With all the pictures, movies, Pinterest pins, it is really easy to feel like you aren’t doing enough this time of year. It’s easy to feel like you are doing Christmas wrong if you don’t have the perfect tree with all the handmade ornaments or desserts in the shape of Santa hats.

Yes I want the holidays to be magical for George, but I also think that we need to have a balance…or some sleep.

I have to accept that our Christmas will be perfect even if it isn’t what everyone else is doing. I don’t have to be “that” parent that does it all.

I think we all have an opportunity to make our own perfect Christmases, whatever traditions that may mean for you. In my opinion, none of them are wrong as long as we are choosing joy in those moments.

So here are a few Christmas traditions we won’t be doing because they will drain my joy.

And that’s ok.

• Elf On The Shelf-I just honestly can’t get behind this. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy everyone else’s creativity. I am amused daily at what people come up with. I, however, won’t be taking the time to be the mastermind behind hiding a plastic doll every night.
• Santa magic-George is really too young for this anyway, but we won’t be making fake footprints, putting out milk, or etc. I don’t mind Santa-I have dozens of Santa figurines around our house. However, I want George to be mindful of the spirit of Christmas and not be wrapped up in the hype and commercialism that Santa brings. Also I am not good at storytelling so keeping up with this charade would be EXHAUSTING. I am impressed with people who have elaborate stories and gimmicks with their kids. I just wouldn’t be able to keep up. We also didn’t see Santa this year…While it is cute to have pictures of George with Santa, here are my thoughts-a) when you think about putting your kid in the lap of a stranger that is weird, b) I have no desire to stand in line with a toddler, and c) we didn’t plan ahead, plain and simple. Anyway, I didn’t grow up believing in Santa, and I still love the holiday season just fine. I know I am a Grinch.
• Handmade ornaments of any sort. You would think with my crafty spirit, I would be all about homemade stuff. But, we won’t be having any footprint salt-dough or Popsicle things in our house. I will be honest; I do not have time for it. Last year I thought about it on Christmas day but didn’t have enough energy in me to do something about it. And that is my sentiment this year as well. I only get a few days off, and I don’t want to spend it forcing everyone to do crafts. I am not against doing them, just against organizing them. So unless someone else initiates getting the supplies and carves out a time to do it, these types of holiday things are not happening in our house. Sorry grandparents for not getting you George’s hand-print.
• Gingerbread Houses. I have never ever gotten these…Why are we wasting so much candy? If George wants to do that, he can do that on someone else’s dime. We eat candy in our house.

George still is too young to really get what is going on, so we haven’t really started any “traditions” yet. The only thing I have started is reading about the Nativity. We have a great pop up book that he loves interacting with as I tell him about Jesus. Next year when George is two and a half, we will be ready to really start some traditions like cookie decorating, matching pajamas, and driving around to see lights.

This is the first time we haven’t been traveling all over the place for the holidays. I will actually wake up in my OWN bed on Christmas day, which is definitely a Christmas miracle considering all the traveling we have done over the years. We also have a tree of our own for the first time ever which is a big step in the holiday magic in my opinion. We are just trying to enjoy the little things and not make a production out of every moment which I feel is what is expected of us as parents.

I don’t need that stress. George doesn’t need us that stressed to be perfect. We each just need to find those things that bring us joy, not the internet joy. The first Christmas happened in a dirty stable, so I feel ok that we don’t have lights outside of our house. I am choosing joy because this is my best. And I think the best thing we can teach George is how to be joyful.

So we are going to do us, and we will celebrate you doing you with your creativity over there without being jealous of each other. There are many ways to make this season Merry and Bright, so let’s not put pressure on each other to measure up to a Pinterest perfect Christmas.

The only thing I can guarantee is that there will always be lots of pictures. Because I am totally “THAT” mom.

And that’s ok.

What are traditions that you love this time of year? Are there any that you are a Grinch about too and won’t do?

Not to sound pompous but I work to be a perfectly flawless person. Clearly, I know this is not reality, but I strive for perfection, and will over-think things at length when they aren’t. Perfectionism is not one of my proudest attributes of all time.

It is important for me to remember that every moment isn’t going to be perfect, and there is some beauty in that.

Or humor.

So here I am opening up about some of my imperfections for everyone’s enjoyment today. Get excited.

• Earlier this week, I must have gotten distracted while putting on my make-up because I forgot to put mascara on one of my eyes. I didn’t realize it until my morning bathroom run that my face looked uneven. I almost went to the store over my lunch break to fix my naked eye, but I just went with it. Nobody gave me weird stares or said anything, so either they are all way to kind, or my five minute make-up routine makes absolutely no difference in what people think.
• I am a scenery driver, meaning that I look for landmarks to know where to turn. We live outside of city limits and the highway has no lights whatsoever. Before it got dark, I was using this electricity pole to mark where I need to start slowing down where I turn to get to our house because the street just kind of jumps out at you. But now that it is dark at a ridiculously early hour, I can’t see that light post. Which means, I miss our street at least 2 or 3 times a week. I get lost going to our house 50% of the week.
• I had a doctor’s appointment the other day where I had to disrobe for a physical. I remembered 5 minutes before I left the house that I didn’t shave my legs. Folks, I don’t even know when the last time I shaved them was. Toddlers don’t allow for that kind of time. Anyway, to not be utterly mortified at the doctor’s office I put on my knee-high dress socks and kept them on during the appointment so they couldn’t see how I had let myself go. #momhack
• I haven’t stopped wearing maternity tank tops. Honestly I will probably wear them forever because they are made much longer and they are just more comfortable than regular camis. You should check them out. You are welcome.
• I really hate being late. It is one of my biggest pet peeves, and I schedule myself extra time to ensure I am not late. Except Mondays. For some reason, Mondays win the war. I cannot for the life of me get George and I to where we need to be on time. Every.Single.Week. The other four days I am always on time if not early, but not Mondays.
• Monday night I actually did an ab workout. Then I ate several handfuls of gummy bears and a bowl of ice cream when I was done. Those abs are mine!
• I would really love to have a picture of the dogs and George but this is what I can manage to get. Taking pictures is sometimes really hard.

 Do you have any funny things to share? Are you able to get your kids and pets to sit nicely-together-in one spot-for several minutes-in a row? What is your secret?

We are coming up on the end of the year. Seriously?

What I did last week:

Thursday-30 minute run on the treadmill

Saturday-30 minute run on our driveway. This ended up being more endurance and strength training since we have a massive hill.

Sunday-30 minutes of yoga.

Monday-Ab workout! I did it.

Tuesday-30 minute run on the treadmill

Impressed by:

I am really proud of myself for pushing to the end of this year.

Struggled with:

I didn’t really have any issues this week.

Did I meet my goal from last week?

I did it. I really need to focus on my core, so I really need to make this a priority.

What is my goal for next week?

CORE.

Fitness Thoughts:

One ab workout down…

image via

I didn’t do so great this month besides my cooking. Oh well, here’s to living!

1. Crochet something else besides blankets or scarves at least once a year (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

2. Do a photography challenge (Took pictures once a week George’s first year)

• I have been trying to take more candid shots of George, but I do have some staged shots planned for Christmas. I will admit that I haven’t gotten the camera out too much this month because he doesn’t like to sit still for me so I get frustrated with him more than it is worth.

3. Visit 5 cities I have never been to before (7/5)

4. Tour at least one a winery, brewery, or distillery

5. Send at least 5 snail mail a month

• I actually got this month done with all the Christmas cards.

6. Become a “professional” photographer

7. Run at least 10 races (any distance) (5/10)

8. Go camping with Tom

9. Pay for the car behind me in a drive through

10. See Tyrone Wells live as many times as possible

11. Tour Fort Defiance here in Clarksville

12. Water ski with my dad

13. Do a 5K with my mom

14. Take a swing dance class with Tom

15. Read at least one fun book a month and one professional development book every three months

• I finished several book reviews lately, but I told myself that I needed to focus on my personal reading list for this month.

16. Take a pottery or stained glass class

17. Do one new recipe each month

• Peach Pie Oatmeal Cookies-these were ok. I have the hardest time making oatmeal cookies. They always come out spongey.
• Oreo Cheescake Brownies-These were great! They are super rich though, so if you aren’t making it for a function, it may take you awhile to get through.
• Ravioli Bake-This was super easy! It’s like lazy lasagna.
• Oven Fajitas-These were really good and quick to make for a weekly meal.
• Unstuffed Peppers-Our neighbor gave us a whole bunch of sweet peppers, so the last two recipes were sought out to use all of them. This recipe tasted really good, however it made our house smell awful for an entire week. So we may make this again when we can have all the windows open.

18. See both a Clemson and UCM football game live

• Clemson is still at #1!!!!

19. Find a place to volunteer on a regular basis

20. Go hiking

21. Ride in a hot air balloon

22. Go to at least 20 “new to me” restaurants. (29/20)

23. Stay at a bed and breakfast

24. Spend a day without electronics (phone, t.v. and computer)

25. Do something unique and new for my birthdays

26. Explore Nashville while we live here

27. Watch at least 10 movies that I have not seen before that won Best Picture at the Oscars and at least 20 documentaries (not necessarily Oscar winning) Movies (2/10); Documentaries (7/20)

28. Sew an item of clothing from scratch

29. Do a personal devotional/bible study on my own

30. Be a mascot for an event

31. Go on our honeymoon (preferably somewhere tropical)

32. Host a NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game party

33. Go on a mission trip

34. Be on a recreation volleyball team

35. Become a mom

Do you have a bucket list? How do you figure out the big items and make them a reality?