Christmas . . . To Give or to Give More?

I think my girls had a great christmas!  They loved the lights, the tree and of course all the food! They loved getting presents . . . and were so excited for everyone to open presents that they picked out.

Apparently though, my plan with distracting Abby from the American Girl doll with other gifts from her list did not work.  At the end of the day . . . she was still wondering why Santa didn't bring her the gift she had specifically asked him for . . . the thing that she wanted the most.
Abby still really believes in Santa . . . and doesn't understand why he didn't just make the doll in his workshop and give it to her.  He gave it to other girls.   She told me that she knew that "I" couldn't buy it for her because it was $105.  I asked her how she knew how much it was . . . she told me that she saw it in the catalog.  I told her that maybe Santa just knew that she didn't play with dolls all that much and must have figured she would use her other gifts more often.

I have to say . . . I feel terrible.  I feel like we are in a version of the Christmas Story movie, and Abby is a nice little girl that asks Santa for something . . . only the movie doesn't end right!  She didn't get her doll!  Ben feels like she will be fine, and that disappointment is healthy . . . especially where she did get other things she asked for.  I agree that it is fine for kids to not get EVERYTHING they ask for.   But since she didn't get MOST of the things on her list . . . and since the American Girl doll apparently was the most wanted gift . . . I feel like this is a terrible situation!  20 years from now . . . she will remember this Christmas because of the disappointment!  What have I done?
I am tempted to find a doll now . . . and then put it under the tree . . . hidden away in the back corner.  And then, when we take the Christmas tree down, Abby will find it . . . and maybe think it was there all along?????  HELP?????  Do I let this go or fix it?????

Wish List

I don't get my kids EVERYTHING on their wish list for Christmas . . . but I do like to make sure that they at least get the ONE thing that they really want. That ONE thing that they keep asking for . . . the thing they tell Santa that they want. Until this year.

Abby this year is asking for an American Girl doll. If you ask me . . . I think these dolls are EXTREMELY pricey (they are around $100-150 or more!) . . . it is not going to work in our budget . . . and Abby doesn't even really play with dolls . . . so why she is asking for one, I don't know. But I feel like if we bought her one, it would get played with a handful of times and then sit on the shelf. So this gift is not happening.

Halle is asking for a REAL LIVE kitten. She already has picked out 3 names to choose from for it. I know that she would LOVE having a cat . . . but what a commitment! I'll end up taking care of it . . . and I don't EVER want to own ANY animals with fur. So this gift isn't going to happen either.

I had my girls make wish lists for Santa, and they did have quite a few other items on there. So they ARE getting things that were on their list . . . just not those things they told Santa that they want. Am I a terrible mother?

Hair Cuts

My sister in-law is visiting this week and luckily has some sweet hair cutting skills.  She has cut all of our hair . . . but it is Gwen's hair that I am the most excited about.  Gwen has had the shaggiest hair for so long!  Thanks so much Liz!!

Gingerbread House

Yes, this is about what our gingerbread house looked like.  In the past, I have bought the kits . . . and I really recommend those!  This year, I decided to try making homemade gingerbread and using up halloween candy for the houses.  I guess I am supposed to put the house together and let it sit overnight and such . . . I didn't do that.  I wanted to just make it.  It stayed together for a few minutes, and then fell apart after decorating the roof.  We decided to just eat it, something I don't think we have ever done.   Next time, we'll make these things AFTER dinner and not right before!

Let it Snow!

Finally . . . yesterday we had some real snow!

911

I am RELIGIOUS about quiet time/nap time in the afternoons.  Today, after a crazy morning, I told Halle that I really needed a nap.   Abby is home sick today, so Abby, Gwen and I took naps and Halle had "quiet time" downstairs.  

Towards the end of "quiet time", there was knocking on the door.   Abby and Halle came to tell me there was a man knocking on the door.  I thought to myself that it must be a delivery guy that often delivers books and CD's for Ben's side business.  I told them that "he'll just leave the boxes by the door . . . I'm not going to get up right now." 

The guy KEPT knocking.  Halle again came to me, saying that he was still there.  I asked her if she had looked out the window.  She said that she had.  I figured he must be so persistent since he knew someone was home.  He started knocking AGAIN as I was coming down the stairs . . . LOUDLY knocking.  I was so mad. I was thinking to myself . . . "why is he so persistent . . . just leave the boxes on the doorstep!"

I answer the door expecting a delivery guy . . . to find a POLICEMAN. He was on his walkie talkie or whatever it is . . . and told someone that I had answered the door.  Then he told me that he had gotten about 15 calls into 911 . . . from a little girl!  He said he was getting ready to BREAK INTO OUR HOUSE to find out if that little girl was okay or not!  He also said that her calls were getting in the way of other calls.

I was SO surprised, obviously.  And SO embarrassed.   I must of looked like some drunk/unfit mother.   I mean . . . I have no idea how long he had been knocking before I answered the door . . . and then when I do . . . I have just woken up and am a little out of it.

Anyway, I asked Halle if she had been playing with the phone.  She said she had.  I told him I had had no idea, and that I would talk to her about it.

I am just waiting for social services to show up to see if I am a fit mother.  I feel like I must have looked SO suspicious . . . of something!

Ultrasound Says . . .

We're having a BOY!!!!!!  I think I am still in shock!

Here's how it went at the ultrasound . . . .

Ultrasonographer: " Do you want to find out what you are having?"

Me: " YES!"

Ultrasonographer:  "What do you already have?"

Me: "We have three girls . . . I think we just make girls."

Ultrasonographer: "Well . . . it looks like you make boys too!"

Me: "WHAT?  Are you serious????"