To the extent there was a theme for this holiday season’s gifts, it was games. New family games would mean less time spent playing solo on our iPhones, iPad or iPod Touch. With that idea in mind, we shopped accordingly, seeking games that would please the girls and not make my husband or me crazy if we joined them in a round.
I promised Sophie that we would make cookies for Santa. Today was the big day. And what better way to welcome Santa into our home than to bake our Jewish Bubby’s butter cookies.
In my last blog post, I mentioned that Sophie had drawn some pictures for Santa Claus. I realized afterwards that in order for my loyal readers to appreciate the depth of Sophie’s devotion to the white-bearded fat guy, I’d have to post a photo of her artwork. These are not mere sketches. These drawings took time and contemplation and love.
Gift giving on steroids. For the next week. Good news is we’re done with Chloe for Hanukkah. She just wanted cash. All at once. None of the one gift per night nonsense. Sophie is easy, too. Although she still receives one surprise every night, they’re small surprises. We also have plenty of presents for them for Christmas – many of which were sent by family members in France. I truly think they made a mistake in ordering because we received so many. The girls are going to be very happy, for sure.
Thanks to my husband who, as I’ve written about before, has no sense of appropriate TV for my girls, Chloe has been introduced to Stephen Colbert. Among all of the other TV shows she DVRs, she is now recording episodes of “The Colbert Report.”
Chloe, Sophie and Grammy made this year’s gingerbread house in record time. My mom thought she’d need at least a couple of sessions to finish its construction.
I took the day off from work and I only sent two emails and made one phone call. Not bad. Still some room for improvement, but not bad. My husband gave me a beautiful new handbag. Sophie gave me a lovely handmade card and a huge hug and kiss. Chloe also gave me a handmade card that said, “I love you SOOOOOOO much!” She also gave me a box of 1970s nostalgic candy. While the latter is really fun, I have to admit that I love the card even more. Because I’m going to keep it. And shove it in her face in a couple of years, when Chloe is a teenager and tells me she hates me.
Chloe has herself a new gig as a mother’s helper. Starting on Thursday, she will be assisting our neighbor with her three kids, helping the two girls with their homework and playing with their little toddler (who, according to Sophie and Chloe, is soooooo cute).
We have our Christmas tree. And not only do we have it, it’s decorated.
We still have a lot of shopping to do. Too much shopping to do. Work is way too busy and stressful. The days are too short and sleep is elusive.
But my birthday is next week and I plan to stay away from the office if I can. Because I need some time to myself and away from my desk.
I’m turning 43 and I’m still asking myself the same questions about my life as I was asking one year ago, two years ago…Will I ever come up with the answers? And more important, will I ever build up the courage to act on those answers?
Calgon, take me away!
