Oh no! I want my Christmas back!

That's what Michael kept saying as we were putting away all the Christmas decorations earlier this week, and I have to confess that I kind of agree with him.  I just wasn't ready for Christmas to be over this year.  I don't know what it was... I'm never ready for the Christmas break to be over, but most years I'm pretty much ready to put away the decorations and turn off the music once the inevitable reality of the post-holiday routine hits.  Not this year!

Michael even went so far as to try to pack himself away with the decorations...

Maybe it was because I had an unusually fruitful Advent... maybe it was because this was the first year we decorated our very own HOUSE... maybe it was because Michael was so into Advent and Christmas this year, especially with singing (but unfortunately all attempts to capture his renditions of "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle Bells" on video failed).  Who knows?  All I know is that if Alex hadn't taken the initiative and started boxing everything up on Tuesday I probably would've left the decorations up until Lent.  Or longer, considering our due date is just one week after Ash Wednesday.

Yesterday I found the Baby Jesus from the boys' Little People nativity set under the ottoman in the living room.  I suppose it's possible that the whole situation was entirely innocent, but I think it's at least as likely--if not more so--that Michael hid little bits of Christmas all over the house in an attempt to keep us from packing them all away.  I can't say I blame him, but we might be making these little discoveries up until next Advent...

So our Christmas decorations are put away; the outside lights are still up but we're not turning them on any more (*tear*); and I'm (mostly) not singing Christmas carols for lullabies.  When Michael asks for "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" at nap time I just don't have the heart (or energy) to explain that I can't sing that because it's not Christmas any more.  And besides, we've spent the last year singing "Up on the Housetop" and "Old Toy Trains" almost every single naptime/bedtime because he got so attached to them last Christmas.  So a little variety is nothing about which to complain.

Christmas joy--at least we don't have to pack these up until next Advent!