IKEA has a new "FAMILY IKEA" since they have realized that parents have been using the childcare as both an incentive to potty train (me: guilty) but also for a little break. Today, we had lunch upstairs ($6.53 for me and the three kids) and then I checked the kiddos into Smalland for 90 minutes (an extra 30 minutes because of the Family program). I went back to the cafe, got my free cup of tea, and read a couple chapters in my current library book. I seriously considered going into the showroom and cozying into a couch but I thought that might be a bit much.
I bought a couple extra white wine glasses and picked up my happy children. My mom is always amazed at the furniture and glassware we get from IKEA. IKEA is one of the very few Brand Loyalties I have. (IKEA, Costco, Nordstrom; the companies I spend my money at because I trust they won't screw me over.)
We hit our local Micheal's for some cookie containers for Evan's coworkers (shortbread bars chilling in the fridge right now). The kids were ready to go home and revel in electronics but I had discovered a new playground and we bargained for 30 minutes of fresh air and frolicking at the playground for an equal amount of time on the Wii or DS.
But! Listen. I'm getting carried away with the everyday. I want to talk about these.
Every single card we receive is poured over by the whole family. Was it a friend of Oscar's? But wait, we know his parents too from BBQs at our old house! A bunch of kids we don't know? Well, wait a minute, the mom is friends with our mom, and all of a sudden we remember seeing all those kids at the pool! That's from Lucy's new friend from school. That lady is mama's friend from high school, we don't know her kids but Oscar has a hard time picking out the 40yo mom from her four daughters (in a totally okay and flattering way). And of course there's the friends that manage to have an emotional attachment to every age of our kids and their parents.
It's really hard, carrying the love for all these folks around in my heart. But sometimes we get holiday cards from them. And that reminds my family how much they love their friends and what we left.
I just had a good cry. Luckily, my husband just came in from grilling our dinner and I got a call from my mom that the car service picked them up from LAX, so they should be here in an hour or so.
But here's what I want to say: if you don't think that anyone cares about getting a holiday card from you, think again. Every image of an old friend is celebrated around here. I thought I could get away with 80 cards this year. I just ordered another 36. When you move across the country, away from your friends and loved ones, every image of your old life is welcomed. So order a couple extra cards and send them to the folks that you don't think care about getting a card from you. Trust me, they will treasure it. I know we do.
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