December

We lit our third advent candle tonight. The girls thought it appropriate to light the third since it was just the three of us. Mike is away at a conference. I can hardly believe how fast the fall has slipped by. It really feels like school just got started.

I feel very little stress about Christmas this year. Unfortunately, that fact alone stresses me out. I'm sure I must be forgetting something pretty major if I'm not worried. Well, we'll see. Everything is on hold this week anyhow, being concert week extraordinaire. The girls' school has concerts on two separate nights and my concert is on Thursday. Once Friday is over and I've bid my students farewell until 2009, then I can really start thinking Christmas seriously. I pretty much have all my shopping done, with a few minor exceptions. My cards/letter are mailed out. We're not really entertaining this holiday, although we may do something impromptu. It seems a shame to go to all the trouble of decorating just for ourselves. I haven't done any baking and don't plan to do much. I will make gingerbread and almond roca with the girls next week, just for experience sake. I certainly don't need a lot of sweets around the house. I can't leave them alone. There was a time when I made gingerbread houses from scratch and went all out on the baking. I just don't see the need for it all anymore! Isn't that awful and very un-Martha of me?

I'm so looking forward to 2 weeks off. It will be so nice to rest and have a change of routine.