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.

Thanks everybody.

The kids LOVE to help trim the tree, that's the fun part. OK. I'll hold onto that while I'm doing all the crappy parts, like clearing the furniture from the den and getting down the ornaments--it's fun trimming the tree.

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

Yeah, I'm with you. But it was the right thing to do.

Aims, I don't blame you. Following this snow is some wind and bitter cold temps and I just want to stay inside, eat comfort food and watch tv all day.

Field trips on a snowy day are a bad idea, Aims. You did right.

I am, sadly, the person who straightens the hand towels in the bathroom and the stuff in the fridge, even. Roll your eyes all you want, megan. I certainly do!

We're off to see Santa. Whoo.

I'd complain about it raining Cats & Dogs here, but then I remember that it could be snow instead.

We were going to go roller skating with Santa today but I'm not taking the kids out in this cold--it's still blowing and drifting and some of the secondary roads still need clearing.

Our snow is falling fast and isn't supposed to stop until 11:00 tonight. Maybe a snow day tomorrow?

I am, sadly, the person who straightens the hand towels in the bathroom and the stuff in the fridge, even. Roll your eyes all you want, megan. I certainly do!

You do realize that half the people on the board are now laughing hysterically at the idea that I might somehow claim not do those things.

I roll my eyes at my sister's attempts at WASPiness more than anything, with her perfectly coordinated tree untainted by the kids' things.

I totally get the lack of appreciation. Worse than taken for granted is rejection! Last weekend I made latkes, burned my hand, and neither kid would eat them. I guess you've just got to do stuff for yourself sometimes. And then yesterday Casper was telling her friend, "We had latkes last week!" And internally I'm all, "Now you're excited about this? You had one bite!"