Images via Dwell Studio's excellent catalog… (Seriously I think Dwell Studio might have the best styling ever, no?)I’ve tried to plan several meaningful activities with the girlies in December to celebrate the holidays, and now that they’re getting older, I’m excited to add in a few things that their (slightly) increased little attention spans can handle.
This year’s list included The Nutcracker (see above re: attention span), spending an evening driving around to ogle Christmas lights (this year, we’ve booked a surprise carriage ride for the girlies around one of the older neighborhoods in town), a couple of cookie/gingerbread house decorating activities with friends, + a couple of volunteer activities…
So, what does this have to do with the weekend you might be wondering? Well my challenge so far this month is balancing our “planned” activities with the other holiday festivities on the calendar, and this weekend it all seemed to come to a head.
(Here's the thing about over planning in December… I always vow not to do it, and I always, well…do.)
After several parties this weekend, lunch with Bryan’s family, skating with Audrey's Y Princess group, Christmas shopping and loads of errands, we all fell into bed completely exhausted and grumpy last night, which admittedly isn't the best way to start the week.
So I’m trying to regroup a bit to ensure the rest of the month feels a little saner, and I think it might boil down to actually saying “no” to a few things, which I’m not so great at (in fact, it’s pretty much my downfall.)
So, what are your family’s holiday traditions, and how do you balance all the December activities? (I can use all the advice you’re willing to dish out here friends…)
7 comments:
I find the balance hard...balancing old traditions with new traditions, this year I discovered the kids just want to stay home and play together with nativity scenes, make art projects, play games. I tried to get them to go to Peter & the Wolf or the Nutcracker and both kids said no! I need the balance for me too.
It's difficult saying no, especially to things you think you might really enjoy. Remember that there will be other parties, other plays, and other Nutcrackers at less hectic times. And enjoy your fasmily and friends! Happy Holidays!
I've been feeling this same thing lately. Things seem especially hectic this year and I constantly feel like I'm playing catch-up. But, I keep reminding myself that memories and traditions are made over a lifetime and we don't need to cram everything in all at once. If we do, we all end up grumpy and having no fun at all anyway.
I have to laugh about your reference to the Nutcracker and attention spans. We took our two oldest on Saturday night (8, 6) to the lovely production put on by the San Francisco Ballet and upon the closing of the curtain my son turned to me and announced: "That was not terrible, it was HORRIBLE!" I guess sometimes you just have to do the more meaningful, cultural things and then hope they have GREAT memories of all of your hard work when they get older! :)
lynne -- i'm laughing out loud...
this reminds me of the year we brought a 7 year old friend (a boy) along with us to see it...we get to the theater, the curtain rises and he (literally) yells, "the ballet...we're at the ballet..." "I thought we were going to see the nutcracker, not the stupid ballet."
we tell that story all the time. truth be told, most of my best memories are from when things went wrong. ;-)
xo
I'm inspired by the planned activities idea :) I'm widdling down my list of stuff to finish up before the holidays. One of our planned activities is the Nutcracker this Sunday. You'll have to tell us how the girls like it!
Having just returned from our first bout of this year's Christmas shopping with blisters and a foul mood, I think I'll stick to internet shopping here on out. As far as balancing the demands of the season, we aim to keep it as Linus-y as possible -- "I'll tell you what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown" sort of spirit. One of our favorite traditions is celebrating Saint Lucy's day on Dec. 13 -- we make gingersnaps and deliver them to friends and family. It's wonderful fun for the girls, and they look forward to it all year.
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