Feeling Christmas

It was a lovely bright sunny day today, only -12C, so when my regular Friday outing with Mickey fell through because she has a bad cold, I decided to go out anyway.

The first store I went to had Christmas music playing. I love Christmas music, and with no holidays between now and Christmas, it felt right to be hearing it. I got several Christmas presents at that store and kept going to four other stores, where I was able to make a dent in my Christmas shopping, listen to Christmas music, and walk in the snowy parking lots in the cold sunny air.

Then, still feeling chipper, I stopped by Sara's house to see if she wanted me to stay with the kids while she went out shopping. She didn't need to go shopping, but I stayed anyway because she had told the two older kids that she'd have their Christmas tree up by the time they came home from school and they could decorate it as soon as they got home.

The kids were so excited - Sara put Christmas music on and brought up the huge box of Christmas decorations. Charlie, the oldest, especially enjoyed going through the stuff, remembering decorations from previous years and looking at their Santa pictures from her babyhood onward.

Charlie holding a photo ornament of her favorite people, Grammie and Papa.

Max had a few special ornamenets he had to play with for awhile before putting on the tree

Max with his favorite Frog King ornament.

And Elly was very serious about placing the ornaments just right. She put more ornaments on than Charlie and Max combined.

Even Quinn seemed to enjoy the activity, sitting with me through the whole process, checking out the tree with Charlie and finally falling asleep just as the decorating was completed.

Charlie and Quinn

Charlie and Elly continued to burn off energy by dancing to "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Dancing Around the Christmas Tree" over and over and over....

It was a great way to spend the afternoon. I feel like I can get ready for Christmas now.