that’s not the Santa I remember
We got back from NYC last night–landisdad had to work today–and I’m happy to say that this year’s Christmas with landisdad’s mom was MUCH better than last year’s (even though last year’s included an amazing Caribbean vacation).
We got to see a variety of gallery shows while we were in NY, including a hole dug in a floor (prompting landisdad to wish that we had thought of this, when we had our basement finished) and a show in which work by my MIL appeared. And then there was the santa-making chocolate factory.
Now, I will confess that I read the online review of the hole in the floor before we went. But boy, did I wish that I’d read the santa review too! Because I wasn’t really prepared to have to explain the purpose of a butt plug to either of my children at their tender ages.
Fortunately, the kids both didn’t seem to notice the giant words “Butt Plug” on every box. Seriously, do you know how much a four-year-old boy likes the word ‘butt?’ Do you think I could ever have gotten him out of there? Their main complaint was that the free samples were all dark chocolate, and they prefer milk.
I also got to make my annual pilgrimage to Kate’s Paperie to buy my calendar for next year. At this point, I don’t even know if I’m going to keep using a paper calendar–I’m so addicted to Google Calendar, and its shiny, multi-colored, printable and daily update-ability. But I have to have an excuse to go to Kate’s, at least once a year. I managed to keep the financial damage to a minimum, but it was only through a great deal of restraint.
On Christmas Eve, we got to see the NY City Ballet production of The Nutcracker, which the Bee has been wanting to see since her great-grandmother sent her a DVD of it when she was about 3. The Bee sat on the edge of her seat for almost the entire performance. Before the show, we weren’t sure how the Potato would deal with it, so we agreed that landisdad would take him home early, if necessary. But I’m happy to report that, despite having a brief moment of cranky near the end of Act I, he chowed down on some M & Ms during intermission, then fell asleep curled up in his seat during Act II.
And then, finally, it was Christmas. Too much food, lots of new books, and of course, chocolate (though of the Buche Noel, not bizarrely-molded, variety). The kids even let us sleep till 6:30!
