This post is late, and I have guilt about it. I did a post about Elias on his birthday, and Levi's birthday was three days ago now. I started this post before Levi's actual birthday, not that it makes a difference. Levi will forgive me for this without a second thought, and that almost makes it worse.… Continue reading Double Digits
Category: Holidays
This Is Eight
It's a birthday tradition, jumping on top of Mom in bed at an ungodly hour, and Elias did not disappoint. This is eight. The boundless energy that shows up as blurry limbs in photos. "Mom," he said this morning, quiet because it was early and he's learned some things about his mother, "there are presents."… Continue reading This Is Eight
A Perfect Gift for Mom
I ran into my friend Beth at the grocery store last May. This was not all that surprising, since we'd both just been at the same rehearsal. We got to stand and talk, which was a treat. Mostly we're like ships passing in the night. Friendly ships, but not ships with a lot of time… Continue reading A Perfect Gift for Mom
The Long Night
It is the darkest day of the year. There are literally fewer minutes of sunlight today than any other day all year. And ... it feels dark, too. For so many people, December is hard. They are navigating grief, brand new or a few months old. It is the first Christmas with that particular hole… Continue reading The Long Night
Here We Go
The first sign of Christmas at our house is always the Advent calendar. The first day is tomorrow (December is comin' on like a freight train, y'all), and I put it up on the mantel after the boys left for school this morning. They'll discover it sometime today while I'm at work, and despite repeated talks… Continue reading Here We Go
Protecting the Dream
CAUTION: Contains frank talk about Santa. You've been warned. . . . . . I'm ambivalent about Santa. I never believed in Santa as a child. Paul didn't either, and when we talked about it we generally decided we'd go along if they picked it up from other people, but wouldn't lie if asked a… Continue reading Protecting the Dream
Sixteen Minutes to Christmas
It's sixteen minutes to Christmas. Everyone else has been in bed for awhile, the boys in their new (to us) Mario pajamas. The stockings are ready (the ones for Mom and Dad are stuffed with fruit from the bowl on the counter to make them look full; I love a good banana for Christmas), the presents are under… Continue reading Sixteen Minutes to Christmas
Better
I discovered this week that I have readers I didn't know about. Mostly because people kept asking me if I was feeling better. Apparently they read my little December rant a few days ago. (This is probably useful as an early warning system to allow people to approach me with caution.) Anyway, the answer is yes. I… Continue reading Better
Running Late
I realized this morning as I was stomping around the kitchen that I'm running a little late. I checked to be sure, and it's true. It's December 7, and I haven't posted my annual I-hate-Christmas rant. In past years, these have appeared on either the first or third day of December. (In 2014, it wasn't a… Continue reading Running Late
Das Neu Tannenbaum
Today's Advent activity, announced this morning to shrieks of joy, was to put up the Christmas tree. I won't lie. I have dreaded this every year. It's always a circus around here, but add in easily tangled lights and breakable ornaments and a kind of high-strung mother especially in December (I never admitted that and… Continue reading Das Neu Tannenbaum