December 23rd – Day 1 – I spend most of the day trying to convince my kids that Christmas is not tomorrow.
They still don’t believe me, but they will probably get the message when there are no presents under the tree in the morning. I distract them by taking them to the local library, where we stay as long as possible, until we are too hungry to stay any longer. After we get home and eat, we build gingerbread houses after I repeatedly assure the kids that the kits are both exactly the same. They have already been nibbled upon five minutes later.
December 24th – Day 2 – I make the mistake of going grocery shopping along with every other resident of Chittenden County.
I distract the kids with cookies. In order to get stuff done around the house, I put them in rain boots and send them out to play in the unseasonably warm weather. In the evening, the kids burn off all their extra energy playing with their cousins and then proceed to fall asleep during the church service afterward. At least they are no longer asking why we are going to church when it’s not Sunday.
December 25th – Day 3 – It’s Christmas!
The kids are so tired from last night that they sleep in until 7 am. Awesome! We spend the morning at home and go to my in-laws’ house in the afternoon. My son is so excited to have lots of new Lego sets and my daughter loves her new twin dolls, whom she named Emma and Gemma. Merry Christmas!
December 26th – Day 4 – I’m pleased to discover that my five-year-old can now assemble his own Lego kits.
Until he gets tired, that is. Then he makes mistakes and accuses the Lego people of messing things up. I am also pleased to discover that my four-year-old cleaned her own room. Then I look closer and see that she has just randomly shoved everything into boxes. I have to help organize it all so we can actually find things again. When they are both tired and grouchy, we distract them with their new Kindle Fires. Hooray for technology!
December 27th – Day 5 – This morning, the kids are so excited to eat cake after attending the church service.
In the afternoon, we go to my in-laws’ house, where they eat more candy and then cookies. ‘Tis the season for sweets! My daughter manages to bruise my face when she jumps at the exact moment I try to hug her. I never knew parenting could be so dangerous.
December 28th – Day 6 – It’s much colder today, but I am still determined to get the kids out of the house.
We go to the Shelburne Museum, where the kids race through the exhibits and then get to make a craft. We all end up covered in glitter and glue, but the kids are really proud of their masterpieces. I spend my afternoon assembling Lego kits and reading the same books over and over on the Kindles.
December 29th – Day 7 – My kids have dentist appointments at 8:45 on the one day that it actually snows.
Luckily, we live close to the office, so we all slap on snow pants and walk there. Then we race over to the library for a meeting and to check out some new books. We walk there, too, and the librarians aren’t too happy with me because some of the books got a bit wet on the way. Oops! The kids have a bit of a meltdown in the evening. I think I wore them out by making them walk so far in the snow.
December 30th – Day 8 – My husband and I take the kids to see the new Star Wars movie at the theater.
They are both incredibly wiggly and keep complaining that they are thirsty/tired/bored. However, they make it through the entire movie without any major incidents, so I am counting this as a success.
December 31st – Day 9 – Our big excitement for the day is going to the grocery store.
I let the kids each pick out a special treat since it’s New Year’s Eve. They spend most of the rest of the day squabbling with each other. Sending my son outside to play in the snow helps. In the end, no one in our house is awake for midnight. We are all way too tired to stay up that late!
January 1st – Day 10 – I am so proud of myself for getting the kids out of the house for a first day hike at Grand Isle State Park while my husband was at work.
I brought enough water and snacks to keep the kids happy. Other than both kids spitting hot chocolate all over themselves, it was a great adventure!
January 2nd – Day 11 – I had planned on taking the kids to see a train display, but I got the times wrong.
Oops! Instead, we take down the Christmas decorations while we have the chance. The kids are antsy and fighting, so I take them back to the Shelburne Museum to do another craft project. The kids are very proud of their paintings once again and I am just happy that I don’t feel like screaming anymore.
January 3rd – Day 12 – I can’t believe this is the last day of the vacation!
I was worried that the kids would be bored and fight all the time, but they haven’t been bored at all and have only fought part of the time. I’m letting the kids play on their Kindles today while they still have the time. A part of me will miss being on vacation together. I guess it’s a good thing that the February break is coming up! My son is already counting down the days.
