Christmas

Fighting a cold, I blog on Christmas, which didn't so much sneak up, but, rather, arrived with a hard landing. The bad economy, the shorter break since Thanksgiving, etc made it feel a little off - we stalwartly went through the motions without thought of reward; not sure reward was an appropriate category this year.

Started with the Christmas Pageant, which Carolyn was strong-armed into directing this year.
Michael has a great singing voice; we wish we could find a children's choir nearby (one advantage to Minnesota, where strong Lutheran choral traditions abound). Jack and Benjamin were hand-holding stars.

We took in a concert at Grace Community Church - a range of traditional, early American, and contemporary Christmas music, beautifully arranged and presented. The children loved the repetition of the Hallelujah chorus.Several years ago, orange rolls became our Christmas morning tradition. The glaze is a marmalade/frozen OJ blend with orange rind/butter filling. My best glaze came using a can of ready-to-make orange marmalade mix I picked up in Victoria BC - an entire can filled with thinly sliced orange peels (complete with a how to make marmalade instruction label).
Stockings were kinda low-key this year, filled with tangerines and pistachios and little gifts. Michael's chocolate coin was a euro. He really bought into Santa this time, prepared a plate of cookies and got his wishes in early.
Carolyn had the boys make homemade gifts - fire-your-own ceramics (espresso cups, mugs, and an electric tree).
Grandpa drove down from the Bay area with Uncle Dave and Aunt Stephanie. Jack continued his love affair with Thomas the Tank Engine.

Aunt Beth sent an elaborate Tin Tin book!

This year - bikes! A real hit.

On Saturday, we took a trip to the Getty Villa's antiquities collection, where M & J put on a Roman shadow play.

They really loved the blow-up bed. Stripes all!

At this point, our boys are the only children gracing family events; I distinctly recall how grown-up and boring Christmas felt all those years we celebrated in Macomb. We spoil them with gifts, while they bestow their charm and innocence on our events - and, generally speaking, all our days - while we taper their selfishness. Judaism, by contrast, having been called an "old man's" religion; Christmas is a child's holiday.