My DH stacked up the Christmas ornament storage totes inside the door on his way to work today, so I took that as my cue to undecorate. Thankfully it all comes down a lot faster than it goes up! Mostly I’m sad to see them down because it means the kids are back in school and all is quiet again.
I asked my kids if they wanted everything up while they were here, one doesn’t care and the other said yes. It’s still up, but I’m sick of looking at it. It’s going to come down tomorrow. I think it will be mentally good for them to start putting the holidays behind them and thinking school the next few days. I am not looking forward to the work taking it down.
@conmama, it took me many hours to get it done, and afterwards my body was in some serious pain (lifting boxes, which I’m not supposed to do, getting up and down off the ladder to take ornaments off the tree, which I’m not supposed to do, putting stuff high over my head on shelves, which I’m not supposed to do).
Of course, a generous glass of cabernet and time on the recliner afterwards helped with the pain, and just having all that gone went a long way towards relieving my discomfort. 
That’s another reason I’m doing it before they leave…they can help me hoist the 4 huge boxes up on the shelf so I can store and situate all the less heavy ones…oh,…and sweep! Haha
I was out all day and as soon as I got home for some reason I started taking all the ornaments down. The tree is still standing and that will be packed up later this evening. I think mentally I was just ready to be done with it.
Well, given that the 12th day of Christmas ended yesterday, the timing is quite appropriate.
I took everything down except the tree yesterday, and packed most away this morning! However, when DS2 walked in yesterday he seemed really bummed, so I told him I’d keep the tree up and it made him happy, so what the heck. Everything else was the majority of the stuff anyway.
It’s all gone: tree awaiting recycling in the back alley, decorations put away, the house cleaned beautifully.
And it feels a little sad…
Went to Target today and saw all the Valentines Day themed stuff. Purchased some heart shaped cookie cutters. Mentally felt it was time to take down all the Christmas decorations.
@JEM - that’s a thought. I have a pine cone wreath downstairs that I made with my mom probably 35 years ago. It still looks great. I remember how painful it was to yank pinecones through the wreath form.
–I like the monogram idea too. Thanks, everyone!
I am usually so sick of the decorations by January 1st, I’m thrilled to have my normal house back…and of course it’s cleaned well by doing this. Orderly and ready to start the new year. But I think I have been reluctant and sad this year to take things down…and fine with keeping the tree up, because having it all feels like the end of their wonderful visit home. This will be the first time both are leaving after XMAS as I face a silent empty house.
Part of the de-decorating for me is some seriously cleaning up-I try and get the house to sparkle almost as much as the decorations did, and I’ll went and got some turquoise colored hand towels and tablecloths this year, and bought some plants with white flowers on it for the table.
Kinda beachy in my mind
It definitely helped me to get my thinking in gear for this year-I also wrote “kick ass 2016” on our chalkboard in decorative swirly letters. Good to have a motto to get rolling…