Why can't I just craft a few gifts and completely avoid the consumer rush? Make some home-made soap for instance and some cute rag dolls, paint my own xmys cards...hahhahahahaha. Madness. No time. The hardest is shopping for my Mom and my husband. Not that they're picky. I'm picky. Stuff is just stuff. Kind of turns me off, all this stuff...Who needs anything, really? Nobody I know needs anything that can be bought in a store. Except my kids, who are all too big for their clothes. And that's what Santa will be splurging on mostly. Clothes are a luxury why not get them for xmas? My aunt only had 2 dresses growing up in the 50's/60's. One for school, one for church. This is totally true. (And is probably why she has made sure she has never wanted for anything since). Conversely, I had everything I needed and more growing up and find my life-style severly curtailed now. Interesting. While our baby-boomer parents are able to travel, afford expensive houses, cars, entertainment, their loser offspring can't find appropriate employment and will possibly be living in cardboard boxes at retirement. Anger suddenly from nowhere . Change topic.


This Xmas my eldest will again be with her father and not with us. We're like the dormatory people. But since we may have to move far, far away, I thought it would be best not to take issue. Seems the important moments must be found in unusual places if there's going to be opportunity for them. Like between msn and toothbrush-time (3min). Seriously regret her learning how to use the computer for socialising. Must set limits.

The little guys will not notice the turbulence in our xmas experience and that's a relief. They're happy as can be. School has been a constant source of fun since Saint Nic on the 6th. They've had parties, concerts, theatre...It's a "lovely time of the year".

This week-end we took them to a medieval market at a real castle, which thrilled Little Guy totally. I have a 5 and a 6 yr old with strangely developed interests in architecture and engineering. Towers, pipes, windows, rooms cut into rock, they genuinely love it. Perhaps the credit is due to the kapla blocks they've been building with for years. I highly recommend them. They're plain pine rectangles all cut the same size and the kids can do amazing things with them. The "astructions" are becoming more and more complicated and they've recently requested another box. They prefer it to the other building toys they have ie; lego, duplo, megabloks...I am happy because i am acheiving one of my grass-roots-mama goals with little effort. (all the other goals from my granola years seem to have given way to convenience, such as prepared foods, tv, barbie, etc) (we still only eat whole grain bread)

Anyway, gottagetacuppacoffee...and start preparing for the feast!