Bagheera, or Queen B, has aged into a relaxed monarch, more interested in cuddling at night, and less interested in scaling curtains, or sharpening her claws everywhere. She and I have had many, many battles over the years, and yet she still chooses to sleep with me which I appreciate.
We survived Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with an excited, hyperactive, extremely vocal five year old, but it wasn't easy. OMG he was overstimulated. He still believes in Santa, so far, although I'm going to guess that by next Christmas he will have figured it out for himself. Christmas morning was lovely for him though. We opened our gifts on Christmas Eve, he put out milk and cookies for Santa (I just realized we forgot a carrot for the reindeer), and went to bed.
In the morning the milk and cookies were gone, his stocking was filled and there were three gifts under the tree for him from Santa, Hot Wheels and Lego. In his words it was, "...the best day ever!".
We picked up Katie on Christmas morning, dropped Jack off with his grandma and mama, and drove to West Edmonton Mall for lunch at McDonald's (Katie's Christmas tradition). Katie is better but still isn't sleeping well, and the mall was noisy and surprisingly busy. Only a handfull of stores were open, but the skating rink, water park, and movie theatre were all open, so still lots of people.
By the time we got home, I was overstimulated too. I hate that mall. I lived near it for almost thirty years and you had to go to the mall to shop (it's always noisy there and usually the two things you want are at opposite ends of the mall), or drive for half an hour.
Anyway, the dogs have been brushed, the house vacuumed again, the floors washed and two long dog walks happened today. Tonight hubby and I are going out for supper (Jack is staying with his grandma and mama for five nights).
We survived Christmas 2024. Huzzah!
WEM on Christmas Day, holy moly! But I hope Miss Katie enjoyed her traditional McD's brekkie. So cute how excited Jack was about Santa! Yes, Grade 1 is usually the Year of Disillusionment for kids, isn't it, so next year will be different.
ReplyDeleteFifteen years ago, I used to mall walk at WEM in the winter. I could walk the entire thing, both floors, in an hour. Couldn't even attempt that now. These days I only go to the specific store I need to access via the closest Entrance Door I can park at. I hobble along like an old lady. How the mighty have fallen, LOL!
Katie loves the mall because she loves watching people, there are sea lions, and there used to be pet stores there (she loves animals). Plus it's familiar.
DeleteIt's become a tradition, sigh.
Congrats on surviving! Hopefully Jack will have a lovely time with his mum and grandma and won't come back too overstimulated. Enjoy some quiet time with hubby. You both deserve it.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing he will come back overstimulated and with a bad attitude. It will be nice to have a few days to ourselves though.
DeleteLittle ones are so endearing at the holidays (excited and active) but also exhausting. I'm glad you had a good Xmas (Jack too) and hope that he will be OK with his other grandma and his mom. I always worry a little...
ReplyDeleteI worry too but his grandma is good, she just finds him exhausting:)
DeleteFive days with Grandma and Mom ... We'll be here for you when Jack comes back to Earth!
ReplyDeleteI can't recall when my two boys realized Santa wasn't for real! I hope Jack is able to accept without being totally upset about it all! Learning the truth can be tough on the little ones!
Jack will be fine with Santa not being real. He's a pretty smart guy and already has doubts.
DeleteHow sad that people have to staff stores and branches of McDonalds on Christmas Day. I hope that Jack's other grandmother manages to keep things cool and orderly over there. So many times in the past you have reported how Gracie usually manages to **** things up when she spends time with him. Perhaps that will not happen this one time.
ReplyDeleteGracie does usually fuck Jack up, but his grandma is pretty good. Gracie is sober right now and seems to be on meds for her mental illness, not sure if she is, but she seems much calmer.
DeleteChristmas sounds delightful at your house. It's nice that you and the spousal unit are going out to dinner with each other.
ReplyDeleteWe had a lovely dinner out last night.
DeleteI remember how exciting it was to go and hang out at the mall. However, like you, I just can't deal with the noise and the people. I don't understand what it was that I use to enjoy about it. I'm glad Jack had the best Christmas ever. Tim's grandsons are six and ten. I was surprised to discover that both of them still believe in Santa. Well...at least they pretend to for their mother's sake.
ReplyDeleteWest Edmonton Mall was the largest mall in the world at one time. I have a hard time with noise and it's a very noisy mall, musac, water fountains, and way too many people. Katie still loves the mall though, so many things to see:)
DeleteI'm glad your Christmas went as well as could be expected and that Jack had a good time. Even more, I'm glad you get a few quiet days off! Take care.
ReplyDeleteIt will be lovely to have a few days off from parent duty:)
DeleteCongratulations for getting through all that excitement and noise. What a beauty that cat is.
ReplyDeleteThat cat can be a huge pain in the ass. She has strong opinions about everything, as do I:) But we're both more mellow now, thankfully.
DeleteYou made it! You did it! You lived and there was no harm, no foul! Well, except for your nerves which I am sure were shattered. I hope with all my heart that Jack has a good and non-eventful time with his grandmother and mother, and that you and the Big Guy can have a little bit of peace and quiet to restore your souls.
ReplyDeleteSabine is right- that cat is magnificent.
We survived!!!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteI hope Jack is okay too. I don't think his other family understands much about ADHD and overstimulation. He needs quiet time too.
Queen B is really quite regal. I'm glad Jack had a happy Christmas and that you get a few days to yourself. Fingers crossed he will be ok when he comes home. And Katie got her Christmas day McDonalds.
ReplyDeleteQueen B was a royal pain in the ass when she was younger. She's thirteen now and has arthritis. Her drape climbing days are behind her:)
DeleteDitto...I too dislike WEM, but we do have good memories of taking our kids to the waterpark, back in the day. Lego and hot wheels? The best day ever, indeed.
ReplyDeleteThat Waterpark is so expensive, I think I've been to it only twice. One of our neighbors worked there as a life guard and regaled us with tales of the cockroaches that lived there. Yuck!
DeleteI was a rotten six-year-old who spilled the beans to the kids who still believed.
ReplyDeleteKate! Too funny.
DeleteI think pretty much ALL kids are overstimulated at Christmas! I hope Jack's stay with his mom goes OK (good that his grandma is there too) and you enjoy your quiet time. Cats are very forgiving in the long run, even if temperamental at times!
ReplyDelete