Good

God, I really used to love Christmas. Honestly, you have never met anyone who loved Christmas more than me. Then, I suffered through years of infertility and then postpartum. It seemed like bad news always came around this time of year. It got a little harder for me, but I continued to try like hell to get into the Christmas-fucking-spirit. I get a little closer every year.

I thought this year would be a major setback. Josh lost his job and the economy is not sufficiently recovered that anyone can ever feel truly safe. I worry about our soldiers and their families. I worry that children everywhere are hungry and not safe.

But I don't know. This year I feel better than I have for a good, long while. We (ok, not "we" as in the Engels, but "we" as in our family of beloved friends) have one new baby, and another due early next year. And I just tonight learned of a third on its way that I am particularly ecstatic and grateful for. I mean, I don't know. I guess we can't give up hope when we know babies are coming. I guess every baby is a vote of confidence from God that we will manage somehow. Right?

Anyway, this feels like a particularly blessed Christmas for us and those we love. Do you feel it, too?

Also, this:

Dash went from "skating" like this (please to enjoy my "Oh God, please don't drop him" face )

To this! First time ever on his own on the ice. Only took four tries over two years. Kid's a natural.

Then we came home & broke out your Grandma's Christmas Village, as re-imagined by the crazy lady (me) on Rosemont Lane.

December So Far

Dude, we are kicking our Andre's list's ASS. Here is Dash having an awesome time watching Polar Express, outdoors, with his best friends from school:

I know it looks like he's in a hostage situation, but that's just what he looks like 90% of the time. He is smiling on the inside.

Gingerbread Hizzy

OK! Andre's plan for day 1 was a go.

working...

working...

snacking...

done!

Andre the Elf

We're trying something new this year because obviously I don't have enough shit going on during the holidays. Interwebs, please meet Andre the Elf (we called him Andre so that when he gets lost--as he invariably will and already has--we can say "What happened to Andre?").

Every morning in December Andre will provide a clue as to what special activity we have planned for Dash that day. Here's his schedule:

12/1-Make a gingerbread house
12/2-Hang stockings
12/3-Make a picture for Aunty
12/4-Watch Polar Express outside
12/5-Go ice skating
12/6-Get the tree
12/7-Watch Grinch
12/8-Pizza night!
12/9-Write a letter to Santa
12/10-Make paper snowflakes & chains
12/11-Make a "Welcome Santa" poster
12/12-Throw a party (this is cheating since this is for us, not Dash, but he can suck it up for one day)
12/13-See Santa
12/14-Watch Rudolph
12/15-Bake cookies
12/16-Spread some cheer (deliver gifts to the neighbors & teachers)
12/17-See the lights
12/18-Make s'mores
12/19-Special time with Aunty (more cheating; we have tickets to the LA Phil this night & Aunty is sitting for us)
12/20-Go to a party
12/21-Make an ornament
12/22-Watch Elf
12/23-Go to the movies
12/24-Open one prezzie
12/25-Christmas!

Clark Griswold, Ladies & Gentlemen

The scary thing is that he's not done yet.

Thanksgiving, 2009

Here are my fat two pictures from two full days of Thanksgiving celebration. Let's just say I was super busy digesting copious amounts of champagne & turkey. And ham. And pie. And oh my God, the gluttony.

Josh & his Dad hamming it up with the turkey. Get it? Hamming it up? But it's a turkey? (I feel perhaps my razor-sharp wit has been dulled with all the fat and sugar. What do you guys think?)

Dash meets Mugsy for the first time. I think he liked him.

Thanks, Day 12

I'm not going to post tomorrow, so we're gonna rock a twofer today.

I was always a little OCD with cleaning, but progressively more since Dash was born. I'm trying to get it under control, with not much success. I do have days, though (sometimes weeks! ok, sometimes one week. if four days counts as a week) when I can just let shit go. Revel in the chaos for a few hours. Today was one of those days:

You should see his face light up when he sees me heading to the couch with a fresh batch of warm laundry to fold.


Some days, you just need every single Lego. Those tend to be the better days.

He's practicing his letters, but he thinks he's just playing a puzzle. Don't tell him he's learning.

And, because I ran out of days before I ran out of things to be thankful for, here:

* Trader Joe's pre-cooked, pre-boiled eggs. I know they seem a little scary, but I made 40 deviled eggs today in half an hour. HALF AN HOUR.

* While we're at Trader Joe's: Candy Cane Joe Joes (like Oreos, but minus the hydrogenated oil and plus ground up candy canes) & Charles Shaw wine. Do you know how much I would spend on wine if I didn't have Charles Shaw to make spritzers out of? A lot, that's how much.

* ABC Family Channel Countdown to Christmas. It is not the holidays until I have seen Tori Spelling get the Christmas spirit in her cold, businesswomanly heart (also, she's Jewish, like us! and therefore confirms my theory that nobody loves Christmas like a Jew loves Christmas).

* Free Amazon Prime trials. Seriously, I have already saved, like, $150 in shipping alone.

* The Butterball Hotline. I have never called, and don't expect that I ever will. But it is a huge comfort to me that somewhere out there, a kind woman who knows her way around a turkey is taking calls. I'd bet she has some stories.

* You guys. All my amazing, talented, loving, ingenious, hilarious friends. I never in a million years expected anyone other than my family to find me here, but I am just delighted that you did. I am honored that you choose to spend a little of your time and attention with me here. And I am incredibly grateful to have found you and your beautiful writing, as well.

* And finally, as always, for this:

Racially insensitive headgear and all.