won't be taking the full week of Christmas to New Year's off. On nights that I'm not working late and have nothing on the calendar, I'll fit in baking and candy making, present shopping and wrapping. Hopefully we'll connect with a few friends we don't see very often. I hope to walk more-beyond just pup and store wandering. For my commute home, I'll have the Christmas music station on, singing and humming along. How is your holiday season calendar shaping up?
I'm on call earlier in the year this year (this weekend), so I'm hoping to have a quieter Christmas. Fingers crossed. :-)
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, things are pretty quiet until mid-December. The boys have a soccer tournament, and then we head to the Oregon coast on the 21st.
I thought of getting out my holiday decorations today as well, but just couldn't bring myself to do it. Not yet ready to go through the work, and M is painting in the house, so the last thing we need is more stuff to move & adjust!
I think it was a good call to adjust your timing based on other plans, and overall energy for the decorations. It is supposed to be fun, after all! :-)
I got the outdoor porch lights and garland up. First in neighborhood which was surprising, so shows me there is lots of time to decorate.
DeleteThings are, as usual, pretty quiet here. The tree in the family room went up after Thanksgiving dinner. I don't decorate the outside, other than a wreath--nobody to see it, and I don't like wasting the electricity. As far as the schedule, we are starting basketball season for youngest, finishing up the first quarter of college for eldest, with DD plugging along. I am a low key person anyway--I like my own home, and only feel more like staying home on the holidays, particularly after decorating the house.
ReplyDeleteI remember the basketball days-its been four years but the tournaments went November to March. I enjoy a mix of activity and enjoying my own home in December.
DeleteI am going to be very busy the next three weekends or at least through the 16-17 then well I guess the whole month what was I thinking. But I will take is slower than usual.
ReplyDeleteI read your projects-so busy plus your dance teaching. I think slow is not in your dictionary.
DeleteThis year we are not having our sons and families since everyone was here for the wedding through Thanksgiving, so we are not doing the full blown decorations. I am waiting until next weekend also.
ReplyDeleteTheHub and I have several planned activities prior to Christmas, but we have decided we also want to go to a few movie matinees as part of our Christmas gifts to each other. Our Christmas theme this year is relax and enjoy the season and each other's company.
I bet the wedding was wonderful. I hope you enjoy your gifts to each other.
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