If you were to graph the delightfulness of December, I think it would have 2 peaks, with a valley in the middle. The first peak is in early December, when the holiday spirit is casually beginning, in the form of Peppermint Mochas at Starbucks, holiday music on the radio station you click by on occasion, and the enjoyment of other people’s Christmas lights when the sun sets earlier than would be ideal. The second peak occurs right after you have wrapped the last present and can finally chug some egg nog or hot cocoa and really enjoy family, friends, and good cheer.
We are in the valley, folks.
Is it just me, or is this the week when all the panic begins to set in? I have done a lot of Christmas shopping, but have I done enough? What did I buy? Where did I put it? When is all the stuff I ordered online going to arrive? Will it make it in time? It’s time to drop off gifts for charity drives, teachers, and neighbors. (But first we have to make the gifts for the neighbors.) And, oh yeah – I ordered the cards, and they arrived, and they are lovely…..but they won’t actually get to the people who are supposed to get them if they stay in the Shutterfly box on my desk, will they? And what packages do I need to ship? Do I need stamps? Is there anyway to avoid the post office? Because I really, really, really despise the post office.
There’s only 6 days of school left before break, and as you might imagine – my presence is required for many of those school hours. Today is our daughter’s birthday — she is 11 today. She asked me to bring her lunch and eat with her in the school cafeteria to celebrate today. I was happy to do it for her, but HOLY FREAKING CANNOLI is it loud in that place. It’s clear that the kids are already whipped up into a holiday frenzy, and as I mentioned…..still 6 days left. No wonder why the teachers are planning parties and movies and popcorn and such. After 30 minutes in that cafeteria, I wanted to poke my ear drums with blunt objects.
Isn’t that just deeeelightful?
Seriously, though — today’s delight is the sweet girl’s birthday. She is really growing up – turning into such a smart, funny, thoughtful young lady. Proud mama, here.
Now back to my fretting.
Last year, the kids had a week off before Christmas – because of the timing of the holiday. This year, they go to school right up until 12/21. This is good for gift acquisition and wrapping, but I am realizing now that I actually need to prepare for the hosting of family Christmas by the time they are out. That means a lot of food shopping and a crap load of baking. But first I have to bake a birthday cake for Saturday night. Then we get to cookies and bark and holiday treats.
I guess it’s nice to know that the next peak of delightfulness is out there in the distance, and when it arrives, I will enjoy it fully. And there is no way that I can forget when Christmas will arrive, thanks to the Hallmark Countdown to Christmas ornament the kids got as a gift last year. Literally every single time our son walks past, he smacks the thing down on the cabinet where it resides (so that it will light up) and he announces, “It’s 11 days, 10 hours, 18 minutes, and 54 seconds until Christmas!!!” Next year, I should move that thing to a place where the boy spends less time. Like the shower.
I made some homemade meatballs and tomato sauce for the birthday girl’s dinner tonight. That’s going to be tasty. Delightful, even.
Another happiness making thing is that our son’s book report and accompanying project is finally done. Uuuuugggggghhhhhh that was a little bit painful. He’s a smart guy and read a complicated book. Then he had 2 minutes to present the plot, main characters, etc., to his class. He mostly had to memorize it. And he had to make a clay structure related to the book, too. Whereas his sister practically skips through the door when she has a creative project to work on — he draaaaagggggs his feet as if he is a clay structure himself. He made the most random “characters” from the book — all were identical, lifeless, and creepy. Then he made some cats. After listening to the summary of this book for days on end….I still don’t know why he made cats. He doesn’t seem to know, either. Ultimately, he had 2 clay structures — the main character and a piece of artwork that is central to the plot. But O.M.G. did it take a lot of nagging and rushed random clay making to get to that point.
So, YAY, that’s done.
The cafeteria induced headache is lingering, though. I’m pretty sure any respectable doctor would prescribe dark chocolate. Too bad I don’t have any. Got any you want to share? It is the holidays, you know.
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