Buzz and Woody Were Waiting on my Front Porch

 Parenting  9 Responses »
Dec 042009
 

For those who don’t know, have forgotten or have never been here before, our boys love Toy Story. They also like things that go. As such, Santa Claus is bringing them the Toy Story bicycle and tricycle (respectively) for Christmas this year. I purchased the tricycle a few weeks ago when it dropped in price and was holding out for a price drop on the bike. It finally dropped as well in the retail craziness that was Friday through Monday and I ordered it from Toys R Us as they also offered $5 shipping.

I did, before pressing the confirm button, run down to Kmart, who also carries the bike, to see if they had it on sale. They did not. However, I am thankful that I took the time to run down there (especially as I’ve been getting crazy awesome deals there lately) because I got to see what the packaging of the box looked like. Unlike the tricycle which came in a cardboard box that simply read “Huffy” on the side, the bicycle was emblazoned with the characters, the bike itself, the clouds from Andy’s room and screamed, “I am going to ruin your Christmas surprise.”

I ordered it and figured it wouldn’t be a big deal. The UPS man usually delivers packages to our home during naptime. Occasionally he drops something off while we’re eating lunch. Either of these were acceptable options, even if it was lunchtime, as I would just take the package in through our lower door. But then my luck happened and the delivery was rescheduled for today. Not only did BigBrother have school today but we had plans and were going to be out and about. I knew that it would be delivered while we were out. I just knew it.

I was right.

We pulled down our lane which, thankfully, is a private, dead end lane. There are six houses total. As I edged the corner of the first house on the lane, I could see the bright blue cloud-covered package sitting right in the middle of our front porch. Great. BigBrother doesn’t miss anything. What to do, what to do. I then decided to risk having Child Protective Services called on me. I stopped the car in front of my neighbors house, hoping our apple tree was still blocking BigBrother’s full view. I explained I had to run up to the house very quickly. I got out, locked the vehicle, ran to the house (yes, dear readers, I ran in Mary Jane flats in the mud and muck of December), unlocked the door, grabbed the huge box and tried to block Buzz and Woody’s smiling face from BigBrother’s watchful eyes, ran down the steps, threw it into the garage side, shut that door, ran up the stairs, ran out the door, shut it and ran back to the truck.

Did I mention it is really cold out today? Talk about burning lungs. Wow.

I was, of course, met with 20 Questions. Four year old children ask lots of questions. Red Pen Mama warned me about this and, man, was she ever right.

BigBrother: What was that?
Me: Oh, I don’t know.
BigBrother: Why did you run?
Me: Sometimes I like to run. Don’t you like to run?
BigBrother: But what was it?
Me: *putting the truck in drive and making our way into our driveway* Did you see what it was?
BigBrother: No, that’s why I asked.
Me: It was nothing.
BigBrother: OH LOOK! WE HAVE MAIL!

I purposefully left another box (Amazon) that UPS had delivered with the offending bike box in hopes that it would distract my Inquisitor. It did. VICTORY IS MINE! He happily got out of the truck, picked up the Amazon box, shook it and forgot all about his brief abandonment in front of the neighbor’s house along with watching his mother run which was surely something he had never seen before. (Broken ankle in high school. Running is not my forte.)

And so, the bike is in the house. It’s also now out of the garage and put in the Super Secret Present Storage Area which is really just a storage room but it works for now. I was delighted that it finally arrived, being the only present that I really held out to get a good deal on (and I didn’t even have to wake up at 5:00 in the morning or stand in long lines; I win). I do wish, of course, that manufacturers would put things like this in unmarked boxes. Or, for that matter, that online stores offered a warning at checkout: THE SHIPPING PACKAGING OF THIS ITEM WILL RUIN YOUR CHRISTMAS SURPRISE. PLEASE BE ADVISED. I am just ever-so-thankful that my mother-in-law let me know the bike was at a brick-and-mortar store and that I took the time to check it out. Otherwise I would have pulled all the way into our driveway today, BigBrother would have seen this…

Buzz and Woody

… and said, “SANTA WAS HERE!”

All worrying and running aside, I’m so excited. I can hardly wait to see their faces on Christmas morning!

Why I Prefer Pajamas to Black Friday Shopping

 Living Life  4 Responses »
Nov 272009
 

Some of you may recall that I lost my Black Friday virginity last year. I recall it. Vividly. Which is why I slept in this morning and am writing to you from my couch. In my pajamas. I’m drinking a cup of coffee and eating a piece of maple pumpkin pie that BigBrother made for yesterday’s Thanksgiving celebration. The laundry is washing. Soon the dishes will be washing. And I’ll listen to Christmas music while I decorate (all but the tree) as the snow attempts to fall but refuses to stick to the ground.

Because the memories of last year are enough to keep me inside for as long as possible today.*

I don’t like the way that today’s deals make people act, both those in search of the deals and those working at the stores. While I didn’t engage in any pushing, shoving, shouting or other such nastiness last year, I watched it happen. It made me sick to my stomach and really upset me. Those things are not what this season is about for my family. Those are not the reasons that FireDad and I exchanged vows a week before Christmas five years ago. The hope, love and general spirit of the season are things that this family rejoices in, not the overt commercialism.

Not that I don’t love a good deal. I do. In fact, I really, really love a good deal. But not on Black Friday.

Growing up, the day after Thanksgiving was about decorating for Christmas. And leftovers. And Christmas music. And annoying each other since everyone was home from work and school. And more leftovers. And pie! I want that for my household as well. Some may argue that they do those things after they go out and do some early morning shopping. That early morning shopping last year ruined my whole day. I don’t want that.

While I said, last year, that I’d cave and go back out this year if The Store That Has Everything From Power Wheels to Eggnog had $88 Power Wheels again (they did), FireDad and I discussed that there’s no world in which a four year old and a two year old need a tricycle, a bicycle AND a Power Wheels in one sitting. The former two are arriving from Santa. The latter would be overkill. And so, once again, no Power Wheels. The world didn’t end after that decision or after I woke up well after the shopping kicked off this morning. My children will continue to live life, without a Power Wheels, and all will be well.

And so, Black Friday shoppers, enjoy your sale prices. You won’t have to push, shove or otherwise assault me in order to get your deals. To those that also hate confrontation but are braving it all the same, I send you my best. I’ll stay home, warm in my pajamas, and enjoy the fact that I am neither cold nor rushed and not even upset about a missed deal. Because there’s always more pie.

Mmm, Pie

* = I do have to go to the bank today and I have to shoot the basketball game tonight so I do have to leave the house but hope to avoid any insanity.

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