5 Things Thursday: Christmas To-do List

This year, I was so determined that we would really get our Christmas on—caroling, movie-watching, tree-decorating, cookie-making—the works.

Last year was my first blogging Christmas, and Shaun was traveling a lot, so, even though I had several projects to show you, and we went through the motions of some “fun” activities, I was usually too busy getting things ready, staging them, and then taking pictures to ever fully relax.

Well, this year, while I haven’t felt particularly stressed to accomplish too much Christmassy here on the blog, neither have I felt very successful in the “fun” department.

Yes, we got our tree up. 

{Pardon the blurry Instagram photo; I have recently started drinking that Koolaid, by the way, and you’re welcome to follow along if you like}

And, yes, we’ve watched A Muppets’ Christmas Carol and a few other classics.

But too often, bedtime rolls around, and I think, “Holy jeepers, where did that day go?”

Take last night for example. We were supposed to go look at Christmas lights. Shaun drove into town to meet up with us at Chick-fil-a, where we proceeded to take up two whole booths (good thing it wasn’t Kids Eat Free night) and do the craziness that is eating out with 5 small children—all in preparation for some hot chocolate and neighborhood Christmas light trolling.

Problem was, it was 75 degrees outside, so ho cho was out of the question—not to mention the fact that I was still hot and sticky from teaching a double at the gym (I brought clothes to change into but didn’t really allow for the fact that teaching two hours means that I will have: a) hungry twins, and b) no childcare time left, which makes a shower and clothes-change pretty much impossible). Plus, by the time everybody had eaten their food (or, in Della’s case, two measly bites of chicken + a few pieces of fruit) and I had fed the twins and the three oldest had logged a few minutes of germ-coated bliss in the play area…it was already 8 o’ clock.

So, instead, we traded our toys in for ice cream, and I brought the kids home and put them in bed while Shaun stopped at the grocery store for some essentials.

And that, my friends, is how life usually goes around here.

Now, I could continue in a philosophical vein about how none of that stuff really matters and how it has nothing to do with the true meaning of Christmas anyway.

And that would be true.

But, even so, there are still 4 days until the actual day, and, by golly, I’m going to do my best to stuff them full of fun and memories.  (I always was a talented procrastinator).

Starting with:

1.

Christmas cookie decorating.

I imagine I’ll be posting evidence of our disasters results later on today on Instagram and our Facebook page.

2. 

Christmas lights.

Yes, we’re running at this again tonight. Thanks to a severe storm that briefly killed our power last night, we now have ho cho weather to enjoy as we take in the twinkle lights.

3.

At least one Christmas craft with the kids.

{And, yes, that means that we haven’t done a single one yet; and, yes, I know I’m a horrible mother}

4.

A viewing of White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life…preferably after the kids are in bed, and I can watch it on our “big screen” (courtesy of our projector and a blank wall in the “big room”), snuggled next to my hubby.

5.

A special Christmas breakfast (though not on Christmas day).

We did this last year, and it was a lot of fun (and super-yummy). It’s one of the few things that our kids asked specifically for a repeat of this year.

So, now I’m curious…what Christmas activities are you hoping to cram into the hours between now and Tuesday?

P.S. Don’t forget about this: