It's Hard To Decorate When You're Crashing On The Couch

I love my icon Advent calendar. 

I've been busily unpacking all my Christmas junk decorations. It's great fun, although I have had to be careful to pace myself. It's so easy to get all caught up in garlands and candles and angels and nutcrackers, overdo things, and end up gasping and sweating on the couch. 

Ew. Which is truthfully where I am right now. 

I'm trying to intelligently parcel out my energy, really I am. I keep telling myself that there's no rush.  (Even though there is). John's sister and family are visiting in eight days. (Not that I'm counting). I tell myself that this is a work in progress. 

Seriously a work in progress. 

As in barely getting started work in progress. I haven't even begun putting up the Christmas tree yet....ah, but steady, girl. This is A WORK IN PROGRESS. I'm sure that my in-laws won't notice if there's a mountain of boxes in the foyer.....um, I think I'd need to camouflage them. Maybe if I just throw a red tablecloth over the stack. Or artfully drape a tinsel garland over them all? Actually, my delightful little godson probably would prefer to play in all the cardboard boxes anyway. Hm. Now there's a thought. 

Nah. I should be truthful here and admit that I get a huge kick out of stuffing my house with about as many seasonal decorations that it can hold. Yes, my family enjoys our house looking festive for the holidays, but I do it as much for me as for anyone. 

Although I draw the line at purchasing a Santa toilet seat cover. I can't and won't....um....let Santa see that specific part of my anatomy. I do have such delicate sensibilities, after all. Sniff. 

If you have no reservations about dropping your drawers in front of old St. Nick, you can buy your very own commode decor here. 

Well.  That was one seriously strange little mental detour. Sorry about that. 

Now what was I talking about? Oh, yes. Decorating fatigue. 

Aside from tiring me out, this whole fa-la-la-la-la process takes forever because as I unpack each box, I have to sit back on my heels and admire the contents. It's just stuff, but I love it all. 

I can't seem to get enough Christmas crockery - type things, like plates and cookie jars and mugs. 

I love monstrously large poinsettia plants. Got these at our local Costco store. In years past, I had to avoid these things once I figured out that our kitty cats were eating them and then barfing red leaves all over my carpet. Yikes. And yes, thankfully the cats did survive. 

(Note to self: Don't let delightful little godson ingest these. Gosh, I hadn't thought of that until I remembered our kitty Princess tossing her cookies one Christmas morning). 

We started collecting nutcrackers awhile back when we began taking the kids to see the Oregon Ballet's Nutcracker performance every year. 

Oh, and angels. What would Christmas be without angels?

But the thing that I treasure most out of all this stuff? This picture of my babies from a Christmas too many years ago. 

Alrighty, then. Rest break is over, missy. Now where did I put that plush frog that croaks Christmas carols......?