Someday....

Some day I will have all my Christmas shopping done before Black Friday.

Some day I will have all the Christmas baking done two weeks before Christmas and shipped out one week before Christmas.

Some day I will be able to wrap the presents and put them under the tree without fear of toddler or dog.

Some day I will be able to spend the last week before Christmas with my feet up and relaxing....possibly laughing at the me that used to be, and my friends who still are the me I used to be....

Some day I will have Christmas cards made, addressed and mailed out two weeks before Christmas....

Some day I will spend the entire holiday season without stress or worry that I am forgetting someone, some present, or something that has the potential to ruin the holiday season....

Some day I will long for the craziness of the holiday season, because it is half the fun of it all anyway....

Merry Christmas!!!!

I hope you all have a great Christmas! Nothing better than seeing your child jumping up anddown because they are so excited about their gifts. Makes a Mommy happy. I hope all your dreams come true. Happy Holidays!!!

Uh Oh, She Asked THE Question....

Last night my 10 year old asked if Santa is real.  I asked her what she thought, and she looked at me and said, " I asked you first."  Darn that kid is good.  She is an incredibly mature child, so I KNOW she KNOWS the truth.  She happened to ask in front of her 8 year old sister, who is as mature as an 8 year old should be, and just sat there doe eyed waiting on the all knowing Mommy's answer.

I have always told the kids that Santa is magical.  For those that believe in him he is very real, but for those who do not, he is nothing more than pretend.  This has been satisfactory in helping them to keep believing.  It does not make a difference to me whether they believe or not, but it is fun to keep the magic alive, especially in these times.  It is nice to have a bit of make believe that everyone participates in and everyone gets excited about.  And it's nice to have some cookies left out that no one is asking to eat...less competition. 

I am pretty certain that my oldest daughter knows exactly what the deal is with Santa, but she loves the magical aspect as well, so she keeps her faith alive.  She did however make it known that under no circumstances will she ever believe that any of the mall Santas are real.  I had no argument there, I mean really.  But she followed up with the understanding that obviously Santa is a busy guy and he cannot be in charge of the whole thing and make appearances at malls everywhere, so obviously he had to exercise some time management.  I told you she was mature. 

Santa is real, he is real in our hearts and in our imaginations.  He is real in our inner children, and in our actual children.  I am glad to have another year of belief all around, that is my gift from Santa!

Christmas Presents...

I am curious to know what everyone is getting their kids for Christmas.  My 10 year old has told me that most of her friends either have or are getting a iPad....which boggled my mind.  She has a Kindle, and her 8 year old sister will be getting a Nook this year.  My oldest is getting a room makeover.  Her sister got one for her birthday in August and it made her older sister green with envy.  Beyond that they are getting books, nail polish, clothes, a couple arts and crafts type things, a board game or two, and that is it from us. 

I was curious what the most popular toys are this year, so I did a  little research and found out what many kids can expect under the tree.  It is a general list so there are some boy toys, some girl toys and a wide age range.  But these are some of the most popular items.  If your child is getting any of these, feel free to give a review once they have played with it. 

1. Leap Frog LeapPad 2.  This is a tablet for kids.  The joke is that it may help keep your kids away from your iPad.  Ummm, that is what high shelves are for, right??  Really though, it looks fun!  It is for ages 3 to 9 years old, which is AMAZING!

2.  HEXBUG Warriors.  This is a really cool looking item.  I do not have boys, or girls that play with HEXBUGS but I would give it a whirl if I did!!  This goes for ages 6 and up.

3.  Melissa and Doug Suspend.  This one looks really fun!  It is for ages 3 and up due to small pieces.  I might have to find this one for my girls.  They are constantly looking for new games to try.  I do not worry so much about the 15 month old getting, and eating, pieces but I do worry about the dog.

4.  Razor Flash Rider 360.  Okay, so I wish this was big enough for me to ride. HA!  I know what you are thinking, and yes, we should all thank God it is not.  This one looks really awesome.  It is for ages 6 and up, and will support up to 160 pounds.  So I guess technically it will support me, but ummm, let's not go testing weight limits. 

5.  Tegu Mobility Magnetic Car.  This will round out our top 5 of the most popular toys.  I have never heard of this one, so if someone has a review I would love for you to post it!!  This toy is for ages 3 to 15 years old.

Honestly, my kids are not picky at all.  They are fairly girly so makeup, jewelry, nail polish, lotions, hair stuff...all the usual stuff makes them happy.  Put that with a couple of odds and ends and one really awesome present and they are set to go.  The little one, yes, that is the one that is proving to be tough.  She is 15 months old, needs nothing, and her favorite thing to play with is her family.  She loves interacting with all of us, including the dog.  So I am having a heck of a time figuring out what to buy her.

Enjoy the company of your family this year, every year.  Enjoy each other, try not to stress, and remember to stop and love those kidlets.