When I was a kid, on Christmas Eve we would drive into town, pick up a pizza at Packy's, and drive around looking at the Christmas light displays. We'd then come home and mom and dad would pull out the Christmas albums and we'd listen to Gene Autry, the Chipmunks, Frank and Bing, and the Ray Conniff singers. The tree was lit and you could feel the excitement from the anticipation of what was to come. That is one of my favorite Christmas memories.
Last night, with nothing else to do and nowhere to go, I decided to load the girls into the Jeep, grab a $5 small pizza special at Hungry Howie's and a QD fountain Mt. Dew, and head out for a drive around town to see what we could find. With the Christmas music playing on the radio and the girls happily waiting for our next adventure, we were off! Things started a little slow, but then we hit the jackpot. Christmas lights galore. Beautiful displays of thousands of sparkling lights in reds and greens, blues and clear, even multi-colored. Manger scenes and snowmen and blow-up displays of Eeyore pulling Winnie the Pooh and Tigger and in a sleigh. Giant Santas and reindeer, Nutcrackers and Candy canes, giant trees and tiny bushes, homes large and small, all decorated for the Holidays.
There isn't anything I love more about the Holiday season than the beautiful, sparkling lights. We spent a couple of hours out, driving through neighborhoods, looking at the lights, And then the perfect ending as we headed toward home, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" on the radio.
It took longer this year for the Christmas season to really start feeling like the Christmas season. But over the last week, it really has started to feel like Christmas for me. Finishing my shopping and gift wrapping, sending out my Christmas cards and shipping off baking to friends near and far, and having time to relax at home with the girls and the tree glowing in the background. I've got everything done-all of the groceries are purchased for the Christmas Eve festivities with Nicol, all of the presents are wrapped, the stockings are stuffed. All that remains is the final prep for tomorrow.
All week I've been finishing things a little at a time so that when I got home at 4pm on Friday, I would have no errands to run, no to-do list to complete, no rushing around, no need to leave home. For today, it's just me and the girls together enjoying a peaceful, relaxing day at home. I have looked forward to this day all week long. I will be doing a little cleaning and starting to do some prep work for Christmas Eve, but there is no rush and no pressure. I just get to spend some time doing the things I love for those I love most. And tomorrow I get to see my kid-my two-legged girl. Spending time with all of my girls...that's what Christmas looks like to me.
Last night, with nothing else to do and nowhere to go, I decided to load the girls into the Jeep, grab a $5 small pizza special at Hungry Howie's and a QD fountain Mt. Dew, and head out for a drive around town to see what we could find. With the Christmas music playing on the radio and the girls happily waiting for our next adventure, we were off! Things started a little slow, but then we hit the jackpot. Christmas lights galore. Beautiful displays of thousands of sparkling lights in reds and greens, blues and clear, even multi-colored. Manger scenes and snowmen and blow-up displays of Eeyore pulling Winnie the Pooh and Tigger and in a sleigh. Giant Santas and reindeer, Nutcrackers and Candy canes, giant trees and tiny bushes, homes large and small, all decorated for the Holidays.
It took longer this year for the Christmas season to really start feeling like the Christmas season. But over the last week, it really has started to feel like Christmas for me. Finishing my shopping and gift wrapping, sending out my Christmas cards and shipping off baking to friends near and far, and having time to relax at home with the girls and the tree glowing in the background. I've got everything done-all of the groceries are purchased for the Christmas Eve festivities with Nicol, all of the presents are wrapped, the stockings are stuffed. All that remains is the final prep for tomorrow.
All week I've been finishing things a little at a time so that when I got home at 4pm on Friday, I would have no errands to run, no to-do list to complete, no rushing around, no need to leave home. For today, it's just me and the girls together enjoying a peaceful, relaxing day at home. I have looked forward to this day all week long. I will be doing a little cleaning and starting to do some prep work for Christmas Eve, but there is no rush and no pressure. I just get to spend some time doing the things I love for those I love most. And tomorrow I get to see my kid-my two-legged girl. Spending time with all of my girls...that's what Christmas looks like to me.
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