Three Christmases

December 2009.
Three Christmases. Done.
Three kids birthdays. Done.
Two adult birthdays. One down and one to go.

Presents were a hit. The kids were up early. The adults were well behaved. The ham was decent. The mashed potatoes were smooth. The cook's back hurt before she got started. Big scored a blue nano, which has been attached to her for three days straight. Middle has been busy with games, toys & an obsessive compulsion to save all the bows. Little cleaned up in the world of bakugan and legos. MOTH and Little have been lego-ing for their fourth day straight. Wii family game night is fun. I like the puzzle with the ferris wheel. It reminds me of Balboa Island. MOTH found the set of blue kitchen knives I've been searching for & surprised me with a sweet jacket. Perfect for dog walking. Mimi still has a few gifts under the tree. She doesn't unwrap for the sake of getting the gift out. She plays with each thing as she goes. Even slippers. She put them on, straighaway. Cute.

Little's birthday was a good time, too. Good cake, good presents. The girls LOVE his shiny new stilts. Really, I have cleared a path through the paper and padded the hallway walls. That will have to do!

Second Christmas at my mom's house was good. I confess. I taught the kids how to play a little poker. What's the harm, right? We weren't drinking Jack & Coke or smokin' stogies. Just a little five card draw.

Third Christmas at MIL's house was good, too. Pretty table, beautiful decor . . . . a few more gifts.

There were no outright fights and on the scale of happiness vs. disappointment . . . happiness certainly prevailed. Whew. Leaving MIL's house, my car wouldn't start, so I've been dealing with a borrowed car, a jump start, warranty stuff, a rental, the shuttle, and oh, I MUST pick up Middle from Winter Camp at noon. My mental list has slowed, but is still steadily streaming in . . . . kids dentist appointments, well child checks, payroll, I'd like to write a book, is this my year to finally be a skinny bitch?, resolutions, goals, hopes, dreams, desires . . . . I'm finishing 2009 in a wistful state . . . . Well, wistful with possible carpal tunnel from too much Guitar Hero . . .