Christmas Chronicle

Christmas 2008! Rock on!

Christmas Eve Smorgie:

Tomato Bread Dip broiled with Manchego

Crocques Monsieurs - thank you Jacques Pepin!

Shrimp Cocktail

Swedish Meatballs

Warm Spinach Salad

Udon Noodles for Elsie

Cheerios for Henry

Set out some cookies and a carrot for Santa and his reindeer. Kids in bed at 7PM, so Mum and Dad turned on "Tropic Thunder" (3 out of 5 stars...)

Elsie awakens to "something rattling the window". I begin to tell her it's Santa but it's 5AM and I want to go back to bed. I tell her it's the wind, we have a quick cuddle and she falls asleep for another hour. Up at 6, downstairs, "Momma! The carrot's gone!" Mum and Dad fumbling through the dark, because the coffee timer is set for 6:30. Hit brew.

Opening presents in complete western New York winter darkness. Wind whistling through 90-year-old windows I should have put that plastic up listening to "Finest 'Arvest of the Wurzels" while yanking wrapping paper out of Henry's mouth...

A backpack for Dad! Steak knives for Mum! A truck for Henry (ah fun boy toys!) The Barbie Fashion Center for Elsa, because, you know I want to teach her how to shop, and swipe a credit card, and look through several outfits and then buy them all. And included, there are over twenty tiny little items for Henry to choke on such as shoes, sunglasses, and other accessories that will keep us all on our toes in the coming weeks.

"The joy, and gratitude, and ecstasy! They are all indescribable alike."

-Stave Two of A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

1-2-3-4

1-2-3-4 Elsa Bean is turning 4

I like counting, counting to the number 4

I see my friends and I see my cake

Last summer I swam in a lake

Oh, I'm turning 4

Oh, I"m growing some more

1-2-3-4 Henry crawling on the floor

Daddy painted a new color on the door

I have my friends named Lily and Ava

Dylan and Claire, and my neighbor Shylah

Oh, I'm turning 4

Oh, I'm growing some more!

lyrics by Elsa (really!)

Swan's

We went to Swan's Market for German food. Dad and Markus had smoked bratwurst, Elsie had spaetzle, Mum and Adina had the combo platter, and I had PUREED SWEET POTATOES AND PEAS! AHH! That lieberkase looked fantastic! Puree that up Mr. Swan!

The King of Thanksgiving

Markus ate several pieces of salami, a half pound of turkey, some acorn squash, two scoops of cranberry sorbet, several samples of the Kaukanna Cheese Ball, was second in command at the Weber throughout the afternoon, read Elsie several books and watched Franklin with her, rocked Henry for a while, fathered his own child, had a few beers and a shot of jagermeister, and wrapped up the whole day by 9PM. Well done, my friend.

Dimming of the Day

What days have come to keep us far apart
A broken promise or a broken heart
Now all the bonnie birds have wheeled away
I need you at the dimming of the day

Come the night you're only what I want
Come the night you could be my confidant

I see you on the street in company
Why don't you come and ease your mind with me
I'm living for the night we steal away
I need you at the dimming of the day
I need you at the dimming of the day

-Richard and Linda Thompson

"Dad, what is the dimming of the day?"

"Right now, laying in bed, it's the end of the day. The lights have dimmed."

"What does dimmed mean?"

"That the lights are low."

"Like, on the ground?"

"No. When the lights are almost out, it means that they are not as bright."

"Why does she need him at the dimming of the day?"

"Well, she wants a cuddle, a big hug, at the end of the day, like we're having right now."

Hannah Montana

Elsie has been striking this pose for a couple of weeks now. I thought it was very creative and showed a great sense of independence until the other day, when I was walking through Sears, I saw Hannah Montana in the same exact pose on a CD display.

We checked out a couple episodes and sure enough, that's her signature pose. But, we're hooked now, especially after seeing Dolly Parton on last night's episode.

The Ladybug and the Tiger

She held the tiger until he roared. When he glared at her she smiled at him. Her wings fluttered. They sat together in the cool night as she ate Snickers Fun Size candy bars.