Anticipation...

This is pretty much my favorite week of the year.  I look forward to it all year long and start preparing for it sometime around August 20.  So in an effort to stop and savor the moments, I am pausing to blog about a few of the things I am looking forward to most...

• Christmas Eve...for our family, Christmas Eve is a bigger deal than Christmas Day in many ways.  It's the night where we all just relax.  We eat scrambled eggs, toast, oranges and more cookies and fudge than anyone should.  We light candles and wear our cracker hats, we laugh and joke and quote Anchorman ad nauseum.  There is no pressure, no big meal to cook, nothing like that. 
• Birthday Extravaganza 2010.  Yes, I have moved so far in the process of accepting my 30th birthday that I am truly looking forward to it!  We are going downtown to the Tavernacle (the best piano bar in the world...the same guys who did our wedding reception...) where I may or may not dance on the piano as all birthday-people are supposed to do.  Chances are good that I will not do this, so don't get too excited.  I only know my own choreography to "Baby Got Back" and I like to keep that private.
• A three day workweek next week!  Woot!  Woot!  Which leads me to...
• December 23.  SPHR Day.  I have been studying my ass off (more or less) for about six months now, in preparation for this exam.  I scheduled the exam on the 23rd specifically so that I can enjoy the holiday without stressing about studying.  Do not underestimate the importance of this certification.  In the HR world, its a big deal.  It's pretty much the ticket to a much more lucrative salary...and I do love money.  In addition, the requirements are change in 2011, which means even qualifying for the exam will be a whole new ballgame.  And let's not overlook the mere $600 I have spent in preparation and fees for this damn thing.  Yikes.  It's giving me anxiety thinking about it. 
• December 23.  After SPHR Day.  For the first time in six months, I will have spare time in which I will refuse to do anything but lie on the couch and read "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo".  And then I will move on to "The Hunger Games" trilogy so that I can re-join my Girls Who Read and Wine bookclub.  Also, I will have several cocktails. 
• And Christmas...of course.  I'm excited to give the gifts I've picked out.  If I do say so myself, I have done a masterful job at finding gifts that my peeps will love.  I can't wait to see their faces!
• Finally...having all of us together in one place.  Yesterday, we had a bit of a scare.  Mom got in an accident that could have been ten thousand times worse than it was.  I get sick to my stomach thinking about it.  I am so, so, so grateful that we are all together, all safe and happy and in one piece.  There are so many people who don't have that this year and I am especially grateful today.

Thinking of you all this holiday season.  One of these years, I'll stop blogging so much so that I have something interesting to say in a Christmas letter.  As it is, you already more about me than you really want to, so what could I possibly say???

xoxoxoxo!