"I don't like him"

Life is hectic right now.  Very few evenings are free and with the holidays rapidly approaching and the times in which Trenton is with us and not his father are scattered, so I'm trying to squeeze in all the important traditional things we do as a family to celebrate.  One has already been ruined.  The annual trip to the dollar tree where I let the boys buy gifts for everyone in my family.  This is typically hilarious. And we'd planned to go last Sunday.  We decided that Saturday and everyone was on board.  Until Sunday actually came.  Then Scott just didn't want to go.  He told me to go without him and he'd take the kids for my gifts later.  Which is stupid.  First of all, I am miserable and herding 2 boys threw a store with breakables in it when I can barely move just isn't doable.  Plus, the kids buy each other gifts, too.  So we typically split them up for buying.  It was just the worst and meanest thing he could have done.  Trenton was really disappointed.  Secondly, there's no way he'd take the kids back at a later date.  He puts off EVERYTHING.  Until last minute.  Then it's not enjoyable, if it gets done at all.  If it doesn't directly pertain to his soccer crap, it's not a priority.  So.  Basically because he didn't want to do it, the whole thing got scraped.  Which I am monumentally upset about.  But what can I do?  Nothing. 

So, I'm not asking anymore.  Given the option, my husband chooses not to participate {or he complains about participating.  Looking at Christmas lights, watching Christmas movies, everything.  He bitches about all of it.} so I'm not giving him the option.  It's not about him.  He could let himself have a good time.  But he won't.  So I don't care.  It's fun for the boys.  So I'll simply tell him where to be and when.  Which is what I did last night. 

We went to see Santa.  No, Monday night isn't ideal.  But there just isn't enough time with everything else we need to do, so it had to be done.  It's not something I'm willing to gamble on not getting done.  It's tradition. 

Luckily, Monday meant almost no line at all.  And it was a night where people were allowed to bring pets, so there were several doggies in the mall waiting to get their pictures with Santa, lol.  So cute. 

The boys played and looked at the decorations while waiting in line and in less than 10 minutes, it was our turn.  Santa was hidden from the line by a row of Christmas trees.  As soon as Carter turned the corner, he froze and immediately turned to me and reached for my hand.  Then he wouldn't let go. 

He wouldn't even LOOK at Santa.  Not before, during or after.  And he wouldn't say a WORD.  He just leaned as far away as possible after Scott put him in the chair with Santa and maintained eye contact with me.  LOL!  It was so funny.  He wasn't scared.  He didn't cry like in years past.  He just... didn't want to be there.  When I asked him later why he wouldn't talk to Santa, he said simply, "I didn't like him".  LOL!  Poor Santa. 

 

 

So after Santa, we went to eat in the food court.  We ate some Sonic yum and then Trenton wanted to try the bounce "Skywalker" thing.  He was SO loud.  He took it upon himself to personally deafen everyone in the mall shouting random things.  Such a comedian.  Meanwhile, Carter played on the little car rides nearby with Daddy.

 

After all that excitment, I let the boys play for "5 minutes" on the playground.  That's about how long we were there... util Carter threw up.  ::Awkward pause::  Yeah.  Right there, on the playground, in front of everyone.  He ran over and said, "I'm going to throw up".  Then he did.  Scott took him to the bathroom while I battled mortification and cleaned up.  Then Scott took the kids home while I looked for the customer service center so I could tell them that even though I did a pretty good job of cleaning up, they'd need to pay special attention to that area.  Ugh.  So embarassing, lol.