Step 1: Plug in the bubble light night light

As I have mentioned, our families have pretty much sucked all of the holiday spirit out of us. And as much as I want to just take back the gifts, save the Christmas cards for another year and skip the tree all together, I know I'll regret it. Christmas is, afterall, much more than a 24-hour-day spent with your trying relatives.

So, yesterday Cynical and I ventured out for a little Christmas shopping, just to keep what little momentum we had going. And I came home with yarn, of course, and goodies for Cynical. . . and the shop vac I missed out on the day before.

Last night I decided that I'd use our Sunday to at least get a few decorations out. Before bed I dug out our bubble light night light, plugged it in and was very close to calling it done.

However, this morning I put on my happy face and reluctantly drug out some Christmas decorations. Usually we wait a few weeks or so before even looking in the direction of our holiday decorations. This year we'll be venturing to Illinois on the weekend we usually set aside to decorate the tree and arrange all of our holiday fare. So, we moved up the tree festivities by a week.

I thought perhaps getting a jump start on stuff that doesn't go on the tree might kill two birds with one pine cone: I could put a little holiday cheer in our house and I would be a little ahead of the game next weekend.

Our mantle is lit, our stockings hung by the chimney with care, snowmen fill our table tops, pinecones are scattered everywhere. I even pulled out the sled and positioned it in our living room.

I'm not sure it propelled us into the holiday spirit, but it did make it a bit more festive around here. I even unearthed some unused Christmas cards, extra boxes and CDs. It's rainy and nasty inside, but it's starting to be a little more on the cozy side here.

If only we had a fire or there was a great episode of Little House on the Prairie on, the one where Mr. Edwards braves the cold and brings Laura a peppermint stick and a cup of her own.