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Showing posts with label santa claus is coming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label santa claus is coming. Show all posts

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Dear Santa, Just Forget It

Officially, there remains less than three weeks until Christmas.

That means, I only have a few more opportunities to ensure that Santa handles his business.

Hubby is taken care of.  Technically.

I mean, I purchased and received the gift via UPS, so technically, he’s taken care of, it’s just that I have a sneaking suspicion that I’m gonna want to hang on to the receipt. 

We have a history.

Mimi, Papa, and Uncle Brother are still not addressed.

I have some ideas.  Sorta.

BFF.  Done!  Something about shopping for her is fun and easy.  Maybe it’s because I just buy something for myself, and give it to her. 

This somewhat faulty technique actually leads to me buying her at least 3 gifts every season, because I usually wind up keeping the first two items.  Huge believer in the buy-a-gift-for-yourself philosophy.

The dudes…

They are a whole other story.

You would think that shopping for a few small children would be easy.

In some ways it is because you  know that they are pretty much gonna like whatever you get them just about enough to play with it for 2 days before it, a) breaks, b)gets lost, or c)gets boring.

But, Hubby and I (aka Mr.. and Mrs.. Claus) like to give them each, at least, one gift they are gonna LOVE.  Like really love, long enough to ensure that neither a, b, or c above happen.

We call it the “Marquee Gift”.

And, we try to do that every year for each of them.

Because, Santa is not really a get-a-gift-you-sorta-kinda-like type of guy.  Santa, is in the business of making wishes come true.

And, this Santa has been pretty good about that.  We have a track record of excellence to uphold.  After previous years featuring such dream makers as the Wii, a scooter, a bouncy horse, a DS, and the like, Santa can’t start slippin’ now!

Not because of the kids, like I said, they are fine with a pack of Bakugan cards and a GI Joe man (but, no shirts!  They have a strong distaste for the receipt of clothing from the big guy because apparently elves are not seamstresses, they are builders, game programmers, and the like.).

But, Dumb Santa, s/he has a personal standard to uphold.  That’s all.

And, this year is tough. 

#2 and #3 are covered.

#2 has distinct wishes that can easily be fulfilled; a DS (like Bruver) and a Razor (you guessed it, like Bruver).  Check and check.

#3 would be happy with a glass of milk, a cookie, a 6 piece nugget meal, 2 packs of fruit snacks, a side of mashed potatoes, and a biscuit, with butter and jam.

Instead of high cholesterol, we think we are gonna get him a horsey, a train, and a car set, because he will like that too.

But #1…he’s tough.

When asked what he’d like for Christmas he answers, “Maybe a new game?  Or a book?  I’m not sure can I tell you later?  When I think of it?”

And, he’s been supplying that same answer to every person who asks since November.

He even passed up an opportunity to speak to Santa (I mean, one of Santa’s right hand dudes who visit various retail locations in Santa’s stead since the big guy is super busy prepping for Operation Hook Up the Nice Kids. Hey!  Had to tell them something to explain the stupid red headed Santa they had at the mall last year!)saying, “I don’t  know what to tell him yet!”

Really?  Because it’s December already and Santa sorta needs to know if you expect the Elves to get it together.  I mean, labor laws will  not allow him to work those people all night at the last minute just because some kids can’t bother to throw Santa a frickin’ bone before Dec. 24th!

So…in an effort to get him to focus, I forced him to write his letter to Santa, after we did this cool craft inspired by Buckeroomama from Mamahood, Among Other Things.  I changed them slightly, but hers are still way, Way, WAY, better.

I mean, by now, you know I’m not a hugely crafty person (read: have two hands and ten thumbs), but I figured it’s a holiday…let the poor children have some creative fun.

Only guess what!  They still hate doing crafts as much as they did the last time I forced offered them one.

Half way through they were complaining and ready to go back to playing “guys” (aka action-figures-fight-and-try-to-annihilate-each-other-with-booby-traps-weapons-and-mind-control).

But, I fake cried to get them to stick with it (they aren’t the first males to fall for that trick!) so, here you have it…The Official Dumb Family Christmas Craft…

santa card

And, the letter on the inside…

santa card inside

Absolutely no help for me, I mean Santa. 

I guess someone will be getting a book and a Wii game.

Whoopdefrickindo.

Lucky for me, my boy is super easy to please and will love his gift, and me, and even Chubby Cheeks regardless of what it is.

And, with our extra money not spent on buying things meant to make Mommy feel better for sucking during the year extra gifts, we’ve decided to do this instead: Oxfam America Unwrapped.

Still deciding if we are gonna go with the poop (he thought this was funny), the books (he obviously loves to read), or the worms (because are there people who DON’T love worms?).

I’ll let you know when we decide!

KEEP THOSE PHOTO CONTEST ENTRIES COMING!  YOU HAVE 6 DAYS LEFT TO GET YOUR PICTURES IN TO WIN.  CHECK OUT THE RULES AND JUNK HERE!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Santa Claus is Coming

But, before he does there is a whole butt load of crap to do.

I, for one, still need to shove all the Halloween/Fall decor in a box and lug it up to the attic.

Santa needs to be written to, menus and guest lists must be made, Christmas decorations have to be attended to.

But, before all that I have to consider the dreaded Christmas cards.

The time of year when I dress my kids up, smash them all in front of the fireplace, and then bark at them for an hour to sit still, look at the camera, stop hitting your brother, don't blink, don't scratch, don't pick, don't breath, and in the name of all that is holy, LEAVE THE EFFING HAT ON OR SO HELP ME!

I wind up with a series of these...

The STOP-IT-BRUVER-I-CAN'T-BEAVE shot.


The hey-you-a-cutie-oop-dat's-me-in-dat-mirror shot.


The BANG!-BANG!-BANG!-I-wuv-Hanny-Manny shot.


The sugar-makes-me-drunk shot.


The Mommy!-Mommy!-Mommy!-I-can't-stop-talking-for-two-seconds shot.



Eventually one of two things tends to happen:

1) I get three perfect (except for #3's; but, I'm not mad at him because I think this is the best he can do), separate pictures that I can fashion into a presentable greeting card.



or, 2) I get three separate pictures that are horrifying enough to be funny enough to be mailed, as a joke, to all of our friends and family...



Because separately, they are generally okay.

But together.

Bloody. Nightmares.

So, in an effort to not feel like the most sucktastic mom ever, instead of celebrating your successes, this holiday photo contest is gonna feature your worst holiday card attempts to date.

I don't care about the perfect-everyone's-looking-no-stink-eyes-involved shots that feature a gorgeous tree, perfect lighting, three smiling children and a well behaved dog.

Those do nothing for my self esteem.

I want the baby's-crying-kids-are-fighting-tree-is-tilting-is-your-dog-humping-your-leg? shots that you usually delete.

That's what PBD's Merry Effing Christmas Photo Contest is all about.

It's about the true Hollywood story behind the photo.

The gritty, the ugly, the I'm-pretty-sure-I-hate-you-people shots that make you wonder why you even bother.

Those are what winners, at least for this backasswards (Mimi's favorite made-up word) photo contest, are made of.

Here's how to enter:

1. Email your best worst Christmas photo/card to Dumb Mom at parentingbydummies{at}gmail{dot}com.

2. Include your blog link (if you have one) and your, "Hey Dumb Mom, you can have your way with my photo," disclaimer that allows me to use it on my blog.

3. Follow parenting BY dummies here or on Twitter (@thenagainphoto).

4. Do all this by midnight on December 11, 2009.

Then...

Tell all your friends to come over and vote for your photo so that you can make it into Dumb Mom's Merry Effing Christmas Hall of Shame where you will have a 1 in 5 chance at winning the Ultimate Bomb Diggity Gift Giving Guide prize pack featuring gifts from all of Dumb Mom's Saturday Swagurday posts, plus more!

Prize pack valued at over $200 includes:

1. One Deglingo from Haute Lava.



2. One Ze Super Hero from All New Materials (please consider becoming a fan on Facebook)



3. One hand made coin purse from Julia Sherry Designs.



4. One Cuisinox cocktail shaker from Allbarstools.com



5. One copy of That's not my frog... from Usborne Books.



6. One Zhu Zhu Pet. That's right baby, I've got one and you are welcome to sell it on eBay if you want!



7. One Green Toys Eco-Friendly Cookware and Dining Set from Oompa



8. One copy of #2's all time most favoritest, nonanimated feature film, School of Rock, starring Jack Black.



See, told you this would be better than Black Friday!

If you win this, you won't even need to bother shopping!

And, there's even a runner-up prize that I think it pretty sa-weet to, but I'm not telling what it is yet. You'll have to wait and see!

So...Are you ready?

On your mark!

Get set!

GO, take fugly pictures of your misbehaved children and pets, be proud of your hard work even though they effed it up with their stink eyes and their leg humping addictions, and send them to me where they well be appreciated (aka cracked on mercilessly) and possibly awarded a pretty nice prize.
Giving away two copies of the movie Extract starring Jason Bateman and Ben Affleck. Contest ends 4/2/10.
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