One of Kevin’s Christmas traditions is Satsuma Oranges. I had never really heard of these fruit before I met Kevin but his family tradition was a box of Satsumas under the tree at Christmas time. So every year for the last few Christmases we’ve gotten a box to keep his tradition alive.

Flash forward to Monday. I’m at Safeway with little one strapped to my chest and the big one in the front basket of the shopping cart. Little one is alternating between chewing the carrier and spitting up all over me. Big one is eating a donut and vibrating in the seat from the rust of sugar. We are almost done with the shopping and are powering through the produce aisle when Leina spots the Satsumas.

“Oh, mommy, can we get some oranges pwease?” she asks, tidbits of sugar glaze falling from her lips.

“Sure honey, daddy loves these oranges.” I reply and sling a box into our cart.

“Can I eat one now pwease?” Leina asks and rubs her sticky fingers on my shirt sleeve.

“No honey, we have to pay first, we can have one when we get home.” I reply and head toward the cashier.

When we get home and I manage to lug everyone and everything inside. Leina remembers my promise and demands a Satsuma. I pull one out of the box and begin to peel it but Leina snatches it away exclaiming she can do it herself. Happy she is occupied, I turn my back and begin unpacking the groceries.

A few minutes later, Leina approaches with a wedge of orange. Amazingly enough she has managed to peel the Satsuma, place the peel in the garbage and tear apart the wedges. I happily eat the orange offered to me and continue my unloading.

Imagine my surprise when Leina appears again by my knee offering up yet another orange. I eat this one as well. A bit slower mind you. But it’s still tasty. Now the third orange, not so tasty. And the fourth? I think that day I ending up eating six Satsumas and poor Kevin got tackled with another four when he came home. It appears our eldest loves to peel the Satsumas. She has no interest in eating more than a nibble or two. Oh no, she saves the eating part for her poor parents. I think the box came with about 30 oranges on Monday.

We have 8 left.

If I have to take another bite of orange I may lose mind. Even Kevin looked a little green this morning after Leina fed him a few more for breakfast. I’m thinking we may have to retire the Satsuma tradition this year ’cause if I see another orange wedge, I may run for my life with Kevin close at my heels.