I had warned you, I was about to get busy...birthday party--check. It was actually pretty awesome. I had several real pals who brought booze--or brought their kids and then drank the booze with me. Or both...
Thanksgiving...check.
No Black Friday shopping by the queen. However, I did have the King go out to purchase the Christmas Tree. I can sum up his experience with a direct quote of his text, "At Menards. I hate you."
Holiday decorations...check.
The girls are on top of the real meaning of Christmas. They have been playing "Mary and Jesus" for three days now. Nonstop. In fact, when Ryley calls out "MOM!" I no longer respond..."Mary" does. I'm Jesus's Nana. I learned of the game after Delaney shouts, "Oh Jesus, what are you doing now?"
I darted into her room to see what was going on and more importantly, find out who had taught my little girl to curse (different than cuss, thanks, Daddy). She looked up at me, smiled, and said, "Well hello there--have you met my baby, Jesus? He was born in a stable because there was no room in the inn."
Tonight, I saw perhaps a new side of Mary. Because Jesus was born a baby, I'm sure he wasn't perfect ALL the time, but I still questioned tonight's reenactment. Mary, thru gritted teeth, "JESUS--Get back in this manger RIGHT NOW!" Jesus started to run. "RIGHT NOW, Jesus, I'm soooo not even joking with you." I am proud because they not only realize the real meaning of Christmas, but also because they choose to play Mary and Jesus instead of...say...princesses or Dora and Diego. They get it!
So begins the big rev-up to Christmas Day. So also begins the first of many "discussions" between the King and I. First on the agenda...the Christmas Card.
I have an AWESOME idea for our card. Which is good, because time has gotten away from me and I never arranged for the family picture to be taken. It's all good, because Santa brought me a fancy camera a couple of years back. It's all good because I LOVE taking pictures and playing with them. It's all good because I have a heck of an imagination when it comes to quirky or cute things the girls do. And this year is no exception.
Last night, it was a Norman Rockwell evening at our house. Fire in the fireplace, the girls decided to sit in front of it to "warm their bones" after their early bath. It was really cute and I said to myself, "Self--this could be a really cute picture, and you won't be able to send naked pictures without being investigated much longer." So I got busy.
It could be the perfect card...the caption would say "May you find warmth and joy from top to bottom this holiday season."
The King freaked out. He said there was no way we were sending out a Christmas card with this picture on it. He says nobody wants a card where you can't see their faces, and this picture is...wait for it...highly inappropriate. If you follow me, you know why I laughed out loud in his face.I'm not sure if I'll win this one. I've learned some battles are worth it, some are not. The jury is still out on this one. Maybe I'll have another wave of inspiration between now and the end of the week. Otherwise, Christmas Cards may be have to be New Year Cards...argh!
Until a compromise is reached within my royal kingdom, please know I truly hope you will find warmth and joy this holiday season...and that the more feedback I get, the more fuel I have for my creative defense!
