Oh, Calli, what an annoyance.

Yay Jesse! Good to hear. Take a picture when you are finished. I tried to take some, but the tree is in front of a window which is problematic.

It seems silly to have all the ornamentation all over the house when I'm not doing any gatherings this year.

It's not silly if you like seeing the decorations.

What Steph said.

It is pretty overwhelming with all Mom's stuff and mine. Part of my thinking is that I need to organize it all when I repack it so it is best to get all of it out of the containers. Also I really need to just toss all the old lights. I have so many buckets of them and really just need to get rid of them and buy new led lights next year.

I need to figure out something to do with my Xmas ornaments. I have a small box of those that were given to me as a kid that I'm sentimentally attached to, and the last couple of years I've received some as gifts and I should do something with them other than put them in a box. A tree is definitely not happening, but something.

Part of my thinking is that I need to organize it all when I repack it

I said that last night when we were decorating -- we need to buy 2 big Rubbermaid tubs, and when we un-decorate the tree, put the decorations from the tree into those tubs, so we can see which ones are the preferred ornaments, and which ones we never use (those would be the ones left in the assorted boxes in the attic). Then maybe we could weed them out.

Also I really need to just toss all the old lights. I have so many buckets of them and really just need to get rid of them and buy new led lights next year.

I can't overstate how many sets of lights we have. Every year Tim buys more lights, and then when we bring down the Christmas stuff, we see how many, many, MANY sets we already had. Both of his brothers do it, too, and so did his dad. The Beckmeyers are just committed to finding the best possible tree lights and then optimizing them. (Or maybe new light sets spontaneously generate in the attic. I'm not ruling that out.) (Because I'm not kidding -- it is COMICAL how many sets of lights we have. My best estimate is that we could light about 7 or 8 full-size trees with what we have.)

This season I've decorated a gate at O'hare and taken it all down [link] My home has some lights in the window and nothing more is happening here. I haven't put up a tree since I got these cats 13 years ago. I do, however need to clean, do a bunch of laundry, and finish shopping.

With a vacation in the beginning of December (and a large TV sitting in the living room that we haven't relocated yet), I haven't bothered pulling out my meager decorations this year.

Throw out some damn lights, Tim!

I went to the fancy tree place and spent $50 on a small tree and stand, which seems like a lot. But I do like it! I threw the lights right on, but I guess I should let it relax a little before putting ornaments on. I'm a little afraid the cat will pull it down, but fingers crossed!

I validate this choice!

Matilda has spent the weekend in Strawberry, CA. Which is in the Stanislaus National Forest just north of Yosemite. It was for her friend Isabella's birthday part, and they also took another friend, Norah.

JZ and I were tense about this because Isabella's mom has been a flake to deal with to such a degree that in elementary school we simply stopped planning playdates with her, because it so frequently lead to tears on Matilda's part.

Also, they decided to leave on Friday night, after 8pm for a four hour drive into the rain and snow. Which...was a little anxiety provoking.

Also, Matilda doesn't really have any snow gear but I mentioned this to her friend Iris's mom, and she helpfully gave us an entire bag of snowgear to borrow.

Of course, Isabella's mom, flaked out and forgot to pack all of Matilda's snowgear.

Because of course.

Right before they headed out on their drive Norah's mom, Hannah (who we love, and is a no nonsense attorney) just kind of decided to insert herself into the proceedings and go along for the trip. Our anxiety dropped at least 70% with the addition of a non-flakey parent to the outing.

So far we've gotten happy pictures of the girls sledding in the show. Matilda somehow kitted out in some kind of snowgear.

Timelies all!

We are on the ship. Departure is later this afternoon.