I feel like these days people have mixed feelings about getting into the "holiday spirit." Either you love Christmas and want to decorate right after Halloween (like me) or you despise those who do (and like to make that known). Whichever side you are on, there is no doubt that this can cause a heated debate over when to decorate your house for the holiday season.

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. People seem to be more cheerful, spending time with family and friends, eating delicious meals and desserts and, not to mention, presents! How could you not love the Christmas season?

Ever since I was a little girl, my family would go all-out for Christmas. We'd all pile into the car to head to the tree farm to cut down our own Christmas tree. The hot cocoa burning our hands, our attempts to saw the tree down ourselves even though dad would end up doing most of the work and the thrill of finding the perfect tree will always be special memories I hold close to my heart! Finding the tree was only half the fun because decorating it came next.

Writing my Christmas list for Santa took lots of thought. I made color-coded lists and ranked present ideas to make sure Santa got it right! Baking Christmas cookies was another fun ordeal. We would invite all of my aunts over for a baking day and each get to try each others' creations when we were finished. Going shopping and finding the perfect presents for my parents and sisters was always fun, too. Wrapping them wasn't even all-that bad because I just loved being in the festive mood.

As the actual holiday drew closer, my anticipation grew. Christmas Eve was always spent with my mom's side of the family. It was a smaller gathering filled with lots of laughter. Christmas morning was spent with my parents and sisters. After hardly getting any sleep the night before, we would race down the stairs to see what Santa had brought us (and if he ate the cookies we left out). Christmas Day was spent with my dad's (rather large) side of the family. One Christmas, we had 80 people show up! The night settled down and the realization that Christmas was officially over would set in. It wasn't even upsetting, because it was always such a great time.

For me, Christmas was a big ordeal. Spending time with those closest to me and eating so much food until we felt sick made the holiday season especially memorable. To this day, I am always itching to decorate my house and apartment as soon as the Halloween costumes are put away because who wouldn't want to spend the last two months of the year merrier than ever?

So before you judge me and say, "What about Thanksgiving?" know that even though I still love Thanksgiving, Christmas is by far my favorite holiday and spreading that "Christmas cheer" seems more fun for two whole months.