We are approaching high pitched Christmas anticipation frenzy as we turn the corner into less-than-one-week-until-Christmas. The kids have been counting and recounting to make sure that they counted correctly. They’ve been counting until our California trip departure. They’ve been counting to Christmas eve. They’ve been counting until Christmas day. They’ve been counting days. They’ve been counting nights. I’ve been trying to tone down the excitement levels. Unfortunately I have not been assisted by the people who left a gingerbread house kit on our doorstep this evening. Now I have Christmas anticipation frenzy with candy and frosting. (Incidentally, if the people leaving 12 days of Christmas on our doorstep happen to read this blog, I’m not really complaining. We’ve received four wonderful gifts now which we have all enjoyed greatly. Thank you very much!)
Speaking of gifts, my kids have all finished their Christmas shopping and wrapped it all. I had to make sure it all got done in plenty of time for me to assess how much stuff needs to be packed into our van for this trip. We all tried to shop for small gifts because we knew we would be traveling. This seems to have worked because I think I can fit it all in. Yesterday I pulled all the gifts out from under the tree and packed them into boxes for transportation. This process was fascinating to the kids. Gleek and Patches in particular watched each package to into the box.
Gleek spent a lot of time poking her packages and speculating about contents. When she was speculating about the package from Patches he thoughtfully announced exactly what was in it. Patches is so excited about giving gifts. He loved wrapping them. He knows that they’re supposed to be a surprise, but he’s so excited about what he is giving that the secrets just kind of slip out. The first time this happened he immediately collapsed into tears because he realized that he’d ruined the surprise. Wonderful Link just looked at tearful Patches and announced that he hadn’t quite heard what Patches said. He then talked out loud pretending to try to figure out what was in the box that Patches had just revealed the contents of. Gleek followed that example when Patches announced her present. Now we just try not to talk about presents in front of Patches. A week is a very long time for a small child to keep an exciting secret.
I have to confess that I’m counting too. 2 more days until we depart. But those two days are going to fly because I have so many things to get done. I am a little stressed about it all. But I’m happy stressed because I’m really looking forward to having an out-of-my house vacation.
That’s so awesome how Link and Gleek figured out what they needed to do to make a smaller child happy…and then they did it. What great kids, and what great parents those kids must have. 😉
That’s so awesome how Link and Gleek figured out what they needed to do to make a smaller child happy…and then they did it. What great kids, and what great parents those kids must have. 😉
I agree! What an amazingly perfect response. 🙂
Anisa.
I agree! What an amazingly perfect response. 🙂
Anisa.
Link=Kevyn
’nuff said there… 🙂
At any rate, happy-stressed or not, we need to pool together to get Sandra one of the massage chairs…
Link=Kevyn
’nuff said there… 🙂
At any rate, happy-stressed or not, we need to pool together to get Sandra one of the massage chairs…
I said, “Christmas is next week!”
(sometimes to help my daughter remember to be nice to her brother)
She says, ” Sooo, Christmas is tomorrow?”
And I say, “No, next week. In ONE week!”
“Oh.”
Repeat. 🙂
I’ve been so tired, stressed and exhausted from 4 parties in one week, one party I was in charge of (literally! told to conduct it 30 minutes before it started!), that we only got our out of town gifts sent Sat. and no presents are wrapped yet and I keep thinking,
‘Christmas is next week!?! What happened to the rest of December again?’
Wait December! Slow down! If I blink it will be next year!
I said, “Christmas is next week!”
(sometimes to help my daughter remember to be nice to her brother)
She says, ” Sooo, Christmas is tomorrow?”
And I say, “No, next week. In ONE week!”
“Oh.”
Repeat. 🙂
I’ve been so tired, stressed and exhausted from 4 parties in one week, one party I was in charge of (literally! told to conduct it 30 minutes before it started!), that we only got our out of town gifts sent Sat. and no presents are wrapped yet and I keep thinking,
‘Christmas is next week!?! What happened to the rest of December again?’
Wait December! Slow down! If I blink it will be next year!
November was my fast month. December has had a nice steady pace for me. But then I only had one Christmas party and it was early. Our ward has finally clued in to the fact that we don’t need to have a ward party AND a relief society party AND a primary party AND an elder’s quorum party all in the same month. Oh, and no awkward work parties for us. Yay!
November was my fast month. December has had a nice steady pace for me. But then I only had one Christmas party and it was early. Our ward has finally clued in to the fact that we don’t need to have a ward party AND a relief society party AND a primary party AND an elder’s quorum party all in the same month. Oh, and no awkward work parties for us. Yay!
Hopefully lots of work parties but without the awkwardness!
After all, you can gather all the workers around the kitchen table for treats after an address stamping activity (or whatever work they did that day). And the treats can usually be low-budget stuff (celery with peanut-butter if they like that).
Hopefully lots of work parties but without the awkwardness!
After all, you can gather all the workers around the kitchen table for treats after an address stamping activity (or whatever work they did that day). And the treats can usually be low-budget stuff (celery with peanut-butter if they like that).
From one of the children I teach, last Friday:
From one of the children I teach, last Friday:
lol.
Yes that’s exactly it!
lol.
Yes that’s exactly it!
Your kids are so great!
Your kids are so great!