Juggling Christmas

Christmas came and went in a flash...

I hate to admit it but I was one of those people who were decorated for Christmas before Thanksgiving. In fact, I was decorated for Christmas just a few short days after Halloween. My daughter was 9 months old and this was her first Christmas. I wanted to soak up every ounce of the Christmas season... so why do I feel like it slipped through my fingers? 

Since moving so many times in the past, and always to a bigger house. I knew I needed to do some major Christmas shopping for decorations. So as Christmas was fast approaching, I started pinning about how to decorate my house and what I needed to buy! I think I made about 15 trips to Hobby Lobby. How could you pass up 50% off holiday decor??? 

I started out looking through all the aisles to see which type of decor was going to go best with my house and personality. I only bought a few things my first couple trips. Every single time I came home, I realized how much I "needed" that adorable candy cane North Pole sign or whatever small item I instantly put in my cart. Although my husband thinks I personally funded every employees' paycheck who works at our local Hobby Lobby, our house turned out perfect!

Between holiday parades, baking Christmas cookies, and wrapping presents, we were in full Christmas mode. Not to mention, my lovely sister got married the 2nd week of December, so that made family time even more special this year. 

What do you buy for a 9 month old baby who is walking, who is almost 1 but not quite yet, and has her 1st birthday in February? Our house instantly went from having baby things to toddler sized toys. I'm not ready for this yet. How do I keep her small forever?! I feel like this is something everyone relates to but no one has figured out how to do. Hmm... 

How do you survive Christmas? I think I googled this like a million times. For the last 5 years, we've been trying to figure out the best way to navigate the holidays. This year was not perfect, but I think we managed to actually enjoy ourselves. My husband and I decided last year, that we were going to host Christmas Day breakfast in order to be home with our baby and enjoy her opening presents. So that's what we did! We had visitors come and go all morning/ afternoon and we enjoyed all of it. Cranberry mimosas, french toast casserole, eggs, bacon, and sausage. You name it, we had it!

My husband is Italian so we do the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve with his side of the family. I don't eat every single type of fish but it's tradition! If you've ever been around Italian families you know what this chaos entails. If not, it's pretty much 4 aunts, 5 uncles, 18 cousins ranging in age from 9 months to 30 years old, the 2 grandparents who started it all and a partridge in a pear tree.

My mom does Christmas day dinner so we spend Christmas Day mostly with this side of our family. We aren't Italian, but we fit in as if we were. Growing up no one ever learned the manners of letting someone talk and waiting until it's your turn. Oh no no no, we just talk over everyone until my grandpa screams and says we need to "pipe down!" 

If only it was that easy to split the families up into 2 days. *insert eye roll emoji* 

By adding in Christmas Eve church service, and going to BOTH sides of the families BOTH days. We practically spend more time in the car. 

Every single year, my husband and I have the same conversation in the car. As we are pulling out of one families house, they are disappointed we are leaving early and not staying to hang out; and as we are pulling into the next families drive, they are mad we are late and they already started cleaning up the food even though we we're only going to have dessert there. You would think after 5 years, someone would learn you cant eat 5 dinners in one day. 

Overall I would rather have a family that never is satisfied with the time that we have together, than a family we don't spend time with. 

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all at least enjoyed your time in the car! ;)