December 2010

December 2010

Television would have us believe that on Christmas morning all kids (after having dreamt of sugar plums and such) come tumbling down the stairs to pillage the tree. All the while, mom and dad watch the carnage while sipping cider, hot chocolate, eggnog, or whatever...

Spending Christmas morning with my parents is important, and in many ways similar to this, but it starts off in a very different way.

I wake up early, before the sun rises, put the kettle on and wake the kids. As we're getting some breakfast ready and packing up the car, mom comes shuffling down the hallway like an extra from a zombie movie.

This is where I get some measure of retributionfor our Fourth of July shenanigans...driving across the state for Christmas morning and cinnamon rolls with my folks.

I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of illustrated status updates called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

Packing a Day Bag

 

I have to laugh when I think of how much used to seem necessary in a day bag...Of course, to be fair, the girls need a lot less now. Seriously though, shoes?!

Packing for Christmas at my parents, we try to get as much of it done the nite before as we can, because...well...the morning of is pretty hectic. This year, we were actually smart enough to write a note about things we still needed. It only took thirty-five years to learn to stop, pick up a pen, and write a note. I wonder what other new things we'll learn this year?

Santa Traditions

Our tradition on Christmas Eve is that we go to Amy's grandparents, then come home, have some family time, open a present from Mom and Dad, and then put out a cheese plate and beer for Santa. There's never been a question about this, partly because Abby's only four, but also because beer isn't really an everyday part of our life. It's special...cookies, not so much. So of course, Santa should have something special, right?

Abby got a new rag doll, made by our friend April from Riley Construction. She loved her immediately, and named her Polly...sometimes Dolly Polly.

Christmas Eve Morning.

I was AWARE of the running footsteps before I actually woke up...

We all Grow up seeing TV and movies of kids being excited for Christmas. Those images pale in comparison to a real, Excited four-year-old. Abby's been watching Christmas movies since Halloween and her excitement is infectious. For the first time since I started working in retail, I'm actually looking forward to the holiday season. The WHOLE holiday season.

There's often drawing time in our day, and it's always an interesting exercise in  speed, accuracy, and a stead/deft hand...Usually there's a two-year-old squirming on my lap as I doodle with crayons and markers, giving me an extra handy cap. I drew the top Santa first one day and as I worked, I thought it would be funny to put a shopping bag in his hand. Abby had other thoughts...

Abby: "Hey, you drew Santa! He needs a sack though. "
Me: "He has a sack, right there. "
Abby: "That's not a sack, it's a purse. He needs a sack in that hand, and a bell in the other. Maybe you should start over on a new piece of paper. "

So I drew the second one, which she was much happier with. I was told on the facebook page that his mustache is wonky, but to be fair to me, I was in a hurry, and someone was getting extra squirmy. :)