I did NOT get that low-sodium cookbook I was positive I was getting, which was a BONUS not to receive! Instead, I got PEACE and joy, and surprise and delight in my children’s eyes as they discovered all of their gifts. I got naps and treats, and calmness and relaxation. Yesterday AND today.
Today I got a spring-like day of 41 degrees, and an awesome walk outside to some great music and my very own thoughts. I got sunshine to warm my face, no soggy snow, a skip in my step, and genuine good feelings today, a nice cross-over from a very good day of Christmas yesterday.
I got a husband who came home from work today at noon, who is having maybe even more fun playing the Wii than the kids are having. I haven’t seen this much bonding with the family since we went to Disney World. Wait. That wasn’t bonding. That was hell.
I got 26 hours and 10+ years’ worth of home videos transferred to seven DVDs where I can watch my children zoom through their childhood at a moments’ notice. I can watch as Ajers build towers out of paper towel rolls and then knock them down as he loved to do at age three, and listen to him as he tells me how he, “Definitely, definitely loves his presents” at age four.
I can watch Diva say, “Hi Steffy!” at age two when she decided that’s what she was going to call me instead of Mommy. I can watch as she holds her newborn brother and caresses his cheek. I can watch as poor little Tukey spends HOURS rocking in the swing, stuck in the corner of the family room, while the other two kids danced to “Turn The Beat Around” in their t-shirts and undies and diapers. Now I know how I survived those years. I kept Tukey happy in the swing, and I never clothed my children!
I love having these snippets of their childhoods available to skim whenever I want. I love looking back to see what their bedrooms looked like; what the house they grew up in used to look like; how CALM I actually was as a mom to three little kids under the age of four. I love knowing I did it and I love knowing that I’m kind of a good mom, and that my kids are happy, that my kids were happy, and that they’ve had a great Christmas, and they are completely totally loved by my husband and me, and to me, there is absolutely no other gift better in the world!
I hope your Christmas was special and memorable, full of surprises and love!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
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37 comments:
What an incredibly thoughtful gift! WOW. I'm blown away, and so happy for you that it wasn't a cookbook! Sounds like it was exactly the kind of holiday you really needed. YAY for you!
Jules
House of Jules
Now THAT is a great gift! A definate upgrade from the cookbook! What a fantastic Christmas it sounds like you had!
Awesome present! And I hope to be half as good a mom as you someday. Those three are loved and safe and cared for and they obviously know it. You're doing a great job!
P.S. I just learned how much my Grandma, mom to 11, drank during the day. Crawling home from the bar with the neighbor lady after drinking Harvey Wallbangers. God bless her. It was hard and she made it and every single kid cried at her funeral because she was such a great mom.
THAT is a great gift! Thank you for the Christmas wishes. It was a lovely, loving day here too.
Oh, I would LOVE that gift. What a GREAT idea!!!
Yes, better than a cookbook.
How great is that! We're all very jealous! I'm amazed that you have video of the third one, though. That usually doesn't happen. LOL
Melisa
Suburban Scrawl
and
Remembering Ruby
*sigh* Thist post made me smile. :o)
WHOOPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whoa! Everybody! Wait! When I said, "I got..." and wrote about the DVDs, I didn't mean it as I got it AS A GIFT... I GOT THOSE AS A GIFT FOR THE FAMILY!!!!!
THEY DIDN'T COME FROM MR. MANIC but WERE GIVEN TO MR. MANIC AND THE KIDS FOR CHRISTMAS BY ME!
When I started reading these comments I was like, Oops, now everyone thinks the DVDs came from Mr. Manic! Yikes!
But, he did get me some GREAT things... like I DID get some personal trainer sessions, believe it or not... HE TRICKED ME, and had actually PURCHASED THAT GIFT before I even guessed it that time!
And I got a spa treatment, some shirts, jammies, a certificate to my fave restaurant, the new phones I wanted for the house, so he did a good job, but the DVDs, I get credit for! LOL!!!
Sorry for the confusion!!!!!
Merry Christmas Week!!!
Love the part about 1 in the swing and the other two unclothed!
You've inspired me to transfer/condense all my unwatched video tapes!
What a nice gift to have. Sweet memories.
I got the family a Wii and it seems Hubby is into it way more than anyone else. Can we say addiction? Thank goodness he went back to work today.
I'm glad you had such a great Christmas Manic!
Can I come over and play the Wii?
I played the Wii a little at my nephews on Christmas day..playing tennis I whacked the wall with my hand and that was it..back to the beer for me.
oh, it sounds like such a nice Christmas.
Great gift ideas by you and Mr. Manic. I'd love personal trainer sessions!
Big juicy hugs, MM! What a great Christmas!
Those old videos always make me appreciate being IN THE MOMENT. After I watch them and wish I could go back and squeeze those chubby little toddlers again, I fall in love with my kids all over again and I can then see their little toddler faces in their big kid smiles!
Must be great to have those DVDs!
When are you comin over to do mine?
I have some wine....I mean, Appletinis!!
What an absolutely wonderful post! I'm so glad you had a Happy Christmas!!
Sounds like a wonderful day! wishing you all the best in the year to come.
I am so glad you had a relaxing Christmas! The dvd's are a priceless gift.
So glad to see that things were so great for you guys this Christmas. I too was totally blessed to be with my family this year instead of being cooped up in the hospital knocking on deaths door like last year. What a difference a year makes and lots of prayer.
Lovely! The cookbook would have been a bummer. Now for clean up and post holiday polishing off the cookies, yes? Writer/blogger Stephen in Germany sent me tons of yummy Euro treats. Like a German version of your Tim Tams. Our chocolate in America stinks by comparison.
Today is my birthday - come commiserate at my place!
sounds wonderful...may our new year be as bright.
You've been tagged!
Melisa
Suburban Scrawl
What a lovely post. And those DVDs are so much better than a cookbook, low sodium or otherwise.
You lucky, lucky mom!
Seasons greetings, and all the best to the Manic family in the new year!
Wishing you more happiness than a happy person can be for 2008!
You guys all ROCK!!! Healthy and Happy New Years to all of you!!!
Happy New Year to you too!
Warm family fuzzies -- love it.
What a beautiful post. Thanks for reminding me what the season is all about. I think in my twisted mind I had begun thinking it was about booze and survival.
Happy New Year!
Oh this was great! I was another mother whose child wasn't fully clothed until they entered school! LOL
Hope your 2008 is ultra wonderful!
Just catching up after being away for too long.
I really do think you need to point me in the direction of that low sodium cook book.
Glad you had a wonderful Christmas.
I love you you totally get that there are WAY better presents than a low-sodium cookbook. You're a rockin mom. If you ever doubt it, you've got proof, right there on DVD!
Your gift of the DVD's is one your family will treasure forever. What a wonderful thing to do.
Happy New Year!
Happy new year Manic..to you and the manics...
How precious! Your anecdotes help me look forward to the years ahead with Tree Faerie.
Happy New Year! May the coming year be more wonderful than the last!
what a great gift you gave yourself! i mean the family. and your hubby did do great (on the addendum) looked like a fab christmas! hope the love is still flowing. Happy new year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR MANIC!!
This is beautiful. I hope whenever you're having a not-so-good day you go back and read this! Happy New Year!
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