{meggie writes}: Perfect

Everyone has their favorite season. The Russian loves summer. Mister loves winter. Me? I love 'em all. Seriously. There's not a single time of year that I dislike, not as a whole, anyway. But, I will admit that Autumn and early winter make me smile more than, say, March. (March does kind of suck).

I love it all - the start of school, changing leaves, ghosties and ghoulies, apple cider, jack-o-lanterns, craft fairs, roasted turkey, family gatherings, freshly baked cookies and pies, holiday crafts, decked halls, gift wrapping, eggnog, carols, and candles in windows. Those days and moments warm my heart, and they make me strive to go the extra mile - to create the memories that will fill the minds of my children for years to come.

Of course that's what we all want, but what do we usually get? Life. Sh*t happens, as they say, even during the holidays. And the expectation of the perfect costume, the perfect party, the perfect dinner, the perfect anything is mind-numbing. And it's so not my style. Who wants perfect, anyway? Perfect makes for a boring story, trust me:

Their costumes may be adorable, but that won't negate the fact that your children are mentally scarred. This unfortunate turn of events is due, in part, to your unwise assumption that elementary school haunted houses are cutsie and G-rated. As it turns out, they are not. Clarification: they could scare the crap out of convicts. But, while you're shaking in your boots and pondering the downfall of society, the kids like it. Go figure.
The tree looks great - beautifully trimmed and lit, even if it is crazy-crooked (and God help the person that mentions that fact).
In high spirits, you head out with your kiddos to brave the holiday shopping scene. Instead, you get a flat tire while merging onto the freeway. Tears, tow trucks, and hundreds of dollars later, you sit on your couch and buy gifts online. And even after the day from hell, it still feels good to find a deal.
Your children look like angels, and they're so ready to see Santa. You stand in line for a half hour, only to discover that you're in the sign-up line. Which is then followed by an estimated two-hour wait. So, of course, you ditch out (screaming angels in tow), and order pizza. Because pizza fixes everything.

Now, that's more like it. The good and the bad, they go together like eggnog and bourbon (which, BTW, makes those bad moments a little more festive). So, I'd love to share some of our better moments this holiday season, and you can know with absolute certainty that not a single one of them was perfect!