What does a "simple Christmas" really look like?

Why thank you for asking, because we are experiencing one around here!

Not one of those well-intentioned "oh, we're so simple" Christmases that, three trips to Target later, turn into a full-blown holiday fest (not that I'm admitting I've ever done that).  

We are REALLY simple this year.  Low-key. Lazy--whatever.

Here's our little tree.  Oh, yes I DID put baby in a corner:

Santa will be bringing stocking stuffers and is under strict instructions to limit his bounty to little gifties and trip items.  {Although Santa, if you're reading this, you're welcome to leave something more substantial for me...No?  Okay.}

I did put some wreaths up outside on our windows, though.  Merry Christmas, neighbors!

And threw a fake pine bough on our festive red cabinet.  Okay, there are also some candles and a nativity out (and most of our Christmas books).  That's it, folks!  And you know what?  It's been liberating!  I'm not saying we'll never go back to the luscious, decorated, sensory feast that is the ghost of Christmases past.

But, for now, simple is good.  Reading out loud.  Playing games.  Making things for each other.  Less stress.  Probably experiencing Christmas like everyone who shops ahead and plans does, not the procrastinated frenzy that is my somewhat usual pattern.

Stay tuned...will the kids remember that the TRIP IS THEIR CHRISTMAS?  Will there be tears on Christmas?  This is my fear.  Generally, I don't think kids get simple. 

Puppy Mugshot

When we got Louie I had this unspoken little vision of dog ownership.  A cozy, fuzzy-around-the-edges tableau of a family sitting at the table with a dog curled up on the floor at their feet. Another scene of me working at the computer with the dog--yep--curled at my feet, gazing at me adoringly when I lean down to ruffle the fur on top of his head.  Lovely fall walks around the neighborhood with the faithful pup by my side, sun filtering through the leaves.  Can't you just hear the theme music?

For some reason (I blame the dream) I decided that Thanksgiving weekend would be the perfect time to take down the gates that kept Louie permanently in the kitchen and to start letting him roam the house at will.  (Greg agreed and said "maybe it will help the kids figure out to put their stuff away or Louie might get it" with a little gleam in his eye.) But guess what? Louie is not cooperating with the dream!  It's like he has his own fond little dream of house ownership that involves free range grazing!  Like he's one step closer to world domination.

Just now I heard him run upstairs so I got up and followed him.  By the time I made it to Maddy's freshly painted, newly decorated bedroom he had pooped.  Right there.  In the corner.  Louie!!!

We're a veritable sit-com.  It would be called Louie! (italics and exclamation mark essential).

Perhaps the worst moment of the weekend was Saturday evening.  He had been lying on the floor of the family room while we all read and lounged and played.  (Ahhhh.  The dream.)  Someone said "where's Louie?" Lauren went into the front room and came back with a frightened look on her face and a piece of metallic plastic in her hand.  

"Ummm....Dad?"

"Hmmm?" (G was reading.)

"Did you leave your blackberry in the front room?"

G glanced at the piece in her hand and leapt up.  "Where is he?!!"

(This was asked not in the way of "where is that little rascal, I need to find the rest of my blackberry" but more in the manner of "if I had a gun I would use it right now" or "anyone know of a good farm in the country who could use a good furball puppy?")

Yes, Louie had chomped on his new, work-purchased fancy blackberry.

It's operable but barely.  Maybe a couple of keys don't work anymore. 

It might be that the back battery panel is too mangled to work.

Things are not looking up for that daddy-doggy relationship.  

I didn't think it was the best time to remind him about his put-your-stuff-away-or-Louie-will-get-it doctrine.  I'm perceptive like that.

In the interest of full disclosure, we did have lots of great times with him this weekend.  He loves to be where we are and plop down at our feet, watching us with devotion and (I'm interpreting here) love.  He comes right when you call him--I don't get that kind of response from anybody. He and Sam have great times playing fetch or soccer or keep away.  He's a great cuddler. His puppy ways are diminishing and he really can be trusted most of the time.  In a household of equal adult:teenage ratio (soon to be outnumbered in a few years) it's refreshing to come home to Louie's enthusiasm and pure joy at seeing me.

But having a puppy really is like having a toddler all over again.  Well, a toddler with stellar jaw strength (seriously, how did he mangle that blackberry so quickly?).  A toddler you can (thankfully) put in a crate when you need to. 

Deck of cards

Let the card season begin!  

Don't you love this time of year, 

when the mailbox actually yields Good Mail?!  

(We got our first one in the mail yesterday.  Overachievers!)

My holiday card rules for us: 

capture the real us, 

make it simple,  

have a bit of oomph/uniqueness.

I just came across a cache of our old cards.

It's magic--->

Watch us age before your very eyes...

 

1998

*

1999

This is one of my favorites because I look good in the picture

(I was at my skinniest post-motherhood weight then)

*

2000-2002

missing in action

where are these cards?

Dunno.

*

2003

purchased card frame

and timer-camera photo in the cold

(sometimes just getting out a card is enough, right?)

What I remember about this one is some friends thought 

that was our house and rock wall.

No.  That would be the Old North Bridge and the Old Manse.

Thanks for thinking that though!

*

2004

This time we included a cheesy amusement park photo

from our trip to Denmark

It still makes me laugh.

Not pictured: update letter about our doings

*

2005

Purchased photo card, printed letter (not shown).

That year we found a format we liked, using four things

(best thing, first time, favorite things, famous quote)

for each of us.

*

2006

One of my favorites:

2006 was inspired by a fun wedding announcement 

we received that year

(Thanks Nathan and Sarah Jane)

It was a little packet of 4 pieces:

the red cover

the black and white photo

the update letter

the paper band holding them together

The picture was taken at Niagara Falls

and I took one for the team since it was not

a flattering picture of me AT ALL.

*

2007

easiest ever:

I was so late doing these that the paper store

was out of red and green paper.

One long strip of paper

with photobooth photo on front

(scanned and printed on photo paper)

and a little message on the back.

Not even an update

(and the first time I decided to refer people to my blog).

*

By the way, I'm trying to figure out this year's card.

Do you have any hints?

I tag all of you to do a post of past cards.

(HA! You weren't expecting that, were you?)

Then send me the link,

and I'll publish all the links here.

Pretty please?

I really need some inspiration this year.

And also, how do you display the cards you receive?

Taking a day

Maddy is home from school sick today with a sore throat and cough.  I have to admit (a little guilty confession) that I really enjoy it when my kids are home sick (as long as it's not something worrisome, of course).  A sliver of old fashioned Florence Nightingale-ness activates in me.  I like to check their foreheads and set up a little stool with good drinks and crackers next to the couch.  I give them a little extra attention and the pace of the day turns into something slow and cozy. 

Even now that they're older, I still want to hover. We read or watch a movie together. Maybe I'll take a little nap along with the patient, in sickness solidarity, eager to toss the to-do list for the day.  I happily cancel whatever's going on that day and settle in for some nurturing.  

That's the first day.

On the second day, I'm perfectly willing to turn over the t.v. remote to the little patient and get some things done.  The weak voice calling "Mom...can I have some more sprite?" from the other room may or may not be catered to.  My Florence nurses' cap slips a little. Or a lot.  There's a law of diminishing care that kicks in...it discourages faking sickness longer and sets everyone up for a seamless return to normal life.

Heaven help the child who stays home on the third day and beyond (because I'm much less likely to at that point).  I become more drill sargeant than Florence and start to say things like "turn that t.v. off and find out your homework that you've missed" or "pick up those socks off of the floor please" or "get on your clothes...you're coming with me to the grocery store.  We need food!"  I start to resent the germy mess we're in and long for the freedom of errands and schedules.  (And inevitably, the NEXT child will come home sick that day and never see Florence Nightingale mom for the whole sick cycle.)

Today we're on day two.  I'm enthusiastically encouraging a return to school tomorrow and so far no one else is complaining of a sore throat.  Everyone knock on wood for me. 

~picture above of a Sam sick day, 2006

Having my say

I put on my new red shoes and blue jeans and headed to my polling place...

where there were no lines! 

I was kind of disappointed because I came prepared 

with a novel and my ipod 

and had visions of in-line comaraderie--

maybe some joking and couple of new friendships.

But I waltzed right in, got my ballot,

stood in the booth, filled in the circles,

put my ballot in the box, and got my sticker.

5 minutes max.

Tonight we'll be making Gabi's pizza dough recipe, 

throwing together some voter map pizzas,

and gradually filling in the blank US map

with blue and red

as the results trickle in.

Hooray for democracy!

Hooray for the 19th amendment,

only 88 years ago, giving me the right to vote!

Next presidential election, 

my daughter will vote, too.  Wow.

On a serious note, I do have firm opinions about this election, as I'm sure you do, too.  I don't usually tout my opinions widely because I respect that everyone arrives at their political beliefs and opinions in their own way, prioritizing the issues that are most important in their own lives (the loudest I've gotten here is quietly putting a little image in my sidebar) but I do love to discuss things in person.  The thing is, I can see both sides.  I have both parties on my family tree, back several generations. There are stands on both sides of the aisle that I believe in. 

I am heartened by the fact that, no matter the result tonight, we have four good people willing to put themselves out there for derision/mocking/applause/support/commentary ad nauseum in order to serve our country, to lead us.  I'm sure these next years won't be easy for the new commander in chief.  So my best wishes to whomever it ends up being.

*Did you know my home state of Utah gave the vote to women in 1870, 50 years before the rest of the country? I think that's applaudable (&, as I remember, my great grandmother was a suffragette who pushed for the 19th amendment early on). Thanks, Grandma Achsa.  I thought of you today.