Must focus on good things.

So, since I seem to be prone to lists, you get a list. Enjoy!

Okay… let’s, for a moment, focus on the great gobs of weirdness that are currently surrounding my Yule/Christmas season. That being, my children, age 8 and 5.5, STILL have not begged for items or given me lists or have any real idea of what it is that they want.

What kind of kids do I have?

It’s like they take after me or something. I hate making lists of things that I want people to get me. I hate the idea that you get something for someone at this time of year, when you could do something nice for them at any OTHER time of the year without the pretense. But kids are supposed to want the newest toys and the biggest things and… and… they’re supposed to drive the economy.

OMG, what if MY children are heralds of the downfall of western-US-civilization as we know it?

But… I have managed to get them some things, even though I don’t have a clear idea of what it is that they want:

• -StarWars edition LeapFrog Didj (comes with StarWars Math game for him)
• -PJ’s
• -Monster Maker (from Santa)
• and I still need to find for him: DS video game

• -Pink Didj with Chicksters Math game — but she doesn’t know if she really WANTS a Didj yet, and I don’t know if I should take it back and get her the Tag system and a few games OR the Leapster 2 (which connects to the internet as well and plays all the 6 games she already has)… because no matter WHAT I do it will be the WRONG choice, knowing her
• -PJ’s
• -Easy Bake oven (which she has seen, and which completely BLEW the Santa gift, because that was supposed to have been from Santa)
• -Barbie MP3 player (which was on sale for 50% off, so I can’t take it back)

The problem is trying to be equal with the kids. If I take back the Didj now (if she totally doesn’t want it) and I get the Tag or the Leapster 2 I have to make sure that the games are equal as well. BoyChild has a DS with 11 games, I have requested that STBX buy GirlChild a Pink DS and 1 game of her own… I don’t know how interested she really IS in the DS either, though.

I have asked my mother to look for the Tag wand for me for GirlChild. I will talk to my daughter a bit more and see if she can say for sure if she doesn’t want the Didj (I don’t want to take it back if she wants it, I don’t want to keep it if she would prefer another product)… but I need something for her from “Santa” now… and I have to take SOMETHING back (or leave something behind for her birthday?)

More importantly, once I know what I am giving the kids, I can tell STBX what I got them and he can then pick out complementary gifts (ie, games, books, Easy Bake cake mixes) within his “limited” budget. Whatever he thinks I will get them things they want this year because I had to be so tight last year…

I’m also considering getting something for the new man… Home Depot gift card and a movie? Seems consistent with what he likes.

Co-Workers? Well… coffee gift cards (Starbucks for D and C, Tim Hortons for G)

Got my friend G covered already. Serin might have to wait because the scarf isn’t done yet (but not too long because it isn’t ALLOWED to be “too long”…)…

The rest… I’ll parcel out over time… MyssK I will knit something for, but I’m so behind since I need to start socks for GirlChild and I need to finish the scarf for Serin…

And I know that STBX won’t think of the babysitter or the teachers, so I better get things for them too…

I have overspent already… I will have to really REALLY cut back starting January. I have been very very bad this year (but its okay, because Santa doesn’t come to me anyway) so for the next 3 months starting January I will live on a budget — meal plans, keep the heat down, no magazines, pens or blank books, no extra clothes for myself, no going out to eat (other than the 2 fridays per month suppers with the kids), just no extras until I get things completely under control.

Other than being a bit bad (within my means, mind you) my life is good. I remember that and all is well..