Perfect Christmas

There's a big black hole in the middle of my Christmas tree.  Now, I'm not too bad when it comes to lights--I always check the bulbs before I string them and I rarely make that rookie mistake of winding them the wrong way ending up with nothing to plug into the outlet.  This year's light stringing went without a hitch and the tree looked great...until Thursday.

"What happened to the tree?" Katherine asks.  What happened indeed.  Apparently one string went out.  Of course, it was the string right in the middle of the tree.  Have you ever tried to unwind a light string from an already decorated tree?  Neither have I.  And I'm not about to start now. 

As long as I'm pointing out imperfections, the stockings are not hung by my chimney with care.  I affixed them with push pins.  I did a really lousy job hiding Paul's Christmas gift and he found it immediately.  I hid it under a blanket on our bed.  Then I forgot and asked him to make the beds.  Whoops.

We're having company in about two hours and I haven't started cooking dinner yet.  The floor won't be mopped and I scratched the idea of homemade dessert long ago in favor of store-bought pie.  So, it won't be perfect, but that's OK.  I think about Mary's plan for the birth of Jesus.  I'm pretty sure her Lamaze coach, the mid-wife and the doula would not have recommended the cramped, smelly, unsanitary manger as their top choice for the big event.   Yet, even in less than ideal circumstances, Mary gave birth to a perfect baby. 

I recently read an article from the NY Times called The Island Where People Forget to Die.  On Ikaria, people get lots of fresh air and exercise.  They eat healthy diets.  They take naps.  All healthy habits that are a part of a healthy lifestyle, yet the researchers speculate these habits are not as important as we might think.  "Yet in Ikaria and the other places like it, diet only partly explained higher life expectancy. Exercise — at least the way we think of it, as willful, dutiful, physical activity — played a small role at best."

So if not diet and exercise, what?  The social culture of the island.  Friends.  Family.  Community.  A place where people don't strive for perfection, they strive for passion.  Tonight our tree may have some dark spots but our home will be full of the light and laughter of good friends.   And that sounds just perfect to me.

Advent Traditions

Something old, something new.  Something borrowed, something blue.  No, noone's getting married.  Today is the first Sunday of Advent and it is time for our Advent traditions.

Something Old: Grandpa Clark's dowel rod Christmas tree reminds me of spending Christmas in Pennsylvania.

After dinner my brother and I would sit in Grandpa's cozy shop next to his wood burning furnace.  Grandpa would smoke his pipe and let us hammer nails into wood scraps.  Then we'd head back inside for Grandma's famous chocolate cake with her amazing seven minute frosting.  I still can't make that frosting--mine always droops, but I have the dowel rod tree in my home now and it reminds me of my grandparents. 

Something New: Four tall taper candles

resting in a wreath of fresh evergreens

Each Sunday during Advent we light a new candle on our wreath symbolizing hope, peace, joy and love.  A few years ago, we began inviting a family to join us for dinner to share the tradition with us.  For me, it is a great reminder to slow down and appreciate the season of Christmas.

Something Borrowed: Advent Book Calendar

I love hearing about other people's traditions and ideas.  This one I borrowed from "Dana Made It".  Dana is an amazingly creative and crafty mother of three from Texas.  I love reading her blog and seeing pictures of her ideas (add talented photographer to her list of talents). She's sorta like Martha Stewart only way more down to earth and, to my knowledge, has never done jail time.   Up until now I've just admired her ideas but this time I thought, "Hey, I can do this!" http://www.danamadeit.com/2011/11/our-advent-calendar-and-a-list-for-getting-started.html  We unwrapped the first book last night and snuggled beneath the blanket to read together. Even the teenage boy stuck around for the story. 

Something Blue: Wreath of Bluebirds

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah.  I don't know why, but lately I've been loving bluebirds so my mom sent me a box full of them.  I hung them all on the wreath above our mantle--perfect with the blue walls in our living room.  I already feel plenty of sunshine coming my way...

I wish you all a wonderful season of Advent full of fond memories, new traditions, friends, family and sunshine. 

Nap Time

It's that time.  Paul dragged the Christmas boxes down from the attic today while I organized our "to do" list into categories.  Shopping, decorating, entertaining, cards...it's Sunday and I have the whole afternoon to be productive but I can't decide what to tackle first.

So I take a nap. 

I just want to savor the relaxed pace of this Thanksgiving weekend a little longer.   Thursday morning's Turkey Trot seems so long ago now.  Any calories we burned were replaced (and more) by four days of feasting with friends.  Lots of laughing.  Too much pie.  No, I take that back.  Never too much pie.  And, well, I'll just throw this in there, The Redskins beat Dallas.

The "to do" list will all get done eventually.  But today I'm thankful for my family and friends, a warm house, good food and a break from doing anything at all.  Today I'm thankful for naps.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Cure for the Common Birthday

There is still no cure for the common birthday.  ~John Glenn

November 18th--today's Mom's birthday.  In my mind I'm thinking she's about 42 right now, but then I realize that can't be right because I'm almost 42.  How did that happen?

The key to successful aging is to pay as little attention to it as possible.  ~Judith Regan

I usually don't think of myself as "old."  40 is the new 30, right?  And 60 is the new 40?  My mom certainly doesn't act "old."  She's clever, fashionable and active.  She's still learning new concepts--now she knows how to download pictures from her iPhone.  I don't even have an iPhone.  OK, so maybe her Bridge Club gives her away a little...I don't know why, but "young" people rarely meet weekly to play cards.  That's how I figure she's at least 40.

Old age is fifteen years older than I am.  ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

I still think of myself as 28.  At work several of my co-workers are in their 20's and sometimes I pretend in my head that we're all the same age.  Occasionally I'm reminded that this isn't true.  Like when Abby tells me her new boyfriend was born the same year I graduated from high school.   Or when the girls invite me on a spontaneous shopping trip after work and I decline because I am heading home to job # 2: Mom.

Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.  ~Chili Davis

Which reminds me...I blinked and my babies became teenagers.  The other day I was looking for a missing belt.  "I've got to clean out this closet--I can't find anything," I'm thinking to myself.  Then I realize Katherine is wearing it.  And so it begins.  Apparently this growing up thing applies to kids too.

In youth the days are short and the years are long;

in old age the years are short and the days long.  ~Nikita Ivanovich Panin

I saw the Skyfall at the theater this weekend.  Age--getting older--was a theme throughout the new James Bond movie.  I checked and Daniel Craig is 44.  And when you see him jump and climb onto a moving train, he doesn't look too shabby.  I think that's why I don't think about calendar age too much--it's more about your mental state of mind.  

You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt;

as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear;

as young as your hope, as old as your despair.  ~Douglas MacArthur

Happy Birthday Mom--and many, many more! I wish you another year of faith, self-confidence and hope,  as well as lots of love and laughter.  Oh, and some good wine.  And a few strokes off your golf game. 

Grow old with me!  The best is yet to be.  ~Robert Browning

Three generations of ageless beauty

A Party Fit for a Dog

Katherine takes after me in so many ways but in this specific way: She's a planner.  Only while I'm spending my time planning the most efficient way to tackle household chores and projects, Katherine likes to plan parties. 

 

Katherine has enjoyed planning parties for as long as I can remember.  This year she planned a Valentine's Cookie exchange in February and her own Tropical Themed birthday party in April.   

It doesn't have to be a major holiday.  Once I remember having to dress up as my favorite profession for a Labor Day party.  This year, we celebrated Bastille Day.  Napoleon even made an appearance.



What a great sport...just one more reason I love this man!



 

French flags, a French meal, French music...

So, when Katherine approached me with another idea for a party, I was not surprised.  "Mom, do you know we've never celebrated Tatum's birthday?" she asks.  Well, yes.  I'm aware of that. 

Tatum is a dog. 

Tatum's canine qualities don't deter Katherine, however.  She has decided that we need to celebrate his birthday.  She pencils a date on the calendar and starts making a list of invitees.  I notice that the weekend she picks is the same weekend I'll be preparing for 29 parent teacher conferences and completing all my report cards.  Several thoughts float through my mind.  Luckily, I have enough parenting experience that I don't say any of them out loud. 

"I'm sure Tatum will really appreciate a party, Katherine," I tell her.  And so, last weekend, we had a party fit for a dog.

It was a brunch so Tatum requested eggs.

The guests began to arrive

and soon the table was laden with gifts.  

 

Tatum couldn't decide what do do first--eat or open his presents.

One for you and one for me!

Mmmm, that was delish!

As usual, Katherine's party was a great success.  The dogs and humans all had a wonderful time.  Who knows what Katherine will plan next.  It just so happens that this Thursday, November 15 is Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day.  Think I can get her to celebrate that?

October Scrapbook

For every story I post, I feel like there are a million stories I don't post.  When I think back on October, I have so many memories...

Like the day we left school early to go to the Nationals play off game.  I told the kids I hope I didn't end up on the Jumbotron like Ferris Bueller did when he skipped school.  It was a beautiful day for

 rally caps,

 cheering for the home team, 

 and waving our red towels!

Here we are celebrating the win after Werth's walk-off home run.

Also in October Katherine performed in her last Haycock theatrical production.  She was fabulous as Helena in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream!  (Quite the switch from last year when she was The Best Kitchen Maid Ever )

 "Oh, I am out of breath in this fond chase."

Helena and Hermia

My adventure to St. Michael's with the girls was another highlight.  Yes, we were driving towards the coast when everyone else was heading away from Hurricane Sandy.  We beat the storm and had a much needed and much deserved day off.

Enjoying the scenery

Being silly

Hurricane Sandy did blow through the end of October leaving us without power or school for two days.  The lights returned on Halloween night as Katherine (aka Katniss, the Girl on Fire) and Jack (aka The Leaf Blower) were Trick Or Treating.

Trick Or Treat!

It's Time to Blitz

Pop!  I both hear and feel the sound.  I am sitting at my desk at work and I look down to see that the button on my jeans just popped off and rolled onto the floor.

Now, I could bore you with excuses--they are old jeans, worn out.  Button was probably loose.  Ironically, though, as I look at the button resting on the tile, I am holding a handful of Peanut M & Ms. 

People warned me.  "When you go back to work full time, you just have to let some things go."  Oh, I've let things go all right.  Like a regular exercise routine.  And healthy eating habits.  I thought that if I was too busy to cook maybe I'd lose weight but that is not the case.  Instead I grab fast, convenient choices.  I'm embarrassed to say how many times this week alone I resorted to eating a school lunch from the red styrofoam tray.  Then, instead of exercise, I rely on my favorite easy stress relievers--candy and wine.

So I've gained 6 pounds since school started.  Now, I don't like telling people that because then they say, "Oh, you are not fat!  You look fine.  I can't even tell."  But here's the thing:  I can tell.  And it's not about the weight.  It's about the way I feel.  My clothes are tight.  I feel lethargic.  I just feel gross. 

Luckily, November is just around the corner.  It's time for the November Fitness Blitz!  I invented the Blitz after Jack was born and I've been doing it every year since.  In past years I've invited friends and family to join the fun.  Here's how it works:

Start date: November 1.  Yes, that's right.  It's the day after Halloween.  There's leftover candy everywhere.  Could there be a better day to start a fitness program? 

End date: November 21.  Twenty one days later...just in time to start the holiday season off right.  Originally I picked this date because research showed that it takes 21 days to form a new habit.  Unfortunately, more current research now suggests that it may take longer.  But, whatever.  21 days is a start, right? 

During the 21 days, you get one point for every day that you exercise and one point for every day that you eat healthy.  What constitutes exercise and healthy eating differs from person to person.  One year I gave up dessert.  Another year I made sure I ate 5 servings of vegetables daily.  It's up to you.

I collect $5 from everyone and divide the participants into 4 teams.  Each team has a charity.  Everyone keeps track of their own points (honor system) and the weekend after Thanksgiving we have a big party.  There are fun prizes for top scores, gag gifts for low scores and all the money collected goes to the charity of the team with the most points.  Along the way, I send out weekly emails with bonus point opportunities.

The Blitz has taken different forms over the years.  This year I'm not organizing the big social event and I even considered not doing the Blitz myself.  How will I have time to fit exercise into by already too busy day?  How will I stay motivated to come home and prepare a healthy dinner when I'm so tired? And that's exactly why I need the Blitz. 

I've got a clear mason jar this year and I'll put a dollar in it for every point I earn.  Every day I feel too tired to exercise or tempted to eat some guilty pleasure, I'll ask myself, "Is this cookie worth the dollar that won't go in the jar?"  On November 21st I'll donate the contents of the jar to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.  

If your health is in need of a jump start before the holiday season, I invite you to join me--on your own with a jar, or together with friends and family.  November 1 is Thursday.  It's time to Blitz.