Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned, and cuddled my two children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree in the school playground, and figured out how to attach nine patches onto my daughter's girl scout sash with staples and a glue gun.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this one with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find any more free time in the next eighteen years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache after a day of chasing kids (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to carry a screaming toddler out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year, I'd like a car with 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 daughter doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with one potty-trained toddler, two kids who don't fight, and three pairs of jeans that zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother", because my voice seems to be out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog. And please, don't forget the Play-Doh Travel Pack, the hottest stocking stuffer this year for mothers of preschoolers. It comes in three fluorescent colors guaranteed to crumble on any carpet and make the in-laws' house seem just like home.

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 will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family; or if my toddler didn't look so cute sneaking downstairs to eat contraband ice-cream in his pajamas at midnight.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door and wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the chimney and come in and dry off by the fire so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Oh, and one more thing Santa, you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in you.

Always, Mom

Christmas Activities

Christmas Windows

1 Tbsp paint powder 
1 Tbsp liquid dishwashing soap

Mix together the paint powder and dishwashing soap. Paint different Christmas designs on the window: bells, Santa, reindeer, snowflakes, etc. After the Christmas season, just use a wet cloth to wash off your designs.

Spread onto a cookie sheet to about ½ inch (1-¼ cm) thickness. Bake at 350 ° F

(180° C) for about 10 minutes or until done (watch the gingerbread carefully).

When cool, cut into 6 rectangles.

Use icing to glue the house together. Decorate with candies, sparkles, etc.

In a medium-sized saucepan heat the sugar, water, syrup and cream of tarter until the sugar is dissolved. Pour half of this mixture into another saucepans and boil each portion at until it reaches 280° F (140° C), but do not stir.

Add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint to each portion and add the red coloring to one portion only and place on an enamel or marble table to cool. (First oiling the table, as a general rule).

Like taffy you stretch and pull and form into ropes of red and white, now twist them around again and again and form them into your candy canes.

Place the candy canes on an oiled surface and allow them to harden. The candy canes are now ready to eat or use as decoration.

Sift together the cornstarch and baking soda; gradually add the water, stirring until the mixture is smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture resembles smooth mashed potatoes.

Turn out onto a counter and knead until smooth. Place the mixture on the

Cut out designs using holiday-themed cookie cutters.

Using a pencil, pokes a hole in the top of each ornament. Grease a baking sheet or cookie sheet with butter or margarine. Place the ornaments on the baking sheet and put in the oven for about 5 minutes to harden the clay.

Remove the clay ornaments from oven. If desired, spray polyurethane on the ornaments to make them last longer. Set aside for 24 hours before painting and decorating the ornaments as desired.

Leave the ornaments for another 24 hours or until completely dried.

Tie a colored ribbon through the hole in the ornament or a metal ornament hanger and hang on the Christmas tree. These ornaments can last for years.

Pinecone Christmas Ornaments 

Have a good afternoon with the children and go for a walk and gather pinecones. The pinecones can be left natural, spray-painted or dipped in paint. You can add glitter while the pinecones are still wet. .

Glue a ribbon or strong thread to the top of a pine cone leaving a large enough hole so the ribbon can be looped over the branches of the Christmas tree or hung in the windows.

Christmas Snowflakes 

Cut out a circle of white paper. Fold in half, then fold it again into three equal sections. Cut triangles, squares, etc. out of each side, being careful not to cut completely across. Open these paper cuttings and tape your Christmas snowflakes onto windows and doors.

Using a vegetable peeler (or zester), peel the oranges and lemons carefully, removing only the peel, not any of the white pith. Cut into one-inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Line a small cookie tray with paper towels and spread the peel over them. Place in preheated oven and dry the peel for 1-1/2 hours, tossing occasionally. Peel should be leathery and/or slightly crisp. Spread peel out on dry paper towels and let them air dry for 24 hours.

Combine the peel with remaining ingredients. Fill jars with mixture, place lids on and screw bands on tightly. 3 or 4 half pint jars.

To use: To release the potpourri fragrance, remove lid and leave open in the room, or put one tablespoon of the mixture into a small dish or jar and fill with boiling - this also releases the fragrance.