Not a creature was stirring...

What is going on here? 7:46 on Christmas day, and it's just me and the fish sitting in the living room waiting for people to wake up. I better enjoy this now, 'cause I suspect it isn't going to happen again this way for about, oh, 12 years. Oh, no, if I factor in #2 it'll be 15 years.

Truth be told, we had a hint of an asthma night last night, and so I'm glad Jonas is getting some extra sleep. A judicious mix of decongestant, sips of water, and some time on Dad's chest lulled him off to sleep. Sam and I both slept lightly worrying about more coughing, but he did pretty well.

We also stayed up late, it must be said. We had a fabulous Christmas Eve last night with Pop, Mimi, Emma, and Aunt Judith. Poor Judith had an incredibly protracted train ride in, complete with screaming baby for many hours. In the end, she helped the mom comfort the poor kiddo, but the trip still took *way* too long. She told the story with great equanimity, and we are extremely glad she came to see us!

We all pitched in to make a fantastic roasted veggie lasagna, and had a roaring fire, with great conversation and wonderful presents all around. Judith brought the ornaments which are her trademark; some witty, some beautiful, all an excellent addition to our collections. Emma and Jon both contributed some excellent beads to the event, and Jonas was overjoyed by his Star Wars figures (Obi-Wan and R2D2) and new sled. There was also a great deal of kitchen equipment exchanged, most of which we should have opened before dinner! Well, it will be pressed into service soon enough.

So I better get some pics from Dad to spice up my words. More later when the crowds rouse themselves.

"Enjoy this part, it's over so fast"

How many times have I heard this? Will I ever say it?

Well, I have an ongoing inquiry into whether the people who say this are right on the money, or are suffereing from selective memory.

This morning fell strongly in support of the former.

I was right in the midst of Monday Morning Hell. You name it: trash, recycling that had been left out in the ice storm and needed to be thawed in the shower, a car that needed the same but wouldn't fit in the shower, messy kitchen, worries about an impending final and its effect on my students.

I realized that it was 7:30, and time to wake up the Bandit. Yes, he has become quite a sleeper. I walked into his room to wake him, and he was blissfully slumbering under a stack of blankets, with Tokay curled up on his feet just as I had left them many hours before.

Jonas woke easily, with happy little noises.

I: Look, Tokay's still asleep on your feet.
J: I love it when he does that.
(Jonas pulled his stethoscope out from under his pillow, and Tokay jumped on the head of it as it flipped by. Jonas giggled).
I: I'm going to go down and make Mommy's breakfast. You come down when you want to.
J:I want to come down and sit with her at the table and keep her company.
I: OK!

Is it really this good? Could I have written this script? If I did, would I have believed it?

OK, I'll take it. Enjoy it while it lasts. Got it.

Oh, I get it now...

In the "how quickly they learn" category goes Christmas (at least in this house).

Here is the Bandit making his list, and checking it twice:



That would be a Playmobile catalogue, for any who are wondering. To his credit, he is also very excited about giving presents. He even mentions thank you notes spontaneously sometimes! Maybe he can remind his dad of that activity.

In fact, when Jonas and Ian came home with J's present for Sam, there was a little bit of a mix-up language-wise.

Jonas: What noise does it (the present) make?
Ian: Careful, you'll give it away.
Jonas: Give it away?! I want Mommy to have it (very upset).
(pause, pause)
Ian: Oh, honey we aren't going to give away the present! I meant that you might spoil the surprise for Mommy.

Oops. Got to watch the metaphorical language.

Of course, there are other parts to the ritual, as well.



Jonas was not at all interested until Xander invited him along. Then things got much better. In fact, they seemed to enjoy their visit with the Jolly Old Elf. But first, the "backstory"...

We have had a running conversation about how there are people who are dressed up as Santa all around at this time of year, and that they aren't the real Santa. I set up this cover story because I was pretty sure that the continuity wasn't going to be tight enough to fool our little detective. I can hear it now: "Daddy, how did Santa get from the mall to downtown so quickly? And why did his voice sound different? Those boots look wrong" etc, etc, etc.

So, anyway, I had this cover story going, and it has been working pretty well. Then we made this plan to meet Xander and family at the Christmas Village in South Hadley. I had this realization on the way -- what if he BLOWS IT for some other little one at the event? Oh the shame, the horror! So quickly, I offer a little coaching.

I: Jonas, I want you to listen to me for a second.
J: What?
I: I don't want you to spoil the surprise for the other little children, so I don't want to you talk about how this is just someone in a costume while we're there, OK?
J: OK Daddy. (Seemingly unconcerned).

So, the event went well. The kids even enjoyed the tractor dressed up as a train engine, with the Christmas carols blaring from a boom box behind the driver while we did laps by the lights set up next to the defunct skate park and the beach side outdoor bandshell that includes warnings about how toxic the river is (no, I didn't make this up).



So, on the way home, I learned that perhaps my coaching hadn't been necessary.

J: I think maybe that was the real Santa.
S: What makes you say that?
J: Well, he asked me what I wanted, and he wasn't too loud. Do you think he was real? I think he was real.

Maybe sometimes the little detectives want to be fooled.

Merry Christmas!

Come over to our house!

Oh My Goodness, thank you Fey Camera. We just had the best Italian Dinner tonight. Jonas and I made a small batch of fresh pasta, just for fun. Sam, on the other hand, made the best batch of artichokes we have ever eaten. Perfect preparation the Fey Way (wasn't she in a movie?) followed by pressure cooking for melt in your mouth goodness.

So, the first one to wash some dishes gets the last artichoke.

Oh, and by the way. If you have copies of our recipes, we need to provide you with an update!

Here's what the reviewers said:

"It's really good." -Jonas Camera, Boston Globe

"I laughed, I cried, I laid on the floor and groaned!" -Ian Camera, New York Times

"Just like my grandmother used to make." -Sam Camera, International Herald Tribune

How quickly they learn

I: The good news is, you' re going to have a "space party" at school today.
J: What's the bad news?

[I didn't have any bad news. I thought he was too young to know that most silver linings have clouds attached.]