Easiest Time Ever Taking Down the Christmas Decor

January 1^st was the agreed upon day for taking down the holiday decorations.  The date varies year by year.  Hubs would have been happy to get everything put away sooner, but I told him that I wanted to still look at the tree on New Year’s Eve.  One month ago I bemoaned the addition of large, colored lights on the tree.  Lately, many a night was spent in enjoyment gazing at the pretty blue ones especially.

We all slept in, per the usual routine this past week, and especially since some of us went to bed at 2:00 a.m.  Guess what?  One night last week I went to bed at 3:00 a.m.

I learned something eye-opening on the first day of this year, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.  Many times this past year I've noticed how much the boys are growing taller…voices changing…feet getting bigger than mine….math homework I can't understand, and so on.

All these growth changes were expressed in terms of a loss--a loss of little boys and how things used to be.  What I learned on January 1^st is a gain, a positive spin on these children getting bigger and bigger and I thought about it all day.

Since January 1st was on a Saturday, we knew we wanted to get all the chores done that day so we'd have Sunday with no house cleaning--we'd spend the last day of vacay doing whatever we wanted, like the last day of vacay should be spent.  So, the boys knew that once we were all up, the chores would begin.  Being bigger means they truly helped Hubs and I take down and put away every light bulb, wreath, ornament and garland in record time. 

Middle son helped Hubs wind up outdoor lights and put them in the plastic bin, while Youngest and Oldest completely unadorned and dismantled our “back porch” tree while I started on the living room tree.  Then Middle son joined me and helped wrap up every ornament in tissue paper and put it back in the bin.  Next, Oldest helped unscrew the bolts from the tree stand, and Hubs lifted out the tree and took it outside to the truck for its trip back to Home Depot (and Hubs is Vacuum Man so no sooner had that fir left the house then the needles were sucked away).  Christmas was put away, inside and out, in less than and hour and a half.

And the part that hard me mulling all day about these growing boys?  They carried all 10 or so boxes and bins of Christmas stuff to the upstairs hallway and lined them up by the ladder going into the attic.  Hubs went into the attic and the two older boys lifted every box over their heads, from the attic stairs, and up to Hubs in the attic above.  They have muscles now.  Afterward I was amazed how they made that chore look so easy.

And then I stayed in my pajamas all day until dinner time, when I took a shower and then changed into my vacation uniform again, which was one of many fleece pajama bottoms, soft t-shirt, fuzzy socks and no bra. Wonderful day.  Wonderful 10 days.