Snow = Christmas Carols!

It's snowing today!  And yes, that means we've been singing Christmas songs around here.

I'm not sure how I feel about that, actually.  I love the snow.  I love Christmas.  I love the peaceful way it falls, drifts, and covers everything completely in a beautiful sparkly white blanket.  I love the crunch of it beneath my feet. 

What I don't love, is the intense cold that usually accompanies the snow.  The feeling that I'm not finishing things that I wanted to earlier in fall.  The stress that usually comes with Christmas... my own doing, I know... but my best laid plans are failing this year, and it is stressing me.

I hope that by next week, I can at least show progress pics of some kind on our renovations.  They just have not been happening.  It takes everything in me just to get the daily chores done around here, never mind ripping out walls, putting up drywall, paint, that sort of thing.  Not to mention that the basement is also at a standstill right now since we need to get Hydro in to look at the furnace and the walls for approval into their insulating and heating program.  So, I aim to start work on the upstairs, even though we still have all our stuff in our room and I'm not looking forward to the drywall dust.

Ah well.  I need to get things rolling, and a little start is better than none at all.  After all, a snowman starts with three small snowballs, right?  Right?

Either way, I'm excited about Christmas.  November means Christmas is right around the corner.  Many of our stores in the area are already stocking Christmas things, and I know of a few people who are just dying to set out decorations and put up a tree.  Two of those people are little, and live under my roof.  I want to get more renos done first so I have space to even put a tree (we moved everything out of our basement, so it's all being stored in other areas of the house.  No room for décor here right now).  Plus, I'm not permitted to decorate until my birthday... in about 2 weeks.

I'm already thinking about the advent period... the activities we'll do each day.  I printed up my Christmas planner for the year, and was shocked to find that the binders for 5.5x8.5 inch papers cost $7 each!  Haven't bought one yet, but I just might cave anyway.  I've got our photo cards printed, and a few gifts are done, or partially done... just not yet wrapped.  I have ideas galore for baking, and I don't know if I can make it all... but I sure do want to try.  Plus, extras in the freezer are always good!  ;)

My due date is quickly approaching.  I know, January doesn't seem all that close, but with renos, Christmas, and all that in between, it is going to come so fast that I am not sure how many meals I'll be able to get into that deep freeze!  Plus, I know of at least two other ladies due the same month, both with little girls as well.  My goodness!  This area is seeing a baby boom!

So, has anyone else started planning for Christmas?  What sorts of things are you doing?  Do you have any traditions you are looking forward to most?