Christmas Overload
Holy mackerel it’s cold out there!
We’ve been busy trying to squeeze out all of the X-mas fun we can around here.
First, there was the zoo. Frankly, I think it’s one of THEE best family-oriented X-mas events this area has to offer (and wait a minute…family-oriented and X-mas event must be mutually exclusive…I would hope).
The back story is my daughter is usually afraid of Santa. Well, not so much afraid, but she’s never been down with sitting on the lap of a stranger in a red suit.
But…her quandary this year is her desire to get Butterscotch. Butterscotch is a Fur Real Friends, robotic horse. It’s about as tall as her five year old self and retails for about $250.00 ($200 at Costco…if you can even find it). Bottom line…it’s not happening. I think we’re heading for her “A Christmas Story” moment. It is her Red Rider be-be gun, that horse. Again. Not. Happening. She tried though. In the car on the way to the zoo I talked her down and convinced her she should ask for a horse “like” Butterscotch. Ergo, I schlepped to two Toys-R-Us’ today to get her a 40 inch plush horse that is “similar” to Butterscotch without the (IMHO) creepy animatronics or the price tag. I am secure in my belief that she will like it just as much. I am also certain that she will let me know if she doesn’t.
And…lest anyone think we are all about the commercial aspect of X-mas. We spent our blustery afternoon doing one of the other best X-mas themed events in our area. The Mt. Carmel living nativity. Do go see it if you get the chance. The animals are adorable. We heard the real Christmas story from Mary herself with Father Dan Nicholas looking on. The kids made ornaments with their near-frozen fingers and had a really wonderful time. Those guys are Christmas heroes for braving the elements and are much appreciated!
And I’m sooo not kidding about this horse situation. Here’s my daughter after she scaled the nativity wall. They were so sweet to let her, but man, there was a PONY in there. She had to go kiss it!
I LOVE going to the zoo to see the lights! Actually, we had a trip planned for tomorrow night with some friends of our’s, but I think the snow is going to derail those plans!
As for Butterscotch…….my daughter has to pet that creepy thing every single time we go into Target! The battery was dead on it today, so she was whacking it upside the head trying to trigger one of the sensors that make it move. Seriously, where in the world would you put one of those?! I told her that Santa doesn’t allow live animals INSIDE his sleigh — bad of me, but it does get me off the hook!
Comment by Shawna — December 15, 2007 @ 7:30 pm
Well, we went with the Animal Alley stuffed horse. It lays down and is still ridiculously expensive, but much more practical (or…I suppose as practical as a 40 inch fake horse can be). I read an ebay listing from a mom whose kid had Butterscotch for 1 night in her room and was freaked because they forgot to turn it off and she saw her Dad putting the batteries in it (straight up where you might think). Yow!
Also…my tip for the zoo. If you can swing it, try to get there right at 5:00 and make a beeline for the museum. We walked right up to Santa and actually got to hang out with him for 10 minutes or so (no one else there). We left at probably 7:30 and the place was more packed than I see it in peak summer. Oh…and for some reason they get really busy when it snows (a close family member of mine works there). No idea why. Assuming they don’t shut it down of course.
Comment by Robin Dec — December 15, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
Oh that pony!! I got one for my daughter!! I had it flown in from Washington DC, $175.00 shipped!! I think I got a great deal on it!! Happy smiles on Christmas morning!
Comment by Tonya — December 16, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
Good bargain hunting Tonya! Of course, isn’t it frightening what we do for our kids these days?
Comment by Robin Dec — December 16, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
Wow, Tonya, I hope she likes it! Is that the present she “discovered” in the closet the other day? I don’t think I’d ever spend that much for a Christmas present though…..I think the most expensive the kids are getting are “new” beds and Keegan’s came from a resale shop for $59! Caitlyn’s bed is my old college twin bed that my mother-in-law is sewing Little Mermaid sheets for.
Comment by Shawna — December 17, 2007 @ 9:59 am
LOVE the Santa picture. My kids were always good w/Santa except for one year–I couldn’t convince my youngest to go (I think he was about 3 at the time–now 13). Just flat out refused. We have a children’s rocking chair that is painted to be Santa (really, really cool chair). My picture of Matt w/Santa that year was him lying on the floor having a hissy fit next to the Santa chair. Best I could do!
Again, thankful to have boys. Have you seen the verizon commercial where the two teenagers get phones and the other gets a pony (that bites)? Your posts reminded me to remind my kids to be VERY careful on what they ask for because they may get more than they bargained for! (I think Meijer is running ads w/that theme as well–the kids w/the haircuts and women at football games). Thanks for helping us to know that we’re all in the same boat!
Comment by Phyllis — December 17, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
HAHAHAHA!!!! We should trade stories after Christmas morning. Haley (5), also is SURE that Santa is bringing Butterscotch. Whenever we see the pony in stores she says “See you Christmas morning…I hope you will like your new home”. It is enough to kill a parent y’know!!
Comment by Cheryl K — December 17, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
Uh huh Cheryl K…so did you cave? We’ve got the animal alley ginormous “laying down” pony. It was 59.99 and I’m going to the Sweetfeed Co. tack shop tomorrow to pick a real (but cheap) horse brush. I *think* that’ll stave her off. We have Scamps the Fur Real Dog and Squawkers McCaw already. The batteries last 10 minutes and it’s tough for a 5 year old to handle the command/training involved. Oh…plus also she’s constantly losing Squawkers’ (who I secretly refer to by another name that sort of rhymes but starts with an “F”) remote.
Comment by Robin Dec — December 17, 2007 @ 11:48 pm
Phyllis,
I think the Santa Chair Hissy Fit picture sounds just about perfect for the Graduation Day/Wedding Day specially made DVD of memories that you need to play for everyone!
Love it!
Comment by Robin Dec — December 17, 2007 @ 11:51 pm
OK, the current variety of toys are freaky. Do you remember the equally miserable “furbies” from about 10 years ago?? My mom bought one for my kids because they HAD to have it. Remember they could “mimic” speech they heard (enough that the pentagon banned them for national security reasons???). Almost IMPOSSIBLE to turn them off. I think mine ended up on a top shelf in the cupboard of the laundry room. Eventually it disappeared. Easy for that to happen since it was small–how do you do that with an oversized horse??
Comment by Phyllis — December 18, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
I once bought an action figure called “Earthworm Jim” for my son.
That thing was weird.
RR
Comment by Rebecca — December 18, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
I loved Earthworm Jim. “He’s such a groovy guy.” He is second only to CatDog in my book!
Comment by SMG — December 18, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
We just got done watching “CatDog Christmas!” It’s on Buckeye Cable video on demand. You can watch it any time of the day or night. For free!
Comment by Robin Dec — December 18, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
No, she hasn’t found that one yet!! That one is in the attice, under a blanket. Hehe. I was proud of myself! I did go overboard this year, but I am making up for the last few years! With hubby having two jobs now, we have a little extra money. It will be worth it on Christmas morning!! Next year, they get ZIP! Ok, they’ll get something, but nothing like this year! Five years ago, I spent…UM…$2000.00. That was everyone though. Times were good then
Comment by Tonya — December 19, 2007 @ 12:26 am
O I forgot, Hannah has that pony that lays down. She used it for a pillow for over a year! Literally, the girl is crazy about horses…soon she’ll want a REAL pony, stable and all. Maybe riding lessons will do?
Comment by Tonya — December 19, 2007 @ 12:29 am
Isn’t is crazy how the kids want more and more and more. This was our 10 year olds list:
Pink laptop
Pink digital camera
Text messengers (from Limited Too)
Pink Cell Phone (also at Limited Too)
The list goes on…….I’m really made at Limited Too for carrying those items grrrr
My husband did however find her the pink digital camera and we got a Wii, which we’ve been telling her they’re out, no one can get their hands on them.
But we take total responsibility for these spoiled little folks in our house. This year I learned of Food for Though and we are helping with passing out lunches on Saturdays.
Comment by Cheryl Engfer — December 19, 2007 @ 10:36 am
BTW, the pics are adorable!! I have a picture of me when I was like 4 sitting on Santa’s lap counting on my fingers when I was making requests. Then again I have a similiar photo to your daughters above—only my head was down sitting on Spider Man’s lap when he came to the mall. What was my Dad thinking? LOL
Comment by Cheryl Engfer — December 19, 2007 @ 10:39 am
guess you have to buy for the little ones. W/my teenagers, I’m all about gift cards, gift cards, gift cards. No wrapping, no mess, easy to buy, and their DAD can take them shopping after the holidays!
Comment by Phyllis — December 19, 2007 @ 11:45 am
These kids today!!! Tonya, I’m with you on the horse-crazed daughter situation. Y’know, I don’t know what’s around exactly where you are, but we have some great places out here in Temperance. So far, we’re sticking with horse riding “camps” as opposed to regular lessons. My daughter is only 5 and I’m not quite ready to go whole hog ’til she’s a little older. We’re about 3/4 hogged though
Comment by Robin Dec — December 19, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
[...] (Crikey…I thought we were over that). Mmm [...]
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