Alone and Loving It
Forgive me, bloggy, for I have lapsed. It’s been four days since my last post.
Oy! Only four days? It feels like a month since I’ve posted. Would you believe it if I told you that for the first time in forever that I am completely ALONE in the house?
Earlier I tried for a good thirty minutes to bang out something resembling a blog post and nobody would leave me alone for more than 20 seconds. That’s when it occurred to me that I haven’t had a moment to myself in ages. The huz has been off from work for two weeks and on numerous occasions during those two weeks I’ve taken the kids places for hours at a stretch so he could have some quiet time. Apparently I can only get some “me” time when I start getting mad about it like I did today.
Anyway, our Christmas was very nice but I’m really glad it’s finished. I’m over all the obligations and commitments and shipping deadlines. Next year I’m starting everything in NOVEMBER!
I am proud, however, to say that I did everything via mail order and we went to the mall only to visit one store for ornaments. It’s a tradition that we go every year (usually to Restoration Hardware or The Christmas Shoppe) and everyone picks out one that they really like. When the kids are grown, they can take all their ornaments with them and put them on their own trees and each one will have a little bit of history behind it.
The kids really raked in the gifts from everyone but I must have lived a past life during the Great Depression or something because it really bothers me to see so much fricken money spent on so many toys. It’s just insane. Nobody needs that much shit. I’m giving serious consideration to putting some of it away, at least for P. He won’t even notice and the stuff will seem brand new to him in a few months.
The biggest hit for my daughter were the Moon Shoes that came from us (I sooo want a pair) and P’s fave thing was this Bounce and Spin Zebra. It’s big but I can’t complain because it makes them so happy and is such a great diversion and after all, isn’t that the definition of a really good toy? One that keeps the kids out of your hair so you can be on your computer for 2 whole minutes without an interruption? Or lightly dozing on the sofa while dreaming of full-body massages?
I have to admit I don’t like the noisy “learning” toys P got because they annoy me and even worse, THEY HAVE NO FRICKEN “OFF” SWITCH!!!! WHY???? And I predict TQ’s new Dora talking dollhouse will go the way of every other dollhouse she’s ever had and become yet another an ugly plastic doorstop. What was I thinking? *kicks self hard*
From the huz I got a tripod for my camera which is great and something I will no doubt use but it’s also something he has been wanting to buy for a while, too, so it’s really more of a present for “us.” I also got another Vera Bradley bag that I basically picked out and put on hold so the huz wouldn’t come home with some weird gift for me. Click here to see the my pretty new bag that’s so damn big I can carry all my stuff PLUS sippy cups, snacks, mail, a newspaper, an umbrella and perhaps even a tiny little dog, were I so inclined.
I gave the huz a big check from my own savings account (as opposed to OUR money from our joint acct which is not very gift-y) so he can start another sleeve of tattoos on his other arm. Whenever I asked him what he wanted for Christmas he named some ridiculous $2500 piece of gear for which I advised him not to hold his breath, and more ink. So…more ink it is.
Now we get to start thinking about New Years resolutions. Does anyone ever actually stick to them? I’d love to know if you ever have. Mine will be to get more rest and more exercise. Heh. I know. I might as well be trying to grow wings or win the lottery…
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Did any of your kids get a Bratz doll that sings profanity-laden songs? Only in Florida, my friends… You can read more about it here.
Sounds awesome all the way around. Happy New Year Izzy.
Time alone in the house might be the best present ever! And why did I not know about your hubs and the ink? I need to go lurk through your Flickr account because HOW AWESOME!!!
Pretty Izzy and rockin’ hubs… you’re fabulous!
UGH! I am with you sister, I HATE those noisy pain in the ass pseudo-learning toys. Why can’t we all just kick it down a notch and freakin’ admit that learning cannot be accomplished when the child is on the floor in a flashing-lights-and-beeping-”music” induced seizure. *big rolly eyes here*
I am actually one of the nerdy people who enjoys resolutions, and actually tries to stick to them as much as humanly possible. Usually I don’t stick to them entirely but I can say that progress is made, so hey… better than nothing, I guess.
Alone? Jealous.
But your traditions? I am totally ripping you off next year.
We do the ornament tradition too, although my boys always want the Star Wars ornaments, and I hate having toys hanging from the Christmas tree branches. This year Ryan picked a snowman and Nathan got a Snoopy “Legal Beagle”, both from Hallmark. Acceptable.
This was the first year we didn’t take a paper star from the St. Vincent’s Home for Children tree, with the name, age and gift request of a needy child. I feel terrible, but I’ve already got some charities in mind to give our excess toys and books too. They can use those all year round.
I agree about too many toys!! My daughter lost interest in opening them about halfway through! We did get the Dora dollhouse too!! I have to admit though, I kinda like it. Her other favorite toy this year was her Sit N Spin. Although she used it for so long I thought she was gonna throw up!
No Dora paraphanalia? My house is littered with it.
Oh and ditto on the no time to myself. I can’t remember….. I have to blog at work because I actually have more time here than at home!
ditto on the great depression-past life. i think the real problem was we were raised by those people. my mom saves everything.
i have an extreme dislike for toy excess myself, glad to know there are others out there as well. let’s start a movement shall we?
putting up toys for later is an awesome fun thing to do for the kids.
Yea, I’m not a fan of those talking toys that take the place of parents reading a book to their kids. Or for that matter toys that take batteries in general. Of course I break my own rules all the time. :)
My New Year’s wish for you is that your husband finally GETS A CLUE and lets you be the Dad once in a while!!!!
This was the year that my hubby and I decided that our kids were getting fewer gifts that were actually more expensive each. That way instead of tons of crap they wouldn’t hold their attention for more than a day or so would actually be worth the price we paid. It’s working so far, three days after Christmas. They got video games, electronic gadgets, and hardback books. Fewer gifts means fewer gifts to wrap and less mess around the tree that never seems to get picked up until they return to school. Ugh.
Anyway, I’m glad you had a Merry, Merry, and here’s wishing you a Happy, Happy.
dude! i LOVE the new subtitle. J and I were just talking about this last night - and how we only got six years left to get it all done.
it’s freaking perfect. J is cheering you as i type.
When my kids were younger, I used to take some of the presents they got, and hide them for later. No one ever knew because they had so many. I totally agree that with so much it might distort what they think is normal. I always feel like we should stop buying somuch to make them work for what they want (but then I sound like my parents!)
I totally want that purse! My best friend has one…I may have to do some shopping for myself soon!
That is cool of you to do that for your husband. I just wrote a post about how I decided not to go on Miami Ink. I’m bummed, but it is for the best.
I HATE the noisy toys, there are some fisher price little people toys that you can’t even turn the damn sound effect OFF …..ugh.
I’ve got an advent cabinet and on the Christmas day, she’ll be getting an ornament each year, and be able to take them with her when she’s grown, too. So nice!
And you know, she was getting gifted out before she even got to the really nice (and kinda pricey for us these days) baby doll I got her, so I stuck it in the gift closet along with its outfit, and she’ll get them in a few months for her birthday. Really, she didn’t need any more and she was so happy with just a few.
Sounds like you all had a great Christmas! My parents and I felt that way about my nephew (too much stuff), but it’s a little late to think that after the fact, I suppose.
The story about the Dora house is too funny. I read at rockstarmommy.com that she was not too pleased that her kid got a Dora “pirate ship” - which basically looks like a big plastic house to me.
Hope you all have a great New Year’s….
I love your ornament tradition! Restoration Hardware has great ones. I think we are going to have include that in our annual festivities.
I had the best intentions on last year’s New Years resolutions but avoidance is more fun.
Your banner is fantastic!
I had a new years resolution to stop talking to a guy i knew was no good for me. It’s the only resolution I ever kept.
I’ve never really made a new year’s resolutions, but I am this year. Hopefully I’ll be able to do it.
I hate the bratz dolls. I’ve told all my family and friends if they ever get one for Taylor I’ll burn it and throw the ashes in their yards. I don’t need something else to teach my daughter it’s cool to be a prostatot.
We routinely put away at least half of the Christmas loot for the kids to play with in a few months. And they are nine and ten! They pick out a couple things and then we just dole it out every couple weeks. Everyone seems happy with this arrangement and we haven’t had any complaints so far!
Enjoy the peace and quiet. I hope you get more of it this new year.
As for resolutions, well that’s a blog post in itself…
You know I’m with you on the tons and tons of CRAP. I just don’t even go there anymore. I got the girls some DVDs that *I* will enjoy - like The Electric Company and The Muppet Show.
I love your Vera Bradley bag - great pattern! And I hope you’ll post pics of the new ink once it’s inked.
Another sleeve of tattoos?? *faints* Kids these days!
You’re alone? And all it took was trrowing a fit?
(writing this down)
Happy Happy New Year Izzy!!!
Love,
Pendullum
I want some alone time, but my husband acts like it will kill him to take Dawson out of the house. “What will we do?” he says….I’m like, “What do I care! I need time alone!”….
I envy you!
Congratulations on making it into 9rules! You have a lovely site!
I have been a member since Round 4.
That’s a really cute bag! Love your new years header. I’m working on one and I’m stumped on a background, but you’ve inspired me to get back at it. Glad you had a nice Christmas, and also glad it’s over!
I’m alone too! What heaven! I, too, had to throw a fit to get my time. I guess we moms need to bitch out more often.
Happy New Year!!
Sounds so fabulous. Wishing you a very happy new year Izzy!!!
I’m with you on the too many toys. It’s especially a problem when people try to outdo other family members by buying really expensive toys in an effort to buy affection (my sister’s in-laws do this). Not only is this an unpleasant personality trait, but it doesn’t work anyway; the kids get so many toys they don’t remember who gave them what.
Maybe you can get the kids to pick some old toys to donate somewhere or something. Then at least you’d have more room for the new stuff :-).
My hubs is getting some new tattoos too!
Oh and I love your new tag line…
I hear you! I’m ready to get back to a normal schedule too. By New Year’s Eve I’m always like enough already!! One can only handle so much family time! My hubby’s been home for two weeks too!
I love tattoos. I can hardly wait to get back in the chair. Great blog by the way.
Happy New Year Izzy!
Does this mean you’ve been dancing in your house naked since day one?
Last year, my parents gave my little girl, Lola, one of those obnoxious Little People set-ups with one thousand little plastic items. We tucked it away in the garage without opening it… and one year later, she has never mssed it. I’m going to give it away.
The most people celebrated holiday is Chinese Spring Festival, not Christmas. It’s coming, Feb 18. Go and do something. have fun.