Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Simplify Christmas?
In the last two years, I have heard of a whole new concept, "Simply Christmas". Parents are not letting Santa come to their house and not giving their children lots of gifts in order to focus on the reason for the season, Jesus. I get this part. I do. Our family does try VERY hard to do a Christ centered advent activity every night. We also repeatedly pound into our three year olds head, "We have Christmas because it's a birthday party for Jesus". I GET that society leaves our Jesus and that it's our job as parents to teach our children the real meaning, but to leave out Santa in order to teach? Here's my take on that.
For me as a kid, Christmas was MAGICAL. I couldn't WAIT to see what Santa brought me. Was I interested in those presents that had been under the tree for a few weeks, sure, but what SANTA brought was WAY exciting. I also remember going to visit Santa and wondering if I would get THE REAL Santa or one of his volunteer elves. One of my favorite family memory was driving around Christmas Eve looking at lights and wondering if the red light in the sky was in fact, SANTA! See, Santa gave me the "Christmas feeling". He made me excited for Christmas. Watching Santa movies to this day can bring back that "Christmas feeling". I love that feeling. And I honestly don't think I would have gotten that feeling as a kid had it not been for Santa....Waking hour after hour Christmas Eve, sleeping with my brother in the same bed and whispering, "It's MORNING!" and waiting on my mom to start "Do You Hear What I Hear", our cue to come on out. Seeing my dad in his reindeer hat, and running to see if Santa liked the snack I put out. Just typing this makes me excited for my kids.
As I grew up I was able to comprehend the real meaning of Christmas more and more. The "Christmas Feeling" was later felt during Candlelight services, or while serving dinner with my dad Christmas day. Silent Night sometimes chocked me up. All when I was older and it even happened with Santa visiting.
For me, I just don't know if I would have gotten as "into" Christmas as an adult without experiencing the magic of it as a child.
So, Simplify Christmas to Josh and I has a little different meaning. Three years ago we had TWELVE Christmas celebrations of one type or another, two for work, one for church, then nine for family. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Oh, and three days later, C had a birthday. THAT my friends is too much. Josh and I are trying to simplify the CELEBRATION of Christmas. Call me selfish all you want, but I want my kids excited for Christmas morning rather than burned out from opening presents and traveling all around. This year we are down to four. One per parent and ours. Still too many, but what do you do when you have divorces...
I would like to suggest we Simply Christmas for the ADULTS rather than the children. Why in the world are so many WORKING adults spending money on gifts for other WORKING adults? It's unreal. Gifts for co-workers, bosses, teachers, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters. THOSE are the gifts that stress ME out. I don't know what to get most of them. And I hate giving crap. Those gifts also add up financially, quick. I'd like to make it this simple. Buy for YOUR children/grandchildren and parents/granparents. Send the rest a card. I honestly wouldn't mind if my parents and grandparents stopped buying for me, but there's no chance of that. They want to. I am their child/grandchild after all. My husband and I have decided to not buy for each other. We can buy things we want/need anytime, we are adults. We decided to focus on our kids.
I know this will most likely ruffle some feathers, but honestly asking Santa to not visit ruffles mine. This world is a scary, hard, and mean place why can't we let our children enjoy some simple magic and be kids?
So, this Christmas Eve, we are going to put out our reindeer food, snacks for Santa, read the Christmas Story (from the Bible) AND the Night Before Christmas, watch Christmas Vacation, wake up and see if Santa came. Open WAY too many gifts, play, and then go to church.
For me as a kid, Christmas was MAGICAL. I couldn't WAIT to see what Santa brought me. Was I interested in those presents that had been under the tree for a few weeks, sure, but what SANTA brought was WAY exciting. I also remember going to visit Santa and wondering if I would get THE REAL Santa or one of his volunteer elves. One of my favorite family memory was driving around Christmas Eve looking at lights and wondering if the red light in the sky was in fact, SANTA! See, Santa gave me the "Christmas feeling". He made me excited for Christmas. Watching Santa movies to this day can bring back that "Christmas feeling". I love that feeling. And I honestly don't think I would have gotten that feeling as a kid had it not been for Santa....Waking hour after hour Christmas Eve, sleeping with my brother in the same bed and whispering, "It's MORNING!" and waiting on my mom to start "Do You Hear What I Hear", our cue to come on out. Seeing my dad in his reindeer hat, and running to see if Santa liked the snack I put out. Just typing this makes me excited for my kids.
As I grew up I was able to comprehend the real meaning of Christmas more and more. The "Christmas Feeling" was later felt during Candlelight services, or while serving dinner with my dad Christmas day. Silent Night sometimes chocked me up. All when I was older and it even happened with Santa visiting.
For me, I just don't know if I would have gotten as "into" Christmas as an adult without experiencing the magic of it as a child.
So, Simplify Christmas to Josh and I has a little different meaning. Three years ago we had TWELVE Christmas celebrations of one type or another, two for work, one for church, then nine for family. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Oh, and three days later, C had a birthday. THAT my friends is too much. Josh and I are trying to simplify the CELEBRATION of Christmas. Call me selfish all you want, but I want my kids excited for Christmas morning rather than burned out from opening presents and traveling all around. This year we are down to four. One per parent and ours. Still too many, but what do you do when you have divorces...
I would like to suggest we Simply Christmas for the ADULTS rather than the children. Why in the world are so many WORKING adults spending money on gifts for other WORKING adults? It's unreal. Gifts for co-workers, bosses, teachers, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters. THOSE are the gifts that stress ME out. I don't know what to get most of them. And I hate giving crap. Those gifts also add up financially, quick. I'd like to make it this simple. Buy for YOUR children/grandchildren and parents/granparents. Send the rest a card. I honestly wouldn't mind if my parents and grandparents stopped buying for me, but there's no chance of that. They want to. I am their child/grandchild after all. My husband and I have decided to not buy for each other. We can buy things we want/need anytime, we are adults. We decided to focus on our kids.
I know this will most likely ruffle some feathers, but honestly asking Santa to not visit ruffles mine. This world is a scary, hard, and mean place why can't we let our children enjoy some simple magic and be kids?
So, this Christmas Eve, we are going to put out our reindeer food, snacks for Santa, read the Christmas Story (from the Bible) AND the Night Before Christmas, watch Christmas Vacation, wake up and see if Santa came. Open WAY too many gifts, play, and then go to church.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Night Night
Tonight about 6:45 my babies and I were having the best time cuddled on the couch. C was watching a show and L and I were reading a book. They were both cuddled up on me and I was not in a rush to do anything else, which was surprising considering I only marked one thing off my packing list today, diapers. Don't wanna go without those.
ANYWAY... so we were cuddled, laughing, reading, then there goes Lil Bit. "I wanna go night night". "You wanna go NIGHT NIGHT? But we are having fun." "I wanna go night night. Om on!" She then grabbed my finger, pulled me off the couch, led me to her room and handed me her PJ's. "You want these on?" "Uh huh". "You wanna rock?" "Huh uh. NIGHT NIGHT."
And that's how the cuddles end...
ANYWAY... so we were cuddled, laughing, reading, then there goes Lil Bit. "I wanna go night night". "You wanna go NIGHT NIGHT? But we are having fun." "I wanna go night night. Om on!" She then grabbed my finger, pulled me off the couch, led me to her room and handed me her PJ's. "You want these on?" "Uh huh". "You wanna rock?" "Huh uh. NIGHT NIGHT."
And that's how the cuddles end...
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Fearless
I am really lucky to be alive typing this. REALLY. When I think about all the stupid things I did in my youth without blinking an eye: racing my Mustang down Highway, drinking way too much, getting rides home with perfect strangers, riding SeaDoos backwards full-speed, letting people drink and drive me on motorcyles, and the list goes on and on. Nothing scared me. Now, this is a normal developmental phase, the dorky psychology professor in me says, but mine felt like more than the typical sense of immortality adolescence experience until their frontal lobes fully develop or whatever. I wasn't afraid of anything. Applying for jobs, starting new challenges, traveling anywhere, speaking my mind. But now since I have become a mother, THINGS. HAVE. CHANGED.
I have realized the extent of this change the last few weeks as I prepare for my first vacation with my kids, and one that involves Mexico travel. I have spent a lot of time in the Caribbean and always been warned of the dangers of Mexico, Jamaica, where ever, and have ALWAYS blown them off. I am cautious, but never thought twice about taking a cab while there, or shopping in the "real" town, or biking through the jungle. But now, NOW I'm taking my BABIES. And NOW I'm worried about EVERYTHING. Here are the crazy, out of control, irrational thoughts that are spinning through my head.
There's the obvious. The Mexican drug cartel. While I have WAY more of a chance crashing my car on the way home and dieing on my own they worry me. I have read and read up on these guys, b/c I am just sure that they are going to want my pretty babies, or my CAMERA, and so I have come up with a plan to ensure that my camera doesn't get stolen. I will conceal it in Josh's backpack that has a strap around the chest so that it can't be ripped off his back. But wait! That backpack has his FULL name on it. I'll need black duct tape to cover it up. I'll also need to put a towel in there to cushion the camera in case it drops. My normal case is too big to take. And the kids, we will get kid leashes. We will walk our kids around like they are dogs. And I will bring duct tape, because the drug cartel, who wants my kids, could just rip the leash out of my hands and run off with them. But with duct tape, they will have to take me too. We will take NO cabs. The cab drivers are for sure in the "cartel" so I will only take Carnival trips. We will go to all inclusive resorts so that we can eat and drink and relax all day. As long as the cartel doesn't come on to our beach, round us all up, ask us all for our money. Make us empty our wallets. I will duct tape our money to the inside of Josh's leg. yes. that will work. (Make J shave leg) So back to relaxing and drinking. Wait. They might use ice. Mexican ice. Duct tape won't work here. Will I have to drink bottled beverages only? The kids will. For sure. We don't want to puke. I can find out where the ice comes from. If it's filtered or whatever, we are ok. We need water shoes. Those are so dorky. But what if the kids step on something and it cuts them. Really don't want to go to a Mexican hospital. The cartel will probably be the doctor. But what if they get cut? And need stitches? Maybe I can buy that glue stuff. Or could little strips of duct tape work? Don't know. I'll find out. I heard no flashy watches. I'm covered there, I don't have a watch. Pretty sure Fossil doesn't count as flashy, but just in case, plastic watch must be bought for Josh. Don't really need a watch. We have phones. But those are worth more than his watch...Must hide those. Duct tape those inside the backpack. Yes. That will work. Then there's the seasick concerns. Will we be? I sure hope not. Called my Nurse Practitioner, she recommended Ginger. must buy ginger. Surely we won't be bothered by that. Sure hope not. And what about the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere on a boat. I have seen Titanic. I looked at the picture of the ship. I see lots of lifeboats. Kinda regretting the window in our room. At least if I didn't have one I could PRETEND to see land. I imagine I may feel the opposite of claustrophobic. Let me look that up... agoraphobia. Fear of wide open spaces. That's it. Kinda. That's what I'm afraid I will have. I wonder if I will sleep. If the kids will sleep. Sure hope so. We sure don't want to be tired if we have to run from the Cartel. We need to leave a day early. C will have to stop to pee. A lot. We will drive half way Friday. Sure hope we don't have any flats. Really don't want to dip into our spending money for that. Do we have enough money? Excursions are paid for. First hotel is paid for. Surely. We shouldn't even go on this. We should put the money into savings. Looked into cancelling. At this point we will lose all our money. That's not cool. Take the trip Kendall. Fun is what a family should have together. Should we get an international plan on our phone? What if there is an emergency? What if there is an emergency that we have NO way of tending to b/c we are in the middle of NOWHERE? Talk about stress. Email will be enough. No phones. It will be warm during the day, not at night though. We need summer and winter clothes I guess. Kids need sunscreen. Tylenol. Should I bring more meds just in case? Diapers, wipes, sunscreen, towels? Or do they have those? I need my camera charger. I should paint my toenails. Oh crap! I don't have a TAN? I don't go to the Caribbean without a BASE TAN. Crap. Crap. Crap. Pack MY sunscreen... My Tylenol. And then there's that Norwalk virus. Wonder if Lysol kills that. I'll bring some just to be sure. Was also warned about bed bugs. Nasty. Must remember to ask for fresh sheets for any trundle type beds. Man, I hope the kids don't drive me crazy.
Oh, wait. Pretty sure that happened already.
I'm also pretty sure my last trip to Mexico my only thought was this bikini or that bikini.
Man, my 21 year old self would be so disappointed in me.
I have realized the extent of this change the last few weeks as I prepare for my first vacation with my kids, and one that involves Mexico travel. I have spent a lot of time in the Caribbean and always been warned of the dangers of Mexico, Jamaica, where ever, and have ALWAYS blown them off. I am cautious, but never thought twice about taking a cab while there, or shopping in the "real" town, or biking through the jungle. But now, NOW I'm taking my BABIES. And NOW I'm worried about EVERYTHING. Here are the crazy, out of control, irrational thoughts that are spinning through my head.
There's the obvious. The Mexican drug cartel. While I have WAY more of a chance crashing my car on the way home and dieing on my own they worry me. I have read and read up on these guys, b/c I am just sure that they are going to want my pretty babies, or my CAMERA, and so I have come up with a plan to ensure that my camera doesn't get stolen. I will conceal it in Josh's backpack that has a strap around the chest so that it can't be ripped off his back. But wait! That backpack has his FULL name on it. I'll need black duct tape to cover it up. I'll also need to put a towel in there to cushion the camera in case it drops. My normal case is too big to take. And the kids, we will get kid leashes. We will walk our kids around like they are dogs. And I will bring duct tape, because the drug cartel, who wants my kids, could just rip the leash out of my hands and run off with them. But with duct tape, they will have to take me too. We will take NO cabs. The cab drivers are for sure in the "cartel" so I will only take Carnival trips. We will go to all inclusive resorts so that we can eat and drink and relax all day. As long as the cartel doesn't come on to our beach, round us all up, ask us all for our money. Make us empty our wallets. I will duct tape our money to the inside of Josh's leg. yes. that will work. (Make J shave leg) So back to relaxing and drinking. Wait. They might use ice. Mexican ice. Duct tape won't work here. Will I have to drink bottled beverages only? The kids will. For sure. We don't want to puke. I can find out where the ice comes from. If it's filtered or whatever, we are ok. We need water shoes. Those are so dorky. But what if the kids step on something and it cuts them. Really don't want to go to a Mexican hospital. The cartel will probably be the doctor. But what if they get cut? And need stitches? Maybe I can buy that glue stuff. Or could little strips of duct tape work? Don't know. I'll find out. I heard no flashy watches. I'm covered there, I don't have a watch. Pretty sure Fossil doesn't count as flashy, but just in case, plastic watch must be bought for Josh. Don't really need a watch. We have phones. But those are worth more than his watch...Must hide those. Duct tape those inside the backpack. Yes. That will work. Then there's the seasick concerns. Will we be? I sure hope not. Called my Nurse Practitioner, she recommended Ginger. must buy ginger. Surely we won't be bothered by that. Sure hope not. And what about the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere on a boat. I have seen Titanic. I looked at the picture of the ship. I see lots of lifeboats. Kinda regretting the window in our room. At least if I didn't have one I could PRETEND to see land. I imagine I may feel the opposite of claustrophobic. Let me look that up... agoraphobia. Fear of wide open spaces. That's it. Kinda. That's what I'm afraid I will have. I wonder if I will sleep. If the kids will sleep. Sure hope so. We sure don't want to be tired if we have to run from the Cartel. We need to leave a day early. C will have to stop to pee. A lot. We will drive half way Friday. Sure hope we don't have any flats. Really don't want to dip into our spending money for that. Do we have enough money? Excursions are paid for. First hotel is paid for. Surely. We shouldn't even go on this. We should put the money into savings. Looked into cancelling. At this point we will lose all our money. That's not cool. Take the trip Kendall. Fun is what a family should have together. Should we get an international plan on our phone? What if there is an emergency? What if there is an emergency that we have NO way of tending to b/c we are in the middle of NOWHERE? Talk about stress. Email will be enough. No phones. It will be warm during the day, not at night though. We need summer and winter clothes I guess. Kids need sunscreen. Tylenol. Should I bring more meds just in case? Diapers, wipes, sunscreen, towels? Or do they have those? I need my camera charger. I should paint my toenails. Oh crap! I don't have a TAN? I don't go to the Caribbean without a BASE TAN. Crap. Crap. Crap. Pack MY sunscreen... My Tylenol. And then there's that Norwalk virus. Wonder if Lysol kills that. I'll bring some just to be sure. Was also warned about bed bugs. Nasty. Must remember to ask for fresh sheets for any trundle type beds. Man, I hope the kids don't drive me crazy.
Oh, wait. Pretty sure that happened already.
I'm also pretty sure my last trip to Mexico my only thought was this bikini or that bikini.
Man, my 21 year old self would be so disappointed in me.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Can you be quiet
C has been growing really fast this month, and when I think back on the month's C highlights, I notice a theme...
C: Mom, can you be quiet? I cant hear my show.
C: Mom, can you be quiet? You are giving me a headache.
C: Mom, can you be quiet? I'm not talking to you.
C: Mom, can you be quiet? I'm trying to take a nap.
C: Mom, can you be quiet? I need to tell God something.
So, either, I'm really loud. Or he is really loud and gets told to be quiet a lot. Or, uh, ok- both. It's just really loud in this house.
No wonder L doesn't talk much. Pretty sure she doesn't get a chance.
The other highlight of November from C:
C, while peeing at my grandmothers....
Mom! I'm sorry I got chocolate on the toilet. But it's ok, I licked it off!
C: Mom, can you be quiet? I cant hear my show.
C: Mom, can you be quiet? You are giving me a headache.
C: Mom, can you be quiet? I'm not talking to you.
C: Mom, can you be quiet? I'm trying to take a nap.
C: Mom, can you be quiet? I need to tell God something.
So, either, I'm really loud. Or he is really loud and gets told to be quiet a lot. Or, uh, ok- both. It's just really loud in this house.
No wonder L doesn't talk much. Pretty sure she doesn't get a chance.
The other highlight of November from C:
C, while peeing at my grandmothers....
Mom! I'm sorry I got chocolate on the toilet. But it's ok, I licked it off!
November wrap up
Look at me! I'm following through with my plan. Today as I sit on my couch enjoying my coffee by the fire watching the two loves of my life play, I am trying to figure out where November went... I had to look back to my calendar to remember some highlights...
We took L and C to L's first OU game against A&M. We walked all around before the game looking at all the people, the band, the ponies and had a ball. Well, until L got caught up in a stampede of people... Bad mom. We even made it until half time! Which was impressive bc it was SO windy that day we had to hold on to them for dear life! We are very thankful to our good friends Brian and Elizabeth for sharing their tickets with us!
The next weekend C got to go to his "best friends" birthday party. He was so excited to go to Casen's house. The whole family loaded up and enjoyed a great time at the party eating hotdogs, going on hay rides, and bouncing in the enflatatables. Ok, ok, J and I just watched, but we did eat hotdogs!
The next weekend was a little crazy. J went to deer camp and the kids and I loaded up for norman, where I had pictures to take and Girlfriends to play with. Loved watching the game with Tracy, Lindsey and crew, even though He'll froze over and OU lost to Baylor. Seriously don't think there was a single OU fan who saw that coming. In our lifetime. Oh well, found out that day that I'm growing up I guess and football is just becoming a fun thing to do, it no longer ruins my life if we lose. And I really no longer like the trash talk.
The next weekend we GOT BUSY! I was out of school Wednesday and decided that my house's colors didn't match my Christmas decorations, so I decided to repaint. I think my husband now has proof that Im crazy. But it look SO much better and looks good with the tree. Thursday was our only non-productive day since it was Thanksgiving of course. We spent the day in Duncan and got back that night ready to get back to work.
Friday we did all our decorating, inside and out. I LOVE decorating for Christmas. I always wish I had more stuff to out out. This year was extra special bc Carson was actually helpful! He really helped me decorate the tree. It was so fun! L took a nap for most of it, so it was fun just hanging with C dog. Friday night my mother in law came up to keep the kids so we could do our Christmas shopping Saturday and then enjoy a night out with our dinner club. Then Sunday we wrapped. Now, it's all nice and pretty and DONE!
Th earthquakes have calmed down as well. We have still had several, but we arent feeling them most of the time. They are so small now that I can blame it on the heater kicking on or something, like I prefer.
We have also started our nightly family advent activities. Wll blog about those later, and we are on the countdown to vacation! Yesss.
Well, that about wraps up November. Busy, fun, and a little shaky.
And now we are on the countdown to our first vacation as a family!
We took L and C to L's first OU game against A&M. We walked all around before the game looking at all the people, the band, the ponies and had a ball. Well, until L got caught up in a stampede of people... Bad mom. We even made it until half time! Which was impressive bc it was SO windy that day we had to hold on to them for dear life! We are very thankful to our good friends Brian and Elizabeth for sharing their tickets with us!
The next weekend C got to go to his "best friends" birthday party. He was so excited to go to Casen's house. The whole family loaded up and enjoyed a great time at the party eating hotdogs, going on hay rides, and bouncing in the enflatatables. Ok, ok, J and I just watched, but we did eat hotdogs!
The next weekend was a little crazy. J went to deer camp and the kids and I loaded up for norman, where I had pictures to take and Girlfriends to play with. Loved watching the game with Tracy, Lindsey and crew, even though He'll froze over and OU lost to Baylor. Seriously don't think there was a single OU fan who saw that coming. In our lifetime. Oh well, found out that day that I'm growing up I guess and football is just becoming a fun thing to do, it no longer ruins my life if we lose. And I really no longer like the trash talk.
The next weekend we GOT BUSY! I was out of school Wednesday and decided that my house's colors didn't match my Christmas decorations, so I decided to repaint. I think my husband now has proof that Im crazy. But it look SO much better and looks good with the tree. Thursday was our only non-productive day since it was Thanksgiving of course. We spent the day in Duncan and got back that night ready to get back to work.
Friday we did all our decorating, inside and out. I LOVE decorating for Christmas. I always wish I had more stuff to out out. This year was extra special bc Carson was actually helpful! He really helped me decorate the tree. It was so fun! L took a nap for most of it, so it was fun just hanging with C dog. Friday night my mother in law came up to keep the kids so we could do our Christmas shopping Saturday and then enjoy a night out with our dinner club. Then Sunday we wrapped. Now, it's all nice and pretty and DONE!
Th earthquakes have calmed down as well. We have still had several, but we arent feeling them most of the time. They are so small now that I can blame it on the heater kicking on or something, like I prefer.
We have also started our nightly family advent activities. Wll blog about those later, and we are on the countdown to vacation! Yesss.
Well, that about wraps up November. Busy, fun, and a little shaky.
And now we are on the countdown to our first vacation as a family!
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