Right around the corner...

This year is really flying by!  It's pretty much the end of the year, and with the end of the year comes Christmas.  I think it's probably my favorite time of year.  MOST people are so cheery and happy and all the holiday songs playing.  I know there are a lot of you out there that are already sick of the music but I absolutely love it.  The kiddos and I have started putting lights up even.  The hubbs is a grinch about lights and trees and music, I think the only reason he doesn't put up much of a fuss anymore is because of the kids, LOL.  And this (Psycho)babbling Mommy, well she knows how to get her way ;).

Did you know that you can get a letter addressed to your kiddos from "Santa" from the North Pole?  I just found out last year and my kids ABSOLUTELY went nuts when they saw that letter sitting there from Santa Claus.  Especially now that they are at the age where they want to read anything and everything, it really got them excited.  Now I know there are agencies you can pay for the whole kit, (letter, picture, mug, etc) but this is free, except for postage, and it's from the "north pole" ;)

Here’s how “Letters From Santa” works:

1. Write a letter to your child from Santa Claus and sign it “From Santa.”
2. Insert the letter into an envelope addressed to your child with the return address:
   SANTA, NORTH POLE.
3. Ensure a First-Class Mail stamp is affixed to the envelope.
4. Place the envelope into a larger envelope, with appropriate postage, and address the larger envelope to:
   NORTH POLE POSTMARKPOSTMASTER4141 POSTMARK DRANCHORAGE AK 99530-9998
5. Your letter “From Santa” will be mailed back to your child, postmarked from the North Pole.

“Letters From Santa” must be mailed to the Anchorage, AK, postmaster no later than Dec. 10, 2012. Santa’s helpers in Anchorage will take care of the rest.

Here's a letter to Santa, I'm sure most moms could agree with ;)

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year.  I've fed, cleaned, and cuddled my children on demand and visited the doctor's office more than my doctor. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my daughter's red crayon on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 14 years.

Here's my Christmas wish(s):

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache *in any color except purple, which I already have*, and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.  I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the fourth month of my pregnancy.

If you're hauling big-ticket items this year, I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands of your sister" because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the cats.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.  If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season.  Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable?  It would clear my conscience immensely.  It would also be helpful if you could coerce my kids to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family. 

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my daughter saw my feet under the laundry room door.  I think she wants her crayon back.  Have a safe trip, and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch a cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on my clean carpet.

Yours always,

The (Psycho)Babbling Mommy

p.s. one more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa for at least 6 more years :)...