Ads 468x60px

Subscribe:

12/5/11

Christmas Vacation, In a Way

Currently in Eastern Idaho, it is sunny and-2 degrees out.

Negative.  Two.

That's fucking cold, and it's not even technically Winter yet.  It's only going to stay like this, and probably until March.

But I'm not sweating it.  In 5 days, I'll be down in California, where it's nice, even in December.

I'm spending some time visiting my boys, and dropping off Christmas presents a little early.  Since they're 5 and 3, it's still more about Santa Claus than daddy, so about half the gifts will be labeled "From Santa."

I also think this is a good political move.  I don't want them thinking that it's mommy vs daddy in a contest to buy their love.  The 'Santa' clause lets me buy them nice things without trying to take the credit.

The competition still seems to be there.  When I want to buy them a present, odds are mom or grandma has already purchased it for them.  I'm trying to coordinate what we're getting them so we don't overlap, but that's a toughie.

BONUS FOR CALIFORNIA:


Gorgeous weather.

I'm looking forward to temps in the 60's.  That's short-sleeves and shorts for most Idahoans.

And while these trips are mostly about the boys, my time with them is going to be somewhat limited.  I'm seeing them Saturday, and maybe Sunday for breakfast before they go to church and I start driving home.

But I'm going to be getting to Cali sometime mid-Friday afternoon. Lots of time to kill.

I may go see some friends, or I may go take care of some business matters.  Maybe both.  Since I usually don't have a lot of 'free time' when I'm down there, I'm not totally sure.

All I can say is, I'll be doing it in style, with the windows rolled down and enjoying the warmth.

CALIFORNIA HERE I COME!
Please Share it! :)

19 witty retorts:

Unknown said...

Ah yes, the struggle to buy the children's affections. (I kid)

It is tough. When we were on good terms with CREW we would discuss who was buying what for the kids, but now it's every parent for themselves.

Unknown said...

I and I really don't like it this way. At all.

I'm shopping, baby mama is shopping. Let's coordinate some, so we don't overlap.

If I get them an X, and so does mom, it's whatever gift is opened first is the winner. Kind of sucks that way, for the both of us.

Electric Addict said...

wow you're lucky, 68 degrees is hot here in the pacific northwest. have fun!

Anonymous said...

I sense that there's an unwillingness on "baby mama's" side to discuss who's buying what. That really makes things difficult.

As a side note, please send some nice Cali weather over to NJ. Much appreciated!

Sub Radar (Mike) said...

Escaping that kind of weather must be such a relief... unfortunately for me it's the opposite (heading to the East Coast from Cali to see friends and family).

Sharon Day said...

Have a great and safe trip and have loads of hugs and giggles with the boys. Oh, and stop at all abandoned sites to photograph.

Pickleope said...

And now I'll be singing "Goin Back to Cali" LL Cool J style. Good job on the diplomacy.

D4 said...

Ah, what a wonderful time. And those temps sound great too. Enjoy it all! :)

squatlo said...

My EX and I usually did our best to coordinate the gift thing pretty well, but it was always a struggle distributing the "time share" issue between us at Xmas and Thanksgiving. When her family gathered in Dayton Ohio and mine in east Tenn, it was tough to juggle the highway time.

But, for what it's worth, they're both adults now and from all appearances they survived the mommy/daddy drama basically scar-free, emotionally. It helps if both adults (assuming both ARE adult about it) recognize that in a few years all of the anymosity will be in the rear view mirror, where it belongs. In the meantime, make certain you do everything you can to let the kids are the light of your life in every way possible.
(and then you get to deal with the awkward teenage years when they despise EVERYONE for about three years...)
Enjoy your trip, and be careful.

Minus fucking two? We're in shorts on the porch drinking cold beer, mid sixties... Sorry for the visual.
(love the pic from A Christmas Story, BTW)

The Angry Lurker said...

Got locked outside tonight for a while......can't feel anything south of the border.

G said...

I jealous...a little winter sun is always good

not displayed said...

I hope this is a good trip for you as I know you have had some previous not so good ones.
Shopping for kids is hard when you are with them everyday, I ant imagine how hard it would be when you hardly see them to know what to get.
Did the converting and 68F is about 20C - Today I am chilling in 30C which equals 86F.

Workingdan said...

I live in Indiana...we could have 20 degrees one day and 60 the next! That's no joke! Happened before, happens all the time!

Enjoy your time with the kids!

Al Penwasser said...

Yeah, but it's a DRY cold. As if that makes any frikkin' difference.
Have fun in California.
Watch out for any Bloods, Crips, or Hollywood people.

Sara Strand said...

Yikes- that is a shit situation and I have no advice there. I have friends who are divorced but she does the shopping? He gives her a set amount per kid, she gets what she can with that plus her equal contribution and then "From: Mom & Dad" are written on everything, so both parents get equal credit? It might be an idea.

Steve Bailey said...

I was just down in Southern California last week and it was so so nice..... enjoy thawing out down there after Idaho!

Melanie said...

Have a great time...the warm weather and kid time will do you good...how can it not??

Zombie said...

The weather in Cali this past week has been pretty awesome. Just REALLY windy...

Julie Ferguson said...

It has been unseasonably cold here in Phoenix, but I am totally loving it!

Post a Comment

Comments are always appreciated. Sometimes they end up being better than the initial post! Come join in on the fun... (and remember, you can post anonymously)

And if you like the post, feel free to share! Stumble, Digg, Tweet, go bananas!