tis the season...already?

Okay y'all, do NOT freak out, but I have the tree up. I said don't freak out. Let me explain. This cool cedar plank tree has been passed down to me. And by passed down, I found out my Aunt A, in a moment of downsizing, gave the tree to my Uncle G. I love this tree, always have. So, I might have sent a letter to Uncle G, perhaps if read wrong it mayyyy have seemed threatening. "If you don't want that tree give it to me!!" And my favorite Uncle G gave it up. I heart this tree. It's just different and neat.

My plan was to give away our pointy irritating tis-the-freakin-season-to-be-jolly-artificial-tree. The Veterans donation pick-up was coming around, but I didn't want to give the tree away before I made sure I could assemble this pile of cedar competently. Because really, what's the spirit of giving if you don't have a back up. Right?

So, I set the tree up. And really, it didn't take that long. The kids got a kick out of helping out. Once we got the tree up - I just didn't think I was ready to disassemble knowing I'd just put it back up in three weeks. So, yes, my tree is up. Deal with it!

I'm validated by that only because I've discovered the bell ringers are out. Just a ringing away! So, if I can drop coins into the bell ringer buckets, then I can have my tree up!

And I haven't even collected all my Christmas music yet. I better get on it!

But mostly I know that the holidays are upon us and the parental accountabilty is in full swing because the other day, I was fixing Lucy's hair and getting everyone ready for school, and Lucy says to me, "Mom, we need to go buy something at the store so we have stuff to be thankful for."

I corrected her. Don't y'all worry. I suppose our No-Kids-In-The-Stores policy for the holiday season should start a little earlier this year. But the tree is staying up!

That's how I roll!