Playland and Doughland

We took the girls to McDonnald's Playland today. It's been pretty cold and they've not been able to run around much, so giving them a giant kid-habitrail to zip through seemed a pretty smart idea. In direct opposition to my plans, though, Katie puked up some of her orange juice in the car. We weren't sure why but it really freaked her out and got all over her clothes and coat. Bleah!

I had Tom stop at Kohls before going to McD's so I could get Katie something clean to wear for the day. Wow were they having a fabulous sale!! Sick how I go in looking for a pair of sweatpants and a shirt and come out with a pair of microfleece pants and a shirt... and two pairs of Disney Princess Pjs, two fleece nightgowns, two shirts for Shannon and a sweatshirt for Katie. I'm so bad about impluse shopping like that, but I justified it since Santa always brings the girls a new pair of jammies every year and they both needed the clothes. That whole issue of "need" is a tenuous one, I know, but it did keep me from buying any number of enticing quickies on the way to the checkout line. $3 Yankee candles anyone? Game pens make great stocking stuffers!! You know someone in your life who needs a leatherman tool! Even with my admirable restraint, the bill was still over $80 -- funny how that happens.

But we got them to Playland, changed Katie's clothes and they had a wonderful time. McD's was piping in holiday music, which was a little odd since I always associate them with the oldies station (what they usually have on). And I love Christmas music, don't get me wrong, but hearing "Feliz Navidad" play three times in two hours can be a bit much. Truly I'm much more a Sting/Annie Lennox/Loreena McKennitt kind of person at Christmas time, but that's what an iPod is for. Maybe I'll get a new one this year... damn Apple, my last one died 3 mos after the warranty expired. It's one of those things that I never realized how much I'd love it until I didn't have it anymore. Both girls are well aware that "Mommy wants an iPod for Christmas." Oh yes... and a rolling suitcase to keep all my school stuff in, thank you much. My shoulder is getting tired from schlepping my laptop, papers, and everything else all over town. Please Santa? I've been good you know!

After being at Playland for awhile, we went home and the girls and I made Xmas cookies - the plain sugar kind that you decorate with frosting. Shannon's were very proper in their use of color (e.g. trees are green, candy canes have red stripes...) while Katie's looked like modern art, with drips of icing and swirly lines all over the place. Not the traditionalist, that kid of mine. They all were fabulous and we ate them with lemonade and hot cider that night while we watched The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. I remember when we were kids, how we had to wait and plan to find out when The Grinch or Charlie Brown Christmas or the Rankin-Bass Rudolph were going to be on, then park next to the TV so you didn't miss it. Now with DVDs and the beauty of TiVo, the girls can watch whatever they want whenever they want. For awhile I thought maybe that took something special away from the event but the more I think about it, why shouldn't you get to see Charlie Brown whenever you want? We'll see it many times before the 25th, no doubt. Katie is beyond adorable when she does the Snoopy dance. *grin*