Trying for a Stress-Free Christmas (Is That Even Possible?)

This past week has been pretty laid back, which honestly feels rare this time of year. No big travel. No major events. Just getting ready for Christmas and trying, maybe foolishly, to have a stress-free one.

That was the goal, at least. Be home. Be present. Enjoy the kids being back from college. Take in the music, the sweets, the shows, and all the little moments that make Christmas feel like Christmas. While the month did start with a quick trip out to California, last week we stayed put, and that alone felt like a win.

We’ve been doing a lot of Christmas shopping. I’ve managed to get most of mine done, which feels like an accomplishment. The last few items are for the boys, and honestly, shopping for college kids is harder than it used to be, especially when it comes to clothes. Their tastes are nothing like mine, so I prefer to get their input instead of guessing. I’m looking forward to Noah getting into town so we can do our traditional shopping trip together.

One thing I’ve noticed this year is how bad shipping delays seem to be. Amazon and several other retailers are really pushing delivery windows right up to the wire. I ordered some things weeks ago, and they are still showing arrival dates between the 20th and the 24th. That stresses me out. I hate wrapping a picture and saying, “It’ll be here tomorrow.” Unfortunately, I’ve already had to do that a couple of times this year.

Luna, our dog, has also grown… a lot. She’s not the little puppy anymore, even though she seems to think she still fits everywhere she used to. There’s a small bench at the foot of our bed that we originally got so Teddy could stay close to my wife at night without being in the bed. Luna apparently believes that bench is also hers, despite the fact that she clearly does not fit. She’s gotten huge, and somehow the puppy stage just disappeared overnight.

One oddly frustrating thing this week was trying to find a locksmith. One of the doors in our house has a lock that technically works, but it’s sticking badly. Once we got it locked, we basically had to stop using the door altogether. It turns out it’s a certain type of door, and a surprising number of locksmiths won’t work on it. That’s always how it goes. You barely notice a door until you can’t use it, and then suddenly it feels essential.

Sam is home from college, done with exams and finishing up his senior year. We made a trip to High Point University to see the Christmas lights. If you’re ever in the area when they open the campus to the public, it’s worth checking out. They do an incredible job decorating, and it really gets you into the holiday spirit.

I’ve also been getting nonstop ads for a mini flamethrower that hooks up to a propane tank. I still don’t fully understand what it’s for. Lighting grills? Melting ice? I don’t know. It seems wild, and I’m curious if anyone actually owns one.

We also took the dogs to get their picture with Santa at a local pharmacy. Luna was decked out in lights, Teddy was completely unbothered, and the photo really shows just how big Luna has gotten. She’s full of energy now and would happily go on two or three walks a day. Then, right around 9:30 or 10 at night, she turns into a toddler who needs to be coaxed into doing anything except going to bed.

That was our week. Hopefully yours has been calm and full of good moments as well.

One final question I always like to ask this time of year. What’s for Christmas dinner? Turkey? Ham? Prime rib?

This year, my dad has decided we’re doing prime rib. No ham. I’m not sure how I feel about that. I love ham for Christmas, Easter, and just about any holiday outside of Thanksgiving. I guess we’ll see how the prime rib turns out.

However you’re celebrating, I hope your Christmas is full of good food, good company, and a little less stress.

 

Until next week,
Shane

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