The Truth Isn't Always Pretty
For years, I've received numerous catalogs full of darling options (and also not so darling options) for dressing siblings in matching outfits.
Before you all start groaning and throwing things at your monitors, please realize that most of the time, I forgo the cute matchy-matchy bull. Buying expensive, matching clothing is just asking for one child to go face down in the mud moments before a photo appointment that you have carefully planned and choreographed after a meal but before naptime and you don't have time to change them, so you either have to lose the appointment or try to clean them off in the mall restroom with a wad of wet toilet tissue while the other two kids crawl around on the dirty tile and eat the hand soap.
Not that I've ever experienced something like that.
Ahem.
No, for day to day wear, the matching outfits are not practical. And as we've seen in the above example, really aren't practical ever, unless you are a better mother than me.
Anyway, these glorious catalogs of coordinated families always have a pajama section. Svelte parents cuddling freshly coiffed children under the Christmas tree... So pretty! So perfect!
You know where I'm going with this, don't you? Oh, yeah. I bought my husband and myself matching pajamas. Red and white candy striped long johns.
When I got them in the mail, I ripped open the packages and threw them in the wash. That night, hot out of the dryer, I insisted that we both put on our new jammies. The warm knit felt heavenly against my skin, and I felt like posing by the tree right that very minute.
And then I got a look at my husband. And then I took a look at myself. We are not 6' svelte people hired to pose with fake children. No. Rather than a charming Christmas tableau, we make a convincing tweedle dee and tweedle dum. You may now call me Twee.
I pointed at my husband and said "Haaaa!" and he pointed at me and said "Haaaaaa!" right back. Then we laughed. But we didn't take the pajamas off, because hello? They are so comfortable, and warm from the dryer.
I don't think we'll be lounging around the tree, opening gifts and posing for photos. No, we'll be dorking around in our matching jailbird jammies, trying to gulp down coffee in between clearing away discarded wrapping paper and unscrewing battery compartments.
Alas. Another instance where the catalog items don't live up to the photos...
Comments
oh that made me laugh so hard. Twee.
so very funny.
Posted by: steph | December 14, 2005 4:29 PM
mina and i just watched "alice in wonderland", and i gotta say that tweedledum and tweedledee are NOT, umm, THINGS you'd want to draw comparisons to yourself with.
seriously, the brainpower of those two wouldn't be sufficient to power a nightlight bulb. not merely stupid, but STOOPID. and by stupid i mean RETARDED.
Posted by: sweetney | December 14, 2005 7:13 PM
Oh, Jenny, I love those pj's, but IFYP. I am not a 6' model either, so they look absolutely ridiculous on me.
But comfy, oh yeah.
I still want to see the pictures!
Posted by: Carmen | December 15, 2005 3:05 AM
I hate matching clothes but my significant other insists on matching pajamas for all of the kids, every year. My oldest does not live with us so she lucked out of this tradition. Knowing I have issues about matching clothes the woman STILL bought us PJs that matched the kids the first year that we were together and I made her send them BACK. Bad enough she's putting the kids in that crud, I am NOT joining in the madness.
Now I'm happy for y'all. If you're comfy and cozy and can deal with the whole matchingness sort of thing then more power to you. But not me, no, it's just not for me. Never. Ever.
Posted by: Denise | December 15, 2005 3:48 AM
IFYP Mama... we'd be the same.
Man, I needed this laugh. Thanks Twee. :)
Posted by: Cookie | December 15, 2005 8:10 AM
Love that!
Posted by: Tuesday | December 15, 2005 9:19 AM
no pictures??? :)
Posted by: ashley | December 15, 2005 9:29 AM
Yeah, see, I need a photo to get the full effect. For...um...artistic purposes. Yeah, that's the ticket. I'm not laughing at you. Really.
Posted by: Sleepless Mama | December 15, 2005 3:32 PM
DUDE
You totally need to post pics!!!
:) Happy Holidays!
Posted by: lizriz | December 15, 2005 3:53 PM
At least you got a good laugh outta them!
Posted by: Candice | December 15, 2005 4:22 PM
Yes, yes. Pictures are definitely in order, Twee. I look longingly at those matching outfits. And I pass them up for the same reasons you stated. Except that I don't know that the clothes would even make it onto my boys' bodies. There are far too many stray sharpies in this house for that.
But pictures. Really. We need visuals, Jenny.
Posted by: buffi | December 15, 2005 7:27 PM
Oh my goodness, too funny. I am guessing you won't be posing in them for your annual Christmas card then.
Posted by: chris | December 16, 2005 5:15 AM
sigh, where are the pictures???
Posted by: Philip | December 16, 2005 8:53 AM
I also think a picture would be great!!
I had never considered an event like the one you described, happening just before portraits... DEAR LORD!!!
Posted by: holli | December 16, 2005 12:48 PM
I'm fessing up, too: I bought all my daughters the very same red and white striped long johns (trimmed in green) and dh is getting the green and white cuz he's the only boy. Me? I'm sticking with my Lands' End flannel Christmas nightie...it coordinates well.
I wanna see pics, too!
Posted by: Stephanie C. | December 16, 2005 1:34 PM
post the pictures! we can all have a group hug!!
((I have reindeer flannel pants, that say "naughty or nice" on the butt))
Posted by: cmhl | December 16, 2005 2:44 PM
I grew up with one of those moms who loved to dress me and my little sister in MATCHING clothes. Not coordinating clothes, but the same dress in two different sizes! What's bad is we are not TWINS. We do not even look alike. I'm pale and freckled with blue eyes and red hair, she is tall and olive-skinned with brown eyes and chestnut hair. My sister and I are less than 18 months apart, what we've come to refer to as 'Irish-Catholic Twins'.
Posted by: Erin | December 16, 2005 7:11 PM
Jen, Please, please, please bring those jammies to Our Christmas Eve Dinner. When we change the grandbabies into their new, unsoiled and picture worthy PJ's, before you depart for home, you and the hubs could change too! Just think of the photos we could share with your friends.Mom
Posted by: MommyBommy | December 17, 2005 12:52 PM
omg, i'm a bit late due to a house full of sickly peeps, but THIS, thankyouverymuch, is exactly what i needed at this moment of pained sinuses. i think you might be my new hero.
Posted by: moxiemomma | December 21, 2005 12:26 PM
Where does one get such pajamas?
Posted by: Nicole | November 17, 2006 8:11 PM