Decorating the house for Christmas

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I thought Christmas seemed ages away until I realised that it’s only 4 weeks until Sam’s yearly week off.

Our one planned ‘family time’ of the whole year whilst Sam uses up the rest of his annual  leave just before the festive period  begins and our days are busy days catching up with the rest of our family. We don’t go anywhere, we use the time watching family films, putting up the tree, spending time together and gearing up for Christmas. It’s not a holiday, but it’s as close as we get to one, and it’s definitely something to look forward to.

My Christmas prep has been minimal so far. Apart from wondering how on earth we are going to fit a Christmas tree in the car now that we have two children in the back. And absent-mindedly pinning Elf on the Shelf ideas.

Decoration-wise, we are pretty set in our ways. The tree will be oversized, and we’ll spend all December commenting that we really should have gone for a smaller one as we squeeze past it. The ornaments will be haphazard, with seemingly little thought towards co-ordination and all emphasis on sentimental value. And I will buy more Christmas lights than needed, using the excuse that I need them as photography props.

I might, I repeat, might, have a go at some Christmas crafts with Arlo if I’m feeling particularly festive. He’s not overly interested in drawing or painting, but he does love a good old repetitive task, especially if it involves linking things up in a line. I have an early Christmas memory of me and my older brother creating reams and reams of homemade paper chains that my mum then felt compelled to hang all over the house in all their ugly, scribbled glory. I think Arlo might quite enjoy doing the same, and if he’s not up for decorating them himself, there’s always the super-lazy option of this paper chain kit from Early Learning Centre.

Now I just need to solve the Balance Bike VS Pedal Bike dilemma. Arlo is adamant that he wants pedals, but I know it’s going to be ages before he learns how to use them. A balance bike, however, he can operate very easily…. but he wants pedals. Sigh.