A Quick Post...

I know I have been MIA lately.... The Christmas frenzy is upon us and I have been in mass production mode, making gifts, making cards (all hand made this year!), wrapping and packing, in between all of the other normal day to day stuff!

I hope to be back in the saddle soon, since I have so much to say! (no sarcastic comments, please)

I just wanted to post this message I got by email today. I just love it....it is so true!

I hope you all have a very blessed holiday!!


Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years. Here are my Christmas wishes: I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.

Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,

MOM...

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

Why??

We have officially entered the 'why' stage with Rebekah. I had forgotten how exasperating it could be....and also how funny!

I have the perfect example for you. Yesterday we put up the Christmas tree. We have always had an artificial tree....I can't bring myself to cut down a living tree to have it in my house for just a few weeks. So after we had put up the tree, naturally, there were fake pine needles strewn throughout the house. This tree is old....and every year I think it is going to be its last....but it still keeps hanging on. I am surprised at how many needles it actually has left on its branches when I see how many I vacuum up every year!

So, as I was vacuuming, the 'why' questions began.

"Why are you vacuuming, Mommy?"

"Because there are pine needles everywhere."

"Why?"

"Because they fell off the Christmas tree."

"Why?"

"Because it happens every year."

"Why?"

"Because that is how the tree is made."

"Why?"

"Because it just IS!"

"Why?"

And then at that point, I either laugh or cry!