'Tis the Season

AAhhhh!!!!
Christmas is almost here, and I don't even have to look at the calendar to know-- I can tell by how much I've been grinding my teeth at night. Yuck.
I think we're almost done shopping. I have some stuff that's already paid for but needs to be picked up, and I have to get the parentals and the grandparentals a little something. I don't think Wayne has anything for me yet; he says he's clueless about what to get me, but I think he's BSing me.

So, with Christmas comes people with their panties in a wad. I am totally annoyed with the people who are protesting at Wal-Mart (hate W-M, BTW. refuse to shop there) for using "Happy Holidays" Instead of "Merry Christmas." How ridiculous is that? Do the protesters really think that Christmas is the only holiday this season? That's exactly the kind of person that drives me batty.

I can tell you that we celebrate a very secular Chrismas in my house. You don't see Jesus anywhere here. No crosses. I do have some angels (one on the tree and one on the mantle) and an affinity for Mary, which Wayne thinks is crazy but I chalk it up to the remnants of my Catholic upbringing. He was raised Baptist and all that Catholic idolatry freaks him out.

Anyway, our secular Christmas is rich with traditions and stories and is very meaingful to us. Maya has been singing Chritmas songs, and she's been reading the Grinch enough that she knows it verbatim. My mom is coming over today to take Maya to her house, so they can make a gingerbread house. Thursday, mom and I will do some Christmas baking. We have duelling Kitchen Aid mixers. It's fun.

The kids are on winter break (not Christmas break:-) until Jan 3rd. Yeah! They are all still asleep. Love it!