Christmas season has begun.
Yesterday Liam was singing Jingle Bells--the Batman smells version. I was trying to clean the kitchen--I am still vaguely annoyed that I have to do this every day--wondering how long that incarnation of the song has been around. At least forty years--maybe fifty?
“Dawson, do you know who the Jokers are?” Liam said.
“Who?” said Dawson.
“Me, Maren, Maggie, Robin, and Stella,” said Liam, listing his friends.
“I’m a joker, too,” said Dawson.
"I don't think you are," said Liam.
“Hey!” said Dawson, “My grandmother lives in Africa!”
“I thought she lived in Lansing," I said.
“That’s a joke,” said Dawson.
“Dawson!” Liam said. “Jokers are clowns!”
“Oh,” said Dawse. "You should have said so."
Then they wanted to talk about what they're getting for Christmas.
"I want a pink camera!" Dawson said. "Me too," Liam said. "And a green video camera."
I don't have the heart to tell them we are not getting them cameras. Money is tight this year, and my husband and I recently decided not to have our annual Christmas party, and that we're not buying anything. We're donating what little we have to charity, handmaking presents, and digging through the attic to see if there's anything we put up there for when the kids were older that we'd forgotten about. (So far we've come up with a keyboard and a tiny safe.)
I have to say that already this decision is making me so happy. It's as if it's lifting this huge burden of last minute chaos I usually find myself swimming through this time of year--making lists, shopping in crowded stores full of stuff made of plastic, cleaning up piles of wrapping paper. And I'm getting rid of things in the attic. Last year on NPR I heard about a study that said people tend to enjoy experiences way more than things, and I'd like my children to start equating Christmas more with experiences than stuff.
I am feeling a little sorry about losing the party, though. The house looks so pretty right now, decorated with pine garlands and white lights.
Oh well. Next year. Or maybe in February.
“Dawson, do you know who the Jokers are?” Liam said.
“Who?” said Dawson.
“Me, Maren, Maggie, Robin, and Stella,” said Liam, listing his friends.
“I’m a joker, too,” said Dawson.
"I don't think you are," said Liam.
“Hey!” said Dawson, “My grandmother lives in Africa!”
“I thought she lived in Lansing," I said.
“That’s a joke,” said Dawson.
“Dawson!” Liam said. “Jokers are clowns!”
“Oh,” said Dawse. "You should have said so."
Then they wanted to talk about what they're getting for Christmas.
"I want a pink camera!" Dawson said. "Me too," Liam said. "And a green video camera."
I don't have the heart to tell them we are not getting them cameras. Money is tight this year, and my husband and I recently decided not to have our annual Christmas party, and that we're not buying anything. We're donating what little we have to charity, handmaking presents, and digging through the attic to see if there's anything we put up there for when the kids were older that we'd forgotten about. (So far we've come up with a keyboard and a tiny safe.)
I have to say that already this decision is making me so happy. It's as if it's lifting this huge burden of last minute chaos I usually find myself swimming through this time of year--making lists, shopping in crowded stores full of stuff made of plastic, cleaning up piles of wrapping paper. And I'm getting rid of things in the attic. Last year on NPR I heard about a study that said people tend to enjoy experiences way more than things, and I'd like my children to start equating Christmas more with experiences than stuff.
I am feeling a little sorry about losing the party, though. The house looks so pretty right now, decorated with pine garlands and white lights.
Oh well. Next year. Or maybe in February.
First Snow Fall
It's December and finally getting cold. This morning we had the first real snowfall and school was delayed for two hours, which made my children so happy they hardly knew what to do. Dawson, who has been trying to come up with reasons to stay home from school (the newest one being that he's having a bad hair day--I don't know where he got that, but he says it in the same pleading tone he might say he has a tummy ache) agreed to wear pants. This was a relief because yesterday he came downstairs wearing a turtleneck and a pair of tights and said. "No pants!! Tights and leg warmers only!" Liam, who drags his feet every morning, was outside building a snow man before 8:30.
Then we went to coffee shop where Liam and Dawson had hot chocolate and then Dawson told me if I didn't take them to the play village across the street he was going to fire me.
"It's a tough economy," said one of the regulars.
"And this job is the one I feel least qualified to do," I said. Yesterday when I was on the phone with my friend Erica I heard myself say, "Hold on a second. Liam, I can see you. I know what you're doing and I know that you're hurting your brother."
"I know it's not funny to you," said Erica, "but that's almost as good as the time you said to Dawson, "It's true, I am eating jelly beans. But that's because I'm being quiet and doing what I'm supposed to be doing. You, on the other hand, do not get jelly beans."
Still, we did go to the play village and no one got fired, so that's good.
Meanwhile, I'm a little short on material this week. Maybe something more interesting will happen tomorrow, which is my mother's birthday, so I am making dinner for everyone. Which could be a problem since my oven doesn't work.
Then we went to coffee shop where Liam and Dawson had hot chocolate and then Dawson told me if I didn't take them to the play village across the street he was going to fire me.
"It's a tough economy," said one of the regulars.
"And this job is the one I feel least qualified to do," I said. Yesterday when I was on the phone with my friend Erica I heard myself say, "Hold on a second. Liam, I can see you. I know what you're doing and I know that you're hurting your brother."
"I know it's not funny to you," said Erica, "but that's almost as good as the time you said to Dawson, "It's true, I am eating jelly beans. But that's because I'm being quiet and doing what I'm supposed to be doing. You, on the other hand, do not get jelly beans."
Still, we did go to the play village and no one got fired, so that's good.
Meanwhile, I'm a little short on material this week. Maybe something more interesting will happen tomorrow, which is my mother's birthday, so I am making dinner for everyone. Which could be a problem since my oven doesn't work.
White Collar
My husband and I have been watching White Collar, which is quickly becoming my new favorite TV show. (Next to Ugly Betty and Glee.) In the name of full disclosure, I'll confess that I'm a huge fan of Tim Dekay, who plays FBI agent Peter Burke. We went to the same high school, and I thought he was exceptional as Fagin in Oliver, loved him in Carnevale, Tell Me You Love Me, and now, he really showcases his talent in White Collar. He plays an FBI agent in charge of a beautiful ex-con who has agreed to wear an ankle bracelet and help the FBI solve crimes in lieu of jail. So I would watch the show for Tim alone. But my husband wouldn't, and we both love it.
Here's what's great about it: 1) it is a police show I can finally watch, because the crimes are things like fraud or larceny and not pedophilia. 2) I don't have to see women getting strangled or shot or raped. (I am really, REALLY tired of those images.) 3) The beautiful ex-con is a man played by Matt Bomer. The camera loves him, and he seems to enjoy this in the unself-conscious, very appealing way of an engaging child.(I mean that as a compliment.) 4) The chemistry between the three main characters, Peter Burke, Neal Caffrey, and Peter's wife Elizabeth (played by Tiffany Thiessen) is perfect. Mostly, though, the dialogue is clever and real, the plotlines are smart, and the show, like Glee and Ugly Betty, is very human.
I highly recommend it. You know, something to watch at the end of the week when you've let your boobs down.
Here's what's great about it: 1) it is a police show I can finally watch, because the crimes are things like fraud or larceny and not pedophilia. 2) I don't have to see women getting strangled or shot or raped. (I am really, REALLY tired of those images.) 3) The beautiful ex-con is a man played by Matt Bomer. The camera loves him, and he seems to enjoy this in the unself-conscious, very appealing way of an engaging child.(I mean that as a compliment.) 4) The chemistry between the three main characters, Peter Burke, Neal Caffrey, and Peter's wife Elizabeth (played by Tiffany Thiessen) is perfect. Mostly, though, the dialogue is clever and real, the plotlines are smart, and the show, like Glee and Ugly Betty, is very human.
I highly recommend it. You know, something to watch at the end of the week when you've let your boobs down.
Speaking of pajamas...
(see last post) The only way I could get Dawson to leave the house this morning wearing anything other than his footies was to promise him he could wear leg warmers. This is the result. 
By the way, I do still have another child. It's just that he's been a little quieter lately.
By the way, I do still have another child. It's just that he's been a little quieter lately.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
