Fa-la-la-la

December is always hectic and I usually get really, really stressed out. But, this year I feel like I have succeeded in completing all the Christmas fever well ahead of time. Almost all our relatives and friends live out of state, so the Christmas shopping started early this year. I am happy to report that all Christmas shopping, cards, shipping, and decorating are DONE ~ DONE, DONE, DONE! I may still run out for a few things for Cailey and Ben ~ but nothing is pressing and I don't feel under the gun to get it done. Now, we can sit back and enjoy the snow and the season with our kids. Cailey has another week of school and then it's really time to relax! Ben is getting into the Christmas spirit. He calls Santa "Pa-pop" (as in Grandpa ~ too cute), loves to drive around and look at the Christmas lights (as does Cailey), loves that we have been getting packages delivered to the house, loves Christmas music (ugh! I despise Christmas songs... yes, it's sad to say), and loves to play with the train under the tree. He says "Miss-mas" when he tries to say Christmas. Cailey is being really good about the whole gift thing ~ Ben's gifts (unintentionally) have been arriving early and it seems like all the gifts under the tree right now are for Ben. Cailey has been really good about not getting upset. Also, I think she is starting to question the whole Santa thing. Cailey is very frightened of the Santa in the mall ~ always has been ~ and refuses to sit with him. We are not good about "writing a letter to Santa" so last year she questioned how Santa knew what she wanted if she never told him! So, I fibbed and said that I wrote Santa a letter myself. It worked so well that I told her I did the same thing this year ~ she gave me a side ways look of doubt and asked "But what did you tell him I wanted?" I told her a few things and then realized that some of that stuff was coming from aunties, uncles, and grandparents... so I also had to tell her I made copies of the list and sent the same list to everyone. Then, she asked me, "But how will Santa know what everyone else got for me so he doesn't bring the same thing?" Oh, crap... the tangled web we weave... "Santa is magic, remember?" was my response... again, a sideways tilt of her head and then, "Oh, that's right... he knows everything." Whew...that was a close one.... "Yes, and remember he knows if you are being good or bad so go to bed, already!" That's one of the best parts about Christmas...we get to use the 'he knows if you are good or bad' line to manipulate our kids into doing all sorts of things... "Run and pour Mommy a glass of wine ~ remember Santa can see if you are being good or bad" HA HA HA ~ ONLY KIDDING! I would never let my kids pour my glass of wine...they might spill some and waste it!!! :o) ~ Let the holiday cheer and festivities begin!!!