But the season did not pass without magical moments. And I mean put a tear in your eye (from laughing) magic.
My teen wanted to open gifts at Nanny's and Poppy's on Christmas morning. In order to do that, we had to deliver the gifts by Christmas Eve.... there were children and, well, you know why. After a beautiful evening at my brother's for Christmas Eve festivities, Terry, my daughters, and I came home, put on our Christmas jammies, and watched a movie. (We could not find our Christmas movies - still stored in some box - so we settled on The Breakfast Club.) I fell asleep *surprise*. At around 1:00 a.m. my daughter mentions something about gifts the next morning.... crap. I forgot to deliver them! So I'm cranky and tired and resisting going out in the cold to go to my parents' house.... but my teen has her heart set on all this. So I go - with my teen. I grumble my way out to the car with gifts packed in bags. The air wakes me up. Upon arrival, the lights are on, the door is unlocked, the furnace is going... but nobody is up. We tiptoe into the living room, lay out the presents... and giggle. And giggle. And giggle. We felt like true Santas. We were trying to be quiet, and the more we tried, the louder we got. As we left and started to drive out of the driveway, my Dad opened the door.... he'd heard voices and thought I was downstairs talking to myself!
At our third gift opening (yes, we had four in total... actually I think it was five!), we passed around family presents and all were surprised and delighted. At the end of all the opening and thanks and ooo's and aahhhh's, I realized I hadn't received a present from my older brother. I KNEW he and his partner would have given one to me since they always do and they'd given to everyone else. So I figure... we're all family... I'll just mention it.
Me: "Kev, I know you had a gift for me... but I didn't open it."
Kevin and Janette in unison: "What?! We gave you that one of a kind, unique pottery plate and the woman who makes them donates all profits to a charity. You opened it before dinner."
Me: Doh!
Yep. I'd forgotten alright. Seriously. What makes this more interesting is that on my 41st birthday, after opening my brother's gift, I mentioned lightly that I'm still waiting for my 40th birthday gift. His response was, "I gave you $100 because you were moving to Singapore and didn't want anything to have to pack!" He was right! Indeed I'd forgotten a second present from him... not only forgotten, but was bold enough to ask where my present was!
Baby brain was with me all season. I wondered where the stroller was and I'd just passed it in the porch. I called my folks' to see when my brother and his family were leaving to return to Manitoba, and they'd left that morning. I burnt almonds for the rice (had to throw them in the garbage). I almost missed a dentist appointment. I forgot many, many pieces of information.
Thankfully, my family is understanding and, frankly, their seasons did not go without some magical moments of their own:) My mother put cheese in her scalloped potatoes!!! She has NEVER put cheese in her scalloped potatoes. My daughter and I do not eat cheese, and my mother often makes dishes that call for cheese without cheese if we're there for supper. However, she insisted she's never made scalloped potatoes without cheese. So I'm not sure what her excuse is, but I'm definitely blaming baby brain on my 'magical moments'.
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