Hardly a Holiday Hiatus

 

We are in that subtle lull between the holidays of Christmas and the New Year.  Christmas this year similar to the last couple has lasted about a week and a half and ended in full exhaustion and only minor colds from depleted immune systems.  The Christmas tree made its exit yesterday morning and again I wonder why I allow such things in the house and quickly remember it is because Sophia wants it.  The tree this year was so dry I was afraid that the heat from the LED lights would be enough to turn the whole house into a blaze.  They are truly some botanical version of solidified gasoline.  But alas, Sophia wants a real tree and not an artificial one so a real tree it is.  This years tree looked quite awful by the time it was taken to the back yard and left for the birds, it was missing so many needles that it appeared to have some version of pine mange.  Tree disposal aside we have been busy.  Christmas gift came and went and it appears that this year's hit was small tub of bath drops that change the color of the water.  We are currently filling colored water into latex gloves and hanging them outside so that they freeze like big hand pops, so we will be all set when the packy/snowman snow arrives.  Plenty of down time on the couch but also getting outside a lot as well.  The kids have really taken to cross country skiing, it is clearly in their Nordic blood and yesterday we were able to do about a two mile loop.  Sophia's boot laces needed to be replaced but fortunately she had a spare pink set in her bedroom that fit just fine for her three-pin boots.  Merrick is using learner skis that strap right to his boots.  I am already thinking next year I will get them upgraded equipment as it is just a great way to spend some time outside during these months.  Yesterday was also "National cut-out snowflake" day, so we made sure to show our patriotism and fill the kitchen floor with paper scraps and the windows with lacey flakes.  Today Sophia has a friend over and while they were playing "summer" she thought it was a good idea to pose in the snow and grin past the incoming cold--life with Dad--I thought it was a great idea too.  Later this afternoon I think we are off to the water park for some splashing and water slides as well as completing our newest science experiment.  Merrick received a "Gross Science" kit for Christmas which includes petri dishes, so this morning we prepped the petri dishes.  We are going to culture his armpits and between his toes before we swim and then again after soaking in the chlorinated pool and showering--again life with Dad.

Break even or Breaking bad?

 

 
The hour is upon us for both the winter solstice and the overhyped retroprophicized end of the world.  The last several weeks have left us much more interested in the solstice.  Rebirth and new growth as a function of self-reflection is in the air, although given the amount of green grass still showing in the yard we are having trouble even putting last year to bed.  The kids and I spent a little time ringing the bells at the local grocery store and they both had a great time singing jingle bells as loud as they could.  Jingle bells was the only song that each of them knew and it turns out they really only knew enough of the song to get people through the foyer, but that was enough to collect plenty of money for the Armies of Salvation.  Merrick was in charge of the paint stick to push the dollars deep into the pot, while Sophia handled the bell duties.  The tree is decorated and the lights are strung outside and the anticipation of opening gifts is showing on the faces of the kids.  We were a little late on finding the advent calendars but the kids were fine with the delay when I told them that they would have to eat the first 6 chocolates to get caught up.  Today is their Christmas sing at school and as I type both Grandprize and the great grandpa are on their way over to spend the day watching the kids sing and play their recorders.  Merrick is finishing up his soccer, but I think he is then done until the outside season starts up in the spring.  Sophia is still dancing and Merrick and I have taken to dropping her off at the studio and then hitting the coffee shop for tea or hot chocolate were we sit around and talk while playing poker or black jack.  I am finding it a really fun thing for him and I to do.  Sophia also has a dance routine that she is performing tonight during the half-time show of the local high school basketball game.  A big and busy day for the kids, but that is how the holidays roll.  The presents are bought and wrapped and with the commercialism out of the way, the kids have become quite reflective on the great items of importance in life, I couldn't be more proud of them. The kids are doing well in school, happy and healthy, I could ask for no more.