Vacation, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and the beginning of No-Chaos Christmas

Wow!  What a week.  This past week was great, relaxing, fun...

Yes, I'm actually talking about Thanksgiving.  There really was no drama.  No fighting.  No crying.  Just good.

My kids had no school last week, so I decided to take Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off to spend time with them.  It was a good decision.  We were lazy.  We stayed home.  We did nothing spectacular, really, but it was great.  Matt and I even managed to squeeze in an at-home date.  Wine, pizza, and Scrabble.  It was the most fun I have had in months.

We had Parent/Teacher Conferences for the kids on Tuesday night.  Our instincts that they are utter and totally delightful geniuses was confirmed.  

Thanksgiving was a breeze.  On Wednesday, my fantastic kids helped me clean and bake all day long, never once complaining, or asking if they could be done.  They just kept asking what they could do next.  Thursday morning, they watched the parade, then played nicely together with no arguing.  My turkey was not frozen, cooked right on time, and looked perfect.  We ate on time.  My mother did my dishes!  Family and friends came, had dessert, stayed just long enough, and my mother-in-law took my kids home to sleep at her house.  This is an arrangement we have sort of fallen into over the years.  She keeps my kids so I can go Black Friday shopping; I shop from her list so she does not have to go.  It works really well.   Matt and I were in bed by 8:30.  Right on schedule for my shopping blitz.  

Because Walmart and Toys R Us were opening at midnight, I intended to get back up at 11:00 and head in to town.  At around 10:55, I woke up to headlights shining into the bedroom from the driveway.  A little unsettled by a late-night visitor, I woke Matt up to investigate.  It was his mother.  Her friend was leaving to go home and had backed out of my in-laws' driveway and directly into the ditch.  Matt promptly got up to go help.  I got up, got dressed and went down to see what was up.  (My in-laws live about 150 yards down the road from us.)  When I got there, he had already hooked a strap to the truck and dragged her out.  I continued on my quest for inexpensive toys.

Walmart was easy.  I was able to get most of the things on my list.  I had strategized, planned, made spreadsheets.  I was a shopping machine.  Then I got to Toys R Us.  They had already been open for an hour, and there was a line around the building.  Two people came out, they let two people in.  There was no way I was standing in that line.  It was ludicrous!  It was 1:00am.  Target was the next store on my list, and they did not open until 4:00.  I decided I would go there park, and just wait.  This would be a good chance for me to rest for a while before my next round.  So I did.  I slept in my car like a hobo.  It was surprisingly NOT really that cold.  I put my seat back, pulled the extra blanket I had left in the car over me, set my cell phone alarm, and slept.  When I got there, there were about 40 people waiting outside.  When I awoke at 3:30 to get in line, 10,000 people had arrived!  Okay, maybe not quite that many, but it sure looked like it!  The line stretched the length of the building, to the end of the parking lot, and down to the back end of the parking lot.  It was nuts.  30 minutes later, those people were all inside the store.  It was a sea of Canadians pushing shopping carts.  Navigating the aisles was impossible.  The few things I manage to grab earned me a 45 minute wait in the shortest line in the building to check out.  It almost made me reconsider doing any more Black Friday shopping.  Almost.  After I left Target, the rest of my shopping was considerably less eventful.  (The highlight of the day was watching the couple in front of me at Kmart wait 45 minutes in line to purchase a $5.25 tin of popcorn.  Seriously.)

Today was our first official day of "No-Chaos Christmas".  I explained this theory to the kids.  They are totally down.  I'm excited for this to work.  We started the day with them playing in the snow.  Neither of them has snow-pants or winter boots yet, but that didn't bother Go-With-the-Flow Kables.  They got out their sleds and went shooting down the driveway, they had a snowball fight, and made snow angels in the driveway.  And they took the dog with them.  After they came in, we packed up and headed in to town.  We had plans to do a little shopping and go to the movies to see Harry Potter.  We left way early.  We didn't do the downtown thing, but instead went to Marden's.  I decided this counts because they are a Maine owned company. =]  We milled around, took our time, looked at whatever....I let Lucien push the cart.  We even bought a few gifts and our Christmas cards.  We got in the car with plenty of time to spare.  Went to the movie; it was great.  The kids loved it.  I loved that on the way home, Ella entertained Lucien with silly voices and a story she was making up on the fly.  They giggled and talked really loud, which would normally elicit a "Please not so loud in the car" from me, but I was cool.  I went with it.  It was fine.  I was not distracted to the point of rear-ending the car in front of me.  I did not miss a tricky corner and drive my family into a telephone pole.  We made it home safely.  Matt was here when we got here.  The kids snuggled down on the couch with him.  Ella was out like a light.  Lucien and Matt lasted a little longer, but not much.  

So, tomorrow is the last day of our vacation.  The kids and I will be in "back to reality" mode.  Laundry, changing beds, shopping for new boots and snow pants.  We agreed tonight that next weekend we will put up our tree.  Matt likes to cut one from our woods.  I'm hoping to go to a nearby tree farm to cut one there.  They have sleigh-rides, hot chocolate and hot cider, a gift shop, doughnuts.  Whatever...either will be cool....no stress, just kid-magic. <3

Black Friday is one week away!!!!

What I neglected to mention in my "No Chaos Christmas" post is that I will be making one very important exception.

BLACK FRIDAY!!

I looove Black Friday.  I'm talking a scouring my favorite sites for ads, making an Excel spreadsheet, store game plans, layering clothes kind of love.  It is one of my favorite days of the year, and certainly the only day of the year that I get up at 3 am.  I know, it is totally nutty.  I accept that.  I embrace the nuttiness; it is part of me.  While others may cringe at the thought of the crowds of stampeding maniacs, I look forward to it.  For most of the year, in fact.  It is crazy fun and exciting.  I also love that by getting such good deals, I can likely get a few extra pressies for the kiddos.  Over the past few years, I've really been able to perfect my game plan.  Here are a few tips for first-timers or those looking to improve their BF haul.

       -  When parking, think about where you most easily be able to get OUT of the parking lot.  Nothing puts a kink in your BF shopping like trying to get out of a parking lot for 2 hours. (Trust~I have been there!)

       -  Don't use a cart!  They will only slow you down and get you stuck in a part of the store when traffic is not moving.   If you think you will be getting more than you can carry, take your reusable shopping bags to help you out.

       -  Consider checking out at the jewelery or some other alternate check-out counter.  People often don't think of this and it will save you a lot of time!

       -   Make a list and stick to it as much as you can!  Remember: It is only a good deal if you or someone you know will use it.  Don't waste your money on $3.00 mini-crock pots if you don't need them.  There are more good deals out there!

Well, it is time for this bargain shopper to finish her spreadsheet. 

Happy shopping!

       -

No Chaos Christmas

Wow~Thanksgiving is next week! I am super excited for the holiday season this year. Generally, I get all excited, then stressed, then mega-stressed because "CHRISTMAS IS NEXT WEEK AND I STILL HAVE A BAGILLION PRESENTS TO BUY!"

Not this year, my friend.

This year, I resolve to enjoy it. To not stress (too much, anyway). These 2 kids are not getting any younger, and I want them (and Matt and I) to really experience it this year. To really get that feeling. That hot chocolate-candy cane- catching snowflakes on your tongue feeling where you feel like your insides might just burst from the excitement. I'm taking it easy; going with the flow; making the magic. I don't have a plan for this yet, or anything, but I'm going to make it happen. I'm going to take the time to make real cookies with the kids! They will not come from a mix and I will let them help as much as they want! We will decorate them with different candies, etc. We will shop leisurely at small shops in downtown areas rather than rushing through the mall and Walmart at breakneck speeds. We will play Christmas music in the house for no special reason. We will remember the Advent Calendar every day, and I will let them eat the gross, imitation chocolate even if it is late, because it is important to a kid, even though adults don't always realize it.  

I think that is really the crux of it.

As adults, we make our lists, know what tasks we need to accomplish by a particular day, and go at it like it is our job.  Kids don't work that way.  They don't understand money constraints, or familial pressure and obligation.  They are just ready to explode because they can hardly wait for Santa.  So, this year, as the adult, the one in charge, I vow to think more like my kids. 

I never thought I'd say this, but it would be totally awesome if it snowed.              

Family Dinner Night

Today is one of those rare, precious days where nobody in our house has an activity in the evening.  No Scouts, meetings, work, or sports.  That means it is family dinner night.  Most likely the only one we will get to have this week.  I take 'em where I can get 'em, and I'll take it.  We have a new rule here in Kables-World; no phone calls during family dinner.  It sounds simple, but we have had many nights where this rare occasion has been interrupted or cut short with the buzzing of one of our cell phones.  A lot of the time, this is our only chance in the week to really catch up with each other, and I'm keeping every second that I can while the kids still want to spend time with me!  It was a busy weekend, and will be a super busy week, but as for Monday.....we are home. <3

ps~ I feel ridiculous.

Alright~ it is official.  I am a giant goob.  I've been thinking about starting this blog for a while.  Not because I necessarily think the world NEEDS TO HEAR what I have to say (I'm not that self-involved.)  I just need an outlet.  A chronicle.  A place outside of my actual life to hash out my actual life.  Proof that this life is really happening? I don't know.... something.  So there you go.  Here I am.  This is me.

I'm a 32 year old mom of 2 amazing kids.  I know, everyone says their kids are amazing, but with mine it is really true.  They are gifted, compassionate, funny kids that rock my world.  They surprise me and crack me up every single day.  They get along super well, are polite, and really just EASY kids.  We are incredibly fortunate.  Lucien is 9, and his IQ is for sure higher than mine.  He is a Cub Scout and our family has been very involved with his Pack.  Ella is 7 and gorgeous.  She is a Girl Scout, although we've not been super involved with her Troop. (Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts have a very different dynamic.)  I'm married to Matt.  My best friend and the best man I know.  He is a super hard worker and also brilliant.  He is funny, and loving, and just pretty much all around awesome.  We live in the house we built last fall, on a mountain in Maine.  Our little red house is not a mansion, but we worked and planned for so long for it.  It is home.  We are never moving again. 

We have a cat that was with me before Matt was, and a dog, whose future time with us is limited.  He belonged to my Dad before he passed, and with every passing day my contempt for him grows a little more.  He barks non-stop at nothing, is very anxious, and just annoying in general.  I am not a hater of animals.  I have, however, learned that while I like dogs (ok~other peoples' dogs), I am at heart a "cat person".  Not one of those crazy, take a picture of your cat in a basket with a quippy one-liner written on it like "Wuvs my wittle kitty!", but one that enjoys the low-maintenance aspect of a cat.  Feed it, let it outside, let it inside.  Done.  

I don't think we work harder than anyone else, or are busier than anyone else, but we are pretty much constantly on the go.  The kids both have Scouts.  They both love sports and are usually doing one per season.  I work full time in municipal government.  I like my job, particularly the girls I work with.  They have become two of my best friends.  Matt works super full time, generally having only Sundays off, and unfortunately, is not crazy about his job.  He conquers amazing feats of time-management to try to get to as many of the kids' activities as he can and to try to be home for dinner at least a few nights a week.  I'm currently the President of the parent group at my kids' school (don't get too excited, there are only 5 of us, and we just keep switching officer positions), and Matt is on the Pack Committee for Lucien's Cub Scout Pack.  We have a small group of really good friends, who we try to see on occasion, which is not nearly enough.  I've recently reconnected with one of my dearest, old friends and could not be happier about it.  We've lost a lot of time (which I regret), but can hopefully make up for it!  We have a niece and a nephew who we adore, and also don't see nearly enough of them.
 

That's the short version.  We'll see how this goes.