It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Already.

I've been fighting Christmas for weeks now. I've turned a blind eye to the decorations that have been popping up on the neighborhood houses... I've switched stations when the radio starts playing holiday songs... I refuse to even think about Christmas shopping until the calendar says "December."

But today, I gave in.

As soon as the kids were out of my classroom this afternoon, I hauled out my box of decorations and my file folder of holiday activities. I put on the radio and found an "All Holiday Music" station. Then I spent the next hour and a half Christmas-ing my room. I finished a bulletin board, assembled my Advent wreath, put out my nativity set, hung a wreath on my classroom door, switched all the calendars to December, put the December poem in the pocket chart, swapped the fall book basket for the Christmas and winter baskets, and put the December words on my seasonal word wall.

The kids are going to go nuts when they see it. From now until Christmas, it's going to be an uphill battle for teachers. I already know that within days, my classroom will be a-buzz with talk of Santa and toy wish-lists. And there will no doubt be a few kids who know the truth about Mr. Claus (courtesy of big brothers and sisters who have spilled the beans). I try to nab those kids early in the season so that they don't ruin it for everyone else.

Deep, cleansing breath.

Here we go. 'Tis the season. :-)