While the weather outside is most certainly frightful here in Georgia lately, so is the inside climate at the shopping malls.  Especially when you take two toddlers and *try* to do some Christmas shopping with them.  In five hours yesterday afternoon, I only managed to buy FOUR things.  Now keep in mind that I have five kids and lots of extended family… so four things was not even a minuscule portion of what I needed to get.  Especially when you consider that I only have one more weekend to shop until Christmas since Makenzie’s birthday party and actual birthday is the weekend just before the big holiday.

I had made a list here on my blog in my head of what I needed to get done yesterday while I was out.  It was rather frustrating that I didn’t get any of it accomplished.  The kids starting screaming and crying in the middle of Kohls.  Then I started screaming and crying in the middle of Kohls.  I must say… I’ve had better days.  I am not one bit proud of how I reacted to their behavior yesterday, but how many darn times have I sat in McDonald’s playplace and let them play for hours when I’d rather be somewhere else?!  Ok, I know.  That’s not rational.  I can’t expect my two toddlers to shop for hours quietly and smile sweetly at every stranger who says they are cute, can I?  Well, I can.  But it’s just not gonna happen.

And if that wasn’t enough… on the way home some crazy lady cut us off and almost ran us off the road because she wasn’t paying attention.  I guess Dave, who is normally quiet, was frustrated from the whole shopping experience… because he proceeded to honk the horn FOR SEVERAL MINUTES at this lady.  Not just one honk… I’m talking LAYING on the horn.  I was laughing, but then became mortified when he didn’t stop.  He said he was going to pull up next to her at the next light and demand an apology!  I told him she would most likely think he was a stalker and call the police.  Thankfully, we never got next to her again since Dave was going a little nutso like Clark Griswold when his boss gave him the jelly of the month subscription instead of his bonus.

So that was our horrible shopping day.  We didn’t get anything done and both came home stressed out and in a bad mood.

I can happily say though- today was MUCH better :)  The in-laws finally said they’d watch the little kids for us and we went out ALONE and had a GREAT shopping day together.  We were able to buy several things on our list and even had lunch together as a couple.  Now THAT puts me in the Christmas spirit.  I love to buy for people and love to spend time and put actual effort into the shopping without worrying about what Devin is pulling off the rack or whether or not Makenzie is grossing some old lady out by picking her nose.

I suppose though that somewhere in the midst of all the drama and exhaustion that is the Christmas season, it’s easy to forget the REAL meaning of Christmas.  I know it sure is easy for me to get caught up in all the shopping and screaming and rude people and forget that Jesus is the true meaning for this wonderful season we all love.  I pray I never forget why I celebrate Christmas in the first place.  I don’t think anyone can ever get the perfect gift- because the perfect gift has already been given.