Our family (at least 4 of the 6) doesn’t ease into the holidays—we bolt. We leap from Halloween straight into Christmas like a gazelle escaping a haunted house, bounding through a field of pumpkins and tinsel,

then crash-landing into Santa’s workshop.

Sure, we pause for Thanksgiving (we’re not monsters), but that’s more of a break in the action while we wait for the Jolly Old Elf to make his grand entrance.

Ghosts, goblins, and skeletons are tucked away in their coffins until next year and the Christmas containers are emerging from their resting place. Sadly, my annual attempts at post-holiday organization continues to make decorating more of a scavenger hunt—one part ornament, two parts nostalgia, and a dash of “where did I put that box of decorations?”

Our celebrations have definitely evolved over the years. For several reasons, time once spent with family has shifted toward time with friends—many of whom are family in every way that matters. If we’ve learned nothing else in our journey thru life, it’s that biology doesn’t define belonging.

Last year, I hosted a craft-and-snack night to spend time with our dear friends. It was also a way to purge my stash of holiday crafting supplies. It turned into such a joyful gathering that we’re doing it again—bigger, brighter, and now officially dubbed the Holiday Make, Munch & Mingle.

This year’s guest list has grown and so has the excitement. It’s an evening of forming, friendship, and food—crafting, chatting, and chewing our way into the season.

The trees are up. Yes, plural!

Each kid has a mini tree in their room, a tree is displayed in our upstairs hall and we have another larger tree to put in our basement family room. What can I say, I like Christmas trees!

Holiday art is hung

and we have more decorating to do. Regardless, the holidays are officially underway… and we still have 44 shopping days left!!

**Shout out to Co-Pilot for the gazelle art. I can snap a photo (not always the best photo) but am definitely not talented enough to create visuals. Since I haven’t seen gazelles leaping through fields in Illinois or anywhere else, I have no photos. Nor have I ever seen Santa’s workshop. Or Santa! Huh?!!!**