Shorter days really are shorter

I feel like I've been conned all my life. I'm beginning to think that as the shortest "day" of the year approaches, days really are shorter. As in, there's no way they can be 24 hours long.

In the past three days, I have spent about 2 hours with my kids in the morning, and about 3 in the evenings. All three days combined. It's crazy. I've spent more time on the road than with my family.

I remember a post I wrote about Halloween. I thought I was busy then! Holy moly! Sometime during the holidays, I have to ask my mother how she used to do it. Was I just completely oblivious to the midnight baking frenzies, the last minute running around for obscure ingredients? And that last gift you remembered you needed to get only hours after you celebrated finally being done shopping?

This evening I got my last-minute Secret Santa gifts for work, and made some salads (ok, I made one and sent hubby to the grocery store to pick up two more from the deli section). Did a little favour for my mother and next thing I know, it's 10:30! My kitchen is a mess - actually, my whole house is a mess - but it'll have to wait.

It's just the beginning, too: tomorrow afternoon's the office party, and I hope to be home by dinner. I want to take the kids out to the dollar store so they can pick out a little gift for the godparents, who we see for breakie Saturday, before I head out to the office to finish some work before the end of the year. Then Sunday is brunch with family and old family friends.

Work Monday morning, with a two-year-old and dog in towe. I drop the dog off at the kennel on the way home, and get ready for a surprise visit to my in-laws. Monday night is Reveillon at my parents', and we leave right after gift opening on Christmas day to drive 8 or 10 hours to visit hubby's family.

Yikes!

I haven't been doing phenomenally well in my personal challenges lately, and I'd like any tips on how I can minimize Monster Tanya during what will surely be pure insanity!