Happy Hallogiving and Happy Thanksoween!

Last year, we were not able to put up any Halloween or Thanksgiving decorations as our sea shipment didn't make it to Beijing until the week before Thanksgiving. By the time we unpacked everything, we decided just to put up a few of the Christmas decorations.

This year, we decided to put up both the Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations at the same time. Why? Because we want to put up our Christmas tree early. With us going back to the U.S. the first week of December, it wouldn't really be worth putting up the tree for a couple of days if we waited until after Thanksgiving. Plus, we are going to be in Germany for Thanksgiving, so by the time we get back, I will be in full pack and get ready to go to the U.S. mode...and won't have time to decorate the house. Therefore, we have jack-o-lanterns and ghosts mixed with turkeys and pilgrims scattered around our house. They have actually been out for over a month now. They will be coming down next week.

S has next Thursday and Friday off of work as it is Diwali here in India (more on that later...but basically Diwali is the Hindu equivalent to Christmas). Therefore, over the four day weekend (since we have decided to stay in town and not go anywhere), we will put up the Christmas tree and decorate the house in snowmen (I'm sure it will be weird putting up snowmen when the average temperature right now here is still in the 80s). This way, we will be able to enjoy our own decorations before heading to my parents' house in December (plus maybe it will put me in the Christmas shopping mood). By the time we get back to Chennai at the end of December, I'm sure we'll be tired of Christmas, and it will all come down.

So, Happy Hallogiving...or maybe it's Happy Thanksoween?! And don't forget...only 7 1/2 weeks until Christmas...do you have your shopping done?