Christmas Decorating Chaos

Last night while we listened to the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional, we put up the tree and opened the boxes of Christmas decorations. Then it became a total madhouse here. At first I was shooing kids away until I had a chance to pull out some fragiles from the box. By the end I was watching them run circles around the house with random holiday items they were carrying or wearing, chasing each other, while Ross talked to his dad on the phone, and me just laughing away. The kids started putting up ornaments so quickly that the option of tinsel or beads on the tree was out of the question at that point. "That ship has sailed," Ross told me after we noticed how many ornaments were already put up by the kids, so I threw the stuff back in the box for next year. Of course, with two two-year-olds tinsel probably wouldn't last anyway. We have half a box of glass balls that Ross and I purchased our first Christmas. They are starting to discolor and half broke over the last 10 years so Ross mentioned about just getting rid of them. Then I noticed he hung them low on the tree so the kids could "enjoy" them as well as maybe break some so we wouldn't have to pack them again. It made me laugh again. It's just "stuff" right. (Note: Two have already broken. Two less to pack again, right?) It became so funny to me how much of this Christmas "junk" we have kept, packed and moved over the years is so cool to the kids. Christmas really is for kids and it's great having a big family to add more memories over the years. I remember plenty of memories growing up. I sure these kids will too. Our tree looks great. It's got plenty of lights on it, it's full of ornaments and it was completely decorated by the family -- even the twins helped lots.

Today I will finish up with the decorations with the help of Jane and Emma (wondering about putting wreaths low in the windows again this year. With two toddlers, I'm afraid they won't last long), make holiday shaped sugar cookies to let the kids frost tonight for Family Home Evening and maybe go to storytime. Not sure if the twins will cooperate and take a nap today or not. Plus, Jane can climb out of her bed and open the door anyway. So a long day may be in order so we'll have to fill it up with lots to do to keep us busy and wear us out.