Holiday Slump--Need Help!

I need your best advice.  I don't ask for help much, but I am finally admitting I need it.

I have no holiday spirit.  I bought a few gifts, but I just can't bring myself to leave the house and do anything (other than crossfit).  I was supposed to go to a dinner tonight put on by Operation Homefront, and ordering pizza sounded like more fun.

It didn't help that I am apparently at war with Abbie's school.  I have hired an advocate, and she is going to save my sanity I think.

I feel like the last month I have been put through the wringer and then doused in ice cold water a half dozen times for good measure.

My question to you.....how do you get out of the holiday slump when your Servicemember is deployed?  The last 4 times he was deployed over Christmas, I was on top of my game.  This time.....not so much.

The kids are excited about Christmas, but there is nothing under the tree because I can't even bear to wrap presents this year.  So let me know how to snap out of it and get it together, I could really use the help this year.  I guess 5 Christmases alone is my breaking point?

Funny Abs story--Jr wanted to watch Dora, and Em was less than excited and exited the room.  Abs proclaimed "I may be too old for Dora, but I have a soft spot for Spanish people."  It reminded me of when we were at Epcot this past summer.  We wanted to ride the Test Track cars, and it was faster to go as a single rider, but then you can't ride with your family.  Not a big deal since the girls are older and Grandma was watching Junior.  Abs got placed in a car full of big burly hispanic guys talking in Spanish.  She was so excited, yelled out "Hola" to them, and they were immediately smitten by the pint size gringo speaking to them in Spanish and were so nice to her during the ride, even when she screamed.  If you've heard her scream, then I assure you, the guys should have qualified for some military award!

A Visit To Santa

The clinic where Abs receives OT a million times a week, decided to have pictures with Santa today.  Dealing with kids with special needs, sensory issues (like Abs), or children with an assortment of other struggles, it makes it hard to get in line at the mall, with all the lights and sounds that can affect them more than the normal child.

It can be sensory overload for some (like Abs) and so we just opt to not do it.  We jumped at the chance to reserve a slot, have a bit of time with Santa, and he played his part well and talked to each of the kids (well except Em, who cringed at the thought of seeing Santa).

Santa invited Abs to sit on the arm of the chair.  She told him she wasn't allowed to sit there, but he finally convinced her it was okay this one time.

I managed to get Em to sneak in for one picture.  Oh the joys of having a teenager in the house!

Junior was asking Santa if he was on the naughty list. He must not have gotten the memo that I had to change dirty pants several times today.  Ugh.

I'm hoping that their photographer got a better shot than I did! 

The Winner Is....

The TWO winners of the Hallmark Recordable Storybooks are......

Charity at A Day in the Life of 5 and Casey at The Ever-Changing Life of a Military Wife.

I loved hearing all your stories, but I used the random number generator, which I still can't figure out how to post on here.  I should probably ask my daughter and she would be able to do it in no time at all.

If these two can please send me an email, I'll forward your information on so that your books can be on their way (although I don't know about delivery to Turkey before Christmas!).