Ending summer early?

I know this is going to be a little weird but- I am ready for the holidays! Despite my love and longing for summer- I feel like it's already over now that the family reunion has passed, we don't have any more vacations (even thought I tried desperately to throw in a babymoon), the kids are going back to school soon- in particular the freshman be moving into housing next week where I work, and all that's left is labor day :(

Every year I always say I am going to make the most of my summer by doing every.single.thing I can- the sad part is: I haven't been to a beach all summer long :( It's partly because of my self-consciousness of my growing belly and partly because there were other things going on. At times I just wanted to drive down the parkway but my husband always had different plans. Now I'm just kind of nesting and waiting the birth of my baby :)

This fall I want to get a few things accomplished. First I would like to hold a coat drive at my church. I've been wanting to do this for a few years now. Although this has to be the absolute easiest community outreach program ever- I feel like I can never plan properly enough. Once I collect the coats then what? Where am I going to send them? I know there must  be a ton of places that will accept them but finding the right place has been a challenge. Secondly, I would like to throw a Holyween party. As the former youth director at my church (and I say former because the youth group has kind of disbanded) I feel a responsibility to continue to have programs that the youth will love and want to participate in and have it in a safe environment that parents will feel comfortable with. This too is something I've been wanting to do for years. This event requires a lot more preparation than I can handle alone. My family is extremely supportive in all of my endeavors so I don't foresee that being too much of a problem but financing this is a whole 'nother story. You see we have the perfect location- right at the church! Our church is well over 150 years old and is structurally equivalent to back int he day churches, back when churches were the community hang out and multi purpose centers of the city. The big budget items I would need assistance with really is music, food, and decor. Many of our congregants would probably donate things like snacks, candy, juices, water, etc. But in my mind we need to have graveyard cakes and
I understand you don't NEED those things to have a successful party- but it would be a party that the kids would love and look forward to year after year. While Christians would not celebrate such a secular holiday- it's origins can sometimes be traced to more religious roots of All Hallows Eve which is the day before All Saint's Day. As with all other Christian holidays I believed Halloween was taken over by the secular world and commercialism for profit and it's original meaning was lost in the process. Look at how many non-Christians celebrate Christmas! I think having a Holyween party would be a great activity for the youth.

A few years ago my mother-in-law would score us some tickets to a not so local pumpkin patch exhibit. I enjoyed it a lot and want to take little one. Yes, I know baby will have absolutely no idea what the heck is going on but I don't care. Pictures say a thousand words and my baby will have pictures to re-tell the story for him or her years down the line.

Then of course we would need to start preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Christmas and Thanksgiving holiday has always been busy for me and my hubby since we seriously started dating. We have two families to spend time with and my husband likes to squeeze in a few friends during our extended breaks from work. Once you add a 3/4 month old in the mix- things are going to get even crazier. At times I wish we had the space to entertain both families at our house for at least one of these events- I mean come on it's my baby's first holiday- but in practicality that's not going to happen, our apartment just cannot hold that many people. Plus my sister-in-law is coming real close to the purchase of her first home and I am sure she is going to want to christen the crib with one of her fabulous hosting jobs. You should see the spreads she makes... what I am saying you will see it... right here! I'm nervous about packing up baby, not forgetting anything, traveling to two households (gotta visit with my family too!) and breastfeed comfortably (although I'm sure I'll be a pro at it by then). Either way- we're not hosting but I would like to decorate a little for baby- even though he or she won't have a clue as to what's going on.

Then there's the issue of baby's first Christmas. In the past we've celebrated Christmas Eve with my in-laws and even spent the night a time or two and Christmas day with my family. This works out perfectly, right? We'll see how Christmas plans go this year with a brand new baby...

No matter how we divide our time- I am so ready for the holidays!

My Christmas 2007 outfit- I told you I love the holidays! Now I am on a quest to find the one Melissa Gorga from ROHNJ wore on the Christmas (Season 3 episode 11).