Officially old or just getting smarter as I get older? That is the real question I'm often faced with. Now, this week the question is brought on by the fact that for the first time in my life I have a fake Christmas Tree. If I didn't live in CA there is no way I would have a fake tree because I love the tradition of going to bundle up and pick out a tree. BUT, our tree last year was a disaster and running down to the closest Home Depot parking lot just isn't in my let's be jolly Christmas agenda. It didn't really 'smell' like Christmas either and your house HAS to smell like a fir tree. Let's add to the list that it was so dry and dead not long after we put it up I was constantly vacuuming up needles, which didn't really enhance my jolly spirit for the occasion. SO, I'm doing my part to save the trees. That's the way I'm lookin' at it. It may be the only way that I'm feeling good about a hunk of plastic sportin' my Christmas ornaments.
But, the one thing I'm not quite old enough for is a non kid ornament tree. Every year when I see these GORGEOUS trees that are decorated with beautiful glass ornament and ribbons I briefly think to myself that I can't wait to have a beautiful tree like them. The comparison of these trees to mine would kinda be like if we were to have a tree prom these trees would be the popular kids dressed to the nines while my tree may be the dorky one with my group of nerd friends. But, every year I make the same decision. I decide I don't want to be popular (in tree terms) I want to be fun and full of life. I want memories embedded into my brain every glance I take at 'Christmas'. My tree = love. There will be a time my kids don't jump up and down and oh and ah over the fun ornaments or the little ones they made me will be about disintegrate but until then, I guess I'm just going to stay...not quite old enough for a grown-up tree.
This little part of the week melts my heart. Chantz's class sent home a note saying that they were going to do a pajama drive through Scholastic Books. It's a program Scholastic runs that for every pair of pajama donated Scholastic pairs it with a book and then it's given out to a child in need. Melt me just like a snowman in 90 degrees why don't ya. So, overall I think Chantz had a total donation of 18 pajamas from friends and family and then some we bought to donate too. On the way to school the day we took the pajamas in he said to me, 'Mom, do I get a special award for giving this many pajamas or even get announced in front of my class?' I then replied to him, 'No Chantz, you don't get any special reward or you won't be announced. What you will get is a warm heart knowing that you did something nice and you will be silently thanked many times over when a little kid just like you and Sutton get to have a story at bed and can be nice and cozy in a new pair of pajamas. Many times the absolute best things you do will go unnoticed by many but will make you feel really, really good.'
You know, as he thought about that for a few moments I then looked over my shoulder at him in the backseat where a big smile formed on his face; he got it.
I forgot that I took the wishbone out of the turkey this year. My mom used to save the wishbone every year and it would hang above the stove drying out until my brother and I convinced her to let us snap it. I made the stakes a tad different though because I think you should have a wish regardless if you end up with the biggest end of the wishbone. SO...you both get one wish but the person with the biggest piece at the end of it all got an extra. The winner was...
SUTTON! Makes me laugh because he has no idea what a wish even is! I think he left Chantz with about an inch!
Another milestone that's come and gone for yet another week. This week marks Sutton's first cleaning at the dentist. Better him than me. I try really hard to make the dentist a super fun field trip for my kids. THAT IS A CHALLENGE FOR ME! I'm am TERRIFIED of the dentist. It actually tops my top 5 things in the world that make me sweat at just the mention of them. To round out the list in case you were wondering are 1.)Snakes 2.) Spiders 3.)Heights 4.)Flying 5.) Dentists. We'll dive in there at a different point in my existence.
So, being terrified of the dentist stems from the fact that right before I had braces put on my dentist decided to drill my teeth with no novocaine since I had some small cavaties that he didn't want to get worse. Too bad there were nerves involved in that drilling. Just typing that sentence made chills go up and down my spine and I've shivered now twice. I also too vividly remember that huge plastic mouth guard thingy they used to use for fluoride treatments. Ugh, my tongue used to hurt from keeping it so far up so it couldn't touch it! It tasted horrible!!!! Now, my mouth is watering from writing THAT sentence! Man, kids you have no idea how good you have it! Chocolate mint fluoride and little prizes after your visit is over! You guys have GOT IT MADE!
Sutton fell asleep on the ride over and slept until we were beside the dentist chair. He really was still in a sleep induced coma and just kinda laid there without budging. The hygenist was extremely shocked that a 3 year old who had never had his teeth cleaned didn't move a muscle. Don't worry though, I did. I had the fist clench going on for him.
"the fist clench going on for him"- I like that. I also like how you explained the rewards of giving to Chantz and that he understood. Especially because it's only natural for a kid to expect SOME sort of recognition for something like that, so the fact that he understood the reward was going to be better than an announcement or certificate is wonderful.
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