Thursday, November 8, 2007

The Annual Christmas Decorating Extravaganza Has Begun!

It's that time of year for me! Actually, it's past that time of year for me...I'm behind in my Christmas decorating. I usually start sometime in October, but I worked really hard at not doing that this year. You have no idea what a struggle it was, too! (I've been known to actually have the main tree up around the first of October!) So now I'm feeling rushed. It's only what? 47 days until Christmas? Yeah, something like that. And it takes about a week for me to get everything up so yessir...I am running way behind. Gotta get a move on, that's for sure. Just thought I'd take a minute out and post these pictures. Okay. I admit it. It's a blatant attempt to garner sympathy from you guys. My house is a disaster area, I'm buried under a mountain of plastic containers and there's no one but little ol' me (she says in her best, wispy Southern drawl) to get all this Christmas joy set up. According to my list, I have 43 boxes of Christmas stuff now. And as I've begun unpacking these boxes, I've started to understand why older people don't even put up one single tree anymore. It's a lot of work. And without little kids around to oooooh and aaaaah over everything, what's the point? Don't get me wrong....I still love to see a house fully decked out in Christmas cheer. I'm just starting to wonder if maybe I should settle for spying on the neighbors to get that particular little thrill because decorating my own house has become a bit of a chore.
But...on the bright side...at least my house gets a thorough cleaning at least once a year when I take down all my "real" stuff to create our Christmas look. And if I ever get done with putting all the decorations up this year, I'll post pictures of it. Wish me luck! And if you hear any muffled hollering in the next couple of days...call Randey, who is TDY on the east coast of Florida, and tell him I'm stuck somewhere under all this mess and he needs to get home and rescue me!

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P.S. Just kidding. You won't have to call him. He'll be home tomorrow...just in time for date night! And tomorrow night our date is with another fella...don't know if you've heard of him, but his name is Fred Claus and we're meeting up with him at the local movie theater! I'm so excited I could just SCREAM! (I love, love, love a Christmas movie! Here's hoping this one is a good one!)

20 comments:

  1. Wow! 43 boxes of Christmas stuff?? I can't wait to see the pictures when everything is decorated!

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  2. Oh my GOSH GIRL! You really are nuts about it huh? I love to decorate, but it's an ongoing process for me...a little here a little there......this is over the top! Do it for yourself! even if the family doesn't "ohhh and ahhhh!"

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  3. I knew it, I just knew it knew it knew it and you without even a courtesy email to tell me how right I was, I ought to come over there and put a stop to this madness...oh, wait a sec, I'm in the midst of a hissy fit and forgot who I was talking to...Miss Christmas USA...who has time for e-mails to assure their VERY FAVORITEST AUNT THAT SHE IS JUST SO SMART! Just make sure those pictures get posted and we'll forget this ever happened...

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  4. Are you sure you aren't part elf? With that much Christmas stuff, you've got to be related some how!

    My hubby won't let me put up one stinkin' little Christmas thing until after Thanksgiving.

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  5. You really are a gal after my own heart!!! I don't have 43 boxes but I'm gaining!!!
    I agree, with just me to put it up, it seems rather useless--UNTIL--there it is!!! All the memories of Christmas; all the heartwarming ornaments; all the bright lights!! I, too, love it!!!

    Let me know how Fred Claus is---I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's a good one!!!

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  6. HI...just stopping by to let ya know that you've been tagged...and awarded...at my place...I'll be back later to read your post!

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  7. HOLY COW! WOWWWWWWWWW!!! I'm not sure I'd have it completed before the end of the year if I had 43 boxes. ;) That's a WONDERFUL collection you have. I can't wait to see the house all decked for the holidays!!!

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  8. We are thinking about going to see Fred Claus this weekend, too. Looks fun! I think it's awesome that you have so much Christmas spirit, I'm sure it makes for a very happy home!

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  9. Kari, you crack me up. I hear you on all the work though. It isnt the putting it up I mind, I always blast Bing Crosby and putter around the week before Thanksgiving. Its the taking it down I mind. So depressing and gloomy, I always go buy myself a big bouquet of fresh flowers to offset the depression of January. But, cant think about that now! Good luck with all your work, and just do what you want,you dont have to unload every single box! :)

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  10. I can't wait to see!
    What is in box #5? It looks like you have enough to share~ maybe I don't have to decorate at all this year.

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  11. I love Christmas movies as well Let us know what Fred Claus is like not opened here yet. And wow all those decorations!!! Good luck with all of that Mary

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  12. WOW...that's a lot of boxes. I thought I over did it but you have me beat! I do not put mine up until the day after Thanksgiving...and it takes the entire weekend. Can't wait to see your pics

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  13. Hi, Kari, girl! I'm right there with you, although I don't have 43 boxes. I have maybe 12 to deal with & that's plenty enough. I'm already dreading climbing those stairs to the attic to get my stuff out. I love, love Christmas decorating, but now that I'm working this year, I won't have nearly the time to devote to it, so it will probably take me weeks to get it done this time. Uuugghhhh, love it, hate it! I just may not do as much this year, like not put up the Christmas village. I totally understand too why my mom doesn't put up much anymore. I'll probably be just like that when I'm close to 80..if not sooner. Just wanted to say...I commiserate with ya!

    Ha-ha on the menopause thing. I'm not sure where I'm at in that ole' journey...it's a little strange these days!

    xo,
    Rhoda

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  14. Gal...you ain't gonna have time to make a garland chain with all that ta do!!

    Enjoy your date night!

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  15. OMGoodness ~ I haven't even had a moment to think about taking my boxes out of the attic! Can't wait to see the pics of your home all decorated up!
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    Sandy :)
    PS Had my first mammogram yesterday - all went well - still fighting the "heat" (hot flashes) big time though.

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  16. Dear Kari...I was wondering about what sort of Christmas prep blog fodder I could come up with.....well.....I can see I need to take a quick photo of the "Christmas Corner", the designated Christmas decor space, in the basement. I only gave up 1 large tree and a small one at the garage sale. We put up a total of 18 trees last Christmas...well.... our house was on the Garden Club tour, so we pulled out all the stops.

    I can't wait to tell J, you have 43 boxes of Christmas stuff! He thought we had a bunch...but wait...I haven't counted the boxes in awhile!!

    I'm holding out until the day after Thanksgiving this year...noooo, that's not exactly true. I dug out the lime ornaments I bought last week at the lake and put them in my Mary Carol Garrity drink dispenser in the dining room...so guess I've begun Christmas 2007. I love it!!

    Pat

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  17. Okay, I'm tired just thinking about unloading all that stuff! I have alot too, but I'm not sure I'm putting it all up. I start right after Thanksgiving. Can't wait to see your pics when you're finished. If you have the strength left to take pics!

    Hugs!
    Kat

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  18. Oh my goodness. That's alot of boxes. You had better show us all pictures of all of yur decorating when you are done. You might even make me want to do some decorating. LOL

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  19. OK - you win - I have nowhere near that amount of stuff!!!

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  20. Okay, girl. I seriously contemplated putting up our trees and garland and snow globes and ribbons and nativity sets and stuff in time for Thanksgiving. Traditionally we decorate the saturday after, with carols on the stereo and mugs of cocoa. But I thought this year I would treat my Thanksgiving guests to an early Christmas view.

    Until I started thinking about all the pumpkin and pie crust, and turkey and corn and rolls and potatoes and vinegar and butter and cream and cranberries I am gonna have to buy to prepare the upcoming feast. And when I realized that there are only 10 days to scrub my house, cook for 20, and set a dazzling table --- I gave up on the Christmas idea. One holiday at at time. That's my current, exhausted-before-I-even-begin strategy.

    Enjoy your boxes, my friend!

    ~TaunaLen

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