Christmas Eve.
Round 3 of gift wrapping. So they wouldn’t get suspicious, I told the kids Mommy was going crazy and needed some time alone in Daddy’s workshop.
Went to noradsanta.org to start tracking Santa’s route across the world.
8 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass. Tresa asked me if we go to Midnight Mass. I asked her if she was off her meds (just kidding; Tresa is not medicated except for those natural stress-relief tabs). My saint of a mother-in-law may have dragged 5 kids to MM every year, but we are NOT the same caliber of woman. Besides, Midnight Mass at my church is in SPANISH. Not Latin, friends, but Spanish. I love me some Spanish, but not THAT much.
Once we got home, we tracked Santa some more on NORAD’s site until he was in Florida, then the kids freaked out and hurried to put out cookies, milk and notes for Santa. Then they raced to brush their teeth and get into bed. Aron read to them until they fell asleep while I knocked out the girls, then made sure he knew where all the gifts were located so he could put them under the tree.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Christmas Turds
Found out today that Tresa got a PINK laptop for Christmas (early) from her husband and joked to her that I will have to be extra-friendly to her man now so maybe he’ll buy me the same NEXT Christmas. Informed my husband of this latest development so he’ll understand when I’m flirting with with his cousin's man.
Later in the day Callie says, out of the blue, “God! Do I have to do everything myself?” Wonder where she heard THAT one?
Went to see Santa at the mall. Based on the way 3 out of 4 of my kids look in their Santa photos, you’d think Santa was bringing them Christmas turds this year. Last year Aron snuck photos with our camera (they don’t let you take photos of your own kid with your own camera unless you buy a package – the cheapest being $16). This year we sucked it up and got some wallet pics to share with family.
In line for Santa, I spotted Motherhood Maternity and decided I’d LOVE to have a black nursing dress. I wear skirts sometimes, but haven’t worn a dress since Nixon was president. Aron told me he’s always okay with me buying clothes for myself. WOW. I’m heading to the nearest Dolce and Gabbana, Prada and Chanel stores tout de suite! No nursing dresses at Motherhood Maternity. Isn’t nursing a big part of motherhood for a lot of women?
Joel got to go on this huge set-up at the mall where he got harnessed in and kind of bungee-jumped up from a trampoline for $7 for a few minutes.
Later, I wrapped presents in what was hopefully a stealth manner. I put up a blanket over Aron’s workshop window and then locked myself in. Round 1 went well, but then I locked myself OUT OF the woodshop, for which there is NO KEY, so Aron had to break in. Round 2 was good, but unfinished. They all wanted to bug me, but I finally came up and told them I needed some alone time for my sanity and that I was down there praying.
Aron and kids made Christmas sugar cookies later, since he is so much more patient with the mixture of cooking and children than I am.
Topped off the night by Aron/Joel watching the movie “Prince Caspian” while Michael, Callie, Eva and I got drunk on Extreme Moose Tracks ice cream as we sat on the upstairs landing. Like Hannah Montana says, “Life’s what you make it, so let’s make it rock.”
I say, “Life’s what you make it, so let’s make it choc.”
Later in the day Callie says, out of the blue, “God! Do I have to do everything myself?” Wonder where she heard THAT one?
Went to see Santa at the mall. Based on the way 3 out of 4 of my kids look in their Santa photos, you’d think Santa was bringing them Christmas turds this year. Last year Aron snuck photos with our camera (they don’t let you take photos of your own kid with your own camera unless you buy a package – the cheapest being $16). This year we sucked it up and got some wallet pics to share with family.
In line for Santa, I spotted Motherhood Maternity and decided I’d LOVE to have a black nursing dress. I wear skirts sometimes, but haven’t worn a dress since Nixon was president. Aron told me he’s always okay with me buying clothes for myself. WOW. I’m heading to the nearest Dolce and Gabbana, Prada and Chanel stores tout de suite! No nursing dresses at Motherhood Maternity. Isn’t nursing a big part of motherhood for a lot of women?
Joel got to go on this huge set-up at the mall where he got harnessed in and kind of bungee-jumped up from a trampoline for $7 for a few minutes.
Later, I wrapped presents in what was hopefully a stealth manner. I put up a blanket over Aron’s workshop window and then locked myself in. Round 1 went well, but then I locked myself OUT OF the woodshop, for which there is NO KEY, so Aron had to break in. Round 2 was good, but unfinished. They all wanted to bug me, but I finally came up and told them I needed some alone time for my sanity and that I was down there praying.
Aron and kids made Christmas sugar cookies later, since he is so much more patient with the mixture of cooking and children than I am.
Topped off the night by Aron/Joel watching the movie “Prince Caspian” while Michael, Callie, Eva and I got drunk on Extreme Moose Tracks ice cream as we sat on the upstairs landing. Like Hannah Montana says, “Life’s what you make it, so let’s make it rock.”
I say, “Life’s what you make it, so let’s make it choc.”
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Crown Center, Fritz's and Crayola Cafe Christmas
Aron was supposed to be off work today but had to go in to work in the afternoon. We were supposed to go to Crown Center the week before at night, but – you guessed it – he also had to work every single night that week.
So we set off for Fritz’s restaurant at Crown Center. Your food comes to you via a little train! So cool! But once we got there, it was clear we would have to change our plans if Daddy was going to get to work. The line was at least a 45-minute wait (I’m a little annoyed as I write this, as I just discovered Aron deleted my precious pix of the HUGE line at Fritz’s).
We forgot it was the first day of Christmas break and that every good parent had taken the day off to take their kid to Fritz’s, not to mention all the tourists and out-of-town visitors. (Yes, smart-alleck people NOT from KC … we have tourists!!!).
Okay, so on to Plan B. I had Aron run up to see if Crayola Café had a line. He came back down and said no line. So we ate there … yummy! The kids didn’t whine, and I promised them we’d come back to Fritz’s in 2009. Here’s a pic, with the building where I used to work in the background (ah, soul-sucking Fleishman-Hillard Public Relations). That lady needs to get out of my shot.
Then on to see Santa and play leisurely at CrayolaLand (a big play area made up of huge plastic and rubber crayons).
No dice.
The line for THAT was about an hour or so, and the kids would only get ONCE around the obstacle course of CrayolaLand.
My kids are awesome. I told them anyone standing in that line was insane and they could play on the escalators instead and that we’d go see Santa at the mall close to our house sometime before Christmas. Then Aron bought us Sheridan’s, and we were good to go. Have you ever had a Sheridan’s mocha wowiechino??? Heaven.
Once home, Aron went to work and I took Joel to Ellen’s to play with her kids since he was dying for some social time. Later I hit the Red Box ALONE and got 5 movies and went to the grocery store for a few things. I forgot I could walk so fast through a store!
We usually go see Santa in early December. Last year we waited until Eva was born to go. This year lethargy set in. What can I say? We discovered the pool, Aron had to work a lot, we did lots of other fun things.
When do/did you go see Santa? Where? Gimme a link back to your blog in the Comments section if you have a photo or post to share.
So we set off for Fritz’s restaurant at Crown Center. Your food comes to you via a little train! So cool! But once we got there, it was clear we would have to change our plans if Daddy was going to get to work. The line was at least a 45-minute wait (I’m a little annoyed as I write this, as I just discovered Aron deleted my precious pix of the HUGE line at Fritz’s).
We forgot it was the first day of Christmas break and that every good parent had taken the day off to take their kid to Fritz’s, not to mention all the tourists and out-of-town visitors. (Yes, smart-alleck people NOT from KC … we have tourists!!!).
Okay, so on to Plan B. I had Aron run up to see if Crayola Café had a line. He came back down and said no line. So we ate there … yummy! The kids didn’t whine, and I promised them we’d come back to Fritz’s in 2009. Here’s a pic, with the building where I used to work in the background (ah, soul-sucking Fleishman-Hillard Public Relations). That lady needs to get out of my shot.
Then on to see Santa and play leisurely at CrayolaLand (a big play area made up of huge plastic and rubber crayons).
No dice.
The line for THAT was about an hour or so, and the kids would only get ONCE around the obstacle course of CrayolaLand.
My kids are awesome. I told them anyone standing in that line was insane and they could play on the escalators instead and that we’d go see Santa at the mall close to our house sometime before Christmas. Then Aron bought us Sheridan’s, and we were good to go. Have you ever had a Sheridan’s mocha wowiechino??? Heaven.
Once home, Aron went to work and I took Joel to Ellen’s to play with her kids since he was dying for some social time. Later I hit the Red Box ALONE and got 5 movies and went to the grocery store for a few things. I forgot I could walk so fast through a store!
We usually go see Santa in early December. Last year we waited until Eva was born to go. This year lethargy set in. What can I say? We discovered the pool, Aron had to work a lot, we did lots of other fun things.
When do/did you go see Santa? Where? Gimme a link back to your blog in the Comments section if you have a photo or post to share.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
When Is the Santa Jig Up? Part Deux
More on the farce that is Santa.
I personally pretended to believe in him until I was about 13 years old, but I was an only child.
WRAPPING
A few years ago Joel noticed that Santa had wrapped presents in the same wrapping paper that Mommy and Daddy have. Crap! So I told him Santa sometimes has to wrap things when he gets to a kid’s house.
Now we TRY to have separate “Santa” paper from regular paper, but it gets confusing dealing with THAT while also trying to keep 4 kids fed, watered, alive, occupied, educated and clean (my mom will argue with me on the “clean” point).
We usually frantically wrap gifts the night before Christmas. It stinks. Or else I hand off duties to my husband and assume he knows what’s up even though he hasn’t been around. Poor guy. This year I got my crap together and snuck downstairs and wrapped stuff BEFORE the 24th … yeah, me!
How about some humorous stories or tips?
I personally pretended to believe in him until I was about 13 years old, but I was an only child.
WRAPPING
A few years ago Joel noticed that Santa had wrapped presents in the same wrapping paper that Mommy and Daddy have. Crap! So I told him Santa sometimes has to wrap things when he gets to a kid’s house.
Now we TRY to have separate “Santa” paper from regular paper, but it gets confusing dealing with THAT while also trying to keep 4 kids fed, watered, alive, occupied, educated and clean (my mom will argue with me on the “clean” point).
We usually frantically wrap gifts the night before Christmas. It stinks. Or else I hand off duties to my husband and assume he knows what’s up even though he hasn’t been around. Poor guy. This year I got my crap together and snuck downstairs and wrapped stuff BEFORE the 24th … yeah, me!
How about some humorous stories or tips?
Friday, January 2, 2009
When Is the Santa Jig Up?
I live in fear of my kids finding out the real deal about Santa. I know a family who never did the Santa thing with their oldest kid, but now they ARE doing it with their 3-year-old. I know a man who told his son the real deal about Santa WITHOUT discussing it with his wife first! We’ve always tried to do the Santa thing, and it is exhausting.
SHOPPING
Ever try to shop for your kids when your husband is out of town or working all the time? I used to be able to sneak stuff in the cart under my coat, but Security always looked at me funny. Most of the time I have to run out with only a baby in tow while my mom looks after the kids. Without my mom, I swear there would be no Christmas at my house some years.
After Eva was born I had to go to Toys R Us … Sweet Baby Jesus!!! I took Callie because she was still attached to me and didn’t grasp the concept of Christmas yet, and I took Eva because she was nursing. Yeah, NURSING. As in, (make sure you get the visual on this one) I’m walking through the Toys R Us pushing Callie in a cart full of stuff, holding a list to make sure I get the right stuff, navigating through throngs of stupid people acting like they’ve never seen a damn toy before, and I’m NURSING the baby one-armed while trying not to show too much of my back fat (never mind my boob … back fat is way more embarrassing).
STORING
My house is not a mansion. And I have kids who love to play hide and seek. Whatever will fit on top of our commercial freezer in the basement gets stuck there. The rest … well, I’d have to refer you to my husband on that one because I don’t know.
Mom, where did you hide my gifts? And tell the nice people in Blog World about that concept of non-instant gratification called LAYAWAY!
Tomorrow we’ll discuss the wrapping of said gifts.
SHOPPING
Ever try to shop for your kids when your husband is out of town or working all the time? I used to be able to sneak stuff in the cart under my coat, but Security always looked at me funny. Most of the time I have to run out with only a baby in tow while my mom looks after the kids. Without my mom, I swear there would be no Christmas at my house some years.
After Eva was born I had to go to Toys R Us … Sweet Baby Jesus!!! I took Callie because she was still attached to me and didn’t grasp the concept of Christmas yet, and I took Eva because she was nursing. Yeah, NURSING. As in, (make sure you get the visual on this one) I’m walking through the Toys R Us pushing Callie in a cart full of stuff, holding a list to make sure I get the right stuff, navigating through throngs of stupid people acting like they’ve never seen a damn toy before, and I’m NURSING the baby one-armed while trying not to show too much of my back fat (never mind my boob … back fat is way more embarrassing).
STORING
My house is not a mansion. And I have kids who love to play hide and seek. Whatever will fit on top of our commercial freezer in the basement gets stuck there. The rest … well, I’d have to refer you to my husband on that one because I don’t know.
Mom, where did you hide my gifts? And tell the nice people in Blog World about that concept of non-instant gratification called LAYAWAY!
Tomorrow we’ll discuss the wrapping of said gifts.
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