Christmas Clean-up: Happy Belated Boxing Day

Here in the good old U.S. of A we don't make much of Boxing Day. In fact, until I was about 12, I was under the impression that actual fist fights broke out on that day. In light of the mad shopping that happens the day after Christmas, perhaps Boxing Day is a perfect holiday title.

While I wasn't packing up gifts for the less fortunate, I did start out the new year packing boxes none the less. And when there are boxes around my kids get very excited! So I was forced to let the kiddos play with the boxes for a bit before I could take down the tree and pack the decorations. Incidentally, why do I buy toys for my kids when a Rubbermaid tub will suffice?

Here Adelaide figuring out how far she can rock the box before it tips.

Oops!

Its okay, boxes are fun on their side too.

And the most fun of all was had by both, when Adelaide would take Hugh for a "ride."

He's got pretty good balance, he preferred to stand while she pushed him around!

Still working on the balance thing...

Try again.



Happy kids!! Who could ask for anything more?

After a few minutes pushing each other around in the Christmas box it was time to pack up the tree. I was afraid Adelaide would be sad about taking the tree down. My parents used to give us one last small gift as the tree was coming down, something that "must have gotten overlooked" on Christmas as it was "so well hidden" in the tree. It did ease the pain that comes with the finality of seeing the tree dead, naked and laying in the yard awaiting death by fire. As Adelaide and I removed the ornaments one by one I was surprised to find that not only was she unaffected by the event, she actually seemed to enjoy it more than the initial decoration time.

She never forgot to say,"can I eat it?" as she removed each candy cane. And I in turn never forgot to say, "no, these candy canes are old." (The poor souls have been used and re-used for 4 Christmases now.)

Taking a much deserved break from helping mom.

Am I the only person on the planet that winds their lights up in this fashion? No, my Dad does it the exact same way, that's where I learned such a valuable trade. Ever had to untangle miles of Christmas lights? Not me. Don't hate me.

My birthday is a month before Christmas and my Husband buys me a new ornament every year. This one is from 2005. It is one of my favorites. Adelaide has a matching one as her "Baby's 1st Christmas" ornament.

"Can I eat it?!?"

We managed to get ALL the decorations into the new box and hoist them into the attic to gather dust until next year. Ahhh, I'm still a little sad. But Valentine's Day is coming and then Spring and Hugh's birthday and then Summer and Nate & Adelaide's special shared birthday and then Thanksgiving... Yeah, I'm over it. Christmas will be here again, before I realize it, and I'll not waste the meantime pining over Christmas past. And even though Christmas is a season, Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and I can rejoice in that for a long time!!