Traditions

Posted on January 3, 2015

The holidays uphold traditions more than any other time of the year, more than any other event or place. Whether to re-create years past, to measure how we’ve grown, to gain a sense of history, family and belonging, traditions are repeated. For us some traditions come and go based on the age and preferences of the kids. Each year affords us more flexibility. And while I like to uphold certain traditions, there is nothing like the new.

Tiny Tots Concert at JMHS (since 2011)

Breakfast with Santa at Clyde’s Willow Creek (since 2009)

My Mom and My Dad

Posted on December 30, 2014

Our parents are our role models for how to be a student, a sibling, a parent and a spouse. Our parents provide our first understanding of why people do and say the things they do, how to find the good and avoid the bad and how to be our best while managing our worst. They fill in the holes that school and church don’t address and reinforce the important parts like don’t fall asleep with gum in your mouth and always stand by your family. Parents teach us what love is, how it should feel, what it should look like and what it doesn’t look like. I thought my parents did this unaware, they were simply living their lives finding a way to get by. But now that I am a parent I know that every moment is a moment to show my kids what is love. They practiced great restraint to limit their fighting in front of us and although they weren’t the hugging and kissing kind their words and actions showed their love and respect for each other everyday. My Mom packed my Dad’s lunch every evening, the same lunch, everyday. There was always a warm meal, even in the mornings, and the kitchen was always clean. My Dad fixed the cars, mowed the lawn and refinished a room in our basement. He answered the mail and paid the bills. She made sure the plants were watered.

The invisible, the day to day, fulfilling the unasked.

49 years later, they commiserate on their aging while trying to understand my Dad’s new iPhone. She repeats what I say when my Dad can’t hear me and gives him a playful jab. And when I ask him to give her a kiss he scoffs then laughs. I did say they aren’t the hugging and kissing kind.

Sometimes hidden from me
in daily custom and in trust,
so that I live by you unaware
as by the beating of my heart,

Suddenly you flare in my sight,
a wild rose looming at the edge
of thicket, grace and light
where yesterday was only shade,

and once again I am blessed, choosing
again what I chose before.

“The Wild Rose” by Wendell Berry

A terrace with a view

Posted on December 30, 2014

In 2011 we had Breakfast with Santa at the Rooftop Terrace Restaurant at the Kennedy Center. Not knowing what to expect we were disappointed. The Santa wasn’t authentic and the food was average for the price. On top of that we were managing white tablecloths and china with a 1, 2 and 4 year old.

Always looking for new holiday experiences I was happy to stumble upon the Choral Arts Family performance at the Kennedy Center this year. The show features all the popular holiday songs, encouraging people to sing a long, with special visits by some of your favorite holiday characters. With our Saturday planned for the Kennedy Center I decided to give Breakfast with Santa another try.

Gingerbread House Decorating Party

Posted on December 28, 2014

Decorating gingerbread houses is a timeless holiday tradition. But watching your children lose control of the icing, hearing the clink and clank of tiny bits of candy hitting your kitchen floor and yelling at them repeatedly to stop eating the decorations is far from blissful. So I’m taking back this tradition and after the hectic pace of the holidays unwinding with friends for some friendly competition while smelling gingerbread is bliss. Kids are still involved, they are the judges!

Cub Scout Bake-off

Posted on December 27, 2014

Cub Scouts has been a great organization and activity to be a part of. One of our favorite events is the annual bake-off. The rules state the scout should create the dessert, from concept to product. Adults should only assist as needed, for safety purposes. Hmm, really? Lucas’ concept was a Pokeball cake.

Santa

Posted on December 23, 2014

“If I were Santa I’d eat all the cookies and make Pokemon real.”

“If I were Santa I’d make princess costumes, so like I could sew it?”

“If I were Santa I’d say ‘yo ho ho’ and bring everybody presents.”

Princess Tea

Posted on December 18, 2014

My Disney Girl’s Perfectly Princess Tea Party at the Grand Floridian describes itself as “this fantasy-come-true showers young princesses with the royal treatment.” Greeted by Rose Petal, having rose petals sprinkled over her head and crowned a princess Penny began a magical morning.

The Season

Posted on December 17, 2014

The tree is trimmed. The Hallmark Barbie ornaments are delicate with detail, the battery in the Linus ornament that plays the Charlie Brown theme song has died, the crystal Swarovski snowflake sparkles with the light and the Santa from my childhood tree sits atop mine.

The stockings line the fireplace. All purchased from the same store, in different years, with different names. They hang empty, waiting to be filled.

Slips of paper from the Advent calendar line our fridge, reminding us of the activities we haven’t had time to do.

The garland on the banister languishes on the upstairs landing, partially hung.

Half of our outdoor bushes are lit while the other half remains in the dark.

My shopping list is riddled with gaps, re-dos and incompletes.

New York State of Mind

Posted on December 17, 2014

Sunset over Central Park

Happy 4th Birthday Oliver!

Posted on December 9, 2014

Where does it go? The years. The minutes, I know exactly where they go. They are spent washing hands and brushing teeth, zipping coats and tying shoelaces, setting the table and cleaning the table, giving kisses and getting hugs. But the year, in an instant it is gone and as easily as you recall laying in the hospital bed staring into the eyes of your newborn you are now watching him blow out a candle that says 4.