have myself a merry little christmas

And I am glad it’s over. I’m ready to get started on some of the goals I have set for myself for the next year as well as start to get back to a normal routine (i.e. kids go back to school)

Still, a very good Christmas. Our holiday traditions are starting to fall into place, the kids are getting more and more into it every year and I just love the hairbands that N picked out for me. Guess I can’t cut it all off just yet :)

was watching G.

That is one Christmas loving 2 and a half year old. From the new monkey pajamas the night before to the Christmas movies, to the lights to the singing/croaking Christmas frog his other Grandma got him, to the stockings to the panettone, to the eggnog, to leaving Santa cookies, to the giant roaring dinosaur my mom got him, to realizing there was ONE MORE PRESENT to unwrap.

Maybe now he will start calming down after the wind up of all the preChristmas excitement.

As for the non kid stuff, I really wasn’t feeling well, so I deleted a lot of the plans I’d had. It put a damper on things, but that’s okay. There’s always next year. Although I think we can handle fewer presents next year… we went a bit overboard on the toys this year.

The child portion of Christmas was delightful. And J did really well, although he got scared (?) or something and didn’t purchase the one item I genuinely wanted and gave explicit details on so that (in theory) he wouldn’t get too scared. But no big deal- he did well. Even bought me some really nice fragrance. My parents arrived Christmas Day and visiting with them has been really lovely.

Several times since Tuesday, J was whispered, earnestly, “I’m so glad Christmas is over.” A good reminder that we should always plan mellow Christmases. He so dreads it.

I’ve had a nice, intimate christmas eve and early christmas morning with hubby and the kids. Wonderful christmas eve with appetizers and snacks for dinner, followed up with fruit and chocolate fondue. The children opened their pajamas christmas eve and we read Night Before Christmas. Then Christmas morning I got up and to get the cinnamon buns out of the fridge so they could rise. And then I waited, and waited for the children to wake up. Daughter got up first and saw her huge stuffed monkey waiting for her and then she ran through the house yelling for everyone else to come see the monkey. Both the children were extra sweet and enjoyed opening all their presents. Hubby’s gift went over well very well (I got him the Ipod Classic) which was a huge relief to me.

Then over to my parents house for more presents, cinnamon buns, more people and more presents. A much more subdued christmas than normal, but still nice. We had a new friend, my brother’s girlfriend brought her 4 year old and it was nice to have one more child around.

Hubby’s family was to come over boxing day, but since it started snowing and their tires are bald we postponed it until tomorrow. Now my fatherinlaw and the niece and nephews are all sick so we’ll do our final christmas dinner the saturday after New Year’s Day. Talk about dragging it out!

This will end up being one of those Christmases that stand out from others. Much like my sister’s wedding will always be memorable as the “monsoon wedding”, this will be “The Christmas We Were All Sick”.

Bumble, Andrea, GG, and I were all very sick for all of it. Dad was on the mend. Mom and Mary were both staving it off but not at full force and both little boys were in, “we’ve just recovered and are naughty” mode.

But you know, I did have a wonderful Christmas. Every once in a while, I would have to stop and cry because I was so sick and tired and all, but then one takes another pill and moves on.

I think a lot of it was saved by the fact that my focus was on the chum and his experience. As I found at Disneyland, when you aren’t tied up in yourself, you have a much better time _{(Hmmm. Is WN on the verge of actually moving past of a lifetime of egocentrism? Don’t hold your breath….)}

And the chum had a wonderful Christmas. He was so excited about it all and so happy to open presents (his own and helping with everyone else’s). He loved giving everyone his ornaments and told them all how he _“smashed the glitter” on them. And thrilled by his toys. Oh, so thrilled.

The whole Santa experience was perfect. He decided that Santa would come down our chimney in the library – even though we don’t use the fireplace at all as it’s structurally unsound. He picked out cookies very carefully and decided that Santa needed purple milk. And when it was all set up, “Santa needs a fat straw!” and went back and got it.

Christmas morning was great and cozy in the library. Nice spacing of visitors throughout the morning. Nap was taken. And the chum was up before the family came for dinner.

Dinner was a bit wild – food prep got a bit jumbled due to illnesses, things broke, children refused to eat anything at all, the bean salad never made it to the table, and people opened presents in a random manner. Nothing disastrous, but hardly smooth. But by that time, all were fairly mellow about it. We all knew that it was what it was – and it was good.

• We should try for more of a cooperative meal as the poor host gets stuck in the kitchen cooking and misses the merriment.
• With the deluge of gifts for the chum, it works really well to not push our gifts on Christmas morning and to save a few things from Mommy and Daddy for the 26th – softens the impact a lot.
• Bailey’s is an effective cough suppressant.

Anyway, I had a great Christmas. I feel great about the giving and receiving parts. I got to do most of what is important and symbolic to me, and I got the appropriate melancholic tinge by being sick.

to get ready way before Christmas. I love the Flylady’s Holiday Missions to help remind me to think of things before the last moment

There were the normal stresses and a few snippy comments that flew, but overall, we enjoyed each other’s company. Next year, I want it to be at my house!

I’m waiting for everyone to wake up!

The cinnamon buns are rising, I’m fully showered, dressed and in makeup, even my hair is done. That’s kind of cool, usually I run around doing for everyone else, then rush out the door looking like crap.

There’s nothing left for me to do. This is kind of cool, I’m not accustomed to this feeling.

because without the focus on the positive and all, this Christmas could really be crap.

After struggling through the chum’s illness, now we’re all sick to some degree. It’s a bit miserable and all.

But it’s kind of like, whatever, I’m going to have a nice Christmas, whatever that entails.

• Last night I wrapped (mostly) the gifts to be dropped off at my mil’s. I’ll save Q & N’s gifts for figuring out between stocking and tree with J tomorrow night.
• Dropped off said gifts.
• Decorated and baked cookies with Q.
• Finally visited the Christmas model train exhibit with Q. Who has seen it many times now and just wanted to watch the video which (in wildly dull terms) talked about a specific train line. I mean, if you’re a train aficionado, I’m sure it’s compelling.
• Hacked at the ice on our walkway so that my mother won’t immediately slip and fall. Still a lot, but now it’s raining, and perhaps it’ll all turn to slush now. Or refreeze into a nightmare.
• Let Q open gifts from his great uncle/aunt. We’re doing this to spread the interest in these gifts a little, and so that he doesn’t totally flip out on Christmas morning. Huh. Right. Optimistic of me. (Wait, think merry little Christmas. Not pissy little Christmas.)
• Oh and I bought Baileys for my parents’ visit, since my self imposed moratorium on alcohol will be at an end. Although I do think it’s a good idea in general to avoid drinking, especially while I’m still a wee bit short on sleep. Too likely to push me over the edge.
• cleaned all but the floor of the upstairs bath. More cleaning to come. (Why do it early? It’ll just get dirty before my parents get here. I want them to have the full effect of my wimpy cleaning skills.)