The Gift of Not Sharing (Microwave Caramels, DO NOT STIR)
Sometimes I give the gift of not sharing. Like today. Today is Christmas Eve, and our family tradition is for me to make pan after pan of caramels and for the kids to wrap them and then we go caroling to the neighbors and take bags of delicious homemade caramels. I love it. The kids […]
Hiding the Presents
With five kids running around a smallish house, there are blessed few places to stash a super-secret Christmas gift that I want to have as a surprise on Christmas morning. Forever I’ve just had to tell the kids, “If you want a surprise, then stay out of my bedroom closet from November 15th on.” Then […]
Zaneisms
Those of you who know me know I have a son who thinks. And thinks. And theorizes. And philosphizes. And speaks these often. We call these musings “Zaneisms.” Here’s one he spouted wandering through the house one day. It’ll likely make its way into the family Christmas letter: “Why do they always say no two snowflakes […]
Fine. FINE. Buy the Kid a Gun.
For the past couple of weeks we’ve been in negotiations, my husband and I. It’s our annual pre-Christmas ritual. I make a big, overblown plan for what to get each of our five kids. I write it in my little “Christmas notebook.” Then I look at how ridiculous I’m being and scribble out most of […]