December 5th and I am already behind

Another photo heavy post.  We don't have a tree up yet. I have to confess that my husband asked me which tree I wanted him to bring in. I made the mistake of asking how many trees are in the shed. The answer was seven. So all seven are on the back porch and I am overwhelmed. So instead .  .  . 

I wanted to decorate this doorway and I have been pricing garlands at various stores and websites. And it was getting crazy. I was at the home improvement store one day and they had fake pine garlands for 7.99 each. The doorway only needed two.  Then I went to the dollar store and they had the ornament garlands for $5.  I bought four.  So the total cost of the doorway was only $36.  One garland at the craft store was $40 and even on sale, I would have had to buy several. I think this was a win. My only regret once it was up (of course) was that I should have put it on the other side of the doorway where people will be sitting for Christmas so it could be a backdrop. Next year. 

I started a dumb tradition of framing the grandkids Christmas photos and this is where I am at this point. I should have started with wallet photos . . . 

I had picked a date for our family Christmas about six weeks ago but three different grandchildren now have sports tournaments that Saturday so my Christmas has moved to Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. so everyone can quickly eat breakfast, open a stocking and leave for more sports events.  I am done being bitter, but I did pout for twenty four hours.  The kids have reached the teenage stage and coaches are not family friendly when scheduling and penalize them for not attending. So whatever. 

Our stinking schools had another two hour delay for a teachers meeting (following a five day weekend for Thanksgiving) but it did give me a contractor for two hours to set up the village for me. 

I have also decorated the 3 story dollhouse in my bedroom, but this is another dollhouse I picked up two years ago for no reason and this year it is decorated for Christmas too. Amazing what I will do so I don't have to deal with the trees. 

We did brave the frigid temperatures and go to the city's tree lighting. I wore heavy socks and my fake ugg boots. As my toes froze I remembered that in the winter I should wear my insulated boots that were home in the closet. 

Five out of my ten frozen grandchildren joined me. 

There were celebrities

Cute store windows

Bounce houses, food trucks and s'more stations. Also activities inside stores. 

Actually a larger crowd than it looks like in my photos. 

Yep, back at the home improvement store. 

Flooring.  In order to get the necessary pieces to go with the flooring I ended up completely organizing the bins and shelves of accessory pieces to find the last one that was listed in inventory and that they could not order in since it was listed in inventory. My husband found it over in ceramic tile.  It was a long afternoon. I think we were there close to three hours. 

And - in case you missed it, I starred in a Hallmark movie. 

Everyone thinks that Donna Kelce, the football mom, is my doppelganger. As I joke, I changed my facebook photo to a photo of Donna Kelce. Everyone "liked" it and did not notice it wasn't me.  So I am now assuming her identity.  

I don't know where I think I am going to find time for this, but I ordered Christmas cards today. 

I took the high road and ordered grandchild vs my true holiday feelings.