You have no idea how thrilled I am to see this year’s class pictures for the boys come with an added bonus.
Someone’s hand … Ew.
Did I mention these photos cost $117!!!!!
Yeah, um.
My Facebook friends got a sneak peek of this photo and had the funniest comments.
They’ve persuaded me to speak up to the photographer – and not just you.
Monday morning, that’s exactly what I will do.
(And I may also bring up the fact Harrison also doesn’t have a mole on his nose.)
What would you do?
It’s all a blur.
How I went from “Well, you should ask Santa” after she expressed interested in a product to impatiently asking “When are you going to write your Christmas list?”
But before I knew it, I was pressing my five year old to write.
Oh yea, that’s why.
Because I look for any reason to get her to sit down and do a project of some sort with me. That’s right; I’m all for bonding over crayons.
As I offered up the number five, I knew years from now I would be kicking myself.
I told her because she’s five and a half; she gets to ask Santa for five things.
But … yes, I did go there…. if she doesn’t behave, Santa doesn’t have to bring any of the five things.
And I explained it’s only a wish list so Santa doesn’t have to get anything from the list.
(I covered myself in case her wish list was ridiculous and I couldn’t fathom purchasing any of it.)
Then she asked if Luke gets to ask for three things and Harrison gets to ask for one.
I told her Santa allows Harrison to ask for two because he’s closer to two than one. Ah, these rules I make up. 
So far she’s written three things on her list –
I’m surprised. I might be getting off easy this year and then realize why on her 16th birthday. For now, I’ll just enjoy.
Anyone else surprised by their child’s holiday wish list this year?
Household incomes across the country vary greatly from family to family.
Take my household… it relies solely on one income while most families I know have the benefit of two.
And some households have lost their only source of income.
You’ll find that in every neighborhood. In every city. Our checking accounts all look very different right now.
So I understand how difficult it can be for families to afford to give during the holidays.
But I just don’t understand how you can grumble about contributing to a holiday gift for a teacher or caregiver.
These people who educate and take care of our children have their own families to take care of during the holidays.
To support. To surprise with gifts. To cook holiday meals for. To take to visit family in other cities.
How can someone be upset about giving a $50 donation?
It’s not like you didn’t know weeks ago you would be asked for a monetary contribution.
Last year, I emailed my daughter’s class parent after asking if she made a mistake.
(I thought a holiday gift of $50 total for three teachers was too little.)
And she responded that the PTA was told by other parents they only wanted to do $30 per family.
So after giving in $50, Natalie also made a gift bag of products from The Body Shop for each of her teachers.
I just didn’t feel right not adding to that gift in some way because her teachers worked so hard.
This year, my son is in daycare and he’s there for hours every day as I work.
His caregivers comfort him as he teethes and console him if he wakes up Mr. Cranky Pants.
And because I can’t be there for him during the day, they are the ones who are taking care of him. I am so thankfully I found loving people who could do that every day for me.
But I don’t feel the amount being asked for for them is sufficient. And it’s disturbing some parents still complain!
How much is your school/day care asking for this year as the teacher’s holiday gift contributions?
The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is officially over.
I admit to waking up each day of the holiday weekend wondering what day it was and then breathing a sigh of relief I didn’t have to be anywhere but at home with my children.
But it’s now Monday.
Back to work and school.
No more eating homemade sweet potato pie for breakfast or ordering Chinese lunch specials because you crave a break from the candied sweet potatoes and orange infused green beans packed in your fridge.
No more everyone curling up on the couch or snuggling under the covers watching back to back holiday themed movies. Or making cups and cups of hot cocoa and making sure each cup had just the right amount of marshmallows in various sizes.
While Christmas break is on its way and this weekend can be relieved in all its food and fun glory; I thankfully have a few memories to hold me over. My favorite is of my children using water colors, stamp sets, beading kits and decorative hole punchers to entertain themselves after dinner. My kids are so crafty and I love it! And I’m so proud that TV can be turned off in our house and we survive.
This really is the most wonderful time of the year.
