snow & lightsabers & such

This is London.

On Christmas morning she is in for BIG TIME disappointment.

We were talking a few days back and she (in the *very knowing* way that only a girl child can truly master) told me about her upcoming Christmas. 

"First, we will wake up and open presents.  Then we will go outside and play in the snow."   

I attempted to explain the fundamental truth that southern Arizona Christmases aren't white.  Ever.  

The response (again, all-knowing):  "No.  We are playing in the snow on Christmas."  I so wish I could similarly dismiss stark reality with a confident, cursory "No".

***

On the home front, I've just begun worrying about Christmas disappointment.  The price of finishing my shopping early, no doubt.  A month ago, when I asked Aidan what he wanted Santa to bring him, the list topper was a Volcano.  I swallowed hard, wondering how I could possibly make that dream come true.  Then I turned to my dear friend Google, checked that off the list, waited for the package on my doorstep, and patted myself on the back.

Now, suddenly, Aidan has discovered that he absolutely, positively needs a red lightsaber for Christmas.  He wanted me to be sure to tell Santa.  "I just want him to bring me a red lightsaber."  Darn that "just". 

***

Luckily, my child's disappointment is mendable within $20.  Poor Mandi needs a crash course on commanding the elements. 

Comments

[lelly]

oh, the *just.* gets me every time!

[Megan]

At least her wish came true this morning, with your neighborhood snow making.
This cracks me up though, I sometimes get overwhelmed with the whole Christmas gifting and making others happy. Talin is insisting on a Unicorn coloring sheet from Hobby Lobby. Tom is putting his foot down and saying absolutely no. I understand, unicorns are a bit femmy. So we got him the dinosaur sheet, will he be dissapointed? Probably, but oh well. As if coloring unicorns would make him any less of a man.

[Melissa Masitis]

I LOVE your post title. I bought Sam what he wanted, and now he wants a gameboy. Uh what? My first urge was to try to figure out how to buy one, but we told him he would have to wait for his birthday. Once again foiled by shopping early!

[Katie]

Oh, a last minute request for Santa. Tricky. And a request for snow? Even trickier! We plan to be driving on Christmas day, so I'm rather *hoping* for a non-white Christmas.

[Tiffany]

Snow Christmas morning would certainly be a shocker! :)

I don't know how you handle all the different requests. It (I'm hoping!) becomes a little easier as the kids get older. But, then, I guess their desires usually get more expensive. Hum.

I do know one family that writes special Santa Claus letters. They write letters to Santa early in the season. Then (I'm assuming after everyone reads them) they burn the letters. I think the letters are supposed to magically transmit directly to the North Pole somehow. That way there is no way to change your list. It is already done and gone!

We don't rely too much on Santa Claus so that wouldn't work for us, but it is an idea...

[Tammy]

How do you explain the unatainable? My Aiden wants that full size white jet at the end of the runway at Gateway airport that we drive by, wrapped in big wrapping paper in the front yard! He even asked Santa. His Grandpa Kleinman said he would work on it.

[Kelly]

Oh my! Remember Rebecca's Sabine asked for 1000 bunnies last year?

So far our requests have been fairly tame. Snow in Arizona! Poor Mandi!

All Emerson can talk about is Julie, the new American Girl doll from the 70's. She thinks her clothes are so beautiful (ack!). She gets so dreamy when she talks about her, I had no choice.

[Michelle]

Snow Christmas morning in Arizona does sound like a dream come true! :)

[Amberly]

Thanks for your thoughts on my blog this weekend amy. I sure hope that the changing of Aiden's mind doesn't cause too much of a wrench in your Christmas! But, yes, you should be grateful that the new request isn't $150!!

[April]

I always worry about the "disappointment" factor. Dave and I went for the final things on Saturday and everything that I didn't buy looked so much better than what I did buy. But this happens every year. We watched Christmas story last night...and I wondered how his dad "just knew."

I know all about Kelly's angst too...why couldn't it be Kit?

All Olivia wants is a puppy...uh, that is never going to happen. And then I sometimes wish I was the kind of mom where anything was possible.

[Jill]

Poor London is right, hopefully she'll forget about the request for snow.

[sista #2]

She can certainly have snow in AZ Christmas morning -she
"just" needs to drive a few hours to see it ;)
I do love that kids here can test out their new bikes,
skates and barbie jeeps -in cotton PJs, barefoot! (our
past Christmas photos prove it) ciao

[Mandi]

Dang, those are cute pictures of London! I hope she's not too disappointed because I don't know how to command the elements (maybe a little more faith. . . ). No snow. The early shopping dilemma sounds like the early Halloween costume problem as well. . . will kids ever stick with one thing????

[Aprilyn]

I think there is always one more "just" that is absolutely NECESSARY!!! :-) I hope nobody is disappointed on Christmas Morning.

[claudissima]

she is adorable, what a cute cute name

[Barb]

So cute how your picture tell a story.
I am worried every year that my kids will be disappointed, but somehow they completely forget their lists on Christmas morning and are happy with whatever they get. So far.

[mandy]

I love London's pout face. She is a cutie.

Poor Mandi.

[jenny c.]

But the beauty of living in AZ is that you can travel only 1.5 hours and be in the snow. I can't even do that. My BIL took his kids to Strawberry tubing this weekend. So fun!

Love the pout face :)

[Hilary]

so cute! I'm glad that Santa seems so understanding and happy to please... except in the case of Commanding the Elements. LOL!

[Marie]

Arizona snow. Poor London. Maybe making paper snowflakes would help her feel better?

[Rachel]

Both of those stories were priceless! The great thing about kids is once the packages are opened, all the old ideas are out. I think you can pretty much get away with anything (up to a certian age that is.) I am not sure about the snow though. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[carlo]

so, are you stocking up on white glitter? or dreft (isn't that the "snowy" laundry soap?}

last year ellie sobbed on our rainy, almost balmy for december, christmas. just breaks your heart

and the pics are too cute. love the sad face.

oh my does every kid *forget* their november must have and insist they asked santa for a light saber (or "my melody" -the friend or sis of hello kitty, of course- stuffed animal? what?????? this is the FIRST i am hearing of the "fave and most important" gift from santa that i can find no where. dang kids. lol)

[sheri]

That's cute. I think Wyatt wants one too but I can't bring myself to get him one- he will only knock his sister out with it.