Bellyrolls and Boughs of Holly

Today was class day. I usually plan my class the week before, but since I'm in the middle of this melee we call Christmas decorations I procrastinated until naptime today. No worries, I just copied an old class and taught it again tonight. It went well, which was great since I had a lot of new ladies tonight. It's always fun when new people attend, but the learning curve is steep on bellyrolls so sometimes they don't return. The ladies that "stick it out" end up as excited about bellyrolls as I am! It truly is my favorite move now. I like to roll up to down, then down to up, alternating back and forth. I'm trying to add that to a backbend, but it becomes a challenge to articulate the abdominal muscles once they are stretched fully into a nice layback. Oh, but it can be done - I've seen it done by the incomparable Rachel Brice (at least the up to down bellyrolls in a layback, the alternating is my own twist). I have faith that one day I'll be able to execute this step. Look out, Bricey!

Ok, more fodder regarding Christmas. I have completed the sea shell tree in the den. It contains sand dollars and other sea shells I collected at Crooked Island. They are beautiful. It also has some blown glass replicas of those old glass buoys that fisherman used to use. I bought those in Apalachicola at the Tin Shed. The tree looks great. I also finished Zachary's tree, put new bows on the giant wreaths out front, refurbished the wreaths on my front door, and put a wreath and greenery (resplendent with lights) on the mantel in the living room. I still have a few "finishing touch" things for the main tree. I also have to put up the tree in the upstairs hallway, and the mini tree in our bedroom. I have to change out all the china in the cabinet to the Christmas china. I have to put the wreath and greenery around the bar, and the wreath on the mirror in the entryway. I have to put bows on all the light fixtures outside, more lights in the bushes, and all the greenery and bows on the stairwell. Progress has been slow, but steady.

It seems like so much work to do all this, and it really is hard work, but it's so nice to come home and see how beautiful it all is. I realize I am nuts and completely over the top with all these trees and all this decorating, but I just love it. I love that my entire neighborhood seems to be as crazy as I am about decorations. I turn onto my street and I can see lights in trees all the way down the block. It's beautiful. And besides, what better time of year to go overboard? It's not like I do this for Presidents Day or anything! Ok, no pics today. I'm exhausted after decorating all day and teaching all night (those bellyrolls will take it out of you, hee hee!). I'm going to drink some chamomile tea and gaze at my trees (Ryan's not home yet, it's poker night).