Not an attention-seeking baby, Burrell. Not at all. It's hard, especially when you realize some stuff -- that family expects -- wouldn't get done unless you do it.

My sis and I have actually announced a stocking strike this year since somehow we're the only ones who ever do anything about those.

Totally not attention seeking. Amy said it perfectly - it's hard when you realize it's up to you or it doesn't get done.

ION - I cancelled the Daisy field trip. I do not like being an adult.

These should be team activities, in my view.

Especially tree-trimming. I realize a good part of my resistance to a big tree is that there are no people to help trim it. If I decide to get a tree next year, I might have to do a cocktail party thingy for that.

We did an impromptu tree-trimming at ND and Kristin's a few years ago. It was a total blast. I am all for cocktail party trre trimming.

The kids always help decorate the tree. But then I generally OCD myself into a stressball because ornaments are hung too close together or grouped wrong, and wind up rearranging stuff after they go to bed.

But, um, they do help with the initial trimming!

There were little Girl Scouts with actual cookies at the supermarket this morning, which totally justified my effort to leave the house and gather food.

The kids always help decorate the tree. But then I generally OCD myself into a stressball because ornaments are hung too close together or grouped wrong, and wind up rearranging stuff after they go to bed.

You could do what my sister does, and have one tree for the kids in the family room and then one perfectly decorated tree in the living room. @@.

Of course, I shouldn't roll my eyes, because I'm so sure I would do what you do Amy. I boggle at the non-OCDness of my mother who let us make so many of our ornaments and hung them proudly. (We did a lot of those wooden paint-it-yourself ornaments, with one side carefully painted by her as a model and the other side always a mess).

The decorating is stressful with little kids. Liv is insistent on helping with the ornaments and Owen wanders in and out halfway between things--trying to help but not being able to focus and not being interested in what we're doing.

I made the mistake of hosting a party on the heels of DH coming back home from a five day trip and the house not being decorated yet--on top of needing to shop and cook for 22 people. I freaked and it was less fun than past years.

I think by next year, they will be more helpful and I'll make sure we get our lights up outside before it gets too cold and snows. Which means we'll need to hang Christmas lights on Halloween.