Christmas | Kid Things

Archive for the ‘Christmas’ Tag

Very Merry Christmas

December 21 2009

Posted in: General

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! I’ll see you back here next Monday.

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The last time we tried to visit Santa, it didn’t go so well. It was 2 years ago. Even though we were able to wave hello from a considerable distance, Buzz was too young to comprehend what was going on and Jedi would have nothing more to do with him.

This year, we thought we’d try again. Jedi is a lot more outgoing now and Buzz has a stronger grasp of the concept. Of course, Abby would think it’s nothing more than a white beard in a red suit, but 2 out of 3 isn’t bad odds.

In fact, “Santa” even sent text messages meant for Jedi. Saying, in part, how he was thrilled to meet him. Oh, and to stop picking his nose. That Santa, he’s always watching.

Buzz was just excited.

We make it to the mall and walk around aimlessly for awhile. We try to find a double stroller to rent, but none are available. That should have been our first clue as to how the day would end. We go up and down the escalator, then the elevator, because this is like a cheap carnival ride to the kids. Finally, we wind our way to Santa.

We stop and gawk and point. Buzz’s eyes are the size of saucers. Jedi is practically bouncing. We take our place at the end of a relatively gentle line and prepare to wait. That’s when the man ahead of us whispers to J. Because this is our luck, Santa is about to go on break after their turn. For an hour. OF COURSE.

Well, screw you, too, Santa.

Instead, we drove around again in search of Christmas light displays. It wasn’t Santa up close and personal, but we saw a few of the inflatable kind. At least they don’t crush the spirits of little boys by going on break right before their turn.

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‘Tis the Season

December 07 2009

Posted in: Daily Life

“It’s busy out here”, J called from the entrance of Toys R Us.

It’s 3 weeks from Christmas. I’d be more surprised if they weren’t.

Every year, I have it in mind that we aren’t going to spend beyond our means on presents. With 3 kids, some kind of set limit almost seem mandatory as a matter of fairness if nothing else. 3 kids, 3 gifts each seems reasonable. It’s not as if they’re hurting for toys. In fact, we’re in dire need of space more than anything.

I brought this idea up to J last year and was promptly vetoed.

The year prior, I had a fleeting thought of going with the handmade approach. Except, in all honesty, I’m not very crafty. I can imagine the look on my mom’s face, though, if I showed up with some cross-stitch seasonal snowman or haphazardly crocheted scarf. It wouldn’t be good. Also, still expensive and more time-consuming than I can manage. I mean, I can barely find time to update my blog. Priorities, people.

And so I’ve given in. We stand in lines that stretch out the door, buying costly mass produced merchandise that nobody really needs from big-name chains. Because I’m not sure how to go about any other way. Because I want everyone to be happy. Because I want my kids to have a memorable Christmas. Because love, apparently, in some circles, can be bought.

More than an hour later, he calls again. “I just got out of there. And we’re broke.”

‘Tis the season.

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From the Planet of the North Pole

December 02 2009

Posted in: Daily Life

Barely the start of the Christmas season and the feel-good movies are already airing in full swing. Just this week alone we’ve watched Santa Buddies, Jingle All The Way, Elf, more elves, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, as well as The Santa Clause 1 and 2. I have Christmas spirit seeping from my pores.

The Santa Clause was especially perplexing for Jedi, who likes to have an explanation for life’s every quandary. As Tim Allen began to transform into the jolly bearded man in red, Jedi looked at me with wide eyes and asked “but why did he get to turn into Santa?”.

Since I didn’t want to ruin the holiday spirit by saying that the original Santa fell off his roof and died, I made up a quick tale about how he was always meant to be Santa, he just had to wait for the right time to show his true self.

“So he’s been disguised as a human?”, Jedi pondered, curiously.

“Santa’s always been human”, I replied, stifling a smile.

“And the elves?”, he wondered.

“They’re human, too”, I answered. “Just little.”

Maybe this is why he has screamed bloody murder whenever we’ve tried to sit him on a mall Santa’s lap in the past; he’s had it in his head that Father Christmas is some kind of alien. A rosy-cheeked alien who carries a big bag of toys, encouraged along by his pointy-eared, curly-toed helpers. I can understand how that might appear terrifying.

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Lights

November 30 2009

Posted in: Daily Life

Every year before Christmas, we load everybody into the car and head off in search of festively decorated houses. J and I used to do this when it was only the two of us, those days long ago. It was a lot quieter then. It’s a lot more fun now.