So I’m sitting here in front of the tv with my family and Pumpkin (dd 14 yrs old) has just finished a book she found in our library.  It is an allegory, and not one she knew we had. She loved it so much that she read it aloud to her sisters and accused me of ‘withholding’… She should know by now that if I BUY a book, it is WORTH reading… (other than the odd book that ends up a waste of a good tree anyway… which isn’t often) he. he. he.  Anyway, as the book indicated sequels she made for the downstairs computer to look them up on Amazon. Shortly, an IM window popped up requesting my attention. It was from Pumpkin… who was still downstairs on the other computer.  I know. We are sick people, IMing in the same house.  However, were we not sick people, I would not have this for your reading pleasure.  What can I say… the child IS creative… (Unfortunately, the smiley’s we used did not transfer…)  We did end up talking about yet another book she wanted from another series that is a family favorite and that is when things got fun…

Pumpkin: I am looking at
Pumpkin: a book that I have been looking for
Pumpkin: for a year and 8 months
Mom: title?
Pumpkin: I was told it was comeing out in july
Pumpkin: PLEASE MAY I TELL IT TO BUY?!?!?!?!
Mom: title?
Pumpkin: Rangers Aprentice:The land of Ice and Snow, book 3
Mom: it is set up to purchase on that computer?
Pumpkin: What does that mean??
Mom: you had best let me do it dear
Pumpkin: Now????

Pumpkin: I’ll beg
Mom: that could be interesting
Pumpkin: Shall I start
Pumpkin: ??
Mom: oh please
Mom: I am not sure that it is possible
Pumpkin: Oh thou merciful mother, who bore me in thy body….
Pumpkin: And has fed and nourished me…
Pumpkin: and probably has quite a few gray hairs on thy head because of me……
Pumpkin: I BESEACH thee…..
Pumpkin: Oh please take note that…
Pumpkin: all the money and effort you have spent on me…
Pumpkin: from teaching me to read and not bite thee…..
Pumpkin: to getting me braces so that my teeth wilt not sprouteth from my ears……….
Pumpkin: may yet go to waste….
Pumpkin: for if I do not get this book before the next month is up…
Pumpkin: I shall probably die…
Pumpkin: of anticipation…
Pumpkin: for now that I know that It is out………
Pumpkin: and that I do not have it my body begins to waste………..
Pumpkin: I beg of thou, oh most merciful and compassionant majesty…..
Pumpkin: to grant me a repreive…..
Pumpkin: so that I may live….
Pumpkin: and thy money and effort shall not be in vain…
Pumpkin: So To make a long tale short
Pumpkin: I beg of you …
Pumpkin: buy The Icebound Land (Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 3) by John Flanagan NOW
Pumpkin: Lest I fall down and die at they wonderful non-stinky feet
Mom: awwww and you were doing SO WELL…
Pumpkin: I can start again
Mom: oh no… that will be QUITE sufficient… for this book anyway
Pumpkin: If it please thee to grant the humble wish of the un-worthy and VERY stinky bunny-keeper…
Pumpkin: and If she were to pay for it..
Mom: oh well, one does have the ability to redeem ones begging self, doesn’t one…
Pumpkin: woulds’t thou also get the 4th book wich I justnoticed at the very bottom of the screen???

Mom: you are SO good…
Pumpkin: Shall I start again?
Mom: no, that is quite sufficient. boon granted.
Pumpkin: I thought it best to take it slow
Pumpkin: and THANK you
Mom: yw.
Pumpkin: Oh merciful One

Pumpkin: we are drooling all over the key board down here
Mom: we?
Pumpkin: Yep
Pumpkin: Still in shakesperian type mode
Mom: ah ha
Mom: uh dearest?
Mom: you DO realize this is a PRE order?
Pumpkin: Noooooo
Pumpkin: I didn’t
Mom: ordered anyway as a pre order
Pumpkin: but I’ll settle for that
Pumpkin: THANK YOU
Pumpkin: AM DOING CARTWHEELS
Mom: yw
Pumpkin: ON THE CEILING

What can I say? The child can beg with such class… heaven forbid she realize how fun that was and decide she wants yet more books…

So after an incredibly warm fall and Christmas, it finally turned cold. We had a few small flurries and an inch or two here and the children turned hopeful gazes toward my own august self and begged for a snow day. I finally told them that taking a school day off for anything less than a foot of snow was at MY discretion and that white falling from the sky did not automatically justify such a day.  I did set a foot as an automatic default of one foot of snow. 

Last night as we left Cracker Barrel from having dinner with some friends in from out of town, sleet had begun to fall.  It continued through the night interspersed with a small bit of snow and into the morning. My children, knowing better than to turn said hopeful gaze upon me for ICE, instead offered a day of cleaning while being read aloud to.  This was a good compromise, especially since at least four inches of snow was in the forecast later in the day and we had an official ‘Winter Storm Warning’.

By mid morning, we just began ignoring the ‘warning’ part of that notice as the weather had finally begun to look like what I thought living in Illinois would look like in winter when we moved here. The sleet changed to snow at long last and we began to watch the snow accumulate slowly while the birds and squirrels kept braving the driving wind and precipitation to chow down at the feeders we replenished twice during the day. At lunchtime I declared an official snow day and by late afternoon the girls were doing hourly checks on the deck to see how deep it was. We had ten inches four hours ago at their last check, right about dark, and the snow has continued to fall.  Tomorrow will be a snow day too… I’ve a feeling it will have long since passed ten inches on the deck and we don’t get that kind of snow frequently enough to deprive them of the rare day off even if it hasn’t.  They’ll come back to their desks rested and refreshed, ready to give me their best once again. 

Sometimes a teacher knows that discretion is the better part of valor…

I spent several hours today showing a good friend around a neighboring town.  Her husband is interviewing in the area and as it is a small town, any woman would want to scope out the available shopping and she is no different! The short drive gave us some good visiting time and her dh was such a sweetheart to let us gab away. Every time I’m with her, conversation seems to flow so well and yet when I get home I never fail to think ‘doggonit, wish I had talked less and gotten her to talk more’… Interesting friends about whom you wish to know more and listen to are such a blessing. 

Their family is such a treasure and I’m so looking forward to having them in the area.  They are going to be a fabulous addition to our homeschool group and parish, not to mention the medical community.  Certainly, their coming is an answer to prayer.

Don’t remember how long we’ve had the tutoring going now… but it is going well.  The troublesome semester is successfully behind us and duly celebrated with a pizza party.  The subsequent semester is ALSO successfully behind us and was completed in one short month! Pumpkin is now hurtling head long through the current semester and the tutor anticipates this semester being completed in a single month as well which puts her starting Beginner Algebra at the beginning of March. 

My children used to watch Veggie Tales… well, the one or two we had on video… back when we HAD video’s instead of DVD’s.  They weren’t the type of thing that we valued enough (our kids weren’t that young anymore) to purchase in the new medium.  I didn’t mind them but one day I saw a song in one of the video’s that I have loved ever since and think of AFTER Christmas EVERY year.  Below are the lyrics…

Veggie Tales - Oh Santa 

Narrator: “It’s Christmas Eve, and Larry is anxiously awaiting the
arrival of Santa Claus with a plate of cookies.”

Larry: “Oh, Santa! I can’t wait for you to come, I just can’t wait for
you to come, and I’ve got cookies! Three yummy cookies! Just for you for
when you come, only for you for when you come … because it’s
Christmas!”

[Knock-knock-knock]

Larry: “Could that be Santa? Could that be him? Could it be the one who
brings presents for a cucumber like me, a good cucumber like me?”

Narrator: “Larry is surprised to be greeted not by Santa, but crafty
bankrobber!”

Larry: “Who are you?”

Bankrobber: “I’m a bankrobber! And I’ve come to rob your bank, oh yes!
I’ve come to rob your bank, and I’ve come to take your dimes and swipe
your nickels. So stand back, step aside you silly pickle! And let me
in!”

Narrator: “Although frightened by the intruder, in the spirit of
Christmas Larry makes an offering.”

Larry: “I’m not a banker … I have no bank my robbing friend, but I
have cookies–three yummy cookies. And I don’t have nickels, but please
take this my robbing friend. Eat one of these my robbing friend. They
are for Santa, but you may have one.”

Narrator: “The bankrobber is truly touched by Larry’s good will. But
Larry, although momentarily distracted, is still excited about seeing
Santa.”

Larry: “Oh, Santa! I can’t wait for you to come, I just can’t wait for
you to come, and I’ve got cookies! Two yummy cookies! Just for you for
when you come, oh me, for you for when you come … because it’s
Christmas!”

Bankrobber: (Simultaneously) “I’m a robber! I came to rob your bank, oh
yes! I came to rob your bank … you shared a cookie–a yummy cookie.
Though I’d love to take your dimes, perhaps another time–because it’s
Christmas!”

[Knock, knock, knock]

Larry: “Could that be Santa? Could that be him? Could it be the one who
brings presents for a cucumber like me, a good cucumber like me?”
Narrator: “Once again, it is not Santa who has come to Larry’s door, but
this time a savage Norseman.”

Larry: “Who are you?”

Viking: “I’m a viking! And I’ve come to take your land, oh yes! I’ve
come to take your land, and I’ve come to burn your crops and steal your
horses. And I’ve come to … step on your chickens! And soil your
quilts!”

Narrator: “Although frightened by the intruder, in the spirit of
Christmas Larry makes an offering.”

Larry: “I don’t have land … I don’t have crops, my viking friend, but
I have cookies–two yummy cookies. And I don’t have horses, but please
take this my viking friend. Eat one of these my viking friend. They are
for Santa, but you may have one.”

Narrator: “The viking is also touched by Larry’s good will. But Larry’s
thoughts are still with Santa.”

Larry: “Oh, Santa! I can’t wait for you to come, I just can’t wait for
you to come, I’ve got a cookie! A yummy cookie! Just for you for when
you come, oh me, for you for when you come … because it’s Christmas!”

Viking: (Simultaneously) “I’m a viking! I came to take your land, oh
yes! I came to take your land … you shared a cookie–a yummy cookie.
Though I’d love to soil your quilts, I don’t think that I wilt …
because it’s Christmas!”

[Knock-knock-knock]

Larry: “Could that be Santa? Could that be him? Could it be the one who
brings presents for a cucumber like me, a good cucumber like me?”

Narrator: “Larry is greeted now by an agent of the Internal Revenue
Service.”

Larry: “Who are you?”

Peach: “I’m from the IRS! And I’ve come to tax your …” [Slam]

Larry: “Oh, Santa! I can’t wait for you to come, I just can’t wait for
you to come … It’s finally Santa! It’s finally him! At last, the one
who brings presents for a cucumber like me, a good cucumber like me!”

Santa: “I’m Santa! And I’ve come to bring you gifts, oh yes! I’ve come
to bring you gifts, and I’ve come to stuff your stockings–oh ho-ho-ho!
And I’ve come to jiggle my belly. And wiggle my nose … Hey, wait a
minute! Isn’t that my belt? And what are you doing with my hat? So
you’re the ones!”

Bankrobber: “Wait a minute, I can explain!”

Viking: “We’ve changed!”

Santa: “Nobody messes with Santa! You know that don’t you!? You’ve been
very naughty! And I’ve got a list!”

Peach: “Did you claim that?”

Larry: “Merry … Christmas

Words by Mike Nawrocki
Music by Mike Nawrocki & Kurt Heinecke
© 1993 Bob and Larry Publishing (ASCAP)
Administered by EMI CMG Publishing.
Reprinted with Permission.

 It probably is one of those things you have to SEE to fully appreciate… but the looks on all the Veggies faces when the tax man is at the door and then the resounding slam of the door in his face had me rolling with laughter.  Some things never change.

All the kids are sick, except Pumpkin, who says she was sick before thank you very much and is fine NOW.  Technically, even though she says she wasn’t sick five minutes ago, NOW she claims to be ’sicker’ than her sisters AND her parents thank you very much. HA. The inconsistent mind of a 14 yr old. I’m now going to finish this blog entry by mySELF. Harumph.

AS I WAS SAYING… we’re sick, most of us.  The PERTINENT PEOPLE (she is still reading over my shoulder) ARE SICK.  People are walking around with their own personal boxes of kleenex and a grocery bag for the used ones.  Repeated hollers of ‘COVER YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU COUGH’ echo through the house. I have work to do before we start school back up on Monday and no energy to do it. The Christmas clean up has been interrupted and life begins again in a matter of days.

It’s not as bad as it could be, my good friend in WI has had much more severe illness for much longer, puking viruses back to back in her family.  Poor dear… Yet as she says, God is good. I’m so grateful for Dayquil, Nyquil, kleenex, toilet paper, chicken ramen, and any number of other things.  I’m also grateful for the new MP3 player I got at Christmas. Pity we didn’t have those when I was bearing children… I’ve got audible valium on mine and it really does help one relax.

I was just telling a few friends the other day that the 12 Days of Christmas seem more like the 12 Days of Christmas Clean up.  I’ve been trying to plow the detritus of Christmas to the appropriate location, ie kids rooms, trash can, dish washer, washing machine, etc.  So far I haven’t gotten to grade papers yet… the Christmas lazy’s are still here.  It’s just hard to be motivated to get work done with dh home.

The children love their gifts and it was one of our more successful Christmas’s on that front.  To be home alone, no family or guests, was much more relaxing than last year.  The kinks in meal plans (ie frozen turkey instead of thawed) didn’t even phase us much.

As lovely as the holidays are, I’m looking forward to getting back into the regular routine… and have already started promising myself things about next year…

Christmas is here again… The blessings this year greater than all those before.  May God be with each of you as you celebrate the coming of the King… and may He continue to prepare you for His return.

Christmas Prayer

Moonless darkness stands between.
Past, the Past, no more be seen!
But the Bethlehem star may lead me
To the sight of Him Who freed me
From the self that I have been.
Make me pure, Lord: Thou art Holy;
Make me meek, Lord: Thou wert lowly;
Now beginning, and always,
Now begin, on Christmas day.

(By Gerard Manley Hopkins, 1844-1889.)

Today I began to plan out the Christmas menu.  It’s pretty standard year to year, I really should just do it on the computer and save it as the variations are fairly minor.  As I made up the menu, it occurred to me that once again this year, we’d be celebrating without Italian sausage on the menu.  It may sound silly but it made me a bit melancholy. 

Back when I married my husband and we celebrated our first Christmas with his family, the foods were so alien.  The turkey I recognized, and the salad, but that was it.  The dressing wasn’t cornbread… in fact, it had meat and potatoes and stuff in it.  What WAS that anyway? Then there were the fig cookies… Not fig newtons, but a traditional Italian cookie, homemade for the holidays.  I don’t like fig newtons. Then came the Italian sausage… both a treat for breakfast or the main meal.  Italian sausage is a very heavy sausage and quite the different flavor from your typical American fare of bland kielbasa. Most of my mother-in-laws cooking was an instant favorite however, and before a couple of years passed I had learned how to fix them all, including all the traditional holiday fare that had been so foreign to me at first.

Recently my husband and I celebrated 15 years of marriage, and are closing on our second year in Illinois. At this point, Fig cookies, heavy stuffing and Italian sausage are favorites of mine too.  Illinois doesn’t have Italian sausage.  The dried figs I can get. The turkey, and trimmings, can all be pulled together from the local grocers.  The Italian sausage I can’t get, unless maybe there is some spot in Chicago that has it, not that I know of one.

This evening hubby was on the phone with his mom.  She was wondering if we had received the girls Christmas gifts (we had) and when he hung up, he told me she had sent us some Italian sausage, packed to ship in dry ice. I thought I was gonna cry. It was the best gift she could’ve given us.  Just a few links of sausage, but it felt like I’d been given a huge piece of home via UPS.  I can’t adequately describe the lift in spirits, the interior warmth that came from knowing she had gone to the trouble to do that for us. 

So in the next couple of days, I will be haunting my front door amid my Christmas baking and last minute prep… because a bit of Christmas is coming packed in dry ice via UPS… and the Christmas Menu is complete after all.