I know that it's 11 days to Christmas. but it's 12 days until my u-trus is coming out.
THAT is going to be the best Christmas present ever.
J has been buying presents since the day after Thanksgiving. She's purchased several of the same item, extra items she thought she might be able to sell and make a buck. She buys the toy the kids will say they are asking Santa for one day and then when they change their minds she then buys the other thing.
Can I just tell you how hard it is to enforce the Read, Want, Wear, Need routine when the one buying the presents is only 23% on board.
Last night I came into the office and witnessed Mommy J coercing our 4th born into a toy that was already purchased....a toy he will indeed love, much more than dream light dog he's mentioned asking Santa for....the dream light that J hasn't bought because she hates it and the idea of spending 30-40.00 on something that we both know he will have no interest in 2 days following Christmas seems much too frivolous Not that she hasn't bought every other toy on a whim the other kids have talked about asking Santa for....you know, just in case they FOR SURE decide on that toy. Better to be prepared she always says.
Last night Nate happily climbed up on Santa's knee and when asked what he wanted, without hesitation said, "A dream light !" I do believe the battle has been lost. or won. depending on who you are.
We have a new(er) shopping mall downtown. They have this GREAT santa there and have the perfect set up. You check in and get a pager if there is to be a wait. Then you go shop and eat and wait for your pager to go off. How awesome is THAT ! Last year it was 1 1/2 hr wait to see Santa. The kids played for an hour and stood for 30 min. which was exactly 27 minutes too long. It was so crazy that they each barely had time to ask Santa for something. He couldn't hear because the mall is so loud and then after a quick over priced picture it was over. ugh.
We got to City Creek mall right after Syd got out of school yesterday and there wasn't a person in line. We entered this closed gazebo type thing that had been turned into a personal Santa's cottage. It was warm and quiet and WONDERFUL! It was just my family inside too. How cool is that.
Ryan wanted nothing to do with Santa. Even when I walked him up to where Santa was sitting he was pushing so hard against me that I thought I might fall over. As we were the only ones there, Santa grabbed the book "Twas the night before Christmas" they gave each child (in lieu of the candy cane) and began looking through it and pointing certain things out in it to Ryan. Such a special, unlike any other mall Santa experience, we've ever had. And he looked JUST like Santa. and Mrs. Claus was handing out the books and was darling.
It really was just magical.
Ryan hesitantly agreed to sit on Syd's lap..not having to touch Santa :) This was the only picture Ryan was actually looking towards the camera.
After the flu we all got this terrible yucky congestion cold crap. The effects still show in their eyes and coloring. Poor things. Still. Best Santa experience to date.
