December 10, 2010

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Or is it?

I L.OV.E. this time of year. The lights, the trees, the presents {both giving AND receiving}, getting Christmas cards in the mail, the yummy Starbucks drinks {red cups and all}, the cheer, the music, and that warm fuzzy feeling you get staying home on a Friday night and watching the same Christmas movie EVERY year.
BUT sometimes it seems as though this “wonderful” time of year gets overshadowed by stress, angry shoppers, road rage, finances, and burnt ham. It’s almost like we are all trying too hard to be jolly that we end up being miserable instead.
I’ll be the first to admit, this year Christmas is stressful. With buying a new house and having a baby in the same year we are pinching pennies in anyway we can to make it “work”.
Thankfully Kendall is too little to know about Christmas this year and she’s just along for the ride. I feel bad that our baby isn’t going to have this grand first Christmas and her presents consist of a Bumbo seat {that we’ve already “given” her}, some new onesies and a couple cute outfits, that is it {from us anyway}. But she doesn’t know the difference so it’s ok, right? RIGHT?!
God love my husband, no matter what he’s determined to make this Christmas just as wonderful and memorable as any. He’s put up the lights, decorated the tree, and wrapped the presents, all while I’ve sat by like Scrooge, Bah Humbug!
I want to be jolly. I want to go “all out” for Kendall. I want to bake 5 million cookies. And I want to give everyone exactly what’s on their wish lists, and more. But I can’t and that’s ok. It’s ok because that’s not what this time of year is all about. It’s about family, togetherness, celebrating the reason for this season, and giving thanks.
So, I hope you all jump on board with me! Let’s make a bloggity blog pledge to try and remain stress-free this holiday season. Let it be wonderful, magical, and memorable. Let that car pass you, that shopper take a place in line ahead of you and if you burn the ham, there’s always PLENTY of sides!

Happy Holidays!

14 comments:

  1. This year is Kinley's second Christmas, she was only a few weeks old last year. So she's kind of getting "shafted" two Christmas' in a row from mommy and daddy. She has no idea. I mean, we're getting her a couple of small things but that's about it. I know that her grandparents will get her some cool stuff.
    Don't fret, I think that all parents take the first two Christmas' "off" with the buying of gifts for the baby...we'll more than make it up in the years to follow.

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  2. I COMPLETELY agree. I posted something about this a couple weeks ago when everything started to go crazy. I'm still having trouble trying to get into the Christmas spirit, but at least I haven't turned into a full blown Grinch... yet!

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  3. I like your 'tude! Things do tend to get crazy and out of hand. I'm really trying to enjoy the music, sights, and food... it's getting to be that time of the month where I lose my head and run off in a frantic search for a gift for my uncle i haven't seen in 34555 years or something. Shopping panic... sucks. I am NOT doing that this year - NO!

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  4. I don't have time for that, I have to bake and wrap and go to the mall and run around like a crazy person. All that craziness is FUN to me! Haha!

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  5. I've always felt this way about Christmas. It's become so much about the "stuff" and that drives me crazy. This year more than ever I wish people would enjoy the holiday for what it is, being with family, cause they won't always be there and not get so wrapped up in the gifts. I keep telling people not to buy me anything secretly because I'm hoping this means I don't have to buy them anything. Does that make me a scrooge? Maybe. And I'm ok with that.

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  6. great outlook on the holiday! it's more important to give people memories than presents!

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  7. I am in complete agreement with you. we loaded up my oldest child with gifts, our 2 year old has a few presents and our almost 1 year old wont know the difference, so she's getting a my pal violet dog and some clothes (which I had to break into this morning since she is too big and outgrowing her others).

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  8. I pledge with you, girl! I am always super spirited in like November...and then when all the stuff starts hitting at once and my budget takes a hit and work gets busy/crazy for end of year stuff, I just get kinda blah. The magic of the season leaves a little bit. I refuse to let that happen this year! I'll drink a cup of cheer with you! And ps.. little K is lucky to have such a great mamma and daddy! Definietly not about the amount of presents and all that jazz. My mom told me I got a snoopy dog from my grandma on my first Christmas. She passed away when I was 5. I have kept that snoopy b/c it means so much to me.. my first Christmas and my snoopy from my grandma. That's what it's all about, not all the surplus of random things that people won't remember... :)

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  9. I definitely agree with this post! I HATE that gift giving becomes about the "cost" of the present and not what you genuinely want to give someone whether it be a homemade item, a baked good or just something inexpensive that made you think of them. In these economic times it should really remind us of what's important-family, love and being grateful for what we DO have! I will take your pledge--no stress for me!

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  10. The holidays always stress me out no matter how hard I try to just relax and I don't even have kids! Of course I also have to deal with the nutty kids at school too, which just adds to the stress! This year has been better so far, but there is still a couple of weeks before Christmas to get through!

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  11. It is easier to keep the Christmas spirit if you avoid parking lots!

    And K will not have a clue she is even supposed to get presents, so you could wrap up nothing and it'd be fun. The wrapping paper is by far the best part. And if you have your family together, there is nothing better than that. Start a fire, drink some hot chocolate and throw in Elf and you've got yourself a perfect night!

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