Christmas 2008

Yes, I'm posting on Christmas. Ben is asleep, Mike is recovering from eating cheesecake for breakfast -- our new Christmas morning tradition. If he needed proof he should not be eating sugar, this is it. He feels really horrible.

On to happier things. Kaia is using canned frosting to decorate a paper plate (my sneaky way of using it all up, she's not allowed to eat it) She was surprisingly fine with Santa leaving presents at my mom's house. She and Ben loved their gifts. Her favorites include a Bolt coloring book, new markers, and an art supply set from her aunt and uncle, and Ben's favorites include a broom and a jack-in-the-box. Mini boxes of cereal in their stocking also went over well with both of them!

It's the quietest Christmas I've ever had this year. We have no tree, no lights. A few gifts for each kid. The plan for the day is the same as the last few--packing, and more packing. We are getting close to done. The house looks a mess though, and it's hard to tell how much we've done until you go into the bedrooms or open the cupboards.

Mike and I went to bed at about 11:15 or so last night. About 15-30 minutes later, Kaia came running out of her room giggling hysterically -- she'd already ransacked her stocking (and the new stocking for the as-yet-ungotten dog). We sleepily told her she had to bring it all out to us so she wouldn't get distracted and GO BACK TO SLEEP. Luckily, she did pretty quickly. At 5am she climbed into bed with us and we all listened to Ben fuss for another 40 minutes. He slept fitfully, and I brought him out at 5:40--and our day began!

The cheesecake for breakfast was a big hit. Kaia was thrilled, though she was surprised how quickly she started to feel sick, and wasn't even able to finish her first piece, much less her anticipated second. Ben carefully tasted the new edible before grabbing handfuls and filling his mouth. He also got eggs for breakfast, but the unusual amount of sugar got to him and he went down for a nap early.

Granny and Grumpy will be coming up Saturday, bringing more gifts. Kaia's thrilled about her "second Christmas" and the visit. We also move on Saturday, wish us luck in this snow!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, or whichever holiday you celebrate, or not. Merry December 25th!

p.s. I'd post pictures, but since my laptop is on the fritz, I cannot upload any now. I do have some, and will share them when possible!

Want to know how to ruin Christmas for your kid?

Step One: Have the great idea to go out of town to the grandparents ON Christmas Eve.

Step Two: Decide to have Grandma buy the gift from Santa, so that your kid doesn't see it packed in the car.

Step Three: Have the wonderful tradition of having grandma also get all the stocking stuffers. It saves you money, and she picks really cool things.

Step Four: Live in an area that never gets snow.

Step Five: Watch as a blizzard hits, making roads completely undrive-able.

Step Six: Wonder how to explain to child how Santa didn't know where you'd be, so he left all the presents at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Step Seven: Think about watching child wake up Christmas morning to no bike from Santa, and no stocking.

Step Eight: Cry, even though it's a totally materialistic thing to worry about, and there are millions of kids out there with no FOOD on Christmas, much less presents and stockings waiting at Grandma and Grandpas. Yes I KNOW it's a stupid thing to be upset about. BUT I AM.

Good Friday

Today was spectacular. I will tell you why, but please know that nothing ultra exciting happened. I will reach the end of my tale, and you will probably wonder why I am so thrilled. Also, it's only 2:30, so there is so much more of the day to enjoy! I may post again later if more cool things happen. although nothing most people would find overly joyful happened, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

First, Ben only woke up ONCE last night!! That means he slept 6 hours, then 4 hours! Too cool....

Kaia headed out the door for her last day at this school, and I started coffee. Mike sat down at his computer to mess around for a bit and I checked email. Just a nice relaxing morning.

Mike went on a box hunt and was successful! He came back with several good ones, including 3 perfect book packing boxes. Together we taped them closed on the bottom and emptied almost one full bookcase! It was awesome to just spend time with my husband.

Then we made Harvest Muffins (at some point will post recipe) together, while sharing a leftover burrito. Again, just spending the time leisurely with my man was just too cool. There was no homework sitting in the background calling him, no other work that we HAD to do. Ben snoozed in his swing behind us as we stirred and chopped and Mike fed me bites of burrito goodness.

Then Andrea called and asked if I wanted to join her for some last minute Christmas shopping. Of course, there is only one answer to that, so she picked me up and we headed out, leaving Ben in his daddy's capable hands. We fortified ourselves with a couple of Baskin Robbins coffee drinks (and I picked up a small container of bubble gum ice cream (can you say oh my god, yuck?!) for Kaia and Mike (yes, my husband likes pink bubblegum ice cream. crazy, I know).

We headed to the store and wandered happily about. I picked up a set of reindeer antlers for Kaia, which was meant to be a Christmas gift, but turned into a feel-better gift (more on that later), and found 3 books for Ben's Santa gift. One of the books Andrea found and was extremely generous in letting me have it, as it was the only one left--it has black and white pictures of animals that look like they are moving when you move the page. Much cooler than it sounds, trust me.

I came home to my family-Kaia had a half day today-and discovered Kaia had fell at school and skinned up her nose and mouth. She was okay, but I gave her the antler-headband to help her feel better. Ate a Harvest Muffin, then sat on the couch and listened to her read a book she got in class today. Ben is now sleeping on me, sweet sweet boy, and Kaia and Mike came in from playing outside for a bit.

excellent day, don't you agree?

Next year...

I am so totally doing this!!!

http://www.quietfish.com/notebook/?p=1244#top

Daily Glimpse #23

Here is Kaia at her Holiday Concert. It was wonderful, cute, and blissfully short. She, of course, is the one on the far right. She is wearing a dress from her Mema, Papa Bill and Auntie Ariel.
After the songs, we had cookies and punch. Then we went home and opened some of our presents, since we can't take them all with us, and get back after Christmas! Got some good stuff! Mike's fave was his mixer, mine was an amber necklace, and Kaia's was her stable, and the horses she got to use with it.

Daily Glimpse #22

Hello All! We put up our "tree" today! Right now we only have room for a tiny one, but I'm loving the pre-strung-ness of the fake one we have. SOOO much easier. I also didn't hang all the ornaments we have, just the special ones. The reason mom is crowding in front of me is that she's a camera hog.

Just kidding. I am wearing a tank top that is less than modest in the....chest area, and she is helping me retain a bit of my feminine mystery...that which is left, at least! ;-)

Kaia had fun, but she had more fun decorating the gingerbread house.....well, eating the candy, at least. I decided next year I want to get TWO houses, one for me to decorate exclusively, so I can be as picky as I want.

Having a wonderful visit, though today I was unusually tired. I got to take a short nap (thanks mom!) and drank more coffee than usual. We went to our usual place for breakfast. Mike picked out some shoes, and I bought my sister's Christmas present. (hee hee) After my nap, we went grocery shopping, and when we got back, my dad was here! He and Kaia are discussing important issues, and my mother is doing dishes. I am SO spoiled when she is here! and I am weak, I just let her do it... I did make dinner tonight! tacos! yum!

santa isn't telling....

We do not make a big deal of the getting-of-the-presents holidays. ON Christamas, ON the birthday, yes, we have fun and enjoy the heck out of the day. But leading up TO the days, I don't usually mention them to Kaia much. Santa has been discussed briefly, but he's not iconified (is that a word?!).

Lately, I've been reading blogs of other mom's, and reading about their kids' cute conversations about presents, Santa Claus, and all other things Holly and Jolly. I did realize one of the reasons Kaia doesn't really talk about desired presents is our lack of TV. She isn't bombarded by the ads for this necessary toy or that must-have gift.

However, I didn't realize how little we discuss presents until the following conversation:

Me: Hey darlin, what do you want for Christmas?

Kaia (in a very know-it-all tone): Mo-om! We don't know what we are getting until the morning of Christmas!

Me: Oh! (how did this happen?!) umm...right.....(should I drop this and thank my lucky stars!?! but I honestly don't know what she wants!! crap....here goes....) IF you DID get to choose, what would you want for Christmas?

Kaia: Toys. and candy.

Me: riiiiiight.....but, specifically, WHICH toys? (I am crazy!)

Kaia: ........(realizing this is her chance)......ummmm...well, barbies, and more horses, and a house toy, and a princess toy, and candy. and more cars, and more horses.

yep. I should have stopped at we don't get to know......