Makin' a list and checkin' it twice

• Christmas Lights: Up
• Presents: Wrapped
• Tree: Decorated
• Christmas Cards: Mailed

(And really, anyone who knows me knows that I would definitely check my list way more than twice :) I AM OFFICIALLY READY FOR CHRISTMAS!!

Our trip to the North Pole

Tehani and Kobe are eight and (almost) ten. And although they're probably a bit old for a ride on the Polar Express, that didn't stop me from packing up the fam yesterday for a night of fun on a train. The kids were good to play along. When the "elves" came through to ask what they wanted for Christmas they both listed off some presents (though I did catch Tehani rolling her eyes at the elf when he said that "he would talk to Santa about it.")

Kobe and Tehani have been on the Polar Express before (we bought tickets for them to take my Mom and Dad as their Christmas present a few years back) so I was glad that Norm and I finally got to get in on the fun. I mean, who knew that you could take the train all the way to the North Pole--and be back 45 minutes later? All I know is that after singing Christmas carols all night (with Kobe leading some of the songs since we were sitting right by the microphone :) I'm definitely in the mood for Christmas!

You know its time to shop when...

So Kobe was talking on the phone tonight with my sister. Cynthia was asking him what he wanted for Christmas. Kobe was listing off the usual...new games for his DS, some Pokemon cards...and some underwear.

I was surprised by the whole underwear comment so I start listening in. Cynthia, of course, had to ask..."Are you sure you want underwear for Christmas?"

Kobe proceeded to explain to Cynthia that all of his underwear is too small. Funny that he decides to tell her this--and not me! It's even funnier since Cynthia is always giving me a hard time about the fact that I make my kids wear their clothes too long (You don't want to know how short his pajama pants are)

Anyway, it's also kind of ironic that my mom is not here to appreciate Kobe's request for a useful gift. My mother was the queen of "practical" gift giving. I remember year upon year of watching cousins and other various relatives open their Christmas presents only to discover some wrapped socks or, if you had been really good that year, underwear.

The good news is that Kobe can now cross this necessity off of his Christmas wish list. Being the good mom that I am, I just paid a visit to the local WalMart and Kobe now has new (and larger) underwear...and pajama pants. (Am I good mom or what! :)

Aged to Perfection

So my mom is celebrating a birthday today. And since she is still busy "living it up" in the tropical paradise known as Tahiti, my only option is to send her a birthday greeting blog-style. So here are the Top Five Reasons Why I'm Wishing My Mom a Happy Birthday:

1. She put up with me as a teenager. I'm kind of dreading the fact that I will one day have two teenagers of my very own.

My only hope is that they will be nothing like I was during those angst filled teen age years...

2. My mom would put Martha Stewart to shame. And probably Miss Manners too. Growing up, I learned to write thank you notes and I don't believe that I wore pants to school until I was at least in the 4th grade. (My mother didn't start wearing pants until I had moved away to college.) I should point out that in her old age, she has kind of gone lax on her dress codes as she now has even been knows to wear...*gasp* jeans.

3. Adopt a Grandparent: I frequently have friends ask if my mom is interested in adopting THEIR kids as grandkids. I must admit that I am kind of spoiled when it comes to the babysitting department. My mom is always the first I call when I know I am going to need a sitter for the kids (and my hubby) when I'll be out of town for work. I'll just assume that (contrary to the pic) she is usually awake when she is watching the kids.

4. Grandma is just a fancy name for Travel Guide. Did I mention that Kobe and Tehani's favorite time of the year is summer break--aka travel time with Grandma. From Chicago to Tahiti to everywhere in between, the kids count down the days until school is out and their summer travel tour begins.

5. For making me...ME. I mean, she did birth me after all (and I've birthed kids--I know how much it hurts :)

But I do realize that much of who I am today (crazy OCD tendencies and all) comes from the great job she did as a mom.

So Happy Birthday Mommy. You deserve it!!

Only 54 days left until...

Did you know there are only 54 shopping days left until Christmas? I know because most years I usually try to have ALL of my Xmas gifts purchased and wrapped by now (OK, October 1st has always been my deadline in the past, but I'm blaming this year's total lack of Christmas readiness on my EMBA program :)

Anyway, when I realized earlier this week that not only had October 1st come and gone but that November 1st was going to blow right past me as well without a single wrapped Christmas present in sight, I started to panic...

And I decided that I would at least get my Christmas cards done.

Thanks to Simone for coming over to play photographer on Saturday. The pics came out great--with the exception of these pics posted here where someone always managed to have their eyes closed or their mouth open (which is sooo NOT the photographer's fault :)


But now I can officially cross "2009 Christmas Cards" off my list.

Next stop: Christmas Shopping!