Now the fun stuff begins

This is more like it. All the major shopping is done. Today I spent considerable time leisurely browsing for little stocking stuffers and wrapping paper and bows. I also pried the lad away from his busy schedule to help fetch the Christmas tree, which now stands outside the front door.  He’s at work now, but when he returns, I’ll have him help me put it in the brand new tree stand, Martha Stewart edition. I’ll have a fire in the woodstove and enough eggnog in the fridge to float a boat. He could live on eggnog. That’s a bribe. Yes, it is.

Christmas tunes are playing and I might even start wrapping later tonight. I love to wrap presents. Almost always with plain foil paper—red, golds, silver, and green—so that I can create different patterns and designs with ribbon and bows.

There will even be time this year for cookie baking, something I haven’t done in a couple of years. And there’s the festive 1500 calorie per serving baked stuffed shells that I only make for special occasions. Well, some things have to be reserved for really special.

We have plans to pack up a food basket for the food pantry, to drop off this weekend. There are some Toys for Tots to wrap and deliver.

My Christmas cheer level went up several notches this afternoon when I learned that the lad will be here for the better part of the Christmas vacation. He gets out of school mid-day on Wednesday. He’ll probably do something with friends. He has to work on Christmas Eve day, until the store closes, then he’s home until Sunday evening.

He will spend Monday and Tuesday at his Dad’s house, before they leave on a trip. Then he’s back here for the rest of the week to catch up on his sleep and his simple enjoyment of not having to do much of anything. He’ll get to spend some time with friends, and, of course, put the finishing touches on a history paper. But he’s been working his rear off trying to get as much done on that as possible before the Christmas break. I think he will have to work a short shift nearly every day of vacation, but he’s cool with that. He’s with buddies and the paycheck will be a good one. As long as he can sleep til noon every day, he’ll be thrilled. And I’ll be thrilled to see him recharge himself and have him Just Be Around.

So I Am Happy! This is probably the first Christmas that has resembled a normal one that we’ve had in a long time. I am so ready for it.