Being Real About Christmas Spirit

My girlfriend Alicia wrote this post awhile back, about the reality of her day to day life.  How in the blog world, it is easy for just the good and great to be written about, not also the rawness of our days.  I had a few thoughts initially about this - the first being if we all wrote about the hard stuff, who would want to read it?  And second, does writing about what goes on on a day to day basis expose the "bad" side of our families.  I don't think so.  I think what it does show, is underneath all the crafts, the knitting, (the coffee consumption), that my family is just like any other family.  So let's begin.

We found out a couple weeks ago that the kids Christmas party hosted by Nate's company was at capacity so our family couldn't attend.   They usually have jugglers, face painting, balloon creations, a Santa, so I wanted to re-create this the best we could.  What I found was Christmas in the Rockies.  It didn't disappoint.

We headed out Saturday morning, before Aidan's nap, hoping, but knowing he wouldn't, nap in the car.  We took in popcorn and hot chocolate, a puppet show about the areas of conservation in Canada (very informative), then we divded up and stood in line for the rest of the events.  All in all about a 45 minute wait for each.  My Dad stood in line for the face painting, Nate and I stood in line for Santa photos, and Grace and my Mom stood in the mass waiting for balloon creatures.  We scored there - they had one no other child was claiming, so we took it as our own.  Grace quickly got over the fact it wasn't pink.

This is the closest Grace has gotten to Santa in two years.  She was holding my hand - lol.

This brought us to 4 o'clock.  We hit McDonalds.  (Writing that makes me cringe a little.  It is not my happiest place on Earth).  The Santa Claus parade was at 5:30 pm.  It was 4:30, the kids were starting to crash, the only thing keeping Aidan sort of content was his soother, but we knew leaving meant more tears from Grace.  So we waited it out.  It was worth it.  Aidan's eyes got as big as little saucers when he saw the trucks go by.  All told there were two Grinches with their dogs, one Mrs. Claus, one St. Nick and a whole lot of festive.

 My Mom with the kids looking at the Ice Sculptures pre-parade.

We left Banff shortly after 6 pm and a snowstorm hit the highway about 7 pm.  We safely arrived home around 8 and tucked the kids into bed.  It was a full full day.  I don't know what I was thinking come Sunday morning. 

See I love Christmas.  I love decorating the house.  I think it should all be this perfect family photo opportunity.  What I was forgetting was that I had two tired kids, and a hubby who doesn't put as much emphasis on it as I do.  And I think it would have gone swimmingly had Aidan not fallen down the stairs.

Here's what happened.  Nate pulled the tree out of our undeveloped basement.  This means the stairs are wood, and lead to a concrete floor.  I went downstairs to find the other boxes we needed, Nate was upstairs with the tree.  Aidan was still wearing his sleeper pyjamas (the ones with the feet) and one of Grace's princess dresses.  This is a point of contention for Nate who thinks he shouldn't be wearing dresses.  I always inform him that he didn't grow up with sisters.  It's just the way it is.  My poor brother wore make-up and had his hair crimped, and I played with Tonka Trucks.  But, Aidan went to come downstairs, which he has always done successfully, but tripped on the dress.  It sent him falling down the stairs, landing on the concrete floor.  We both rushed to him.  Thankfully he was ok.  From this point though, we should have really just said that decorating could wait.  Nate was upset and blaming it on the dress.  Grace just wanted to decorate the tree and kept saying "can I help?  can I help?" (all while she was helping).  Aidan kept getting into the candycanes and was trying to eat them all.  I just wanted the negative energy in the air to disappear. 

 The kids holding their "Baby's 1st Christmas" ornament.

A "ready to give up" Mama.



We got the tree set up, but it involved some mild cursing from Nate, tears from both the kids, and one frustrated Mama.

This all happening two days after reading this post.  And I knew/know that we are not the only family that this happens to.  My girlfriend just told me she decorated the tree by herself while her husband and daughter watched Myth Busters. 

Coming into our home today, what you would see, and all you would know, is that stockings are hung, the tree is up, and gingerbread cookies have been baked.

 As we put them in the oven, Grace said to each one "Don't run, don't run, don't run" :)

We got through it, and I think I should write myself a sticky note for next year "Don't be in a hurry.  Decorating can wait.  No need to rush.  Remember they are little.  Nothing is perfect".