Christmas threw-up

...all over my basement.

My dear husband went downstairs to the storage closet this morning and got all the boxes out. That's nearly one-fourth of the battle. I got super excited ripping open each box, seeing the vintage family stuff, re-discovering all the new things I bought on sale after Christmas last year, and making note of what we would like to add to the Christmas regurgitation that's about to happen to every wall and every corner of our house I can possibly cover.

And what to my wondering eyes did appear? Our family Santa hats. A traditional Santa hat for Nick, leopard print for me, and Hendrix's elastic strapped doggy version. We all wore them for the remainder of the hour of Christmas mayhem we had in the basement this morning.

Think it's a bit early to be bring out the red and green? Most people would. I'm from a family who waits till the more accepted time of year, after Thanksgiving, to decorate for the season. However, I have always been the oddball of the family and this year, I will begin my Christmas decorating TODAY - which is actually later than I planned =)

Being on the road the majority of the time and doing last minute Christmas shopping in December means the decorating has to be done now, allowing us to enjoy it and get totally sick of it by the time we take it down. I'm guessing we'll be really sick of it before we have that time, seeing how we're leaving for Disney World {YAY!} on December 30th and I never take down Christmas before the New Years.  Between the unpacking and getting back to work/school after the trip, we'll have approximately ZERO time for getting the house back to normal.

Maybe I can decorate the tree for Valentine's day???

However, I do love our fall decor and it does make me sad to put away my beloved pumpkins. Perhaps they can stay out - they still look pretty sweet next to the poinsettias.

I also have a little shopping to do - there's the matter of our first Christmas in a house {instead of that box of an apartment we were in last year}. Therefore, a little investment in strings upon string of lights is about to take place. I personally love the fun of the multi-colored while Nick comes with a little more class and loves the white lights.

We both agree on white lights for the tree, but how about helping us decide on the outdoor lights by voting in the poll, located on the top right of my sidebar? We truly appreciate the input.

Finally, we're thinking of having some friends over for a tacky Christmas sweater party and I just gotta' get that dining room furniture painted and looking snazzy before the gathering. Crossing my fingers it will get done in the next month!

{I primed the last chair, of 6, and the table today! The first coat of black has now been painted on the table since this picture was taken. The very last HUGE HILL to climb will be the china cabinet which I have still not decided on a color to paint. Decisions, decisions.}

I'm not worried though. I asked Santa to send me some of his elves to help. They should be arriving any time now...