I forgot that I had wanted to post pictures of the kids' in their Hallowe'en costumes.
A little late, but they'll be happy I posted it. (Sorry I didn't get Claudia in her's - while I was trying to snap pictures pre-trick-or-treating and during their little party, she was getting her makeup done and I missed her).Captain Jack Sparrow: 
...and Curious George: 
With all the Christmas blogging going on, I was trying to think of any Christmas traditions that I have. Other than the usual baking and decorating. The only one I could come up with is the way I like to wrap my gifts.
First, I pick a time when I'm all alone. It works well for me that my children go to their father's every second weekend. Also, Adam works Saturday's and Claudia doesn't get here until Saturday night. Or, an even better time (since these free Saturday's are mostly spent running errands alone), in the evening after the kiddies are in bed.
Second, I pour myself a drink. Traditionally, to keep with the Christmas spirit, it's rum & eggnogg.
Third, to get even more in the mood, I throw on some Christmas music. Seriously. I love it.
Then, I flop myself on the floor, surrounded by bags of gifts (usually pre-sorted by child, so as not to get too mixed up), my big rubbermaid container of wrap, ribbons, tape, bows and tags, etc., my drink and usually my curious furry friends and get to work. I'll sit there for over an hour sometimes, depending on how many gifts I have to wrap, or how many drinks I have. And I'll do this about 3 times throughout the month of December, as I run out of hiding spots for my gifts and realize it's just safer to have them wrapped and hidden from snooping children.
Aaahh, the joy of the holidays...
Thanks Kris...I've been absent for too long! 1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nogg - it's the only time I drink rum!2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Depends on the size....bikes can't get wrapped3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Coloured on both.4. Do you hang mistletoe? No5. When do you put up your decorations? I usually start the first week of December, although I'll put out WINTER decorations (some candles and stuff that aren't necessarily Christmas-themed but are Winter, and I'll keep them out until February)6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? We don't really make a special dish.....but I do love stuffing!7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: The time my mom ran out to buy extra bulbs for the lights on the house to replace the odd few that had burnt out. She didn't notice that she had bought blinkers (it was a new concept back then) and my dad went up and replaced the burnt out ones and couldn't figure out why these one's weren't working either. We were getting all frustrated watching, then suddenly they'd blink on and off again. But they were all in random spots on the house - it just looked so funny! We laughed our asses off. 8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't remember - I think I was in denial for a long time though.9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? It depends - last year, we didn't have the kids on Christmas Eve, so Adam and I opened our gifts to each other. This year though, we'll wait. 10. What kind of decorations are on your Christmas Tree? Mostly breakable and expensive stuff that I buy AFTER Christmas every year when it's all 75% off. I'm sure my cats will have fun breaking my shit. 11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it. But its rare that we get it on Christmas.12. Can you ice skate? nope13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I dunno....last year I got an awesome push-up bra. 14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Having the family together, definitely. 15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Italian Christmas cake (I can't spell it); gingerbread cookies16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? When we were kids, my brothers and I used to go downstairs and sit around the tree and just talk and look at all the lights and decorations. 17. What tops your tree? A star, I think18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I love watching people open the gifts I give them19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Sleigh ride20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yummy? yummy
Crap, I haven't blogged in so long that I almost forgot how to sign in...Thanksgiving has now come and gone - now it's time to get inundated with Christmas advertisements, music, decorations....the list goes on. Oh, don't get me wrong - I love Christmas as much as anyone. I love to decorate, wrap gifts, send my cards, bake, watch all the great movies. I love it all! But sometimes, things seem to get way too out of hand and it bothers me. 
I had a conversation with my parents tonight about it. I told them that Adam and I had discussed not buying each other anything this year, other than the piddly little stuff that we put in the other's stocking. We've discussed this, but not actually agreed on it yet, but the more I think about it, the more I like that idea. Are we just getting old? Last night at dinner, Evan and Olivia were discussing what they are going to ask Santa for when they go visit him. At one point, as he's trying to narrow down his choices, Evan turns to me and asks "Do I ask Santa for just one thing, or can I give him a list?". I told him that when he writes his letter to Santa, it's standard to write down three things, but when you go see him in person, ask for the one thing you want most. He seemed satisfied with that answer. Olivia just stared at me - I could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she silently scanned through her mental list. Then she nodded and said "Ok, Littlest Pet Shop it is". You gotta love a kid that knows what she wants.
