It's kind of funny...I get on top of things at home, more or less, and I watch my blog traffic flatline. I think there should be a beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep noise whenever I log in, and maybe a nurse to walk in, gently place his hand on my shoulder and say "I'm sorry, we did everything we could."
So, hi!
I licked ten tigers today, by which I mean I got my family into a routine that functions very well. I had so much that I wanted to say about that process, but part of that process was not spending much time on the computer, at all. In fact, as I type this the Jeopardy song is playing in my mind. It's possible that speed blogging might suit me, I don't know.
(Do you ever have the very slightly serious hope that someday you will be able to make things happen by telekinesis, like Mary Poppins? I do. You want dinner on the table? Oh, snap! You're welcome. Now Mama's going to lie down with a copy of Us magazine and a whiskey sour.)
In lieu of serious and interesting topics, I would like to point out that Christmas is coming! Really, it is two months off, and for thems of us that think making things for other people is a good idea, that's really, really soon. I think most of the handmaking fools I know started a few weeks back.
I have no idea what to do for my girls. I think my husband and I are going to buy one another video games (the games are: oh HELL YES and squeeee!; I don't normally play video games, but I do enjoy them in place of a movie or internet time periodically, and Kirby for craft nerds should be fun. The other...well, if you don't know I can't explain it. Bathroom. Level. Oh for the love of a PPK yes, yes, yes! It's a completely frivolous thing to spend our money on, even for Christmas, and having our Wii back in the house may result in divorce (It's totally possible. I'm seriously looking at those parental screen time controlling devices. For my 33 year-old.), but I'm stoked.
The kids, though, oy.
We go through the same thing every year, which is this: we live in about 800 square feet with the two kids and two large dogs, and there is just NO room for anything else, especially toys. My husband and I keep very few books, I take up a fair amount of real estate with my crafty bologna, and then the kids' stuff fits in everywhere else. Big Kid is super attached to objects, and I have yet to come up with some kind of rotating system where stuff goes in and out of storage to keep things uncluttered and fresh. I hate the thought of having to do that...I mean, really? A kid having so much stuff that it needs to come out in shifts? It grosses me out. To be fair, she has less stuff than many of her peers. The issue is that we have such a little space that it gets crowded and cramped and extremely un-fun even with the things she already has, let alone the influx that happens at Christmas.*
To limit our role in the great toy creep, we established a formula for Christmas in Big Kid's early years: a new ornament, an advent calendar, a book to open a week before Christmas, a nice stocking**, a pair of pajamas and one wrapped gift. It has worked beautifully the last three years. She got exactly that, the opening process was mellow, and she was genuinely happy and grateful and ready to experience the intangibles of the day, like a nice meal as a family, stories and songs. I really love how simple our little family Christmas is, but it does make that ONE gift harder to settle on. Last year it was Billina, this year, I don't know. I really don't, for either kid. Big Kid wants something I can't (and won't) get, and Baby...is Baby. She'd be happy with a roll of packing tape and a cookie.
In my fantasy world where I have three bedrooms and a craft room and a fully fenced, enticingly wooded yard so I can send them OUTSIDE!, I make them both new sweaters and dresses, someone gets this, someone gets a dolly quilt, Baby gets this and Big Kid (finally) gets a cello.
That way Baby can smash her cart into the instrument. I mean...duh.
*Communicating with family around these issues can be difficult. I have made wish lists for both girls at Amazon.com, for the sole reason that it's extremely helpful when the girls are given items that I can store. Typically that means things that "go" with what we already have, like items for the play kitchen or doll house, additional wooden trains or blocks, etc. This approach doesn't always work; I think some people find these kinds of requests offensive, and I respect that. In the main, my family has been totally understanding about it. Thanks, family! You guys are awesome and I love you.
**Typically this has been the big gift expense for the kids. I put in a couple of nice, small toys (like a few pieces of dollhouse furniture or a little doll), consumeables like art supplies, something I know they will use, like a playsilk (or a slate!), a small portion of sweets and an orange in the toe. My mom used to put together amazing stockings. I miss that.