I have dreaded this post.  I didn’t want to write this post.  Christmas comes and goes faster than a bag of sour patch kids that I sneak into the movies.  (oops, confession time, I know I am not supposed to do that but gosh darn that child sized handful of sour patch kids packaged in a large box is almost $4.00! I can’t pass up the $2.00 more than I need bag at Wal-Mart!)

Anyway, Christmas shows up on your doorstep like a house guest that shows up a week earlier than expected.    You are suprised, maybe even shocked, yet excited about the fun it brings.  So, you hustle and bustle like a crazy person to accommodate the unexpected arrival.  Then, all of a sudden, it leaves you like a bad boyfriend.

You had a blast, you might have wished it wouldn’t end…but it needed to, and you are left to clean it all up.

My mom had the most unbelievable Christmas decor ( and still does)  Every nook and cranny of our house was Christmas.  It was fun putting it up because she lured the family in with hot chocolate, Christmas music, a fire,  and a Christmas movie after party.  (I must note that this is a tactic I now use with my husband and will use with my kids. Its amazing how you put it on the Advent Calender and all of the sudden it becomes fun. ) Now that I look back I never helped her take it down…unless threatened or forced.  I was too busy playing with my new toys and gadgets.  She worked hard to take it down. I remember the years she considered only putting some of it up (which would have been more than enough) and  I selfishly pleaded with her to not leave any one storage box unopened.  I claimed that Christmas would not be the same with out every nativity scene, every piece of holly, and all 100 Santa figurines my mom collected.  Now that I have my own house I know why she considered not putting it all up.  What goes up must go down.  The “up” is fun and the “down” can be hard work and depressing.  (Does anyone else feel like Christmas decor is a counseling session anaology?)   I feel so bad about how I treated my mom that I think I need to insert a formal, public apology:

Mom, 

I am sorry for never helping to take the Christmas decor down.  I am sorry for making you do this lonely, depressing task.  If I did help, I am sorry for not offering in the first place and probably giving you a sassy answer when you, I am sure, forced me to do it.  I now know how you feel as my husband was back at work and I was alone with a box and a tree.

Love, your daughter.

This feeling is why I swore that I would only have enough Christmas decor to make my home Merry and Bright yet fit into three boxes:

1. Out door decor box
2. Indoor decor box
3. Tree box

Here is the accumulation of all things Christmas at my house:

aaa

Here is the end goal:

(not pictured is a plastic tub for outdoor lights and garland that will house my wreath’s until next year.  Since we didn’t do outside lights this year it never made it down from the attic so I just lifted the lid and grabbed the wreath’s.  They will return in the same way.  Sorry, no picture)

Of course, if we even own a bigger house, with better storage, I reserved the right to buy a bigger box or maybe add another.  Until now, if there isnt room, it doesn’t stay or something in the box has to go.  No matter how large my house is someday I always want my mantra to be

Simplicity = Merry and Bright.

If you see otherwise…call me on it.  If this blog is still around, send me the link to this post to remind me.   Because I made this my mantra last year.  This year’s take down was easy:

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

35 minutes later – Goodbye Christmas.  We will see you when you visit next year.  Next year give me warning before you come and stay a little longer.

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer