Christmas Eve

Matthew had promised early this season that he would write a blog entry for me this year.  He never got around to it, so this is his contribution for this year.

I hope your everyone has a blessed Christmas Eve

Last Minute Shopping

Last night after work, before White Christmas, we took the boys Christmas shopping.  As usual Paul picked a TON of presents for Matthew.  Paul explained that since he had found good prices we can get a lot more.  I understand the logic, but the math of it does not add up.  Matthew did a pretty good job himself, sneaking a gift for his Mama off the shelf right in front of her without her noticing.  He did a good job on his brother’s gifts too, but I suspect that Matthew has the lion share of gifts this year.

I suspect that this may be the last year I make purchases for them in the toy sections.  That makes me a little sad, but I am trying not to dwell on it.  

The other night as I was tucking him in to bed I commented to him that we still needed to get Christmas gifts for the family.  He assured me he already had one for me.  I was surprised, and so he went on to elaborate that it was amazing stupendous.  I said I looked forward to opening that gift.  Then I rubbed his head a while and we listened to Christmas music.  As I was getting ready to depart my Matthew said “Papa you do know that ‘amazing stupendous’ is code for ‘oh crap I wonder what I get at Target for $1’, right?”  Clearly I rank high on his list.

The last purchase that Paul and Matthew made last night was a game for the wii.  They deliberated a long time in front of the display case and I am fairly certain there was conversation about whether or not they thought they could talk me in to Call of Duty (the answer would have been NO, rated M for Mature doesn’t mean 12 and 15).  Instead when they called me over they had selected a batman game they wanted and explained to me that since Matthew had a $5 gift card and Paul had $20 cash that they would split it, and that Matthew would pay Paul back the other $5.  Paul said he was sure Matthew was good for it since he saves his money.  I asked who the gift was for and they looked at me dumbfounded.  “We are buying this for each other Papa.”

Christmas Party Recap

Saturday Night was our Christmas Party.  It was a good turnout but not at all what we had expected.  Early on Paul had asked if he could invite some friends from school.  I told him that was fine and gave him 5 invitations to use with his friends.  

Well, he gave those out and came back and asked for more.  I gave him 5 more and suggested that he should try and limit the invitations to 10.  He agreed.  I also strongly suggested that he not invite anyone after Wednesday because you don’t want to give the impression that your guests were a last minute thought , or that you thought that your friends wouldn’t have plans of their own.  

I could swear Paul agreed with me when we discussed it.  However, Friday when he came home from school he let me know he was in the neighborhood of 10 people.  When I pressed him for details he confessed that he had 14 of his friends coming.  Then he told me not to worry, he had told them all that it was ok if they brought a friend. Wait, What?!?!?

Sure enough Saturday night around 6:30pm His friends started to arrive.  Pretty soon we had a house full of teen age boys and girls.  I wish everyone could have seen what a good host my Paul was.  He offered all his friends drinks of punch or eggnog, explained that there was no alcohol in either.  Then he explained what all the appetizers and sweets were. He paid special attention to explain his crazy cookie recipe.   He even fixed plates for his female guests.   

All in all it is probably for the best we didn’t have 100 guests, because I am certain that we wouldn’t have had enough food.  As it was we barely had enough for all those teenagers!

Many Blessings

It’s been a busy few days and I got behind on the Blog.  Tonight my sister in law Becca called me out on it on facebook.  So for Becca I am going to do my best and get caught up. 

What is your favorite Christmas Movie?  Tonight the family is watching Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.  I don’t think the boys have seen it before, but they are familiar with the music.  When Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney sang  ‘Snow, it won't be long before we'll all be there with snow. Snow, I want to wash my hands, my face and hair with snow’ Matthew said, I know this one!  We heard it in the car!  But Papa, who washes their face in snow?  That is a good question.  One I don’t have an answer too.

My favorite part was when Bing & Rosemary sang Count Your Blessings, and Matthew sat up eyes wide and said Papa this movie has ALL the great songs! 

What are you wearing?

"What are you wearing?"

Taken without context that question can go several ways.  There is the creepy late night phone call version of the question made famous recently by Jake from State Farm.  Then there is the Project Runway, ‘OMG what are you wearing, you are a hot tranny mess’ version of the question.  Neither of those is a great way to begin a Christmas blog.

But then there is the version that genuinely asks “What are you going to wear to the party?  What qualifies as Festive Attire?”  What is festive for you?  Some people find OU  Sooner red to be festive attire.  My nieces Rachel & Julia Beth have shown up in everything from jeans to pretty pretty party dresses.  When my niece Elisa was little, I decided what was festive and I was allowed to choose all manner of pretty holiday party dresses.  When she was 12 or 13 and told me no more, I was DEVASTATED.  Don’t mock me, it was a hard time. 

Now that Matthew is the same age I realize how lucky I was she humored me that long.  Tonight Matthew and I have had several long, unresolved conversations about what he will wear tomorrow.  Last year he had a really great outfit that he chose with the red skinny jeans and white shirt.  This year he can’t be bothered to even talk about it.  He keeps saying he will just wear the shirt from thanksgiving.  Which is fine, really, except for one small thing. . . I can’t find the stupid shirt. Anywhere.  I am not unconvinced that he has hidden it.

He has a cute red sweater that was Paul’s, but he just rolls his eyes.  He has a drawer of hand me down shirts from Baby Scott, but he dismisses those saying they don’t fit, (untrue).  He has a green corduroy shirt that Is very Christmassy, but I had to wrestle him into it the last time he wore it.  I even offered his hand me down Hawaiian shirt, but that got another no.

When I asked him what he plans to do if the thanksgiving shirt can’t be found, he said he’s just wear regular clothes.  Which again, I don’t really hate, except that his ‘regular clothes’ are long sleeve shirts that have either ‘property of ATB established 1987’ on the front, or the Blend lotion logo.  I appreciate his loyalty to At The Beach, but is it too much to ask that one night, the night of the party, he not wear the ATB brand?

Paul told me not to worry, because he is going to get dressed up for sure.  He has friends from school coming and he wants to look nice.  I asked what he was going to wear.  He has chosen one of his Hawaiian shirts and cargo pants. With his newly shaved head. 

I remember when my boys were small, and cute and I could dress them like Christmas elves if I wanted to.  It wasn’t that long ago was it?

Full disclaimer I haven’t made a decision about what I am going to wear yet either.  If things continue to go the way they are, I will wear those wide red santa style suspenders. 

Last Minute Gifting

Our annual Christmas party is this weekend and we have reached the point in the process where we are alternately certain that no one is coming to the party and/or we will never be ready in time.  Can someone please come clean for me?

And I am already a day behind on the blog.  In another 5 minutes I will be 2 days behind.  Sigh.  At least I am trying right?  Plus there is that thing I do, you know, work at a full time job.  This reminds me, I have a potluck tomorrow I need to make something for.  Plus and a gift exchange. Not really a gift exchange, but a party where I am expected to give gifts to all my employees.  Different gifts than the fleece jackets I gave everyone last week. 

So in that spirit I have a list of my favorite top 10 easy last minute gifts

1. Just about anything from the dollar store.
2. Honestly, a gift for just $1 can you beat that?
3. Coffee mugs, filled with candy.  Typical but great last minute
4. Gloves. 2 for one makes it even a better deal.
5. Did you know you can get mikasa at the good will store?  No really you can.  So if you have anyone on your list that is in to that.
6. Christmas socks.  Everyone has feet. Ok ,maybe not EVERYONE, but who on your list doesn’t?
7. Kathleen’s fudge makes a great gift.
8. Or truffles.
9. Really anything she makes.
10. The best last minute gift is a pair of WWJD panties.  Hard to find but totally worth it when you see the look on the recipients face.

I would post a picture of #10 but they sort of offensive so I thought better of it,  That is a Christmas kindness right there.