Oh, it’s countdown.  I’m chipping away at the list but there is still MUCH to be done!!!  There’s Nutcracker, Christmas Eve, Housecleaning, purchasing, wrapping, etc….  I’d say cooking, but as I sent my kids to bed last night  without dinner (totally didn’t realize it until AFTER they had gone to bed!!)

They had a late  night at dance.  Done at 7:30 and home by 8:00.  I was going to make a quick pasta dish; everything was ready, it just had to be thrown together.  When we got home, I scurried them off to do a few things and I got sidetracked myself, so I forgot about the pasta – and feeding my children.

They didn’t ask, they didn’t complain and to be honest, I have no idea how I could forget.  But once again….Mother of the Year award…*Poof*.

T’is the season, right?

Yesterday, I pulled them from school before lunch and I took them (with my mom) to South Coast Plaza to have lunch and see Santa’s place.  I was hoping we would have a picture with Santa, but when they saw they line, they said “NO THANK YOU!” and off we went.

I know we saw Santa with the cousins the other day,  but that was at the country club and I wanted them to be able to sit on his lap and tell him what they wanted.  But guess what….I think they are too old.

Did you know  you can’t go to the mall and just “look”?

Well…I can, but they kids can’t.  They mistook my intentions as a shopping trip and were really disappointed when I said no to EVERYTHING!!!

Did you know kids can go into ANY store and find SOMETHING to buy???

I explained to my kids that Christmas is coming.  And as they have NO idea what to expect on Christmas, I wasn’t going to be purchasing anything for THEM!  This did not go over well!!  Which is a bummer.  By the time we left, I had one jovial mom and two kids with “stink eye”.

So…my afternoon went a little ‘belly up’.  But lunch was great.

However, I realized my kids have turned a corner.  They have their wants in mind and when they don’t get their way, they kind of make you pay for it a bit!!  SOOO…I told them I’m sorry for taking them out of school; it won’t happen again!!!  To which they both whined!

Oh the joys of being a mother!!

Stink eye or not, I’m glad I took the girls out.  When we got to the mall, we had to stand in a small line to order lunch; when we left, the line was out the door.  The  mall was getting busier and we dodged the craziness.

Why South Coast Plaza?  Well, it’s one of those things we take for granted.  It’s a nice large mall and it’s got a Carousel inside.  I think about going there often, but as I’m not a shopper (or even a looker for that matter), I never go.  But it’s a fun place to show my kids – almost like an amusement park.

My goal this season is to take advantage of every moment possible.  Christmas is less than 5 days away!!!  By this time in 5 days, the wrapping paper will have been flung all about the house! (provided I get the gifts wrapped).

It’s coming really fast.  And after that the girls go back to dance over break.  Competition season is quickly on the heels of Christmas.

So, yes…I will take advantage of every minute that I can!  As far as I can see, I’m simply running out of time. So why not steal a few moments here and there with my kids!  I do, after all, still like them!

Happy Wednesday!