After Christmas Clearance

Every year the anticipation for Christmas builds. By November, I am ready for Christmas music. Thanksgiving rolls in and I am itching to put up the tree and decorate the house. All of December I am thinking about gifts to buy and anxious to get out there and shop.

This year I made a Countdown To Christmas decoration. Using a few paper towel tubes, I cut 25 pieces, painted each one and glued together into the shape of a Christmas tree. We hung it on the wall and in each space a Hershey's Kiss was placed. Each night a Kiss was eaten... some by Kayla, some by Daddy and at least one that I consumed. As the kisses disappeared the big day approached.

Joe and I have it fairly easy when it comes to Christmas celebrations. The weekend before Christmas we celebrate with his Dad's side of the family and then his parents come back to our home. We enjoyed a nice dinner (prepared by Joe) and then Kayla opened her gifts. Christmas Eve is ours... this year we were invited to dinner at a friend's house. It was a nice relaxed time in which we were able to visit with them and enjoy another good meal. Christmas Day was a little more busy.

Kayla opened her gifts from Daddy and I. It was fun watching her slowly tear into each one. And when I say slowly, I mean slowly. I think each gift was opened by tearing off 2 inch pieces of paper. We can't afford to spoil her with piles of gifts or even with expensive ones, but maybe that is okay. I want her to grow up with Christmas being about more than the presents under the tree. After we celebrated with Kayla we spent a few hours with my Dad, his wife and her family. The 26th was Christmas with my brothers, sister-in-laws, niece, nephew and my Mom. All in all it was a good Christmas.

Then came today. The 28th of December and the official After-Christmas Clearance. For me this is not bargain shopping but rather the tear down of the Christmas decorations I waited all year to get out of storage. Right now, as I write this, my dining room table is buried under a pile of decorations. I have a tree that hasn't figured out how to undecorate itself. A toddler who apparently has grown tired of sitting in her high chair where she was munching on cookies. Two cats who seem to find everything interesting and want to investigate. A grocery list that needs to be made. A growling stomach because I have yet to eat dinner. Laundry that should be started. Dishes waiting to be washed. And in 11 months we will do it all again.

Back to the clearance...