Our family blends the best of many worlds, and it is never more clear than during the month of December. Emily and Hannah have a birthday in December. This month they will turn 10 at an ice skating birthday party. We also celebrate Hannukah, still new to Brianna, Gabby and Levi, during this month. In addition, we have already established traditions for Christmas Eve and Santa will visit Christmas morning. Just as you’re starting to think this is sounding a little insane, get this – this year, since all of our children are going to their other parents’ this holiday, we have to put this whole extravaganza of celebration on the fast track – and be finished with all of it by December 17! Present Palooza.
Here’s how we’re rolling: First of all, as I write this, it is November 25, Black Friday, and all of my holiday gifts are purchased, wrapped, and if necessary, shipped. We have devoted an entire guest room to presents – 8 nights + 2 birthdays + Christmas x 6 = I.N.S.A.N.I.T.Y. I used a different wrapping paper for each night and each event so that I’d have a chance of figuring out what goes to whom and when…
This, of course, was successfully completed through the use of a complicated, color-coded Excel spreadsheet with dates, costs and wish lists. Go ahead, make fun of my ridiculous organizational strategies, but I bet you’re not done with all of YOUR shopping, now are you?
The lists themselves were a bit on the crazy side, ranging from requests from Sam for billion dollar electronics to Brianna’s wish-list item: a fleece blanket…made by Me. Oh, okay. Because I totally know how to do that. Thank goodness for the fabric department lady at Hobby Lobby! (I did it. But, by accident, I have created a blanket that I’m fairly certain will cover her and 10 of her closest friends. But it’s got peace signs on it, so I think it will be ok.)
My husband “cheerfully” tagged along on all of my shopping trips (at least the one’s he knows about) and even took me to the “big city” for a weekend to find the things I couldn’t get in my small town or order online. That is if by “cheerfully” we mean “frowns as he hands over the credit cards, but doesn’t actually complain out loud,” and if by “big city” we mean “a town with more than 3 stores in the mall and an Olive Garden.”
So how are we going to control the extra chaos of Present Palooza this year? Don’t fret, I have a plan.
Birthday Plan:
The girls are having a party NOT in my home. Because who are we kidding? I can often pull off a pretty good home birthday party, but not when I have to celebrate 87 holidays in 12 minutes. In a blessed turn of events, the ice skating rink was open on the right day and in an even more blessed turn of events, the girls want cupcakes instead of their usual three-tired monstrosity of a cake. One gift each, invitations printed from the computer and a pre-season Gap sale on fleece scarves (plus a 50% off coupon) for party favors. Add hot chocolate and some festive winter-themed plates – Ta dah! Birthday for two. Check.
Hannukah is a tad bit more complicated, because of the length, but also because the schedule we’ve had to work out has Hannukah and Christmas overlapping…
So: Hannukah Night 1 – The “Big” present. Something they really want, but not the big surprise – you know the one Mommy and Daddy said “no” to but is probably coming later? Not that one. (That one we save for Santa so we don’t have to over-rule ourselves.) This night is also the first appearance of Latkes, dreidles and homemade donuts.
Hannukah Night 2 – Giving to Each other. The kids made stained glass dreidels, menorahs, cats, planets and, in one case, shoes and then “wrapped” them to give to each other on night 2. They also sent these crafts to aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents in other parts of the country. You’re welcome family. I know what you have always wanted is a see-through green cat to hang in your window. And yes, I am fairly certain that the children will be asking to see them the next time they visit.
Hannukah Night 3 – Family Game Night. On this night, we add to our growing collection of board games and then play together.
Hannukah Night 4 – Skyping with East Coast Grandparents. The presents are exchanged through the mail and then we watch each other open gifts and light the candles together!
Hannukah Night 5 – Skyping with Manhattan Sister and Uncle New York. See Hannukah Night 4, but with more screaming.
Hannukah Night 6 – Clothes! The sixth night has always been clothes, but this year it is also going to be our “Christmas Eve.” So, this year on the sixth night of Hannukah, the kids will open matching Christmas jammies. Just go with it.
Then we skip a night, because it is “Christmas.” Hopefully Santa will not notice that most of my kids are on the naughty list and they will have a lovely morning opening all the things I already said “no” to.
The next night we will have the give-to-others night. On this night, we light the candles at dinner time, but we don’t open presents. Instead, we have donated gifts to children from the Angel Tree at the mall. I’m not sure that the little ones understand anything more than NO PRESENTS?!?! But the big kids get it.
Finally, we’ll wrap up with book night – the last night of Hannukah. Many of the themed nights of Hannukah stem from traditions from my childhood, and this is no exception. Everybody gets a book, some snuggling and reading, and most importantly, more homemade donuts.
Logistically, we have it all worked out: Christmas takes place in the living room, because that’s where the tree goes. Hannukah takes place in the dining room, because Jewish holidays are mostly about eating.
We have lights outside, but they’re white (and pink(!) because my husband loves me THAT much) and we play Christmas music because it’s beautiful. We eat latkes and donuts, but also French fries, because as long as it’s fried in oil, it counts.
I guess what we’ve decided is that it doesn’t matter that some of us are Catholic and some of us are Jewish. It doesn’t matter that our children will probably be the most spoiled hellions on the block after 9 days and nights of presents plus a birthday party. It doesn’t matter that we don’t follow every rule exactly right and it doesn’t even matter that we have total disregard for the actual DATE of things (see our Early Thanksgiving Story from mid-November). The important thing is that we’re all together. And presents.
Merry Everything!
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