We have purposely avoided the malls and I think I am slightly more sane for it this year.
When I look outside and it's white and frosty everywhere, it feels so Christmasy. But since the snow came so much earlier this year, I find I'm already more worn out from the daily grind of getting two kids dressed and hauling them around clumsily everywhere. My dreams of trying to get outside to play most days have been fading because it's usually too cold or it doesn't work with the alternating nap times or whatever. Sometimes the effort is barely worth it.
It seems impossible to figure out how to keep a stationary baby happy and easily transported in snow with a stroller or carrier and a toddler happy who still needs you to help her do everything like sled down a little hill across the street. And if Wren decides she doesn't want to come inside, it usually ends with two screaming babes.
I know this time of year is supposed to be like a "break", it's called the "Holidays", but sometimes it feels like anything but that. I totally get why some people choose to go away (like on a hot vacation) or go see a movie Christmas day. The presents, baking, crafting, and everything else can be too much!
In our families, on each side we draw names. I'm thankful Kenton isn't the kind of person to expect me to do his gift buying for him. He actually doesn't want me to...but because of blogging I seem to always find some killer ideas for him anyway. This year I drew one of my brother-in-laws names on his side. I have decided that therefore there must be a small, funny element to the gift. If you also feel this is necessary in your gift giving, run to the Tin Box right now. I fully embarrassed myself laughing at the ridiculous things you can buy there.
In efforts to save my sanity and Wren's (seeing as we were talking about being indoors a lot), I signed her up for preschool. We are all very excited for this. The preschool came on recommendation from two moms I know who raved about it. It's affordable, it's twice a week, it's with 3 year olds and the teachers are amazing. We went for a visit last week and I think I was more excited than Wren...well maybe not quite. I have gotten sick of relying on playgroup (where last week a kid barfed all over the place) for her play time with kids, and the chaos that usually ensues. I feel like the timing is perfect, and I'm so happy she can start in the new year. I'm nearly certain it will also work out well even when I go back to work in the spring. All in all, it seems like a win-win situation for us.
As I write this all out, Wren is having "quiet time" in her room while Ellie naps. I'm lucky enough that one of Ellie's naps falls in the middle of the day when Wren's does. But Wren has been very very slowly transitioning out of naps but luckily she will stay in her room and read books and play quietly. I tell her I'm cleaning or something else totally not fun sounding. She did get into the diaper cream one day and it was all over her hands. She looked at me and said, "Gorgeous!!". Mmm, not quite! But her favourite thing to do at night time is to open her blind and stare out her window at all the houses around. She especially likes to keep tabs on Kenton if he's out working in the shop and she can see him in the garage windows.
Well, this was a rambling of sorts because I had to play catch up. We have been busy going to Christmas parties (and taking days to recover), and just getting ready for Christmas like everyone else. I even forgot to post about Ellie turning 8 months old, though nothing has really changed...like she still doesn't roll, crawl or like to do anything but sit and jump in the jolly jumper. I haven't even taken a single new picture! Okay that's a lie...I have one. And it's absurd but it will probably give you a good laugh so here you go...
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