My New Camera...

So I almost don't care that I've barely made a dent in the year-end checklist.

Martha Has "People"

Which is WHY she can do it ALL.

But ME? I got no People. And right now? I'm coming to the realization that I CAN'T do it all. No matter how badly I want to.

So, no mock cherry pie this year. No little bags of homemade toffee to be handed out to everyone at any of the three family gatherings we'll be attending. No gingerbread men for Wendi's kids tomorrow...

So I can focus on what's REALLY important, this holiday season.

Like finding a good pair of elastic waist pants.

June Cleaver Never Needed Elastic Waist Pants

Because she OBVIOUSLY did not start eating her Christmas give-away goodies at 9:45 in the morning (and CONTINUE eating them for the next twelve hours...)

NEXT year, I want to remember NOT to make my gingerbread babies. Because they are too much work and I needed twice as many as I thought I did and, it turns out, they aren't NEARLY as cute as I always remember them to be.

NEXT year, I'll make myself a note to make something easier like Mexican wedding cakes or peppermint bark. And I'll remind myself not to even START eating what I'm making...and continue until I feel sick. And bloated. And no longer have the energy to clean up the mess I made in the kitchen.

And NEXT year, I'll remember not to leave everything to the last minute so that on neighborhood delivery night I am not trying to bag all the goodies while J and Snacks are standing there with their coats on ready to start their route.

But next year I'll ALSO remember how important this annual ritual is to Snacks. How excited he gets planning when he and J are going to go out and knock on the neighbors' doors and surprise them with colorful bags of Christmas treats...

which is REALLY what it's all about.