We’re in it deep here, friends. The Christmas cheer, I mean. An overload of presents, treats, menu plans, and giddiness. Yesterday was the Kids’ first day off school, and we spent it all together. Library, grocery store, bank [1], baking, eating dinner, Sleepless in Seattle, Chex mix… it doesn’t get a whole lot better than having them all want to be together, all day.
I would like to announce that for what may be the first time ever, I didn’t read the Kids’ gift books before wrapping them this year. Can I say? I’m excited for Sunday. And the following week. A steady diet of cold cereal meals and new books. Sounds perfect.
Decided to spend writing time this morning as a little devotional. I wrote my testimony. Committed it to paper. I don’t do that very often. Or maybe ever. But it felt good to do. And right, for the season and such. It’s a gift to have one, and a gift to share it.
Should I stop telling you how much I like kids? Mine, in particular? Because I maybe tell you a whole lot. But they are a whole lot awesome. All of them. Kid 1 is awesome. And Kid 2 is awesome. And Kid 3 is awesome. Also Kid 4 is awesome. See what I’m getting at? A whole lot of awesome.
And last night I read them David Sedaris’s “Six to Eight Black Men” as a little bit of Christmas cheer. I have managed difficult things in the past, like unmedicated childbirth and stuff, but I have to say, reading that out loud without laughing is a feat I am seriously proud of.
Speaking of feats. And feet.
(Look. I want. Don’t they make your feet happy? Or make you want some orange sherbet? Or something? I don’t know. But I want.)
In an effort to make the Christmas cheer last and last (and not to have a psychotic episode) I have limited my Christmas Music Intake to what happens when I’m in a store playing canned Johnny Mathis and Brenda Lee. And this is good. Because as you may recall, I have a limit to the Cheesy Songs of the Season. But we need to listen to SOMETHING in the house when we’re doing many dishes and making bread and apple pie bars and whatever. So we’ve discovered Pandora’s “PG Comedy Radio.” And it has saved me. In particular, I can put a load or three of dry, clean laundry in front of my kids as they sit on the floor laughing at Jim Gaffigan, Jeff Foxworthy, Brian Regan and BILL COSBY (“Noah, how long can you tread water?”) and they will fold it all, almost without noticing. Oh, thank you, Pandora. (Also, no commercials yet. Hours of comedy. Not a single commercial. Yet.) I know there are cool Pandora Christmas stations, but very few of the songs do it for me. (Except Barenaked Ladies and Sarah MacLaughlin’s “God Rest Ye…” and Katie Melua’s “Have Yourself A Merry…” and any of the awesome Christmas hymns that we sing around pianos or on porches.)
In the spirit of full disclosure, I should tell you this: Don’t hate me, please, if I am the only woman in the world who isn’t in love with Michael Buble. I can stand up and say it. I’m a Sinatra girl. Always have been. And I don’t know if I always will be, but I’d bet on it. I know it’s unfashionable to Not Adore MB, but I just don’t. I can do a song at a time. Then I need some hours of something else. But Kid 1, knowing this about me, made me listen to MB’s “Santa Baby” and she laughed with me until our guts ached. Um, really? Mike, we should talk. Someone should have staged an intervention with that guy before the album was complete. Doesn’t he have an agent? Or an editor?
Attention future agent and/or editor: Please. Let me not take such a step. Thank you.
Hey, friends, I hope you have a Christmas full of cheer. I hope the food is good. I hope the family is near. If you’re still in That Stage, I hope batteries are included. I hope peace and fulfillment fill up all the corners. Merry Christmas.
XO,
B
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[1] I don’t believe in credit cards. So I transfer all our savings. Somehow that should make some financial sense. Or something.
(14) Comments for this blog
Six to eight did you say?!?!
Santa doesn’t speak Spanish! Sure, he can say Hello, How are you?… enough to get by, but he’s not fluent, and he doesn’t eat tapas!
Six to eight did you say?!?!
Santa doesn’t speak Spanish! Sure, he can say Hello, How are you?… enough to get by, but he’s not fluent, and he doesn’t eat tapas!
I dislike Michael Buble’s songs, too, and am a proud Martin/Crosby/Sinatra fan. Throw in some Fitzgerald/Garland/Clooney to balance out the boys, and you’ve made me a very happy lady. :o)
Merry Christmas!
Susan
I dislike Michael Buble’s songs, too, and am a proud Martin/Crosby/Sinatra fan. Throw in some Fitzgerald/Garland/Clooney to balance out the boys, and you’ve made me a very happy lady. :o)
Merry Christmas!
Susan
MICHAEL BUBLE and “Santa Baby”??? *Bleck!* Wow… um… I’m gonna have to go listen to this, I think. ;P
And Apple Pie Bars??? I definitely want some of those. 🙂
MICHAEL BUBLE and “Santa Baby”??? *Bleck!* Wow… um… I’m gonna have to go listen to this, I think. ;P
And Apple Pie Bars??? I definitely want some of those. 🙂
I loved this. You know, for being a music teacher, I am suprisingly “grinchy” about Christmas music. Maybe it’s because we start rehearsing it in October? At any rate, this year, I told my piano playing daughter that she wasn’t allowed to play Christmas songs, especially one that has to do with a certain red-nosed reindeer, until December 1st. And I have a long long list of Christmas songs I won’t listen to either. I blogged about it once, back when I had half a brain.
I don’t like Michael Buble either. I think he sounds like a lounge singer. But I did check out the Pandora comedy channel- golden! I laughed my face off!
I loved this. You know, for being a music teacher, I am suprisingly “grinchy” about Christmas music. Maybe it’s because we start rehearsing it in October? At any rate, this year, I told my piano playing daughter that she wasn’t allowed to play Christmas songs, especially one that has to do with a certain red-nosed reindeer, until December 1st. And I have a long long list of Christmas songs I won’t listen to either. I blogged about it once, back when I had half a brain.
I don’t like Michael Buble either. I think he sounds like a lounge singer. But I did check out the Pandora comedy channel- golden! I laughed my face off!
Know why else we could be BFF’s? I do not heart Michael Buble. Can’t even name a song he sings. Didn’t even know who he was when he was in the commercial.
Know why else we could be BFF’s? I do not heart Michael Buble. Can’t even name a song he sings. Didn’t even know who he was when he was in the commercial.
I do like Michael Buble but I think it’s because he reminds me so much of Sinatra. Just got done watching Sleepless in Seattle.
I think you need the orange running shoes. I need new running shoes too. I’ve worn literal holes in mine. Maybe I’ll get some blueberry colored ones and think of ice cream every time I run. And then I’ll think of you and your sherbet.
That was completely goofy. Sorry. And…
Merry Christmas!
I do like Michael Buble but I think it’s because he reminds me so much of Sinatra. Just got done watching Sleepless in Seattle.
I think you need the orange running shoes. I need new running shoes too. I’ve worn literal holes in mine. Maybe I’ll get some blueberry colored ones and think of ice cream every time I run. And then I’ll think of you and your sherbet.
That was completely goofy. Sorry. And…
Merry Christmas!
I can’t tolerate Buble or Bubbly as he is known around here… I am a Sinatra girl all the way too… I even got not one but two cds of his for Christmas!
PS I miss visiting with you at the bank!
I can’t tolerate Buble or Bubbly as he is known around here… I am a Sinatra girl all the way too… I even got not one but two cds of his for Christmas!
PS I miss visiting with you at the bank!