hectic

I'm in the midst of Christmas and all that entails. Just like the rest of you.

We have the first of our overlapping Christmas guests arriving this Friday, and the last will be here until at least the first week in January. We're the most centrally located of all our family and friends, and it's natural for everyone to congregate here. I love them all and wouldn't change it for all the world.

But there's still a lot to get done, and it gets a little more hectic every year. We host Christmas Eve dinner for family and everyone they feel like inviting, and Christmas dinner for the ones who are still hanging around or have just arrived on Christmas Day. I hate to admit it, but it gets a little more stressful for me every year. Menu planning, trying to cook ahead, figuring out where everyone is going to sleep, making sure some person I wasn't expecting has a present--I always have sort of generic presents in gift bags hidden away all over the house just in case. I'm always rewarded afterwards with a "Good save, Mom!" from one of the kids. It's funny and wild and we always manage to have a great time.

Last year my two kids, along with my daughter-in-law and my daughter's boyfriend, ended up drinking wine Christmas Eve and stayed up talking and merry-making until 5:00 a.m. Christmas Day. It was a little difficult getting up after a couple hours sleep and fixing food for all the new arrivals for Christmas Day. I won't do that again, but who knows. It's once a year and I tend to get caught up in the festivities.

So for you and yours--I wish the same. Good friends, wonderful family, chaos.

Make memories.