The Night Before Christmas

I love Christmas. I love the sights, sounds & the smells. I mainly love getting together with friends and family. I am lucky in that both mine and Shawn's families live here in town so we don't have far to travel to see anyone. I love relaxing and spending time doing nothing. Over the past couple of years I have come to realize what is important about the holiday time. I have scaled back on the decorating and prep work. I put less pressure on myself and others and that has really paid off. Who cares if the house isn't done up to the tee, if the cookies aren't done perfectly- no one- we care that we can take a moment to be together, to rediscover one another, to stop and smell the cedar!

I love the routine and tradition of Christmas and I really, really love my Night Before Christmas books. I have been collecting them for years. They really are the only thing I collect. I have pop up books, lift the flap books, one that was published the year I was born and one that was quilted for me by my sister in law. They make me happy. As long as I have them and my Hallmark ornaments I am good to go.

Merry Christmas Everyone!