It’s so close to Christmas!

It’s December 22^nd! How did that happen? This is insanity! I look forward to Christmas and the holiday season all year… the season has almost come to an end! All the planning is done, the work and friend holiday parties are finished, the Christmas gift shopping is complete, and I’ve got all the groceries (Turkey, potatoes, stuffing, desserts—the works!) It’s sad that that part is over, and yet at the same time a bit of a relief… the craziest part of the holiday season is just beginning! The days leading up to Christmas are the busiest, most exciting, and most joyous days of the whole holiday season! The day before Christmas Eve is brisk and busy! Everyone is buying their last-minute parcels! The day of Christmas Eve is exciting and cheerful, and busy as well! There’s cooking, cleaning, preparations, running around to get more last-minute things… It’s so much fun! The few hours leading up to Christmas Eve are a little more relaxed and stress-free. The turkey is in the oven roasting away, the house is clean, the Christmas lights on, the table is set. This time is devoted to getting ourselves ready and beautiful for the evening—my personal favourite part. And then, finally, finally it’s Christmas Eve!!! One by one the family starts pouring into the house, carrying presents and food and cheer! The smell of the juicy turkey is wafting through the house, with hints of creamy mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gingerbread! And maybe even some chestnuts! People drop off their gifts under the Christmas tree, and everyone is happy to see each other! We play some festive Christmas music in the background to really set the atmosphere. Once everyone’s here, the turkey is perfect and ready, all the food out in serving dishes, we take a seat around the table and say Grace—my husband’s favourite part. Then my father-in-law along with my son carve the turkey, as part of our tradition! Then we dig in! Yes! We enjoy a nice meal around the table for a while. Once that’s done, the kids open presents around the Christmas tree and the adults give their secret Santa gifts! In my family people are very secretive about who their recipient is… we are always trying to cheat and find out, but our guess are always wrong! It’s exciting for us to find out who got us these little funny gifts! After presents we head back to the table for dessert! Chocolate cake, gingerbread and some sort of cheesecake! Then, when everybody is full to the brim, and is getting tired from all that turkey, we say goodnight and head home. We head up to bed with happy thoughts and dreams about the gifts that will be under our tree in the morning from Santa!