Getting a Jump on Things: My Christmas List for 2013

Like years past, The Normal Family sat down to pen Christmas Lists to be mailed to Santa.  Of my two kids, only the 6 year old actually still believes in Santa but his brother was a great sport and wrote a letter anyway to "keep up the facade" *winkwink* He's sweet like that.  

Lucky for me and Hubs, we had already purchased a majority of the things on the lists- no big surprises when pen hit paper.  And on Christmas morning I loved hearing DS2 say rather matter-of-factly "Obviously Santa got my letter because I got almost everything I wanted." Obviously.  

I'm happy to report that just over 24 hours later, both kids are still satisfied with their haul.  I have not heard one, "I got most of what I wanted but sure wish I had gotten..." Although there were a few requests to spend gift cards before 8:00 a.m.  Overall, I consider this year a gift giving success.  Go us! And after using scissors, pliers, a hacksaw and blow torch to get the toys out of the packaging, the boys have played with almost every gift today.  

I, however, didn't spend the day in a gift coma.  I had important things to do.  From the minute my eyelids peeled open I had a mission: Get Organized.  Even though most of DS1's list consisted of electronics of some sort, there were still many toys acquired by both of them.  And I'm no dumby. New toys inevitably mean new messes.  Bigger messes.  Messier messes.  And if I don't start out prepared, I will spend a ridiculous about of time yelling, complaining, lecturing, threatening and, well, cleaning up all their crap. It happens year after year.  But not this year!

Turns out, I'm not the only mom who has decided to accept Mission Get Organized.  At 8:43 a.m. I stood next to 5 other moms staring at the wall of home organization in Target.  Each of us was mentally calculating wall space, floor space, toy size and bin configuration in order to make the best use of our storage dollars.  How do I know? Because I asked them.  

Me: "You ladies trying to figure out how to avoid finding every toy they got for Christmas strewn across your house?"

5 Moms: "Yup.  Happens every year."

Me: "Tired of finding tiny guns, Lego heads and cars under every piece of furniture or embedded in the carpets."

5 Moms: "Don't forget the vacuum.  They are always sucked into the vacuum."

Me: "Amen, sistas!"

I'm pleased to announce that I configured my ass off and have made DS2's room look like a page from the Ikea catalog.  There's a place for everything and even better... It's all labeled.  You know how I feel about labels.  It's not a foolproof method because kids will be kids and they inevitably leave a slug-like trail of stuff behind them everywhere they go but I think it's as good as one can get.  And if I labeled the bins it is well within my rights to yell and lecture every time they leave something lying around.  So there!

As I spent 7 hours working on DS2's room which included 2 trips to Target, building 2 8-cubby organizers in espresso brown, cleaning out every drawer, filling 2 bags of hand me downs for his BFF, organizing the closet and bagging enough give aways for AmVets to satisfy countless children in need...my mind began to wonder... And it suddenly hit me! 

Look closely, there are labels. Lovely, love labels.

I'm thinking of forbidding reading in our home so the bookshelf can stay this organized.
Too much?

Back to my epiphany...If I really want to be organized, I should get a jump on next year's Christmas List, right? But my life is so blessed, how could I possibly need anything? Well, it seems I need quite a few things.  So if you are one of those Early Bird Gets the Worm kinda people, here's my list for Christmas 2013.  You're welcome for making your life easier.

Normal's Christmas List for 2013

1. Wake up by choice at least 5 times

2. Have things done the first time I ask- no repeats, do-overs, go backs, one more times or did I not make myself clears

3. Not having everything I say repeated back to me in question form

"We're having spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread and sauteed spinach for dinner."

"Spaghetti and meatballs?"

"Yes."

"Garlic bread?"

"Yes."

"Sauteed spinach as our vegetables?"

"Is this a joke?"

4. Finish a conversation with my husband without someone listening in, interrupting or asking follow up questions even though no one was speaking to them

5. Two children to brush their teeth correctly, thoroughly, without torturing one another and without somehow leaving spit on every surface of the bathroom

6. Sleep naked for no apparent reason- all night

7. Be conscious for 24 full hours without hearing the words: fart, butt, pee pee, nuts, balls and wiener

8. Wake up one day 10 pounds lighter having no idea how it happened (A girl can dream, right?)

9. Finish a shower or peeing without interruption or carrying on a conversation through the door

10. For my house to remain clean for a full 24 hours after I or the cleaning lady has finished

11. Feel 100% confident in every parenting decision I make for several days.  In a row!

12. For my children to use the car door that is closest to their seat in the car

13. Every sock in the dryer to have a mate

14. My children cheer when I tell them I'm making dinner and it's not shaped like an extinct animal

15. Spend 2013 wax-free and not look like Chewbacca by New Year's

16. To have each and every person reading this post share my blog on his/her Facebook or Twitter feed (A little peer pressure never hurt, right?)

I hope you found my list helpful. Only 364 shopping days left!

That's just my normal.