It didn't even happen the next day. Or even the next. Being more realistic with my time today, I am going to go ahead and say that I will be condensing what should probably be posts 3 and 4 into just one post. Christmas with our family usually takes a while considering Greg and I each have two sets of parents. That makes for some fairly spoiled grandchildren, and a lot of blog material.
First let me say that I am a Santa Genius. Or maybe a little crazy. Your choice. Greg and I were up wrapping presents on Christmas Eve. Or technically, it had gotten so late, that it was actually Christmas morning. The boys were not sleeping very well because of various cough, cold, snotty nose issues. I had already had to dash out of the living room and haul ass up the stairs three times to lock them back in their bedroom so that they didn't discover Santa in the middle of the living room, wrapping presents in pajamas and sipping a glass of wine. hmm... I may have just discovered the source of my genius without any help. Or at least why that third high speed trip up the stairs was a little perilous
Before we finally went to bed, I was making sure that everything was ready for the boys to come downstairs. Greg had already eaten the cookies and drank the milk the boys left out. I threw the carrots they left for the reindeer into the can outside so as not to be discovered in the regular trash. But it was just not enough. I was missing that spark. And that is when poor little Gracie-lou-lou distracted me at the wrong moment.
Now this is an old picture of poor Gracie being used as a pillow, but it was the best I could find. Do you see that big hairy tail? I was inspired.
Gracie didn't mind the sacrifice. Or at least she didn't mention it if she did mind. Greg might have mentioned that it was a little weird, but it worked! After last year, I couldn't wait to hear what Ethan would say when he woke me up. The first thing he said was "Mommy!! Santa left me hair and presents!" He totally got it!
We had Christmas with my Dad and Stepmom, my sister's family, and my brother this past weekend. That is 7 adults and 5 children under the age of 6 packed into my house. Always one we look forward to, though, because our Christmas dinner is Lobster! This is also the Christmas where Santa makes an appearance. My Dad has played Santa since the first grandchildren were born. (big bonus that Santa is my Dad, because I can use him all year long if the boys need a phone call to remind them that Santa is still watching.) But last year, Ethan totally busted him. Dad walked into the living room in full Santa gear with a bag full of presents and Ethan pointed and yelled "Hey! That's Pappy!" I dove from across the room and clamped my hand over his mouth. Luckily the other children, if they heard, were smart enough to keep their traps shut so that they would still get their presents.
I didn't want to risk Ethan outing Santa again, but this is the first year Wyatt would actually understand what was going on and (hopefully) not Freak Out. So we had a friend step in to play the role. He is actually the fiance of a coworker and the only one I could think of that Ethan had NO chance of recognizing. He is 20-something and doesn't have much kid experience. I told her it was a good "family-life test". If he could survive MY family, he should be good marriage material! He did a good job and the kids were Thrilled. Their were some costume malfunctions... Santa's belly looked a bit square. Kinda the same shape and size as a bed pillow... And Santa's real beard kept poking out from under his fake one. The lip piece just didn't have quite enough hair. I seriously considered finding Gracie to help supplement, but I held back. Dog hair taped under his nose might have pushed him right over the edge!
1 comment:
I forgot to tell you - later, Landry told me that it wasn't the REAL Santa Clause, just one of Ethan's uncles dressed up. But it was OK b/c Santa needs helpers.
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