Hours of Entertainment

In our bundles we have our own genius to thank for hours of fun. Bath will do who needs the pool?

'Til the wii years ahead, ahhhhhh. Happy New Year everyone. Many blessings come.

Update

So I didn't have to do much on account of my illness. My brother and spouse made that finest of bacon-barded birds we all perfected in '04. I had a sliver.

Now back to the miso soup, god bless it.

And, on to Boxing day the day I open my presents.

And then?

Getting ready for the big holiday this year has been fun. One foot in front of the other..

Have the big party...
And then?

Get presents...
And then?

Build kids project presents? (yay p-man!!)
And then?

Plan dinner...
And then?

Run out of time, things overlapping, run out of time, running out of time....
And then?

Last minute shopping, mo-wo not finished project..
And then?

Record breaking Vancouver snowfalls...
And then?

Get flu...
And then?

Make Christmas dinner... TBA

We go into tomorrow looking at what matters and what does not. It is a happy time in fact all buried in the snow, relying on each other and keeping it simple. From there I wish you all a very happy, fun, healthy and festive holiday time.

And then?

The Santa 'Script

Oh Good Evening, my name is Tyrone. I am an elf calling on behalf of Santa. May I speak with the under fives in the house?



First question.

Have you been naughty or have you been nice?

Do you have regular stocking or one of those homemade kinds?
What are the rough dimensions of your stocking?

This year you can choose from:
Doll House
Play tent
Scooter
or
New Kite
Which is your first choice for a Christmas present?

Will you share with your brother/sister?

Which of the following choices would you also like for Christmas?
Puzzles?
Blocks?
Legos

Do you believe he knows when you are awake? Yes/no

Should Santa expect cookies at your location? Yes/no

Ok that's it. I have updated the database with all your info for this Christmas. Have a good time.

Would you like to be entered in our draw for a follow up visit from the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Of course you would.

Amazing elf picture from here.

Draft Email

Dear Friend

We hope that we can find the time to do something special together this holiday. We will have an open house on nth day, please come.

I'll add here that in keeping with our household fascination with retail decline in the new economy we hope you will consider forgoing any gift purchases for us this Christmas. The kids will likely craft some construction paper masterpiece or maybe a cookie or two to exchange with you as gifts this year but we will not be doing a lot of Christmas shopping. Please don't buy us stuff or worry about presents for us. Thanks so very much for all you give us everyday just by being our friends.

Happy Holidays!
mo-wo, p-man, miss fancy and baby-guy

Ho

Ahhhh. The light on the camera battery charger blinks next to me. I can take no picture but at last there it is. That precious spectacle of the tree not just decorated but also surrounded by the gifts of friends and of SANTA.

Duhn
Duhn
Daaaaa...

We are not very good at the Santying yet but I will admit I enjoy it. I love the bounty of it. The lovely wrappers and all the ribbonry.

I blog it tonight for you -- for come morning it will be spent like a drifted bank set upon by the hoisted limbs of terriers.

Beauty is fleeting. But giving is not. I hope everyone enjoys a pleasant rest with the sense of joy at what gives in this society. Our best to you all. Merry Christmas, there I said it.

Presents In Mind / Does This Make Me a Grinch?

Toys suck.

Even all the lead paint aside I am praying to God that we do NOT get toys this Christmas. I have been working overtime begging all the relatives and some of our friends to give us books instead. I mean if we get books I know just what the kids will do with them; they'll sit and browse them. I will be able to drink a cup of coffee and enjoy a measure of Christmas myself.

Face it, I'm selfish.

If we get toys I will be instantly transported to that twist-tie RSI hell steeped in the zap-strap-fuelled-crankiness and whoa look out. Mama hates me some toy products more often than not. If we get the damn toys I will spend the morning breaking up fights while I try to actually get this crap out of all the overpackaging. I will be rifling for batteries and sorting out all the age inappropriate crap.

To meet my goal I have two dear souls to thank really. Those being my librarian-parent-blogger compatriots Mad Hatter and Kittenpie. Thanks to their terrific online lists I have made use of the evil empire's fancy interface functionality to post our public booklist and be generally really pushy about wanting books not toys. I am secretly hoping that they will, in fact, use their local bookstore or our really fine flagship Vancouver store but no matter how they come. Wish me luck, I cannot face a load of toys like last year and part of me know that toys for our 3 year old are going to be 10 times worse.

Never mind that this might save me from those quarterly book buying sprees I have that have become a bit ridiculous. I mean as a librarian I don't really need to buy books at all but, still....

Recommended Title: How Many Miles to Bethlehem

How many miles to Bethlehem? / Kevin Crossley-Holland ; illustrated by Peter Malone.
Orion, 2004.

ISBN: 1842552775

This Christmas we acquired a copy of this excellent book of the Nativity. Clever and poetic text conveys the story from the points of view of many participants, the Mother Mary, the Shepherds, the Sheep, the Donkey in the stable, etc etc. I think good religious works are actually about many points of view so this is religious story that's right up my alley.

If you are looking for a beautiful book to discuss the mystical aspects of the Christmas tradition this one is a must-have. Though I might just be a sucker for the gorgeous figurative images that play on my own baggage as an Eastern-rite Catholic and graduate of a medieval studies program.

As with all our recommended titles, a really nice book. Check it out at your library or buy it at your local bookstore this Christmas.