Holiday plays, concerts, neighborhood functions, shopping, work holiday parties, dinners, school functions, decorating, wrapping...I love this time of year, but I feel like I could use another "us" to help with the load. Another Val and Vern to help with all of the holiday functions. I want to do them all, and I thoroughly enjoy them, but... wow. It can really feel like I'm going in 20 directions all at 100 miles an hour. I have to remind myself to take pause and smell the evergreen.
I'm lucky that I don't have to travel this year. We've done that--lots--with all of the kids...and luggage for six... and presents for everyone...all loaded into our vehicle. Not good times. Not when the trip is 8 hrs. Or 10, as it ends up being with all of the bathroom stops. How is it that as soon as we leave a rest stop, not 5 miles down the road someone has to go? A different someone than last time, and always a someone who was insistent that they did not have to go at the last stop. Grrrr!
Knees tucked under our chins because the car would be so packed that none of us could even put our feet down, we would arrive at destination...umm...less than full of holiday cheer. AND THEN...there's the return trip. With even more stuff. And fingers crossed that none of my little passengers received anything that had annoying little electronic sounds or sang maddening and repetitive songs. And with those things, it's not like you can just pop the batteries out, oh no. The toy makers have the access panels welded shut these days. We usually need a full suite of tools (or a blow torch) just to get them open when needed.
Not this year, my friends. Nope. This year, my family will be coming to visit us. Tools and wine will be readily available (and really wine IS a tool, so perhaps it shouldn't be listed separately), kids will have access to their regular time out spot (hey, routine and familiarity are VERY important with discipline) and no long distance driving shall be had. Perhaps there will be time for a little evergreen smelling afterall.
I'm lucky that I don't have to travel this year. We've done that--lots--with all of the kids...and luggage for six... and presents for everyone...all loaded into our vehicle. Not good times. Not when the trip is 8 hrs. Or 10, as it ends up being with all of the bathroom stops. How is it that as soon as we leave a rest stop, not 5 miles down the road someone has to go? A different someone than last time, and always a someone who was insistent that they did not have to go at the last stop. Grrrr!
Knees tucked under our chins because the car would be so packed that none of us could even put our feet down, we would arrive at destination...umm...less than full of holiday cheer. AND THEN...there's the return trip. With even more stuff. And fingers crossed that none of my little passengers received anything that had annoying little electronic sounds or sang maddening and repetitive songs. And with those things, it's not like you can just pop the batteries out, oh no. The toy makers have the access panels welded shut these days. We usually need a full suite of tools (or a blow torch) just to get them open when needed.
Not this year, my friends. Nope. This year, my family will be coming to visit us. Tools and wine will be readily available (and really wine IS a tool, so perhaps it shouldn't be listed separately), kids will have access to their regular time out spot (hey, routine and familiarity are VERY important with discipline) and no long distance driving shall be had. Perhaps there will be time for a little evergreen smelling afterall.