Pondering Christmas

There are lots of things that parents don't get credit for throughout the lifetime of their children. This year I realized that most of this "discredit" happens during the holiday season.I worked my tail off this Christmas to buy presents that I thought my children, who already have EVERYTHING, would really enjoy.

I braved the malls when five million other people were doing the same thing.

I spent money on things that my kids didn't REALLY need. I wrapped for hours to make sure everything was hidden and discreet.I tucked all of the presents neatly under the Christmas tree in preparation for Christmas morning.
I stayed up late on Christmas Eve, waiting for my excited children to fall asleep so that I could fill their stockings to overflowing.And on Christmas morning, when my kids came running into my bedroom before the sun had even risen, to wake me up with shear excitement, who got all the credit for the overflowing stockings and numerous wrapped gifts under the tree?That chubby, white-haired hair man who goes by the name of Santa Claus.Have you ever thought about that? And have you ever given any thought to just how trusting children are?

This year we were given an "Elf on the Shelf." A little elf, which our family named Melvin, showed up one evening with a story book, to explain his job. He was sent to our home by the big man himself, to keep an eye on the behavior taking place within our house. Each night he would head back to the North Pole to report to Santa. The next morning, and every morning after, until Christmas Eve, he would be found in a different place, carrying out the same job.

It struck me as funny, that my kids never questioned how he got into our house. Or that they never gave it a second thought that, "Hey, maybe Mom and Dad are moving that little stuffed character around the house after we go to sleep at night."

I guess if they never question why Santa uses the exact same wrapping paper that Mom uses, they wouldn't question Melvin's existence!

And just one more Christmas item to ponder since we're on the subject. Have you ever given any thought to the fact that it takes 4 hours to wrap all of the presents and only 4 seconds to unwrap them?

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

Rest up until next year!

The Aftermath of Christmas

I am, undoubtedly, an early morning riser. I'm usually crawling out of bed before the morning sun peeks out from behind the mountains.

This morning was a little bit different. Although I was awake, I was putting off crawling out of bed because I knew what was awaiting me....

The Aftermath of Christmas!And now, I am planning a day trip away from home to further postpone the stress of it all! If only Santa could grant me my Christmas wish....That upon my return home, everything would be put in it's proper place, organized, and labeled!!!
I think it's better if I just never return home...

I know...I'm slacking...

My friends keep giving me grief that I don't update my blog like I used to.

I know...I'm guilty as charged. I'm slacking off. I'm finding it more and more difficult to plant my bottom at the computer and write clever little stories about my clever little children.

It's because those clever little children are keeping me cleverly busy!

Or maybe I'm the one who over-schedules. I have been known to do that!

Since my last post I have...

Hosted a Thanksgiving breakfast for my family where each member had a name card with a list of reasons why we are thankful for them.

Transformed the teacher's lounge at my children's elementary school into a festive party-place for a holiday luncheon sponsored by the PTA. (Oh, and see those desserts? I made the ones on the top and bottoms plates!)Let go of some "mess-making anxiety" and hosted a gingerbread decorating play date at MY HOUSE!!!

Toted my kids to a Breakfast with Santa party at my dad's place of employment.

Dolled up my trio so they looked the snazziest at their first grade holiday music performance. (Oh...and did I mention....I decorated the background as a favor for the music teacher.)

I have given my children a taste of the performing arts with a trip to see The Grinch at the Old Globe Theater, all expense paid by Bank of America! We were even treated to a Grinch Buffet prior to the show at the American Institute of Fine Arts which is across the street. My children were surprised to see the Grinch walk into the room, but based on their numerous questions, I'm pretty sure they were more surprised by the endless number of art pieces that displayed human genitalia. You can imagine the comments and questions!

So I've been busy. I've not been sitting around, purposely neglecting my blog. No eating Bon Bons and watching Oprah for this girl.

And as I've said a million times before....I'll try to be better at updating!!!

Although...

My monsters have been released from learning duty for the next three weeks.... and they will be inheriting a disgusting amount of new things for Christmas, on top of the disgusting amount of things they just inherited from 8 nights of Hanukkah that will certainly need organizing... and T-ball season is just around the corner....and all three first graders want to try their hand at acting and join the after school drama program that begins the first of the year....and.....and...and...

Can you give me just a little slack??? Pleeeaaaassse?