This happens to me ever year - it gets to be 12 or so days before Christmas, and I'm suddenly launched into a panic about all the things I haven't done yet. Like mail out Christmas cards or bake any cookies or, you know, BUY THE KIDS THEIR GIFTS. It's not like it happens at the same time every year and there are TV commercials and signs on store windows and reminders everywhere I turn that Christmas is coming or anything. I would like to spend the entire month of December doing nothing but Christmas-related stuff.  I wish my brain wasn't occupied with pesky thoughts like how many bills we have to pay and how I've had a Holiday Savings Account at the Credit Union since before Ryan was born and have never once put any money in it. I want the picture-perfect Christmas. I want cookies and candy canes and Christmas carols and to wear silly fuzzy sweaters with reindeer on them. I want to visit relatives with tins of fudge and drive around looking at Christmas decorations. (We … [Read more...]