Christmas Spirit

I like, many other teen/tweener moms, waffle between loving my tween son and at other times wondering why the heck I ever bore this child. Well here is why.
Big Fry, who at the age of 5 or so wanted to make a talking cane for a blind man at the grocery store
Who at a little older age, cried and asked me to bring home the homeless man he saw while riding home on the bus
At the present age charms everyone BUT us...and I wonder if he will ever get back a charitable bone again...
Is participating in a counselor-in -training program at the local Yand had the opportunity to spend the afternoon making huge gift baskets for adopted families and delivered them last weekend. Upon being picked up, I carefully asked "How was it?"-this is usually the question that is met with a "Fine".
I was met with, "Great, it was a really cool thing, this one lady almost cried when we dropped off the stuff. I made me feel really good."
There it is, the kind heart I love ,showing just a little bit.It was hidden again a few hours later, but for now its enough to know its there.

The apple and the tree

It is good to know the apple does not fall far from the tree, or at this time of year should I say pine cone. I have to admit I have done a little lamenting this Christmas time. As I planned and wrapped and planned again and tried to relish in the spirit, I noticed my elder son had little. The usual Christmas events that the boys loved when they were younger have gone a little to the way side, especially the older child. So who would have thought that my younger son, who has very little of my dna, would come shining through.

Small fry was bound and determined that we needed to have a Santa Tree, downstairs and it had to be cut, from the woods. I hate to admit when this last Sunday rolled around, and I felt frenzied, I came close to offering a round of video games if we could save time and run to the Boys Club to buy one. One look at his face when I started to open my mouth and he says, "can I pick it out all by myself", caused me to shut up very quickly.

We drove, and drove, and drove some more. I promised everyone in the truck I JUST knew this place had the right trees, not the pine, but the spruce. He was adamant about the spruce. And, just as we got discouraged there it was, the perfect little valley. That still had snow (I am like Carey-I really love a white Christmas), and oodles of spruce, and we walked from tree to tree to find just the right one he liked.

He cut it, dragged it, and tagged it. We decorated it together. I don't have after pictures just yet, it goes against my artistic nature, but it is the perfect small fry tree. But good to know I am not the only Tree Nazi in the house.

Funny thing, Big Fry asked if he could get a tag...

Alone Time

Here it is, honest and selfish me. Alone time, I am having some RIGHT NOW. When I say I never get alone time I am really not exaggerating (even though I am good at that). I have been alone since 6:00 AM this morning and will be for the next two nights. There is no homework to follow up on, music practice, dog to walk or remind others to walk and feed. No feeling bad about being late at work or on the computer for work. Or guilt about not being AT work.
Dont' get me wrong, I LOVE my family, I LOVE my job. But sometimes this busy, crazy life I have made for myself deserves just a little break.

I drove in the car with Christmas music no one wants to hear when they ride with me. I saw a beautiful sunrise, which I am sure was just for me. Texted a friend some morning love. Texted lots of people when I shouldn't have been. Til the deer raced across the front of my 80 mph car. But you know what no one knew but ME!

So yes I will be selfish these next two nights, feel a little alone and guilty by tomorrow night, be racing home on Friday for, Christmas music program, Christmas tree decorating, instrument practice for recitals, indoor soccer, boot camp, evaluations to type, work that will need to be caught up on (without going TO work, I vowed not to step one foot into work on any weekend in December), travel cancellations and phone calls, and clothes shopping. For. Boys.

See with all this crazy life I happened to look at my children as they went to school in ripped pants, too short pants, too short sleeves and big fry wearing the same 4 long sleeve shirts week after week and realized my kids look like ragamuffins. I knew it was bad when I casually mentioned, "Looks like you need some new clothes and they both, said "WE KNOW, you need to take us."

I can't wait, because you know the next best thing to being alone is shopping! Ok well in my selfish little world right now that is!