Christmas Celebrations

This year we welcomed Christmas with a lot less fanfare. The gifts for family members were purchased in September, when we had visited Delhi and Jaipur. We still had the marathon gift-wrapping session but we did not have to break our heads 'bout the gifts.

The Arien was on leave on the 23rd and 24th. The house was completely cleaned on 23rd. The gift-wrapping was planned for 24th but I changed the date to 23rd. The Arien was not too happy but we went ahead anyway. It took us 3 hours to complete it. Oh yes, b'cos it was my idea - the arien patiently waited for me to come home. Grrr... By the time we finished - we were dead tired and it was 9 pm. We postponed the decoration plan to 24th.

24th was a hectic day: we took my MIL shopping. We got her loong kurtas - she finds the saree pretty cumbersome and so we thot it wud be a good idea. She was in an agreeable mood and so we purchased 5 kurtas. I hope she wears them. (Fingers crossed!) We had lunch outside and then dropped her @ home. We drove by Commercial street and saw that it was decorated with bright lights and a number of folks taking pictures of the street using their cell phone cameras. It was almost 8 pm when we returned home. And then we started with the decorations. We then put up the crib, and by the time it was 12 pm on the 25th - we were not too exhausted (I think!!)

25th disappeared before we realized as we were surrounded by relatives, family members, and friends. Usually, there is so much hungama and tension surrounding X-mas that I dread it. However, this time the Arien was quite patient, did not insist that we follow smthng blindly, and did not kick up a fuss when we reached church a bit late. The Arien gets hyper @ Christmas and this time was quite unlike his usual self @ Christmas.

I am very thankful for that :D

Christmas Preparations - Wednesday

Wednesday turned out to be pretty hectic. I had meetings to attend - work to complete and so I was very sure I would be unable to help out in the crib decorations. We are invited to a family get-together at a relative's place at 5 pm and I opt out. The Arien decides to represent the two of us and is all set to leave at 4:30.

When I return home on wednesday arnd 7:30 - the crib looks the same! The Arien is not at home. I am very surprised. He walks in sheepishly half an hour later - with a goody bag the relative has sweetly sent for us. I am all ready to yell - "How could you forget the Crib? Aren't we supposed to be finished with it by now?" Acting as if I had completed the decorations all by myself ytdy and all he had to do was to get the crib ready. Hehehehehe :D The Arien is totally nonchalant - full of solutions/plans - "We have loads of time - I can finish it in a few mts - I jes need to get grass - paint box - blaah blaah."

Dinner was at Dad's house and I am all set to leave and I find the Arien is intent in his painting of the walls of the Crib, a reddish brown. I agree that it looks lovely - jes like a brick wall and can we get moving when he drops his bomb - He is planning on painting the roof green!! I am unable to suppress a grimace. The Arien takes the hint and decides to accompany me to Dad's place for dinner.

Dinner happens in a rush - Dad (henceforth known as Senior Arien) and bro (Taurean) are wondering why we are late... Grrr.. Taurean has to meet up with frends and is off at the unholy 9:30 pm and the Senior Arien's only comment is "Take the key". I echo the same and the Taurean grins "I have the key but I want Dad to open the door for me" and runs off before we all clobber him :D Senior Arien is busy hiding his yawns - he must be very tired - I signal to the Arien that we must leave. We leave after the Senior Arien wishes us a Merry Christmas amidst two huge yawns.
On our ride back home - the Arien happens to chance upon hay used as packing material - stacked outside a shop that is closed for the day. He hits upon the idea of using hay in the Crib and wants to collect them in the plastic bag that we carry arnd with us. I am scandalised beyond compare and attempt to steer myself away frm such behavior. I get off the bike and walk the rest of the way. Was I hoping tht my reaction would make the Arien change his mind??? ROFL :D While I was walking all alone on an almost empty road, he was busy collecting hay for the crib. We enter home and the Arien busies himself with the Crib and we are finished by 11 p.m. I accept that the Hay has indeed made the crib look pretty real and nice.

I am wondering why we are still awake and I am angrily informed by the Arien "Baby Jesus can be placed inside the crib only at 12 - midnight. " I realize I am yet to learn the nuances of christianity as followed by his family. At midnight, baby Jesus is placed inside the Crib, candles are lit, we say a lil prayer, and soon we are dead to the world as tomorrow... I mean today - was going to be a hectic day - It was Christmas.

Merry X-mas to all you folks :)

Christmas Preparations - Tuesday

When I walked into my home on Monday - I was expecting the house to be all decorated and ready - what do I find: Firstly, the front room looks absolutely bare - none of the decorations have been put up. Secondly, Arien has jes arrived home. Thirdly, I am feeling sick. I cancel my plans for going out for dinner - Arien looks tired out as well and so after irritating him 'bout his challenge of completing everything by himself on Monday - I get some much needed sleep.

Tuesday

The maid has taken off for 3 days - starting today - Soooper Timing. Thanks to her, my mornings are a lot worse than usual, especially considering I am not an early riser. We have a meeting at 7:30 pm and so I am allowed to reach late - Thank God for small mercies :) Before you know - the day has flown past and it is time for the meeting - considering almost everybody is away on vacation - the call duration is shortest ever - 20 mts :D I am grinning ear-2-ear and I rush home, happy at the respite.

The first thing I notice, is that the door has a "Merry Christmas" tagged to it. I ring the bell, though I have the key and as the door is opened, I note the the dim lighting and all the decoration that the Arien has completed all by himself - I am feeling very proud.

He has done an amazing amount of work and is looking bone tired. I am busy staring at the decoration and I hunt for his camera and start shooting. Everything looks so lovely and cute - I feel very special - I know it has not been done for me but for Christmas - but I am feeling goody good, anyways.

The cute little balloons, bells, that are part of these decorations look cute and bright and I am soon focussing on them. I somehow feel the pictures do not capture the look and feel of the decorations but that does not stop me from shooting.
I hear the Arien, flopped on the sofa, comment that the crib is not ready yet. I ignore his comment. The foundation is ready - rather the outline or structure is ready - it will be completed later - but this was done on Tuesday, all by himself with no help frm me or anybody else. He plans to get grass to decorate the roof as Jesus was born in a stable house that was a little more than a hut - he is still wondering if he must paint the roof green - I am busy shooting pics.
I totally miss the Christmas tree - a chuntu one that is also decorated with cute little balloons, bells, Merry Christmastag, that is sitting close to the crib. I am wonderstruck that he managed to complete so much in a day and he grins "I told you - I can." I know that I cannot decorate the house in this manner in a week but I can totally appreciate anyone who can :D
I also note the Merry Christmas Wreath that is resting happily on the curtain rod. I ask the Arien if we shd put it out on the door. He disagrees as he worries it may get stolen. Hmmm... Well, allrighty :)

From Zero to Hero - our Christmas decorations have indeed changed a lot :D I wonder what it will be like tomorrow - we have but one day to complete it - knowing the Arien - I am sure it will all be done by the time - I get home. Yeah... Yippee - Yooo Yooo - followed by Bing dance :D

Oopps... forgot that I have to wash the damn dishes... Grrr.... Can I not have one totally lazy day??? Ok - Don't answer that :)

I started this post showing you how the house was bare of any Christmasy decorations on Monday evening. This is a snap taken from the same angle to show you how the house looked on Tuesday evening when I reached home.

Well, lets see what Wednesday holds for me :) Hopefully, the plan is not to dump Wednesday decorations on me :(

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year, if I don't catch you b4 that :D