I love Thanksgiving. Part of me misses the huge family gatherings with generations upon generations of family, cold food, and usually a dash or two of drama – but, they never were the same once we lost Grandma Millie. But, I also really love our nice, quiet get together – where we eat what we want, when we want – we play card & board games, our home is open to whatever friends and family want to stop by. No drama. No stress. A chance to truly reflect on the holiday and all that we have to be thankful for.
We had a super small group this year. Just Jerritt, my mom, my sister, my nephew and the boys came by in the late afternoon for some desert and to play some games (and of course adventures of the new pup, Sophie & Cooper). That’s it. It was pretty awesome, and the food was delicious & plentiful.
After the big turkey day, we have a jam-packed weekend of tradition, kicking off the Christmas craziness….
- Friday: Black Friday shopping with my sister
- Saturday: Picking up our tree, Lights On Parade
- Sunday: Decorate the tree & every freaking available surface in the house
I actually enjoy all the hustle and bustle. It sets my spirits right for enjoying the next month of Christmas fun. I didn’t buy a whole lot on our Friday excursion (except stuff for myself), but I did get some good deals, and enjoyed the day with my sis. But buying for myself isn’t where my guilt came from, nor is it from eating entirely too much this weekend…. ugh. #FML
Remember how I told you about my Real Nightmare Before Christmas …. well, it happened. I had the chance to spend a one on one day with Kevin before Thanksgiving. We chatted about Santa, Christmas magic, tooth fairy, everything…. he was 100% certain that Santa was’t real – that it was all mom & dad. He had caught Rich as the tooth fairy before (knowing where the money was stashed one morning when Nate couldn’t find it), and he had “scientific proof that the North Pole was nothing more than an uninhabited iceberg….” Well, crap. Kevin is normally my sensitive soul, and I didn’t expect this from him. But, he wasn’t upset. He didn’t believe, and he is ready to help spread some Christmas magic of his own this year. We did talk about him keeping the secret of Santa, and not telling people that he has “proof” he isn’t real. This is OF COURSE after he has told his brother a few times this season that it isn’t real….
So my Nate. My cool guy, Mr. Popular, wants to be older, funny guy. My Tater-Tot….. I sat down with him yesterday afternoon. I told him what I believe as far as Santa, Christmas spirit, all the good stuff, trying to spin the positive, and not totally crush his beliefs – but telling him the truth…. He cried. Like total, real tears, sobbing. I thought I would die. It is hard to try to cheer him up, when I feel like crawling in a fort with a bottle of wine and crying because I caused him pain. He isn’t supposed to be my sensitive guy. He told me that he still believed, even though Kevin had done everything he could to convince him otherwise. He told me he LOVED getting up each morning to see what shenanigans our Elf On the Shelf had gotten into. I think he was more crushed about the elf than Santa. I officially ruined the whole freaking holiday season for this kid. And I feel like crap because of it.
I know, I know…. several of you told me to let them keep believing. The parental council (me, Jerritt & Rich) had all agreed that they were old enough (and we have had enough of the daily elf crap)… and I got to be the lucky person to break the news. Well, it’s done. Only one soul crushed. No more nightly elf-escapades. No more giving the big-guy credit for all the work we do. Just disappointment and broken hearts….
So, now I am on a mission. I am going to make it the most freaking magical Christmas ever. I am going to have them giving and feeling good about it. I am going to show them the true meaning of Christmas. And we will have fun doing it, damn it!
Now, if I can just get the new pup to stop eating all my Christmas decorations, we should have a freaking fabulous holiday….
P.S. The elf may make a few appearances this year – just some random fun surprises to brighten some days…
#CrazyAsAMother #ElfinRidiculous #MOTY #ThatDidntGoAsPlanned #MostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear
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