Photobooth Friday, Family Christmas Card Edition

I thought it would shock you to discover that in the planning and preparation of the annual Christmas Card that everyone makes, sends, and then promptly throws away I realized there was not a single picture of all four of us. Not a one. Well, actually there was one of all four pairs of our feet. But I was afraid to send that out on account of some of the clients and business associates who get our card. And some people don't like feet. Or so I'm told. (Netti!)

Turns out when I started floating this disastrous piece of information out there I was told by many mothers that they too could not find a single picture of their complete brood. Moreover this discussion ended with, "In fact there was not a single picture of me (the mother)." Weird. What's wrong with our society?

Anywho! So, we got our family portraits taken. I am so pleased. Pleased because the photographer we used was a fellow Aggie, she can do a side crow like nobody's business, and she was really good. Also, she fit us in and bent over backward -- this is funny because her yoga practice is outstanding -- to get us at least one shot we could use on our cards before Christmas. This means that some of you, not all of you, received a card on or before the actual holiday.

But the entire process of looking for a photo of all of us, then being completely disappointed, then scrambling to get one made, made me realize we gotta do something about getting more pictures of ourselves. Actually, not more pictures of ourselves so much as more pictures of the entire family. Thus, the family edition of Photobooth Friday. Thank goodness for timers. te he he...

PS -- Start taking pictures of the mothers!

I Tried, But I Can't Avoid It

Sorry, I just have to post the pictures from Christmas. And that's lame. Because everyone has them. Well, not everyone. I can't think of one single, solitary thing to say about Christmas morning that is unique to me and my family.

We woke up, earlier than usual, and opened presents. Argh... see? Not that cool. But there's those grandmas to satisfy, so up on the blog the pictures must go. The end.

How Did It All Begin?

Here's something that stresses me out. Maybe you, too.

When it's a holiday and I do something like, serve hot cocoa or ask the kids to play games I wonder if it will become a thing. You know, like a tradition thing. And then we'll have to do it year after year after year. And then I worry, is it good enough to carry on, pass along, talk about?

And who really knows. Traditions are weird. I thought I had a bunch of Christmas traditions established. But this year, we didn't do a single one of them. In fact, Coop asked me if we could observe Hanukkah next year.

I've always believed that Christmas Eve is the very best day of the entire November through January extravaganza no known as The Holidays. I've tried to make that night special and I've

prepared for it in a different way each year. But now I'm really trying to determine what expectations I'm setting.

I tend to look at everything through the myopic eye of mother's guilt. If we sit down to a night of games I wonder if what the family will want to carry over the following year is the night of playing games, the actual game we played, the popcorn and trail mix we ate, or the matching pajamas we wore. What resonated with them?

Will the kids in time discover that by re-enacting these nights in matching pajamas, or eating popcorn we are grasping at the closeness of family? The wondering and the worrying is making me crazy.

Hand Made, Hand Delivered

Some tasks you can trust to no one but yourself. This is why my husband makes the Christmas candy we give out during the holidays. And it's also why we load up the little red wagon and walk it around the neighborhood to all our friends.

Photobooth Friday, NYC Edition III

Gumball Blue

Boys, Boys, Boys...

Dear C and M,
I was so concerned when Elf didn’t make it back to headquarters here in the North Pole tonight. At first I thought he had gotten lost or tired. But then I really started to worry about him because he promised me he was going to deliver a report to me tonight -- I was dying to hear how your had performed in your last day of school activities. I had to send a search party to find him. When he was spotted under your Christmas tree I was very worried and I almost cried. He is very sick and it was hard on him to take such a long fall.
Thank you for taking care of him and sharing your duck-duck blanket with him. He has just a little magic left. My helpers and I quickly scooped him up and delivered him straight to the infirmary here at the North Pole. I’ve been told he will recover, but he is in the Elf Intensive Care Unit. He is on a constant intravenous drip of sugar plum juice and sparkles.
Please think good thoughts for him, it will help him heal that much faster. Also, please be sure to be extra good while he is gone so that Elf and I can warm our hearts with your goodness all the way up here at the North Pole – it is very cold here, you know. Look for opportunities to serve your mother, your father, and the people in your community.
I hope I can send Elf back to your house before Christmas. But he first needs time to get better. Watch for him every day. Maybe the strength of your good deeds will help his magic return that much faster.
Love,
SC