The same to you, Wizz, and to everyone reading this.
Our family holiday was fine (though an irate cousin who got hit with the alternate minimum tax last year seems to think I have become a traitor to all that is fine and good for accepting a job with the IRS). I enjoyed playing with the kids and making up stuff when they keep asking that "why" question.
As for holiday shopping, all the adults are getting books that I don't want to bring with me to DC. This isn't really all that bad - my brother has already collected a book called "The Joy of Coffee." a little paperback about romantic date places in NYC, and a copy of the B5 cookbook. And I really haven't gotten started on clearing things out yet. I refuse to opt back into the depths of the holiday gift giving craze until I have a salary actually going into a bank account on a regular schedule.
But I won't stiff the children just because I have had a bad year. I bought their presents while on vacation in Canada - in August. The oldest is getting a really fancy version of two dixie cups on a string (it is two bell shaped pieces of plastic connected by a spring). You are supposed to be able to make sound effects with it. He loves to make up stories and to pretend to be different characters, so I think this will work with that sort of play. The middle one loves art so he is getting a marble paper kit. The littlest one is very physical, so he is getting an appropriately sized hippity hop - that strong rubber ballon thing with the handle on top that you bounced around the house on as a kid. I think it will all work admirably, and it sure beats trying to hit the malls or toy stores at this time of year.
I acutally went to a WalMart with my parents and brother on the Friday after. Slightly scarey, but we got out in less than half an hour with a pair of earmuffs, an ironing board cover, some generic cold medicine and some generic pepcid equivalent. The checkout clerk was looking a little glazed over, but she was still smiling. Some one should give that young lady a raise.
Have a safe trip home everyone!
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