'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Lisa and I were a scurrying, like some crazy mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes we might get something wrapped up and in there.
Siena was nestled all snug in her bed,
while visions of sugar plums danced in her head.
And Mom and I in the guest bedroom, unwrapped gifts in our lap,
thought we might never get to settle in for a long winter's nap.
Yes, I could continue, but won’t. Since Christmas I have gone back to re-read all the parenting books and manuals and there is absolutely nothing in any of them that warn you that you should start your holiday planning 2 to 3 months sooner than you did before you had children. So how do 2 perfectly good, well planned out business professionals completely struggle to get a few simple holiday tasks done? Well, you will have to ask Siena, we aren’t quite sure.
The usual Yule cool was not in the picture. You see, we didn’t plan for the endless lost hours we wouldn’t have this holiday season. Shopping, decorating, Christmas Cards, wrapping, parties, hanging lights baking cookies, all these holiday traditions collided head on with real life this year. Yes indeed, learning to be parents, caring for Siena, working, traveling and dealing with the flu all came together in whirl wind of a holiday season. Yet somehow we survived.
Christmas cards got out a later than planned (hey, who was watching the calendar to know Thanksgiving was a little later this year). Presents hopefully arrived to our family before Christmas (but probably not in many cases, sorry). The Christmas tree was up the weekend after Thanksgiving and was actually decorated a week and half later. The house got decorated by the middle of December with lights up outside by December 5th. But what awaited us on Christmas Eve was a surprise to even us.
Dave worked until 4:00 pm and got home around 5:30 pm after doing some quick food shopping. Siena and Lisa were a both a little under the weather, but we got to church for a candlelight service. When we got home and had a lovely dinner and got Siena to bed. But then it hit us presents need to be wrapped and the stockings filled, Santa needed cookies. Well, a few hours later we went to bed (yes it was already Christmas morning) with our first year as Santa completed.
So we now understand the whole Christmas in July concept, you need more time. We need to be doing our Christmas shopping further in advance for next year (but in California you don’t have an attic or basement you can store things in, so we either need to shop later or buy smaller gifts.) Gift cards for everyone!
We have learned a lot this year, hopefully we will remember some these things next year. Just think, next year Siena will be on the move, toys will be larger and will need assembly. Ah, the joys of the season.
Our Christmas miracle, getting everything done!
