Finally put up the tree...

Well the Nord's North Carolina house has been brimming with Christmas Spirit today! Less than two weeks after all of our belongings arrived from Michigan, we managed to find the Christmas boxes (well, enough of them) to start decorating.

Kyle and Jeremy were both pretty excited to work on the tree so with the sounds of Christmas Carols floating through the house, they helped assemble it. (their first time ever helping with that aspect of the job). They loved adding each branch to the tree "trunk" and more-so they enjoyed the color coding game that went along with it... "Jeremy can you find a branch that is brown?" "Kyle, I'll need two white branches next." "Who put a green one in this row? We're working on Black." While we assembled the tree it occurred to me: "We've had this tree since we lived in the Apartment in Lake Orion (after we first married.). Wow, that's 11 years now! Time flies.... "

We promised the boys that the "Lights Fairy" would come during nap time to put the lights on the tree. They pointed out that the lights fairy is really Mom & Dad because they've watched us light the tree before. Hmmm, observant. I'll remember that! So Alex and I switched the music from traditional Christmas Carols to a Jimmy Buffet Christmas CD and set to work. Now, what the lights fairies didn't know, was the the box of Christmas decor with the LIGHTS in it, is missing. I'm sure it's here somewhere, but finding them? So, this year we have a blue-light tree. (Wow, just made the connection. Sorry Family Dollar, I feel a little like a traitor) I've had these blue Christmas lights for years, but multi-colored was our traditional look. Apparently, we're starting a new tradition this year; seems fitting. So, by 4:30 pm the tree was lit and ready for the evening project of hanging ornaments.

But first, the boys had to do their Christmas shopping!

With only 6 shopping days left (one of which is C-R-A-Z-Y if you want my 2 cents), we decided it was a good night to let Kyle and Jeremy each go to Kmart to pick out a gift for their brother. So, off we went, all four of us, to dinner at Steak & Shake and to Kmart for some toy shopping. Both boys, with their $10 bills in hand, enjoyed finding a toy for the other. Jeremy struggled with the concept only a little (he wanted to shop for his upcoming birthday - can't blame him.) and Kyle struggled with making a decision. (So many great choices!) Eventually, both settled on something and they proceeded (hiding from each other, of course) to the checkout to pay for their selection. All in all they got a big kick out of holding onto the money, figuring out what was in their budget, choosing the gift, paying the cashier and hiding the bag from their brother. Now, any bets on how long they can keep the gift contents a secret?

After returning home, the guys immediately took to hanging ornaments on the tree and playing with the decorative gift boxes under it. Kyle pretended to be Santa, asking each of us if we'd been good. (Answers varied). :)

By 10:30 (after a couple books were read and a few pictures were taken) the boys were exhausted & ready for bed. I'm happy to report that there's a good chance that Sugar-Plums may be dancing through their heads right now (even if it is a little early).

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

Finally the Christmas spirit found me!

One of my jobs at Lighthouse is to manage the Holiday program. It entails four months of interviewing clients,doing lots of paperwork, asking for donations (lots of donations), and troubleshooting odd problems all in hopes that about 500 families, 300 singles and another 100 kids "have Christmas." It ends with a bang as we spend 10 days managing the logistics of receiving and distributing thousands and thousands of gifts. It's the kind of experience that's supposed to make you think about how lucky you are and remind you to be thankful for everyone and everything in your life. Usually it does.

This is my third year managing the prograam and sadly I must admit, the massive nature of the project makes December feel more like a month to "get through" than a lesson in perspective. It's a classic case of not seeing the forest for the trees; I am well aware of that. Still, as such, I have not been in the mood for Christmas at all. I've been crabby with just about everyone. The tree's not up yet, no cookies have been made, shopping is barely started. Heck, if my siblings and I hadn't decided to "pick names" this year rather than shop for everyone I'd be a frantic last-minute-stressball. (oh wait, I already admitted I was that anyways)

Well, I'm happy to say the Christmas spirit finally found it's way to me tonight. It wasn't my work that brought it to me. It wasn't watching Rudolph on TV. It wasn't the cool light displays featured in the Sunday paper (that I finally got to read just tonight.) What did it to me were these words...

"Oh you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I'm telling you why, Santa Clause is coming to town."

Kyle has the entire song memorized (well, as much of the song as I know) and Jeremy is awfully close to knowing it all too. Alex taught it to them today. Not "he's been teaching them for a couple weeks", or anything - just today. They boys were singing it in the car at the top of their lungs. So excited and so proud of themselves. Finally the hustle and bustle made a little sense again. All the shopping, the decorating, the baking and the extra to dos, sounded like fun again. I remembered that I wasn't working to give the kids of my clients clothes or toys; I was working to give those parents the ability to provide holiday magic. Isn't that what we all want to give our kids? It's not about the toys, it's about the traditions.

I am reminded that the "grind" part of daily life will always be there and it can take over if you let it. I think it's time to stop the grind for a while to make room for some traditions. Hopefully this means you'll see some photos of the kids cookie baking and tree trimming soon.

Wishing You Six Merry Days Until Christmas!!!