Do you know I showed up an HOUR late to choir rehearsal yesterday? That's bad even for me! It has been crazy as usual at our house these days. No! Crazier than usual. It's the weekend before Christmas and Danny is working, which means I am pulling the reigns by myself on probably the busiest days of the year, with three kids in the back of my sleigh. The kids experienced the limelight for the first time in their lives as they sung at the Christmas concert last weekend.
Abuela: Noemie, what were you for the concert?
Noemie: A monkey!
(The correct answer was "a dove")
Dominic: I was IRONMAN!
(My children are full of falsehoods these days)
Both kids were thrilled to see their grandparents in the crowd (as evidenced by Dominic shouting out "ABUELA!" as my parents, 20 minutes late, tried to sneak in unnoticed. Cuban time... it runs in the blood.)
The clock is winding down with less than a week to go. Most of my presents are bought, at least. I embroidered our names on the stockings I bought at last year's clearances. Like every year, I waited till the last minute to order Christmas cards. No charming pine-cone stamps or little toy soldier stamps-- I don't have time to go to the post office. I'm lucky we had stamps lying around at all! Who uses snail mail anymore? Our cards are stamped with Liberty Bell postage, a historical icon about as seasonally appropriate as a tar pit. It grates my romantic sensibilities every time I stick one on. Sticking stamps... remember the good ol' days when you had to lick 'em? How old am I?
Remember the day that Noemie fell asleep at the breakfast table and ended up throwing up all over my bed? You can almost notice her greenish hue in the photo. I failed to mention that that evening ushered in last week's cold front. Bad time to be without a comforter! It wont fit in my washing machine and I wont even tell you what the dry cleaners will charge me to clean it. It's obscene.
Cristovan's teeth must be coming in. I'm assuming that would explain the recent flood of drooling and the fever he's had for about three days. Noemie's happy as a clam. She loves to dress up and there's no shortage of opportunities these days. Unfortunately, Dominic hates dressing up. He's "afraid of buttons." But he's found some opportunities for merriment of his own. Yesterday, I taught him how to do simple sums using the calculator. What joy! He chased Noemie around the house all morning asking, "Do you want to see this math?!" And woke me up today as well with calculator in hand.
The last Christmas concert is this evening (I'm singing at this one, not the kids), after which we'll be going to dinner to celebrate my dad's birthday. For his birthday present this year, I tried to learn to play, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" on the piano. I should have given myself a few extra months. Like 6 of them. Gio comes in tomorrow and then begins a flurry of celebrations: Amy's engagement party, Emily's annual White Elephant/Highschool Reunion, Noche Buena, Christmas Day, and the Zohn's annual Christmas after-party.
For those whose celebration of the holidays this year carries a note of sobriety for the loss of loved ones, we are thinking of you. I had three losses in my family in the past three months, and last week lost a good family friend as well. Danny's boss passed away the following day. Emmanuel, God with us. It's not all about Santa, as we all well know. Between all of the craziness that I'm sure is going on in your lives too, Merry Christmas. And Happy Hanukkah to you, Dr. Pepper! This one's for you:
1 comment:
My word! The amount of craziness in your household never ceases to amaze me! :) Glad to hear everyone is in good health now. Hope you stay bundled up and warm...it sure is cold out!
Good to hear an update from you as always...keep your chin up this week, sounds like another busy one! :)
P.S. Your "cuban time" reference cracked me up. Have spent many years in Miami, I am well aware of this phenomenon and my family and I reference it from time to time. ;)
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