We had our first non-Christmas morning. We picked up the kids from the airport last night, got home around 11PM. The kids begged to open a present, but I didn’t give in!
They got up at 7:30 and raced into our bedroom to find their stockings. While they dumped everything out it gave me time to go to the bathroom and Hubby to make his coffee.
The kids ripped open their gifts we thrilled with what they got, their expressions were priceless. Once they were done it was our turn. Hubby had some nice surprises and was really happy. I even got a surprise WOW present.
After the gifts were done and everyone was doing their thing, I had a walk around the house. The Boy was trying out his new PS3 games, with a huge Lego set opened next to him. The girl was whipping through the house on her Heelie’s while she played on her Nintendo DS. Hubby was on the couch with his homer slippers on reading directions to the various electronic gadgets we all had received. It was our best Christmas ever.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
A Belated Christmas Eve
The kids get home tonight, they left two weeks ago on the last day of school. Since they left on a school day we didn’t have a chance to celebrate Christmas. Plus, I wanted to avoid the trauma of having them opening their presents only to get on a plane and leave all the goodies behind. It wasn’t’ to be mean, but when they take new things to their father’s, they become lost or destroyed. Plus the added bonus of him freaking that I bought them stuff. It’s hard to complain that I don’t spend the support money on the kids when they keep showing up with new things.
So the kids flew out on Friday at noon and a few hours later we boarded a plane for Las Vegas. We stayed 4 nights and flew home Christmas Day. It was planned on purpose so that it wouldn’t seem like we were missing out on Christmas. It was the first time the kids weren’t with me on Christmas morning. Back in Canada the houses are only 10 minutes apart so that no one has to miss out on special days.
While we tried to stay busy, we both still missed the kids. The Boy, who is 12 and avoids the mushy stuff, kept saying he missed us – this is new. The Girl just turns into an unfeeling robot and then we deal with the melt down a few days after her return.
The good things:
1. My Christmas shopping was done after Christmas – hit the sales, no crowds, no stress of finding the hard to get toys in time for Christmas. Yes they are getting an elusive Wii.
2. I didn’t have to stash presents all over the house and then try to find them at the last minute only to have a few turn up in February when I get around to picking the clothes up in my closet. Everything was piled up in the family room so I could compare sizes and amounts to make sure everything was even.
3. The Christmas tree didn’t displace everything else it the house. We put it up on the 2 Jan and it will be down on the 6th. Of course most of the decorations are sitting in the basement in Canada – I had set the container aside to come with us but the movers must have missed it. New decorations, but they were 75% off.
4. I wasn’t up half the night on Christmas Eve wrapping presents that will be unwrapped. I spent a nice relaxing afternoon in front of the TV wrapping presents. I even color coded the gifts. I just wish I had thought to buy paper that matched our silver and blue decorated tree.
The kids plane lands at 9:15PM. They will be the last ones off, then get the luggage and get home around 11PM. Just have to stuff the stockings and I can get a good nights sleep on our Christmas Eve for the first time. Since we have no extended family or close friends nearby we can get away with this. I think I would have been crushed if I had to do our regular celebrations without the kids.
So the kids flew out on Friday at noon and a few hours later we boarded a plane for Las Vegas. We stayed 4 nights and flew home Christmas Day. It was planned on purpose so that it wouldn’t seem like we were missing out on Christmas. It was the first time the kids weren’t with me on Christmas morning. Back in Canada the houses are only 10 minutes apart so that no one has to miss out on special days.
While we tried to stay busy, we both still missed the kids. The Boy, who is 12 and avoids the mushy stuff, kept saying he missed us – this is new. The Girl just turns into an unfeeling robot and then we deal with the melt down a few days after her return.
The good things:
1. My Christmas shopping was done after Christmas – hit the sales, no crowds, no stress of finding the hard to get toys in time for Christmas. Yes they are getting an elusive Wii.
2. I didn’t have to stash presents all over the house and then try to find them at the last minute only to have a few turn up in February when I get around to picking the clothes up in my closet. Everything was piled up in the family room so I could compare sizes and amounts to make sure everything was even.
3. The Christmas tree didn’t displace everything else it the house. We put it up on the 2 Jan and it will be down on the 6th. Of course most of the decorations are sitting in the basement in Canada – I had set the container aside to come with us but the movers must have missed it. New decorations, but they were 75% off.
4. I wasn’t up half the night on Christmas Eve wrapping presents that will be unwrapped. I spent a nice relaxing afternoon in front of the TV wrapping presents. I even color coded the gifts. I just wish I had thought to buy paper that matched our silver and blue decorated tree.
The kids plane lands at 9:15PM. They will be the last ones off, then get the luggage and get home around 11PM. Just have to stuff the stockings and I can get a good nights sleep on our Christmas Eve for the first time. Since we have no extended family or close friends nearby we can get away with this. I think I would have been crushed if I had to do our regular celebrations without the kids.
San Francisco Day 3 – Saturday 24 Nov 07
Today was another early morning – we had to catch a bus tour to Muir Woods. We bused it down to the wharf where the tour was leaving from. We were early so we walked around and picked up some goodies for breakfast.
We were impressed that the tour left on time. Highlights of the drive were getting to go over the Golden Gate Bridge and the winding road into the valley. WE only had an hour to talk around the woods. It was fantastic and we could have easily pent 3-4 hours amongst the giants. The drive back was nerve racking – I had too good of a view of the drop off from the road. I had to keep my eyes closed for most of it.
Instead of going straight over the bridge we went up to a lookout and had a great view of the bridge with San Francisco behind it. It was another spectacular day – clear blue skies.
We got back to the wharf and walked around some more and sound something to eat. We went back to the room and had a nap and finally made it out to see everything at night. We went straight to China Town an d walked around – it was busier at night than it had been during the day. W caught a bus down to the wharf and walked all around the piers – it was fun with everything lit up and decorated for Christmas. We splurged and got a cab back to the hotel.
The next morning we were up early and our car was waiting for us to take us to the airport. Our flight was delayed due to mechanical problems, but we were quickly given another plane and took off only 40 min late. Back to Dallas with 3 hours to spare before the kids’ plane landed – they spent their Thanksgiving break in Canada catching up withal their friends
We were impressed that the tour left on time. Highlights of the drive were getting to go over the Golden Gate Bridge and the winding road into the valley. WE only had an hour to talk around the woods. It was fantastic and we could have easily pent 3-4 hours amongst the giants. The drive back was nerve racking – I had too good of a view of the drop off from the road. I had to keep my eyes closed for most of it.
Instead of going straight over the bridge we went up to a lookout and had a great view of the bridge with San Francisco behind it. It was another spectacular day – clear blue skies.
We got back to the wharf and walked around some more and sound something to eat. We went back to the room and had a nap and finally made it out to see everything at night. We went straight to China Town an d walked around – it was busier at night than it had been during the day. W caught a bus down to the wharf and walked all around the piers – it was fun with everything lit up and decorated for Christmas. We splurged and got a cab back to the hotel.
The next morning we were up early and our car was waiting for us to take us to the airport. Our flight was delayed due to mechanical problems, but we were quickly given another plane and took off only 40 min late. Back to Dallas with 3 hours to spare before the kids’ plane landed – they spent their Thanksgiving break in Canada catching up withal their friends
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