Holiday Fun (Copied from Myspace so if you've already read it there don't bother with it here)

The kids ruined my damn Holiday!Really, I am the most unmaterialistic person. I've finally convinced my spouse to not buy me stuff cause its a holiday/ my birthday/ anniversary etc... If I want something I'll ask for it. If you MUST get me something either get me something generic like a gift card to a bookstore (there is always a book I want coming out soon....).

I have little use of well thought out but random bullshit.

Anyhow. My chief enjoyment on holidays like Christmas, is watching my kids. Watching them put up decorations on the tree (even if repositioning 60 percent of them isn't so much fun after they've gone to bed...'Wow Nate! Fourteen Ornaments really WILL fit on one branch! Good Job!!!').

It's making cookies for them...even if I threaten to eat them all instead of saving some for Santa, and a good portion of the cookies never make it into their decorative holiday tins because there has been some illegal poaching before they are cool. I don't care to clean up the messes in the kitchen but the fun we have decorating the cutouts far outweighs the headache of cleaning. Although this year a moment of inattention may have result in my poor KitchenAid mixer being taken to be serviced. My overzealous Santa's little Helper of the Year added all the bisquick to a recipe that I normally only add three quarters of it to to, then hand knead the balance. My poor mixer's motor sounds like the bearings are burnt out...and it smelled like it too....*sigh* It still works ok, although it sounds so horrible It should last through the new year when I can take it to it's doctor.

I love to decorate (usually, this year is an exception). I love to walk the stores to find new ideas, go home and replicate the decor I liked. No sense paying for something I can make myself.

I like the traditions. Taking the kids out to look at the neighborhoods lights. Christmas Services (Yes, I go to the services because my family did, and my spouse is a Christian...and he wants to go).

The music.

Aside from Halloween this is my Favorite time of year (if a fattening one).

And most of all, I anticipate seeing the glee and joy on my kids faces when they see what they got from Santa. When I hear "Mom! I got JUST what I wished for!". Because, IMO, that is the lesson kids can take from Santa. That their Parents are listening to what they want. And that their parents will fulfill the wishes they can. I wished once upon a time my Mom would accept the religious choice I made decades ago. I finally learned that she does know it, and that she does accept it.

BUt THIS year.

This year I got ROBBED!

Oh Santa came for my kids alright! But MY kids stole Christmas from ME! You see Gentle Readers, the zealousness of me and my siblings evolved into a set of rules and regulations. Don't wake up the parents until 8am. Have coffee made, and when we got proficient with breakfest cooking....Breakfest in Bed for the parents. Along with the Xmas Protocal went ..Don't touch the presents until after pictures were taken (Do any of you know how embarrassing some of those pajama selections are!!!?? I mean really MOM! Couldn't you have invested in some Xmas PJ's or something!).

Now last night we made sure to remind the kids...No opening presents until after Mom and Dad are awake. (cue chorus of obeident 'Yes Ma'am') Be quiet until 8 am (Chorus). Let the dogs out and watch TV til it's time to get us up (Chorus).Seems pretty straight forward Huh?

Well! I get woken up by my spouse telling me "The kids opened up their presents". And now, instead of being the happy camera Mom, I get to be the Hollaring Christmas Harpy.

And to top it all off, they ALL tried to blame it on the baby. None of them tried to stop him, none of them came upstairs to tell us (and tattling is always an acceptable reason to wake up Mom....NORMALLY). And then my oldest son tries to tell US that he got this toy, and that toy but he is sharing them with the other boys...When in REALITY I know whose presents were whose....(Kinda makes it hard when most of those toys came from Santa...So how do I know whose they were....As he so eloquently pointed out)

So, to start my Christmas Day, I DON'T get to see the childish glee, I DON'T get my kids pics in front of the Tree. The thing I look forward to most during this holiday....Next year...Santa's Revenge.....A locked outdoor storage unit will be left under the tree...with the presents inside it.....