Yes, it's the most wonderful time of the year. Everyone is out and about Rushing, Rushing, Rushing to get their Christmas and Hanukkah shopping done. Bringing with their holiday cheer are the holiday germs. Had Lu home this week with Bronchitis. My girlfriend called me yesterday to say her son and daughter have strep. My neighbor's son has strep. I went to bed last night feeling like something was coming and woke up with full blown cold. I haven't met anyone with the flu yet though I keep hearing the rumours about so and so at school who was out for two weeks with the flu. This is one of the things about the holidays I do not like. It is inevitable that someone in my house will be sick on Christmas day. We have had everything from stomach flu to the real flu on Christmas. Maybe if we all get sick now, no one will be sick for Christmas!

I have decided I have "Norman Rockewellism" a desire to make my house (and children) look, well, perfect. Each detail carefully thought out. Driving myself crazy to find the "perfect" garland for the mantle, lights for the tree and Christmas accessories. Dresses for the girls and a nice pair of Khakis for my son. Yesterday, as I drove to the 4th or 5th store looking for a perfect book to read to my daughters class (2nd grade) I thought I must have gone off the deep end. I was looking for something not too christmasy but more winter or maybe something that incorporated Christmas and Hanukkah. I never did find the perfect book and out of sheer exhaustion, I went home and chose a book I had taken out of the library. The reading was about 10 minutes, I was in and out and the kids seem to really enjoy it. Though one kid did shout out there is no Santa Claus - I let the teacher handle that one. I don't know why I have to put so much effort into every little thing. I used to work for a woman whose mantra was "it's all in the details" and that came to be a belief of mine too. It's the little touches, the smallest ideas, that make the biggest impact.

This is a crazy weekend at my house - it is Nutcracker weekend - so my daughter will have to be ferried to and from the theater - hair done, makeup done - me screaming - always fun! It is also the town parade that I need to march in with my Girl Scouts and tomorrow is the holiday house tour - so wish me luck - I am rushing off now to find the "right" ribbons for Mae's hair for her performance tonight!