Is Christmas Over Already?

Hello Blog.

I was going to write this on actual Christmas but I'll be honest, I was feeling too lazy.
We had our annual family braai in Kerikeri again, it was meant to be in Whangarei this year but because of unforeseeable circumstances it was changed to Kerikeri. I think it was better that way.
Firstly: it meant only one hour of travel for those from Kaitaia, as opposed to two hours. And the Whangarei-ans only had to travel an hour as well! WIN WIN WIN!

This year has actually been the most un-Christmas-iest Christmas I have ever experienced!
I think this is definitely due to the fact I didn't make it back home until a few days before Christmas.
Usually I start decorating the house in early December. I put up Christmas lights all around the lounge, chuck a few pieces of tinsel here and there, and of course put up our tree and over-decorate it with heaps and heaps of random sparkly things and Christmasy objects.

But not this year!!!!!
Because it was only a few days before Christmas I really couldn't be bothered decorating the house. It takes a whole afternoon to put it all up, and then another whole afternoon to take it all down.
Can't. Be. Bothered.

I might do it next year though, seeing as I had a break from it this year.

To be honest though, the whole "decorate your house all Christmasy" seems a little strange to me now.
None of the decorations really have anything to do with the birth of Jesus.
That is what Christmas is about, after all.
For that reason I'm kinda glad we had a very minimalist Christmas. I only got a few chocolates as presents, but you know what? I am happy about that.
I don't need more stuff.
At least chocolates can get eaten in a matter of days (or hours, depending on who you are). I cannot even tell you the amount of times I've gotten things for Christmas that I've never been able to use and it just ends up cluttering up my life.

I think I'd just prefer not to give or receive any presents at Christmas time, unless its food. Food is always good. Hahaha.

Anyway though, the braai in Kerikeri was fun. And very civil.
I think my cousins and I are all maturing.
There were no outbursts or dramas this year. We all just sat around and talked to each other like... well... adults!
Its pretty strange. But good.
All in all, pretty decent Christmas though.
The fact that its not about us but really about Jesus was very apparent to me.
So for that I'm glad. Its easy to forget it sometimes.