If you’re going to lie to your kids, you’d better be prepared to back it up.
This year, my kids got Santa. The excitement, the anticipation. The whole, better watch out, better not cry, better not pout, I’m telling you why. They would sing it to each other, and we were able to manage the fighting with this simple reminder. Last year, the whole Santa thing worked well into January. It was awesome.
They knew they could ask for something from him, and that he would bring it to our house. But would he bring something to Grandma and Grandpa’s in Coquitlam if we were there instead of home? Well, we’ll just tell him when we see him. No problem.
Look at Benny here, he’s so cute. He actually stuttered when he talked to Santa because he just wanted to get it out right. He was just in awe.
So, we were set to head down to the coast on Christmas Eve, to make it there in time for the 4 pm Christmas Eve service at church. My mom and dad took the kids the night before so we could wrap and pack. I was kind of proud of myself this year, because I managed not to spend too much money, and did a decent job of filling the kids stockings and getting their gifts. Last year, they asked Santa for new plates and bowls, Dora and Hot Wheels style. This year, Sarah asked for a CD, and Ben wanted a McQueen and Mater. I figure there will be many years in the future where they ask for the moon, so I might as well appreciate the small things.
Anyways, we wrapped all the gifts, packed the car up, and went to pick up the kids. With a small adjustment for a picture for my mom, we were off. It was only when we got to 20 minutes outside of Princeton, and I was going to put something down by Ben’s feet that I noticed a big hole where a nice big bag of Santa stuff SHOULD have been. But no, it was back in Penticton, an hour and a half away, and here we were noon on Christmas Eve.
Needless to say, I was a little upset, and might have left an, um, sad pathetic message on my mom and dad’s machine. And, ok, I cried.
As a mom, you spend so much time trying to make sure that things are right, especially for big occasions, and totally out of my control, crap happened.
My sister offered to meet us half way. She offered to bring the bag all the way out to Princeton. But you know what? It’s just stuff, and the kids would live.
So, we went through the whole Christmas Eve routine (we were late for service — well, we missed it completely — I’ve had better days), and on Christmas morning, Santa had left a letter for Sarah and Ben, in addition to phoning Daddy earlier that morning.
He was very sorry that he didn’t know we were going to be in Coquitlam. He was able though, (fortunately) to bring the ‘big’ gifts, but all the stocking stuffers were going to be on their beds waiting for them when they got home.
I should mention that while we were in Princeton, there was a frantic call made to Trav’s poor parents to go out and buy the Santa stuff. Ben’s was an easy one, but Sarah had asked for this obscure cd that I had already gone through the ringer to get, and they weren’t able to find it on short notice. Fortunately for me, we had given it to my niece for her birthday, and they had it with them. And, the whole problem was compounded a little bit by the fact that Santa knew that the kids cousins were going to be at Grandma and Grandpa’s. But, oh well.
But you know what? We had a really great day anyways, despite all the stresses of the day before. It probably wasn’t worth stressing about, but it’s hard when the kids are getting to the age of remembering. It makes it complicated.
Things are so not the point of Christmas, anyways.
I am so smart, SMRT.
Sometimes.
With only a few calls to Angella who knows so much more about computers than I.
We can now resume our regularly scheduled blogging sessions (hopefully!).
February 4, 2008
so much for that…
well, I was going to post a nice little Christmas story for you, complete with pictures and only a month late. But, as per usual, I am having computer issues as in I am having the issues, not the computer.
So, I have not completely forsaken this blog, I am trying, I really am.
January 27, 2008
Gone, gone, gone
I’ve been gone so long, I’ve been gonegonegone so long.
Phew!
Well, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! And Happy Birthday to me!
So where did that last 2 (!) months go, anyways? I think that what happens for me is that any time I feel the least bit overwhelmed, blogging is the first thing to go. So it went.
What have we been up to?
The couple of weeks before Christmas were busy with working on the house. Pictures will follow, I promise. We’ve decided that we want to completely finish the basement before we really get going upstairs, so before Christmas, we finished the bathroom (totally redone), and one of the bedrooms (new hardwood and paint), then after Christmas, we, with some help from my in-laws, painted most of the rest of the basement, put 2 new bathtubs in upstairs, and ripped a big hole in my kitchen floor to repair a bump that was under there. Seems like we did more though…. Along that line, last night I finished painting the last bedroom, and Travis put tile down in my laundry um….closet? corner? nook-under-the-stairs?
So then we had Christmas where we went to the coast and spent it with Trav’s family for a week, and I had my birthday, and then we had New Years, and then we rennovated some more, then Trav went back to work, and so did I and just like that we’re back into the swing of things. It’s pretty exciting to get some stuff done on the house – finally – I feel like I should start a rennovation blog to show you all our hard work.
But here’s my excuse — when normal people have put in a full day, and then have some time in the evening to play, blog, watch tv, do what they want, I’m painting (or sometimes watching tv – I confess). Or helping with hardwood floors. Did you know that I know how to use a sliding compound mitre saw? And a tile scriber? And a tile saw (though I’m sure I’ll lose a finger with that one). And, I’m getting to be the best painter around.
Anyways, work is calling — real work that I actually get paid for, so I’m going to go for now, but I promise a really good Christmas story to come….. when I get some time! 😉
November 23, 2007
let’s play the ‘we love each other’ game.
Today I am grateful for the times they get along.
November 22, 2007
my little bear
Where would I be without this little girl in my life.
Well, I would probably be more well rested, but void in so many other areas. I am really loving getting to know her.
Her desire to please and help. Her shy and reserved nature. Two years ago, I never would have believed you if you told me she would be shy. I see more of me in her every day. I’m sure she’ll hate that in 11 years or so.
Her eagerness to learn. She is like a sponge big enough to soak up the ocean.
Her sense of humor. Her ablity to forgive and forget. I learn from her every day. Her loyalty. Her love of her friends and family.
How she randomly tells me she loves me 100 times a day.
How we have our little sign for “I love you” that we can make anytime we make eye contact, and she knows how much I love her back.
This is the best preschool picture that I could get out of 4 tries. You put a camera in front of this girl, and the funniest faces emerge. I’ll show you some sometime.
Anyways, today I am grateful for my Sarah.
Love you, bear.
November 21, 2007
shop vacs and chinese food
Today I am so thankful for my shop vac.
Strange one, right?
We finally brought it out from our storage garage, and today it was USED. Did you know that shop vacs can pick up pieces of drywall that are like this (———————————–) big? At least. I would have taken a picture of the mess I cleaned up, but frankly, the state of our house at the present time is a bit (a lot?) embarassing, never mind the fact that it was dirty. My kids are pretty good at navagating the mess, but stepping on a drywall screw hurts. Ouchie! The house is still exposed concrete floors and insulation, half hung drywall, and tools everywhere, but the floors are VACUUMED!! Woohoo!
I was actually pretty psyched cleaning up today.
What has my life come to?
And, since I was so busy cleaning, and moving piles of crap around, and taking Sarah to preschool, going to the gym, making lunch, going to ballet, and then swimming lessons, today I am also thankful that Safeway sells some pretty wicked take out Chinese food.
So. yum.
*****
You know that Gwen Stefani song where it goes “Ooo-ooo, Weeee-Ooo”? I usually crank it up in the car, and the kids dance and sing at the top of their voices. Today Benny just started singing the song out of the blue. He cracks me up.
November 20, 2007
a priceless keepsake
After Auntie Kaye passed away last week, when we were down at the coast, my Grandma pulled me aside.
“I found something at Auntie Kaye’s that has your name on it.”
“Neat!” I thought.
She gave it to me the next day.
I’m speechless.
And then there was this note:
“Dear Karen — knowing how you like blue, I’m giving this to you (perhaps as a keepsake). As you can see, I didn’t quite get it finished. I hope someone will just finish it off for you (maybe Omi would do it). Love from me! Auntie Kaye.”
You have to know that Auntie Kaye lost her eyesight a number of years ago, and this note is in her handwriting. So it’s been around for a while, but man oh man, how special is that?! Do I need to tell you that it is going to get framed?
On another note, Travis took both kids to the gym with him after dinner — we have ‘free’ babysitting there — so today I am thankful for a whole 45 minutes of peace and quiet in this house. I am going to go read my new book for the last 15 min or so, because most of my time got eaten up by a bunged up internet connection (shaking fist at computer!). ohwell.
more another time!
Growing up. 
