Tis the season.........

My Honey has reminded me about 56 times today, "this is the earliest we have ever had the outside decorations finished." I realize he is really saying, "Way to go self, you got all the wreaths up, hung the star, and got Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus in place all in one day!" but to me it sounds like, "In all years past, we were late getting our stuff up." Thanks for the reminder!

I like to get all ready for Christmas, including sending out my Christmas cards, during Thanksgiving weekend. I like to think that such a thing happens each year, but in reality, we have gone without the wreaths entirely, and I have been up late on Christmas Eve licking Christmas card envelopes. To remind me of these foibles, is not something I want to hear all day, especially on the year that we finally got things done on time...but anyways....

The lights were actually up a week ago, and my kids were going bonkers wanting to turn them on, but we made them wait until the night after Thanksgiving (tonight) before doing so. To say they were excited is an understatement, to say they were so wrapped up in anticipation that they spent the day driving me crazy, bouncing off the walls and getting into trouble, would also be an understatement.

This year, the kids picked alternating red and green lights. My Honey and I decided a few years ago, that tastefully decorating for Christmas was not worth the battle, and we handed over the selection of light color to the kids. Last year was multicolored, one year was plain red, one plain white, they like to mix it up.

My one insistance, is that we have a Nativity on display. My Honey liked the idea of a Nativity, but was adamantly against those of the "internally lit" variety. I still remember 6 years ago, looking high and lo for a decent Nativity that didnt cost the price to Bethlehem plus a donkey farm. There was a beautiful, royal looking set at our local "Home Goods" store, but it was over a thousand dollars. I finally found one that would have to do, I bought it on ebay for pretty cheap. I promised My Honey, that they didnt really LOOK internally lit. Yes, they were plastic, yes they had a bulb inside, but they really, really didnt look cheesy.

I still have pictures from the day my packages arrived, and wish they were digital, Pooper was so hilarious....He was just a year old, and after I pulled the plastic Holy Family from the box, he got down on the floor and laid beside them, hugging and kissing Mary. Im telling you, I should have known right then and there what this kid would be like, but I digress....

My Honey came home that evening, and commented that the display looked "too Precious Moments" to go in HIS yard, but 6 years later, they shine tonight, with a lit star above them.

So tonight, after getting all our gear set up, we decided to begin our annual routine, of driving around at night, looking at the lit houses. There were several households already decked out, and some in the process.

Our community goes all out, and there are contests amongst the neighborhoods. Our tour through the streets involves spotting all the Santa's, pointing out the giant blow-up snow globes, and looking for other Nativity displays. There are always a lot of "ooohs" and "aaaahs" from the back seat, and a few "what were they thinking?" 's from the front row. Some folks go traditional, and some just try to cram every last holiday related item onto their lawn.

Im gonna try to take pictures, and post them up here for my Holiday Lights Tour......so stay tuned!

By the way, Beauty INSISTS, that last year, she came downstairs on Christmas Eve and saw Santa and his reindeer. She claims she was pretending to be asleep on the couch, but kept an eye open to watch them. She wanted me to know that she had some important information to share about the reindeer and the carrots we leave out for them.....

**Each year we leave cookies and milk for Santa, and some carrots for the reindeer...in the morning, it's all eaten, but those darned reindeer leave carrot bits on the floor, they are messy eaters.....***

Beauty told me the reindeer arent messy eaters, it's just that they dont like the carrots. The reason there were carrot bits on the floor, is because they were mad they didnt get cookies like Santa, so they dumped the carrots onto the ground and stepped on them, smashing them up!!!

She swears she witnessed this, and so, this year, we need to give them all cookies. chocolate chip!

Speaking of leaving goodies out for Santa....an absolute MUST HAVE ITEM (which also makes a wonderful Christmas gift) are these custom and affordable and ADORABLE plates....and the proceeds go to help a few families who have children fighting cancer, and could use the financial assistance..... Stop by Marey's blog to order some of these cute plates!