perfect.

This time of year always seems to come and go too quickly. Never leaving me time to adjust to the fact that it's Christmas-time until the big day has come and gone.
This year I wanted it to be perfect.
Every decoration in place.
The tree decorated and up through the end of January... cause it's always fresh-cut.
Presents wrapped and placed under the tree.
Singing the Christmas hymns at church.
A clean kitchen.
Another stocking made and ready for Bridger (thanks Brooke for the guilt-trip). Yummy treats to neighbors.
My visiting teaching done before the holidays.
Christmas cards out.
Family pictures taken.
The Grinch or Christmas Story playing 24-7 in the house.
And a surprise present for Kyle that he would know nothing about.
Sadly... none of these things happened. Not a single one.

Decorations got up about four days ago... some still begging to be put where they belong before being crammed back in storage for another year.
The tree was a fresh cut... I know because I helped Kyle chop it down. But the needles are falling at a great rate and I'm a little scared to turn on my lights. I'll be surprised if it makes it to New Year's.
Presents are so not wrapped... unless it counts that they are still in the bags they were purchased in.
Sang half of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" at church for Drew's farewell, but had to go out in the hall with Briggs and never got to return. Otherwise I've been working the all other Sunday's.
My kitchen has become one of my New Year's resolutions... cause that's when it will get done.
Bridger will have to use Porter's old stocking, and Briggs will get a new one next year. Otherwise Brooke would never let me live it down that Bridger had his first Christmas without a stocking.
Haven't met most of my neighbors and I haven't had time to them make treats. The really sad part is that people I don't even know on my street have dropped off goodies for us.
Visiting teaching will most likely end up being a quick phone call.
Christmas Cards got thrown off the to-do list weeks ago... along with family pictures.
I did watch the Grinch once, and half of a Christmas Story, but that's it.
And Kyle's gift is less of a mystery and more of a "I totally know what's in that big box that was delivered yesterday because you accidentally let it slip again" type of present.

But, even though it wasn't the perfect holiday season I had planned for, the Christmas spirit still found me.
*I sing the Christmas hymns I crave to my boys every night before they go to bed. My favorites being I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day and The First Noel. And they sound pretty good with a little boy curled up in my lap while I rock back and forth.*We got to celebrate our tree decorating twice this year. One night we got the tree up, another night we decorated, and both were fantastic.
*My boys love the tree almost as much as I do. Porter loves to water it, and Bridger loves to try and eat it... and they both get mesmerized by the lights.
*My nativity that my Mom has carefully crafted over the past 9 years or so, is proudly displayed in my home. It may be the only decor up, but it's my favorite by far.
*Peter Breinholt Christmas music... need I say more.
*Porter helped decorate the tree this year. Needless to say, you can find where he decided all the ornaments belonged. There are five Christmas balls placed in the same spot, hooked onto the light strand instead of the tree... this is Porter's spot, and I haven't moved a single one. *My favorite part was as he was placing his ornaments on the tree, he dropped one and said, "Oh, Dawnet" (darn-it), and that was his new word for the day. Oh, and when picture time came, he wouldn't let go of that darn harmonica... he was laughing into it during the picture.*And I've come to grips with the fact that Kyle will never have a surprise for Christmas... it just isn't meant to be.
It never seems to end up the way I plan, but Christmas always seems to find me, and right in time too.
It's Christmas Eve's Eve, and tomorrow night is Fiesta... nothing could be more perfect.