When I opened my email this morning I had an email from a blog I follow. This blog is full of home decor and decorating and DIY crafts. Today the blog author invited me to her annual Christmas tour.  Christmas tour?

It’s not even Thanksgiving yet. How do people find the time to do all that decorating? When my older children were young, the hallmark of even buying a tree was my daughter’s birthday on December 10. That seemed like plenty of time.

My choir director and his wife who often host our annual choir Christmas party, have their entire house decked out in Christmas decorations. It’s amazing. Every room, on at least two floors (I’ve never been on the top floor) has Christmas trees and Santa Clauses and elves and reindeer and wreaths and ornaments and every other thing that can possibly be connected to Christmas.

Me? In our home? I’m only at the part of thinking about what gifts I can buy (thank you online idea posts and Amazon) for my children and grandchildren. Every year I think this will be the year I’ll get my $hit together and get a jump on the buying, wrapping and decorating so I can sit back and relax and enjoy the festivities of the season. But every year, I’m lucky to be ready to celebrate the season the day after Christmas.

I have always hosted all the holidays at my home, but after my brother passed away, I just didn’t think I’d want to do it. I felt mentally and emotionally worn out so I asked if any of my children wanted to host.

Our youngest son said he would host Christmas and my oldest said he (or I should say my daughter-in-law) would have Thanksgiving. But now as the extreme grief is somewhat abating, I’m second-guessing my offer of giving away hosting Christmas.

Since I had my own children, I have never, ever, not had Christmas at my house. Even when my older children would go to their father’s house for Christmas Eve, they were always back in the morning.  With everyone except my youngest grandchild being adult-size and some of my grandchildren having significant others, my small living room is standing room only. I thought about moving Christmas to my newly remodeled basement where we would have more room but everyone admits half the fun is cramming into Grandma’s living room.

The Grinch part of me still thinks it might be a good thing. I wouldn’t have to put up a tree if I didn’t want to. I don’t think the Great Hunter would even notice if I didn’t, or if he did, he wouldn’t dare mention it. In all the years we’ve been together, I think he’s only helped once or twice in decorating the tree. His idea of help is bringing the boxes up from the basement.

I hope you enjoyed my Christmas House Tour as I wandered back through Christmases past.