Well.

Just like that, it's the beginning of December.

Seems like I just published this photo, and here we are again.

For the record (because you know I like keeping score, especially if I am winning) I got my tree up early this year. A first for me.

Because this weekend we are hosting the entire neighborhood for Christmas dinner, a hayride, and a holiday concert.

Ha! Pork tenderloin for four hundred. Good thing I'm amazing.

My mom called me yesterday and said, "What can I do to help?" And I thought, "Oh, I guess I'm supposed to get out of the fetal position and do something."

Be brave, I tell myself.

Did I tell you the whole event is outside? Which is probably the reason for our current "cold snap." We even had to light our first fire of the season on Monday night. And we didn't have to turn on the air conditioner to do it! Plus right now I am wearing socks. See? Cold.

My Christmas cards arrived late yesterday afternoon. (David and I had a debate about what picture to use this year. I won. Which is a shame. I told him I wanted one where we didn't look "perfect," one that "reflected our real life." He said, "But it looks like we just rolled out of bed." "Exactly," I said. At which point he gave up. Which, again, is a real shame. I think it's pretty clear that this whole thing is his fault.) Plus I'm seriously considering not writing a letter this year. David says our friends would protest. I'm thinking they would be relieved. What can I say that I have not already said a thousand times? Entropy. The fall. You can fill in the rest. But then all there will be to do when people open the card is to stare at our very real picture and wonder how bad things really are over here.

The best part of my week was singing "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" with my lovelies, all of us around the piano on Monday night.

And, yes, I am at least as tired as I look.