Fear for Christmas...

Sounds like such a scary topic, right?! One probably more suitable for Halloween, not Christmas, where everything should be jolly and bright. However, it is those fun Christmas festivities and jolly traditions that have brought out the fear in our little P's. I'm beginning to worry, that unlike most children, when the P's think of Christmas they will begin to shake, cry, and ball up into the fetal position, rather than singing Christmas carols and penning a Wish List for the big guy. One Christmas adventure after another has done nothing but leave them crying, unable to talk, and even worse I'm afraid, scarred.

It started with our trip to Sleepy Hollow Tree Farm, where we intended to cut down our own tree. As a kid, my Mom would take us here and it was always alot of fun and left me with great memories. Not so much this time. As we are driving through the farm, we find a field of tree's that seem to look like what we wanted. We park the car and set out with our saw to find the perfect tree. Every time we'd say " Hey, what about this one, it looks nice" Presleigh would say sternly, "No, its too big, I do not want that tree." After about 5 attempts and a few tears later, we decided to let her pick out the tree. So, off she goes and just a minute later, she's found it, our tree......or more like our sapling. This puny thing put the Charlie Brown tree to shame. Because I didn't understand her fear of all the normal, full grown tree's, I decided to ask her what it was that made her so afraid. She stated that she was afraid it would fall and if it fell, we would have to get a new house. I get it, I guess. Passing up on the sapling, we discovered that they sold Frasier Fers from NC so in all, our trip to the farm to cut down a tree, ended with us buying one netted and ready to go instead.
Cutting down your own tree to drum up the Christmas spirit= FAIL

The following weekend was our trip to see Santa Claus. I book this appointment 3 months in advance every year. Not only is he a phenomenal Santa, but I love that you can get a dvd recording of the visit each year.I thought this would be THE YEAR. The year that the P's would pee themselves with excitement as soon as they saw him. I talked it up for weeks, Oh, Santa he's great, He brings you sooooo many toys, He's really nice and by God if you don't sit in his lap with a smile on your face this year and tell his fat ass  jolly self what you want for Christmas, you will not get anything! Only kidding about that last bit of course, but I sure did think it. I don't know why I continued to lie to myself, I should've known better. In previous years, it was the 4 of us plopping down on Santa's lap to soothe the P's discomfort, why did I ever think it would be any different this year!? Off we go anyway, dressed in Christmas gear, singing Santa's praises all the way to Phipps. We take our spot in line and before we know it, it's their turn. Annnnd, guess who got a free visit with Santa again this year..... yours truly. They would not move once positioned, as if they were frozen, would not by any means make eye contact, mummer a word, and I don't even think they blinked. They gazed off into the camera and the obnoxious guy shaking a Elmo in their faces and would not crack a smile. NOTHING. The only one's smiling were the rest of the families in line, who found their reactions hysterical. Red faced and embarrassed, I corral us over to the picture counter, where up on the monitors the attendant has our pictures ready. The only thing I could blurt out was " Oh my God, they're terrible!" Honestly, everyone makes a bad photo once and awhile, but this, it was genuinely AWFUL. Mouths open, eyes widened, the fear of God written all over their faces. Pretty sure, it was the worst day of their lives. I didn't buy the picture, but in hindsight wish I would have, just so you could see it and say, Yea, you're right, that is bad.
Trip to see Jolly Ol' Saint Nick and share our Christmas wishes=FAIL

Keeping with the traditions, each year after our torturous visit with Santa, we go to Macy's to ride The Pink Pig. The girls LOVE the actual riding of the Pink Pig, however, they despise Priscilla, the actual Pink Pig. As you made your way through the line, you reached an area where you could have your photo taken with Priscilla. She's a doll, decked out in her poodle skirt and saddle shoes. As cute and sweet looking as she could be.  As it was our turn to have the picture taken, we walk up and the picture takers try to get the girls to sit in Priscilla's lap- not having it. Instead, they hide behind me. I pick Paisley up and sit her on my hip closest to the pig and she loses it, full blown hysterics. Switch her over to the other hip and she's fine. Presleigh meanwhile, is latched onto my leg with a kung fu grip and ol' Craig- he's just standing there, smiling and gritting his teeth through the whole experience. I did buy that picture, see it below- Notice Paisley's fake and fearful smile.
Experiencing a family tradition in the city of Atlanta since the 1970's= FAIL

It was a rough start to December with all the Christmas fun and to keep my kids from sounding completely abnormal, there were some things they enjoyed. For instance, the Christmas parade, all 2 hours of it, they loved that. Or decorating the Christmas tree, they were really involved this year and still are. That tree has been decorated, un-decorated, and re-decorated for weeks now. And lastly, watching all the Christmas movies on tv. Which I'm counting my lucky stars for- finally a break from Harry Potter, however, I may have bigger issues because Paisley now says her boyfriend is Woodstock-a bird, you know, from Charlie Brown. Yea, ISSUES. Athough we hit some rough patches this month, I really do love sharing the holidays with the girls. Whether it be through tears or laughter, they really do make the holidays so much more fun and I'll let you in on a little secret, I fear they day they actually stop believing in the guy who scares the crap out of them. So I'll continue to take a seat on his lap each year, if need be.
Finding the true joy's of Christmas=SCORE!



Cookies & Christmas Classics



Hi My Name Is.....

Lil' Red Fred aka Freddie.

I traveled all the way from the North Pole at Santa's request to meet The Orrell Family, specifically The P's, the weekend after Thanksgiving. I come from the Elf on the Shelf family, where our mission set forth from the big guy is to keep children on their best behavior. For if they misbehave and do not mind their parents, they risk finding themselves on Santa's naughty list. My magical powers allow me to fly all the way to the North Pole each night with a detailed report for Santa Claus. In the morning, before they awake, I will have returned from my journey and they will run to find me, for I may be hiding or I may be found getting into mischief myself!

Boy were the P's suprised to see me after their weekend trip to Nana's. I had found a nice cozy little place right beside a beautiful fireplace in their dollhouse. The dollhouse was the perfect place for my first nights rest, I couldn't have asked for better accommodations! I made sure to leave my girls a little note on their chalkboard, thanking them for the hospitality and telling them we were going to have lots of fun this month as we get ready for Christmas. That Presleigh, she was a skeptic at first, I wasn't too sure I was welcome or that she was buying it. I kept catching her glancing my way in disbelief, waiting for me to flinch with what  sometimes seemed like a wee bit of fear. Little Paisley however, was sooo excited as she said to her Mom " see, I told we'd get an elf, Santa knows we're good "They snuggled in their beds that night as Mom and Dad read them my story and the name Freddie was born. I am now an official member of the Orrell Family. A very large family at that-I was not prepared for all those beastly dogs and curious cats, this place is a circus! For goodness sakes, my first week here I nearly drowned in the toilet when that rico suave of a cat, Romeo, thought it'd be real cute to bat me with his paws right off the bathroom counter and into the the toilet bowl. Revenge will be so sweet, Rooooomeo!

So here we are with 2 weeks until Christmas and I've got to tell you, those girls are a tough crowd. On some days Im not too sure they give a lickity split whether I have good things or bad things to report to Santa and then others, their just as sweet as Mrs Claus' gummy gumdrops. All I can say is I'm thankful my employment is seasonal whew! and God bless their parents! I'll make sure the big guy gets them something extra special this year, especially Mom </;o)