Are you ready for Christmas?

I have asked myself that everyday for about two weeks and I still come up with a “no”! I compare myself to that evil, heartless Mr. Grinch. I know, surprising, when I have kids and all. But those that do know me, understand. Right? All this “holly jolly” bullshit is for the birds. And my new mantra is born!

The downhill slide started when my wonderfully deceptive husband VOLUNTOLD me to have Christmas dinner at our house. This was “decided” before Thanksgiving without me knowing until my mom mentioned it in passing during one long phone conversation. Really? My house? Let’s see….6 adults, 3 teenagers, 2 littler ones and one black lab in a house that’s maybe 1500 SF. Maybe. Now you know why I’m in full-lock-down-Grinch mode right now. And freakin’ Martha Stewart (That’s what I refer to my mom as) is coming.

We did do the whole “cut your own tree down” field trip this year. We missed it last year, sadly, due to the ice storm. That sentence is so filled sarcasm, it’s flooding the floor here. It was adventurous, cold and we got the most mammoth tree to date here in the Dyer house. I should have fought for the 8 foot tree since we are hosting dinner here. I think it would have provided for some additionally maneuvering room in the living room. But, no, I had to pick out a 16 foot tree and Matt had to cut it down to 12 feet. Brenna had fun, Matt was frustrated with me, Greta was running free in the woods and Brogan, well, he was trailing the pack getting some much needed exercise!

The mammoth tree was decorated in “shifts”. The girls decorated the bottom three feet one night and Matt and I finished the rest a couple nights later. We had to replace the second strand of lights because half of them blew out. And then this past Monday, the day I have to be in early to work, the tree decided to dump on my living room floor at precisely the time I had to be out the door. There were broken ornaments everywhere and Rowan is standing there barefoot looking at us. “What happened?” she says. Matt grabbed her quickly and buckled her in her booster seat. Brenna is crying, “This is the worstest Christmas ever mommy!” So Matt and I get into arguing mode and get the tree half-ass up so I can get to work. Needless to say, the top 7 feet or so is still not decorated. I have a box full or ornaments that need to go back on it, but I don’t think I’m going to do it. Who really looks that high up? It’s so not worth the effort to do it. Santa will still come even if the tree is 1/3 of the way done. Right?

I have a few presents to wrap tomorrow, but the bulk of it is done. Matt and I spent a whopping $10 on each other this year. Well, actually, he came in over budget at $13, but I’ll let it go. I think the girls will be happy. They are going to have A LOT to open this year. We usually don’t do gifts for each other because we get what we need throughout the year. I will leave you with some pictures from the Christmas tree excursion. Happy Holidays, I guess, to all!!