"I Wonder..."

Reason #2097 to love Mz. Lori. "I wonder..."

You might remember a post I wrote last year about my conflict about the Santa charade. This year, Santa is understandably HUGE with the boys. At 5 & 6, I don't think Santa and the holiday gets any more magical.

But there's signs of doubt. Almost every Christmas episode we've DVRd addresses the doubt. From "The Polar Express" about a boy who is on a quest to believe (or not believe?) to "Holly Jolly Jimmy", a Jimmy Neutron episode that features Jimmy attempting to scientifically prove that Santa doesn't exist. Where they would have blindly believed, my boys are starting to question more about Santa and what is real.

We took the kids to the mall yesterday to do the obligatory "sit on Santa's lap". While we were waiting in line, Rascal asked:

"Mom? Is that the real Santa?"
"Hmmm.... I wonder.... what do you think?" (thanks Mz. Lori!)
"Well, there's lots of presents around him. Santa gives presents to kids."
"Wow! That's a great observation Rascal!
"So, I think yes, it IS the real Santa."
"Santa really IS the spirit of giving!"


And what about Domino you ask? He sat down on Santa's lap and complained about a present he didn't get last year (!) (which he didn't ask for by the way) and presented Santa with a verbal assault of his desires for Christmas this year. And the things on his list? Not ONE that he has been talking about for the past 2 months, but instead an entirely new list that would involve some miracle workers at the north pole and a miracle worker at the bank!

I know he'll be thrilled with what "Santa" has been able to provide this year and I'll coach him a little better for the lap chat next year...

Time Honored Tradition

The boys and I made Christmas sugar cookies. I had never let them lick the beaters before and they were thrilled when I presented each with one. When Domino was finished with his beater, Rascal had to inspect it to make sure he wasn't leaving anything good behind. He gave Domino's beater a few extra licks just to be sure.

Hiding Out

I didn't forget about you. Really. It's just been - well - busy and boring (sometimes simultaneously) around here.

My boss is retiring at the end of the month and attempting to tie up all loose ends before he leaves, which means my work load has increased significantly - at least for the time being. I have no idea if "my services" will still be needed when his replacement is hired (seriously, who needs to hire someone in this day and age to transcribe 2 faxed sentences because they don't know how to type an email?!) so I'm trying to make the best of it all while I can. The kids and husband aren't always entirely supportive ("you're working AGAIN?"), I've met with my boss more times in the past 3 weeks than I have total since I was hired 2 years ago, and at the end of the day when I just want to curl up and watch The Office and 30 Rock - I have another pile of faxes to type. It's been very stressful and I have to admit, I haven't been balancing all my plates very well.

The boys are officially on their 3 week winter break. Yes, you read that right - THREE WEEKS OF VACATION. Last year, the school district spaced out the vacation nicely and we had the 3rd week of vacation take place during the first week of January. For whatever reason, this year the vacation begins a week earlier so Santa will have one week less of shopping time before the holiday - cuz you know I'm not draggin' those 2 out shopping with me unless I absolutely have to. It's hard enough just going to Safeway with them to pick up stuff for dinner without one asking for the moon and the other complaining he wants to go home. The thought of heading out to do holiday shopping with them makes me want to curl up in a ball and swear off all commercialism - which isn't really a bad idea considering the state of our current financial affairs...

But life isn't all me complaining (although I think Tonester would disagree with that statement lately) and we played hooky from school one day this week to check out the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. The planetarium show blew our minds, the rain forest was unbelievable and the aquariums were out of this world. We enjoyed lunch outside on a gorgeous and VERY sunny SF afternoon, marveled at skeletons, pendulums and laughed at the very entertaining penguins. At times, I couldn't tell who was more excited to see something, the adults or the kids!

Here's a few photos of the fun.

Thanksgiving Thanks

It's official - Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

For the first time that I can remember in a long (long!) time, my family was together for Thanksgiving. For many years, Tonester's side of the family laid claim to the day and my family would try to gather "some time" during the holiday season. One year my family couldn't get their schedules coordinated and we actually exchanged some holiday gifts at Domino's bday in March.

I've decided to be the squeaky wheel and have now hosted 2 holidays at my house - even being so brave as to tackle the bulk of the cooking solo. I followed up Thanksgiving Day this year with my side of the family with a "Thanksgiving - The Sequel" with Tonester's side of the family the following day. And I enjoyed every minute of it!

The table setting

I resurrected my parents "wedding china" for the day. It's a gloriously awful pattern that I have grown to love for it's kitsch factor. When my dad passed away I inherited almost all of his "stuff". I was only 22 at the time and I lived in a studio apartment that I now refer to as "the blue box". Storage space was nonexistent and I let a lot of my dads stuff go - but something made me hold on to that china. I'm not sure if my sister knew it was still floating around because she seemed pretty surprised to see it.

My Side

This is one of my favorite photos of the day. Yes, it's a horrible photo, but it's a very important one to me. It's a picture of my brother and sister, their kids and my mom. It's a very rare thing to have them all seated at one table together.

What I'm most thankful for...

And what would the holiday be without Tonester and our boys goofing around?!

Bridging The (Small) Generation Gap

Another of my favorite photos - cousins bonding over computer games.

3 D's.

My brother and his beautiful kids.

I wish I had taken so many more photos, but instead I was enjoying "being in the moment".

Thank you to my entire family for making it such a special day. I am truly thankful.

xoxo,
N