Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Mexico30
Right now, I am en route to Cozumel, Mexico with some of your aunties- and your Fairy Godmother.
We are traveling in honor of our 30th birthdays; events which take place between October 15, 2009, and July 4, 2010.
We are the Power of 8.
We talked about this trip when we turned 21 ... when we had those bad, short haircuts. Before anyone was married. When we were juniors in college, wearing those tan, plastic boots from Target. Before any of us were Mamas.
Know that I will miss you this week, lil' dude. Likewise for Daddy and the Beagle. I promise you'll never be far from my mind. I hope for you to one day experience the type of friendship I have with these ladies. Where the sum of our parts is greater than the whole. Where turning 30 is just as big and scary and exciting and shared as turning 12 was. When there is really no one else you'd rather celebrate with.
Be a good girl this week, babe, and I'll bring you a little Mexican sunshine when I come home.
I can't wait to see your face and smell your neck and hear your words.
Mama loves.
We are traveling in honor of our 30th birthdays; events which take place between October 15, 2009, and July 4, 2010.
We are the Power of 8.
We talked about this trip when we turned 21 ... when we had those bad, short haircuts. Before anyone was married. When we were juniors in college, wearing those tan, plastic boots from Target. Before any of us were Mamas.
Know that I will miss you this week, lil' dude. Likewise for Daddy and the Beagle. I promise you'll never be far from my mind. I hope for you to one day experience the type of friendship I have with these ladies. Where the sum of our parts is greater than the whole. Where turning 30 is just as big and scary and exciting and shared as turning 12 was. When there is really no one else you'd rather celebrate with.
Be a good girl this week, babe, and I'll bring you a little Mexican sunshine when I come home.
I can't wait to see your face and smell your neck and hear your words.
Mama loves.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Eve Memories
Since my birth, we have celebrated Christmas Eve with my mom's side of the family, at my grandparents' tiny farmhouse.
In 1980, there were 18 of us ...
Today there are 57. Five generations.
I love big families.
Loud.
Sweet.
Obnoxious.
Traditional.
Crazy.
Loving.
Predictable.
{Family}
Christmas Eve, 1981
I remember ...
... helping set the table with the 12 Days of Christmas glasses.
... placing heaping brown sugar in bowls for the Lefse.
... counting the 14 grandkid stockings hung on the railing. Plus, Grandpa's way at the top!
... the long wait in between finishing our meal, cleaning up, and sitting around to open gifts.
... the youngest one opening first.
... the year I moved from the kiddie name-exchange to the adults.
... mixing 6 flavors of soda in one glass, and drinking it!
... pickled herring with Ritz crackers.
... the squirrel nut bowl with real nutcrackers.
... the year my brother was born on December 22, and having to stay home. (SAD)
... drawing names for the next year's gift exchange.
... the homemade, matching Grandma pajamas we would put on immediately.
... hoping either Grandpa or Grandma drew your name in the adult exchange=homemade gifts!
... rigging it the years certain grandkids had yet to receive a Grandpa gift.
... eating our stocking candy and trading plain M&M's for peanut, and visa versa.
... that 7,000 sq. foot roll of navy blue wrapping paper with Christmas teddy bear angels on it Grandma had (has?) for years.
... ham gravy made with real Coke.
... the wet, soggy, and cold entryway due to 80 separate shoes.
... the various babies asleep in a heap on Grandma's bed.
... losing pieces of games, playsets, and puzzles because you HAD to open them all right then!
... the line snaking back by the washer & dryer to get your food in the kitchen.
... 14 cars running at the end of the night.
... the Christmas ice cream roll, with warm chocolate sauce.
... egg nog.
... Creme de Menthe on ice.
... the year 45 people could no longer fit in the farmhouse; aka the year Christmas Eve was moved to Zion Lutheran Church's Fellowship Hall (the hall my grandpa practically built; in his late '70s!).
... introducing my husband to This Christmas Eve Event Extraordinaire.
... introducing my daughter to This Christmas Eve Event Extraordinaire.
In 1980, there were 18 of us ...
Today there are 57. Five generations.
I love big families.
Loud.
Sweet.
Obnoxious.
Traditional.
Crazy.
Loving.
Predictable.
{Family}
Christmas Eve, 1981I remember ...
... helping set the table with the 12 Days of Christmas glasses.
... placing heaping brown sugar in bowls for the Lefse.
... counting the 14 grandkid stockings hung on the railing. Plus, Grandpa's way at the top!
... the long wait in between finishing our meal, cleaning up, and sitting around to open gifts.
... the youngest one opening first.
... the year I moved from the kiddie name-exchange to the adults.
... mixing 6 flavors of soda in one glass, and drinking it!
... pickled herring with Ritz crackers.
... the squirrel nut bowl with real nutcrackers.
... the year my brother was born on December 22, and having to stay home. (SAD)
... drawing names for the next year's gift exchange.
... the homemade, matching Grandma pajamas we would put on immediately.
... hoping either Grandpa or Grandma drew your name in the adult exchange=homemade gifts!
... rigging it the years certain grandkids had yet to receive a Grandpa gift.
... eating our stocking candy and trading plain M&M's for peanut, and visa versa.
... that 7,000 sq. foot roll of navy blue wrapping paper with Christmas teddy bear angels on it Grandma had (has?) for years.
... ham gravy made with real Coke.
... the wet, soggy, and cold entryway due to 80 separate shoes.
... the various babies asleep in a heap on Grandma's bed.
... losing pieces of games, playsets, and puzzles because you HAD to open them all right then!
... the line snaking back by the washer & dryer to get your food in the kitchen.
... 14 cars running at the end of the night.
... the Christmas ice cream roll, with warm chocolate sauce.
... egg nog.
... Creme de Menthe on ice.
... the year 45 people could no longer fit in the farmhouse; aka the year Christmas Eve was moved to Zion Lutheran Church's Fellowship Hall (the hall my grandpa practically built; in his late '70s!).
... introducing my husband to This Christmas Eve Event Extraordinaire.
... introducing my daughter to This Christmas Eve Event Extraordinaire.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Three More Sleeps 'Till Christmas
When I was a kid, we taped A Muppet Christmas Carol off the TV onto a VHS tape. That movie, from 1992, became our family's favorite holiday film. I know I haven't seen it since I left home, and I am sure that chubby VHS was long ago thrown away.
This past weekend, My mom received A Muppet Christmas Carol DVD during our family's Christmas. My brother and I both excitedly recalled our fond memories of watching that movie, cramped together in our small family den. How, during Bob Cratchit's singing of "One More Sleep 'Till Christmas", my Dad would rewind and rewind and REWIND that scene as it played this verse;
'Tis the season to be jolly and joyous
With a burst of pleasure we feel it arrive
It's the season when the Saints can employ us
To spread the news about peace and to keep love alive
The beauty of today's technology? Forwarding through the scene catalogue on the DVD to find that scene.
Which, my Dad played over and over again. Just like the good old days.
This time, he had a new member in the audience to appreciate it.
This past weekend, My mom received A Muppet Christmas Carol DVD during our family's Christmas. My brother and I both excitedly recalled our fond memories of watching that movie, cramped together in our small family den. How, during Bob Cratchit's singing of "One More Sleep 'Till Christmas", my Dad would rewind and rewind and REWIND that scene as it played this verse;
'Tis the season to be jolly and joyous
With a burst of pleasure we feel it arrive
It's the season when the Saints can employ us
To spread the news about peace and to keep love alive
The beauty of today's technology? Forwarding through the scene catalogue on the DVD to find that scene.
Which, my Dad played over and over again. Just like the good old days.
This time, he had a new member in the audience to appreciate it.
Friday, December 18, 2009
A Little Elf Told Me ...
That Santa has been busy at the Grandparents' of the North ...
Word is he delivered a bunch of presents for Miss Lil' Dude for our Christmas celebration this weekend.
The stockings- hung & stuffed.
The cookies- baked & iced.
The gifts- wrapped & stowed.
The grandparents- anxious & anticipating!
This is your third Christmas, my little winter baby, and already we have traditions we love and honor as a family.
It makes me practically giddy to have a child, to have you, my sweet daughter during the holidays.
We are lucky and blessed.
The gift of family, the gift of health, the gift of contentment, the gift of generosity.
May those gifts be forever what we need.
May our focus always be true, be valued.
And may we always have crème brûlée ...
Word is he delivered a bunch of presents for Miss Lil' Dude for our Christmas celebration this weekend.
The stockings- hung & stuffed.
The cookies- baked & iced.
The gifts- wrapped & stowed.
The grandparents- anxious & anticipating!
This is your third Christmas, my little winter baby, and already we have traditions we love and honor as a family.
It makes me practically giddy to have a child, to have you, my sweet daughter during the holidays.
We are lucky and blessed.
The gift of family, the gift of health, the gift of contentment, the gift of generosity.
May those gifts be forever what we need.
May our focus always be true, be valued.
And may we always have crème brûlée ...
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
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