Christmas 2012 is in the books. And in the boxes too. We spent today taking down the tree and packing all the decorations away for another 11.3 months. And, of course, cleaning up the mess that accompanies that. If the Mad Hatter celebrated every day that wasn't his birthday as his un-birthday, then we'll celebrate today as un-Christmas, fitting since we un-Christmas-ed the house.
Here are a few of our Christmas memories:
Santa arrived at our house a little early, leaving a new television that needed to be connected. It was a task that took a village...one reading the handbook that came with the television, on checking for additional information online via the smartphone and one recalling what was done in the last television install. All those brains got it done though and we now have pretty, colorful images on our screen.
Having a teenager makes for a mellow Christmas morning. Gone are the days of getting up at the crack of dawn to open presents; Kayla's much more interested in sleep. She's learned the presents will still be there.
My silly Saints fan decided the metal ornament we got for him to hang from his balcony would make a great keychain. It's a cinch he wouldn't misplace his keys but I'm not sure how he'll get them in his pocket.
The little company in Sandy Hook, CT, was so great about replacing the sunglasses with the wrong monogram and Kayla was thrilled with them. She's rocking the movie star look.
Christmas means ham at our house and true to tradition, Brad sneaks in for a sample as soon as the carving starts. This was a record-setting year in that everything was done and ready to serve at 12 noon. That's always the goal but seldom the reality.
And it wouldn't be a holiday without some family group photos. I'm going to enjoy scrapbooking these photos...our clothing all matched!
These two are more of a challenge. There's always plenty of giggling and horsing around whenever I try to take their pictures.
Eventually, however, they settle down and reward me with a great photo.
Yes, Christmas may be just a memory...but what a happy one it is.
A very merry un-Christmas to you & yours, Brenda. In our family we keep our decorations up until the day before Epiphany. 6 Jan is the 12th day of Christmas and the one that by tradition is for packing away the Christmas decorations. However as DH has his birthday on 6 Jan, we remove our decorations on 5 Jan so that he can have his birthday all to himself. This year I think he'll have to share though, as I'm going on a trip with my sister and cousin from the UK, and won't arrive back until late on 5 Jan. I don't think I'll feel at all like taking down decorations when I get home!
Posted by: Margot | December 27, 2012 at 01:56 AM
And here I felt all grinch-y for taking down my outside lights yesterday before the storm hit. High winds were predicted and they wreck havoc on the 2 small lit trees beside my front door. Now I know I was just celebrating un-Christmas.
Posted by: Pat | December 27, 2012 at 09:13 AM
Our decorations usually stay up until 12th night too. This year we will be doing "Christmas Part 2" on January 6th (to include the daughter who couldn't make it for Christmas Day). Just got to try to persuade the kids that getting the decorations down on "Christmas Day" will be a good idea!
And what lovely photo's you've shared with us....
Jude.x
Posted by: Jude.x | December 27, 2012 at 01:32 PM