Santa Uses Amazon?!?

With having 3 kids, trying to juggle their activities and my to-do list is quite the feat. Last year and this year I have resorted to doing a lot of my Christmas shopping online.  I am also starting to do it for birthdays as well.  In the last few weeks packages have been showing up on my porch.  Sometimes I open them in front of the kids because I know exactly what it is and I don't mind if the kids see because it's not for them. But more often than not, I'm starting to squirrel them away in Santa's workshop (aka my guest bedroom). It's starting to look like a UPS/FedEx drop off in our guest room with all the packages I'm acquiring. And soon, probably this weekend, I'm going to have to start opening all the packages and really get an idea of how many gifts the kids have.

Last week when Bug and I pulled into the driveway after coming home from the gym, she noticed that, yet again, we have another package on the porch.  After I freed her from her car seat she starts jumping up and down and says, "Look, Mama! Another package! Another package! Open it, open it!"  I tell her, "no" and start to bring everything in.  

Bug: "Why not, Mama?"

DM: "I'm not going to do it now"

Bug: "Let's open it. I want to see it!"

DM: "Nope."

Bug: "Why not?"

DM: "I think Santa uses Amazon and there might be presents in there."

Bug: (In an awed hushed whisper) "Santa uses Amazon?"

Bug: (with squeals of delight)  "SANTA USES AMAZON!!!! YEAH, SANTA USES AMAZON"

Well it cured her curiosity. She no longer asks to open the packages, but every time a new one shows up on our porch, she says, "Santa uses Amazon." :)

Made It Another Week

Big Kids Playing Well Together

Last week Hubby was away all week (weekends included) for a business trip. This was trip #4 out of 5 from September until the end of the year. Next week is number 5 :(

However, this past week wasn't too bad. I still don't sleep very well when he travels, but the kids were fantastic while he was gone.  It's like a switch was flipped and the kids found out that playing together was a lot of fun.  The big kids spent a lot of time playing together and doing it well.  It made Hubby's time away so much easier on me.

During the time he was away Mr. Bananas learned to crawl and crawl well. He also learned to pull himself up and stand. He gets such a kick out of it.  He looks at me for affirmation. I cheer and applaud and the starts waving one hand in the air to cheer with me. He also slaps both hands on whatever he has used to haul himself up.  He's so proud of himself. It's sad that Hubby has to miss these milestones, but I try to send pictures.

My parents were a big help by coming over twice last week to help with bedtimes.  My aunt and uncle also came over to give me a hand with the house. When Hubby is away I just don't have time to clean up the house. I'm so busy trying to do everything else, I don't have time to keep up with the housework.

Getting Along

I survived his week away and I dread next week. But I know I can do it and I look forward to him being in town before Christmas. And I will enjoy his time home before he heads out in February for a 2-3 week business trip.