One-on-One Time

I don't now if it is that much easier to have only one child, or if the kids are just on extra special behavior when they get one of their parents all to themselves, but I really had a great time this weekend spending some time individually with each of the kids.  Saturday was in Tyler's words "a stay home day."  I took Katie with me on a trip to Michael's and to Petco for their dog adoption day.  We had fun looking at all the stuff, and fell in love with a few puppies, and then selected a craft for our project of the day.  Once we got home we made candy - Santa, elves, teddy bears, Christmas trees - and the kids were so proud of their creations, but had no problem eating them when we were done!  We didn't do much of anything at all, but had a great day.  Today Katie went to the Rockettes show with So-So, and Tyler went with me to Opry Mills.  We rode the train, and shopped - for three hours!  We went to the Disney store, looked at leggos, picked out the Build a Bears we will do sometime when Katie is with us, and bought a couple of things for Dad (that I highly doubt Tyler will be able to keep secret).  I didn't get a lot of the shopping done that I needed and hoped to, but we had so much fun hanging out just the two of us that it was worth it to have to try to find time to get out in the chaos again next weekend.  I really enjoyed hanging with my little people - they both talked my ear off and were sooo well-behaved.  We rarely get one-on-one time with them, as I know most people with multiple children don't, and it is amazing how much more relaxing it is when you aren't refereeing or trying to keep up with two going in opposite directions. 

Tyler had a ball riding the train, waving at all (seemed like millions today) of the shoppers and pointing out stores that we had already been in as we passed them.  

Katie was ridiculously excited about the Rockettes, and almost equally as excited to come home from breakfast and get her "pretty outfit" on. She came home talking all about it and seemed to have a fabulous time!  

All in all it was really a great weekend, despite that I am now even more behind in Christmas prep.  This week will be crazy at work, but the good thing is that I will be at a corporate shopping day on Thursday  so maybe I can get two things done that day - shopping for the kids we serve, and for the myriad family members who I have yet to purchase for!  We have  already done lots of fun Christmas stuff with the kids, though and next weekend they will make gingerbread houses with their grandparents while we have a last chance to finish up shopping, assembling and wrapping (Lance still thinks Santa wraps).  Katie came home today talking about Baby Jesus (don't know if it was part of the Rockettes show or something she talked with So-So about) and we have been trying to tell them the reason for the season while also doing some commercial Christmas things like looking at lights, making candy and cookies, and visiting Santa.  I think their school does a good job, too, of mixing instruction and lessons about all of the different ways people celebrate and what they celebrate and having fun and so far I think the kids have had a great Christmas season!