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Baking and Xmas with the Grandkids
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<blockquote data-quote="Hound dog" data-source="post: 616153" data-attributes="member: 84"><p>Not everyone is a baker, Janet, and that is just fine.</p><p></p><p>I want, especially Kayla, to learn to bake from scratch (and that not everything you eat comes out of a package) in order to teach her frugality......not to mention that usually it tastes so much better. Also helps with math, some chemistry......lol </p><p></p><p>Xmas day? Well, let's just say there will likely never be baking on xmas eve again. Having a house full of kids.....especially 2 very LOUD ones....was too much sensory wise for me. </p><p></p><p>I knew from last year that we can no longer all fit into the living room to open gifts. So I planned ahead. Kept the dining room table folded down and out of the way. When easy child went to fetch Katie's family I had the other grands help me sort gifts and set up chairs in a circle (diningroom is pretty huge). I didn't want to deal with the gift sorting chaos with Alex in super excited holiday mode. </p><p></p><p>Unfortunately we were still crowded. But it worked. </p><p></p><p>Problem was mainly timing. Due to schedules.....our gathering was set later. Bad idea that also won't be repeated. </p><p></p><p>Alex was soooooooo hyped up, as was Evan, and both were so LOUD they managed to drown out everyone else. I'm not really a drinker. In less than 5 mins I slipped into the kitchen and spiked my pepsi. Seriously. I don't do <strong>loud</strong> well. After the first round of gift opening.......I saw that little ones were showing the signs of being sleepy and over stimulated. So I changed tactics. As we went around the room youngest to oldest the person who's turn it was opened everything in one shot. It got it done a bit quicker but I didn't like it very much......nor did most everyone else. I had hoped it would quiet down the boys some. It didn't work. </p><p></p><p>Katie was stoned again and pretty much off in la la land most of the time. Which is likely why the boys were so loud and stayed that way. Not bad. Just shouting to talk instead of actually talking. M was fine, but he carried on as if the boys talking several notches above everyone else was normal, so he was of no help. </p><p></p><p>I tried to keep the meal simple. It didn't work out that way. easy child did the ham, augratin potatoes and from scratch rolls. Katie showed up with just carrots and celery with peanut butter. I was trying to hold out and make the woman actually cut up all the veggies I'd supplemented for the veggie tray but easy child interfered and it didn't work out that way. Somehow we ended up with a ton of food. </p><p></p><p>Good thing. Katie's kids were behaving as if they'd not eaten in days. Same as they had xmas eve. For kids who don't "like" fresh fruits/veggies, they certainly dove into them along with everything else and went back for 3rds. Katie and M were doing the same thing. Now I don't give a hoot how much someone eats......the less leftovers the better........but it was the expressions on faces and body language that stood out. Know what I mean?? </p><p></p><p>I'd asked Katie's kids what Santa brought. Alex and Evan spouted off some video game. I'm guessing they're sharing it. Nothing else. Which I dismissed at first because of their excitement over the game. Kayla said "stuff". It was the way she said it. It was the look on her face. It was the tone of her voice. It caused me to pause and really look at her and rewind gift opening earlier in my mind. It didn't matter how big or small the gift was.....how wonderful or insignificant.....the boys went totally bonkers and were truly heartfelt thankful for them. Not that the other grands weren't appreciative......it was just a totally different level. Like through the roof. Yet neither Alex or Evan are capable of "acting" so it was genuine. </p><p></p><p>After the meal, due to the loudness and little ones needing bed from an overexcited prolonged day......I basically pushed people out the door, Katie's family first. I'm not sure yet if I feel guilty about that. </p><p></p><p>But I know I sort of feel like I got short changed on xmas. </p><p></p><p>Now a couple of days later a friend request from Kayla pops up on my fb........in her own name. Of course I accept. Then I find a message from Katie (whom I've not heart from since xmas) that she'd been thinking about the talks we've had concerning "picking her battles" with Kayla and had decided to relent and let her have her own fb acct. </p><p></p><p>We all know what happened the last time Kayla had an fb acct............and the last time she had a myspace acct. </p><p></p><p>Anyhoo.......</p><p></p><p>Kayla pokes me yesterday. (someone explain poking to me cuz I don't get the point) I poked her back cuz I didn't want her to think I was ignoring her. Then she messages me. After a little chatting I ask again what santa brought for xmas. Again she was vague and stated "stuff". (out of character for Kayla) I replied that such things happen when you no longer believe in Santa. (we had a deal with her telling the boys he's not real) But Santa is part of the xmas magic. </p><p></p><p>She stated: Santa doesn't visit kids who have nothing.</p><p></p><p>Those weren't her exact words but that was the jest of it. It came across angry and resentful. It stunned me because that is not normally how Kayla is. I didn't push it as I don't know if Katie has her password. </p><p></p><p>I'm thinking 3 kids didn't have xmas at home except for a video game the boys shared. It appears the tablet her parents bought and gave to Kayla early Nov was declared Kayla's gift. Which ticks me off as I'm pretty darn certain it was bought because Katie is the one who broke it AND the rest of the family uses it as much if not more than Kayla does. </p><p></p><p>So the only real xmas the kids got was at Nana's house. </p><p></p><p>During the day........Kayla let it slip that the boys no longer have a bed either. They're sleeping with their parents. Which means the bed sets I bought will likely be returned for cash with a promise to replace them later down the road that will never actually happen. So now none of the kids have beds. Kayla slipped to Nichole a while back that she's been sleeping on the floor for a long time now. </p><p></p><p>Katie announced to me prior to xmas that M supposedly has been out of work for some time. While I don't doubt he lost his job....... I'm sorry but there is still no excuse. Even without a paycheck there is more money going into that household (by quite a lot) than mine with no outgoing bills except rent, which is now lower due to him not working. </p><p></p><p>Katie is in for a rude awakening next year. Due to the crowding I'm giving each person ONE gift. A special gift, but just ONE. </p><p></p><p>Nichole tells me that Kayla keeps bugging her asking if she thinks I'll turn her down for a sleep over at my house. Nichole keeps telling her to ask, that she is sure I'd love to have her over. Nichole has an odd feeling about it, though she can't put her finger on it. So it looks like before I return to work I'll be having Kayla over.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Hound dog, post: 616153, member: 84"] Not everyone is a baker, Janet, and that is just fine. I want, especially Kayla, to learn to bake from scratch (and that not everything you eat comes out of a package) in order to teach her frugality......not to mention that usually it tastes so much better. Also helps with math, some chemistry......lol Xmas day? Well, let's just say there will likely never be baking on xmas eve again. Having a house full of kids.....especially 2 very LOUD ones....was too much sensory wise for me. I knew from last year that we can no longer all fit into the living room to open gifts. So I planned ahead. Kept the dining room table folded down and out of the way. When easy child went to fetch Katie's family I had the other grands help me sort gifts and set up chairs in a circle (diningroom is pretty huge). I didn't want to deal with the gift sorting chaos with Alex in super excited holiday mode. Unfortunately we were still crowded. But it worked. Problem was mainly timing. Due to schedules.....our gathering was set later. Bad idea that also won't be repeated. Alex was soooooooo hyped up, as was Evan, and both were so LOUD they managed to drown out everyone else. I'm not really a drinker. In less than 5 mins I slipped into the kitchen and spiked my pepsi. Seriously. I don't do [B]loud[/B] well. After the first round of gift opening.......I saw that little ones were showing the signs of being sleepy and over stimulated. So I changed tactics. As we went around the room youngest to oldest the person who's turn it was opened everything in one shot. It got it done a bit quicker but I didn't like it very much......nor did most everyone else. I had hoped it would quiet down the boys some. It didn't work. Katie was stoned again and pretty much off in la la land most of the time. Which is likely why the boys were so loud and stayed that way. Not bad. Just shouting to talk instead of actually talking. M was fine, but he carried on as if the boys talking several notches above everyone else was normal, so he was of no help. I tried to keep the meal simple. It didn't work out that way. easy child did the ham, augratin potatoes and from scratch rolls. Katie showed up with just carrots and celery with peanut butter. I was trying to hold out and make the woman actually cut up all the veggies I'd supplemented for the veggie tray but easy child interfered and it didn't work out that way. Somehow we ended up with a ton of food. Good thing. Katie's kids were behaving as if they'd not eaten in days. Same as they had xmas eve. For kids who don't "like" fresh fruits/veggies, they certainly dove into them along with everything else and went back for 3rds. Katie and M were doing the same thing. Now I don't give a hoot how much someone eats......the less leftovers the better........but it was the expressions on faces and body language that stood out. Know what I mean?? I'd asked Katie's kids what Santa brought. Alex and Evan spouted off some video game. I'm guessing they're sharing it. Nothing else. Which I dismissed at first because of their excitement over the game. Kayla said "stuff". It was the way she said it. It was the look on her face. It was the tone of her voice. It caused me to pause and really look at her and rewind gift opening earlier in my mind. It didn't matter how big or small the gift was.....how wonderful or insignificant.....the boys went totally bonkers and were truly heartfelt thankful for them. Not that the other grands weren't appreciative......it was just a totally different level. Like through the roof. Yet neither Alex or Evan are capable of "acting" so it was genuine. After the meal, due to the loudness and little ones needing bed from an overexcited prolonged day......I basically pushed people out the door, Katie's family first. I'm not sure yet if I feel guilty about that. But I know I sort of feel like I got short changed on xmas. Now a couple of days later a friend request from Kayla pops up on my fb........in her own name. Of course I accept. Then I find a message from Katie (whom I've not heart from since xmas) that she'd been thinking about the talks we've had concerning "picking her battles" with Kayla and had decided to relent and let her have her own fb acct. We all know what happened the last time Kayla had an fb acct............and the last time she had a myspace acct. Anyhoo....... Kayla pokes me yesterday. (someone explain poking to me cuz I don't get the point) I poked her back cuz I didn't want her to think I was ignoring her. Then she messages me. After a little chatting I ask again what santa brought for xmas. Again she was vague and stated "stuff". (out of character for Kayla) I replied that such things happen when you no longer believe in Santa. (we had a deal with her telling the boys he's not real) But Santa is part of the xmas magic. She stated: Santa doesn't visit kids who have nothing. Those weren't her exact words but that was the jest of it. It came across angry and resentful. It stunned me because that is not normally how Kayla is. I didn't push it as I don't know if Katie has her password. I'm thinking 3 kids didn't have xmas at home except for a video game the boys shared. It appears the tablet her parents bought and gave to Kayla early Nov was declared Kayla's gift. Which ticks me off as I'm pretty darn certain it was bought because Katie is the one who broke it AND the rest of the family uses it as much if not more than Kayla does. So the only real xmas the kids got was at Nana's house. During the day........Kayla let it slip that the boys no longer have a bed either. They're sleeping with their parents. Which means the bed sets I bought will likely be returned for cash with a promise to replace them later down the road that will never actually happen. So now none of the kids have beds. Kayla slipped to Nichole a while back that she's been sleeping on the floor for a long time now. Katie announced to me prior to xmas that M supposedly has been out of work for some time. While I don't doubt he lost his job....... I'm sorry but there is still no excuse. Even without a paycheck there is more money going into that household (by quite a lot) than mine with no outgoing bills except rent, which is now lower due to him not working. Katie is in for a rude awakening next year. Due to the crowding I'm giving each person ONE gift. A special gift, but just ONE. Nichole tells me that Kayla keeps bugging her asking if she thinks I'll turn her down for a sleep over at my house. Nichole keeps telling her to ask, that she is sure I'd love to have her over. Nichole has an odd feeling about it, though she can't put her finger on it. So it looks like before I return to work I'll be having Kayla over. [/QUOTE]
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