There was a time in the not-so-distant past when encountering Christmas junk on display in September would have made my eyes roll right on out of my head, down the street, and off a cliff. I'm very weird about my seasonal stuff; I only like it when it is contained within its designated season.

Snow? LOVE it. From November to February. If I see so much as one flake outside of that window, I am not amused.

Skulls and witches? LOVE LOVE LOVE them. In October. The rest of the year they seem more awkward than kind words out of Simon Cowell's mouth.

Fireworks? The calendar had better say July 4th. If it does? YIPPEE! Sparkly, pretty stuff! If not? I might have to take that bottle rocket and shove it where the sun doesn't shine.

So, you would think that my head would have exploded when Alexis and I walked into a store today and we spotted a fully decked out Christmas display.

It didn't.

Part of the reason I was all, OH! SHINY STUFF! is because Alexis was all OH! SHINY STUFF! We were still easily 100 yards away from the Christmas crap when Alexis shrieked, "IT'S TIGGER AND POOH!" and went running towards the light-up sculptures. She then drug me up and down every aisle of glitter and glitz and glam, geeking out over every little thing.

I've never been prouder.

The other reason I was all, OH! SHINY STUFF! is that frankly, I can't wait to decorate this year. I've been itching to freak out the neighbors with my Halloween excess, and I don't think October 1st can possibly get here fast enough. As exciting as that is, it's the Christmas crazy that has me REALLY excited. Could it be November 1st now? How about now? Now? PLEASE?

Every year I hit the clearance aisles after Halloween and Christmas and procure lots of fun stuff for cheap. By the time it's the right moment to drag the stuff out, I have long forgotten what I bought the previous year. It's like I get two extra birthdays. Opening up those storage tubs filled with unknown goods is the most funnest thing I get to do.

Last year I bought stuff with a glimmer of hope that we would have moved by this point in time. Since we did, I'm now itching to see what treasures I have hidden from myself. Is there a new tree? Ornaments? Lights? WHAT WILL I FIND?

Can it be November 1st now? How about now? NOW? Please?