Weekend Wrap-Up on Hump Day

I had visions of sugar plums and Christmas lights dancing in my head for this weekend, but with the threat of impending snow Saturday and Rella's birthday party on Sunday, our last "free-ish" weekend before the holidays wasn't as grand as I hoped. But, of course, that is how life rolls.

Every Christmas I feel like I should be doing more - going to New York, seeing the Nutcracker, taking in the Macy's light show and Longwood Gardens in Philly... and every year, we don't. We keep it mellow, whether accidentally or intentionally or some combo of both.  Our usual M.O. is to hit the local Santa Parade and Tree Lighting, visit a big neighborhood light display and one weekend is packed full of family Christmas parties. And, well folks, that is pretty much it!  This year I even passed on sending Holiday Cards. That's an 18 year tradition, tossed.  Why? There is no really good reason.  

Just chillin'.

Here's the problem with chillin'... there is a fine line between TOO chill (lazy and missing all the fun) and TOO scheduled (over-stimulation, expensive, and losing the true meaning of the holidays). I keep waiting to find that beautiful middle-ground.  I suppose trying to find it is part of the journey.

So, the past week it was all about mailing Santa's letters, putting the finishing touches on the "almost-decorated-but-not-quite-there" house, throwing a little Holiday Party for friends with an ornament exchange by a roaring fire and laughing until almost midnight over wine (it was worth the lack of sleep the next day!), last minute running around gift shopping, talking my husband off a ledge when he saw the AmEx bill, and 

A Holiday Choir concert for Pink's new big-girl school. Grades 4-6 performed.  

It was actually really good. And, I cried. Like, as in tears just rolling everywhere and snotty nose cried.

Yeah, I'm just that cool. 

Sunday was the long-overdue and long-awaited BIRTHDAY PARTY that Rella has been buggin' out about for almost 2 months.  Her birthday is actually at the END of November (yes, weeks ago, I know!) but she is always talking about it months in advance. And the party... we really tried to talk her out of it, but she had her little heart set and the sucker I am, I just couldn't break that heart.  

So, a Karate Party it was. 

She doesn't TAKE Karate, mind you. She simply attended a Karate party last month and decided that was it.  She wanted to slice her cake with a sword and break a board.  So, that's what she did.

There you go sweet baby. You got your wish.  Happy super belated birthday Rella-Kins. Let's move on to Christmas now!