In The Spirit of Christmas

I’d like to take back some of the bad things I’ve said about the neighborhood hoodlums. 

Today I have been shopping non-stop since 8:23 a.m. and it is now 3:17 p.m.  I’ve been to Target.  Borders.  Trader Joe’s.  Home for lunch for D.  Preschool.  Raley’s (grocery store).  The post office.  The bank.  Pak n’ Save (another grocery store).  I’ve been home for 17 minutes, I’m writing this, and then I’m off to Kohl’s and then doing the after school pickup dance.

As I pull up to my parking space, I’m silently praying I see a kid I know to con them into helping me take all this crap in.  I nearly give up, realizing that school is not yet out.

Except….

It’s minimum day for the kids on traditional schedule!  Just as I’m about to pull in, I see someone I know.

(Rolling down the window)  “Hey, Jose!  Can you help me take my groceries in?”

“Sure!”

Five kids came over to the car and took in every single bag.

Go Ice!

There’s a new business in town called GO ICE.  Get this, it’s a synthetic ice rink!  No freezing your butt off when you fall!

 Take the kids over for an hour or two.  You can even leave them while you shop (the older ones, anyway)!  They’re open 4:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and it’s only $5 per person!  They will also arrange for private times and they have family specials.  It’s over near the Fashion Place Mall in Murray, Utah by the Cheesecake Factory.

December Makes Me Feel This Way

I know it’s not December until Saturday, but once Thanksgiving hits it may as well be as far as my body clock is concerned.  And speaking of body clocks… why is it that I can’t make myself prepare for the things that I want to happen during this time of year beforethe time comes so that I can enjoy it once it does?  Every year, I freak out about the tree.  Once payday comes, it’s hard to fork out for that tree!  This could be solved by me hiding $40 bucks during the year, but do I think to do that?  Nooooo.

Same deal with Christmas cards.  I have 64 people on our card list.  I know this is going to cost me around $50 for the cards and postage, but do I prepare for this?  Noooooo.  I wait until I have to decide between Christmas cards and New Year newsletters.

Then there’s presents.  I thought I had pretty much finished shopping for my kids.  Why I thought this, I don’t know, because I got everything out yesterday and only one kid is pretty much done and the other two have nothing.  I don’t know how people shop during the year because I never know what the boys will like until the last minute.

But then I read a story like “A Christmas Dress for Ellen” or “Christmas Oranges” and my heart softens and I remember what I like about Christmas.

Curling up in PJs and blankets to watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” for the 3,000,000th time.

Making my mom’s Girl Fudge.

Driving around in PJs on Christmas Eve to see all the neighborhood lights.

Giving the 12 Days of Christmas to someone we love.

Snarfing down Aunt Dorothy’s special cookies.

Putting together the Charlie Brown Christmas puzzle.

Loading up the iPod with holiday music.

Singing in the choir.

Reading Luke II.

Remembering the crippled shepherd boy who stood straight and tall after sharing his meal with a stranger.

Remembering the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Behold…. The Great Human Popsicle!!!

48′.

Right here.

Right now.

Right outside my window.

I had to turn on the heat.

I Need The Soap That Was In The SoapBox

You know how some people stand up on their soapboxes and “yadda, yadda, yadda…”?

I NEED THE SOAP THAT WAS IN THAT BOX!!!

My two youngest have discovered potty talk.  Not swearing, potty talk.  ‘Nuff said.

Thankyew Genetic Lottery!

Mental Note

So, it may not be the best thing in the world for me to post while in the middle of a freak-out session.  I just want to report that I’m doing much better than the other day, and I think I may even be improving.  I know it’s supposed to take a couple of weeks before you notice if a new medication is working, but I’ve already stopped crying while listening to the High School Musical soundtrack.

So that’s good, right?

Right.  And the nausea isn’t as bad.

So thank you for all your prayers, they’re working!