I Still Want A Hula Hoop.

Last year's questionable meet-up

We've really been pushing The Christmas.

Mostly for myself. It's kind of hard to be in the spirit of things when really (reallyreallyreally) tired, but the [advent] calendar waits for no man!

So we've been rocking the Sirius XM holiday station. Expected side effect: I remember how much I adore renditions of 'O Holy Night' (except for Jewel's- blechity blech) and any incarnation of Canon in D. Especially if a children's choir is singing in the background. UNexpected side effect: Nora cannot stop singing 'You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch." (Or, as it's more commonly known, 'Meanie.')

Frosty The Snowman has been viewed. (As has the shockingly inferior sequel- Frosty Returns. Seriously. Come on. It's just... For real.) We love Frosty. We hate the part where he melts. Can. Not. Deal. When. He. Melts. There's a good ten minutes of "Frosty will melt, but it'll be okay" before the dude even gets trapped in the greenhouse. And then after his soaky demise, "SANTA WILL FIX HIM" is wailed straight into the credits. And then we sing the song until bedtime and ask when we can watch it again.

Now that I think about it, it's a pretty horrifying scenario. Sorry, kid.

I am determined to make Nora pals with Mr. Ol' Saint Nick, so I've really been talking him up to her. Kinda feels like a middle school relationship. ("No, he really likes you. Do you like him, too? Do you really like him? He's so fun. He has cool toys!")  I think she's keying into what he's all about, though, because every good deed or successful trip to the potty is followed up by a pointed "That was very kind, Mommy. I am kind."

Hopefully this budding relationship will last until at least this Saturday, which is when the fateful (second) meeting will go down. At the Christkindlmarket to be exact. (Mulled wine in a boot! Miniature blown-glass animals! Ohboyohboy! And, uh, Santa!)

Last year's meet n' greet had mixed results. She was perfectly fine until she actually saw Santa. And had to sit on his lap. And until he spoke to her. Not to mention having to smile for a picture. And there were elves who were all like- How are you, today?

She was horrified.

The picture we captured was remarkably calm. Those picture-takin' elves really know what they're about.

This year will be different, I can just tell. Shy Thumbelina will be joined by her miniature sidekick, Cheerful Buttercup. Gotta put on a brave face for The Littles.

Or at least be pleasant enough to get your Santa treat.

Gotta work the system.

A Smattering Of Cousins...

...Including piano time, Suzy snuggling, and a captive audience for Mary Poppins.

Nora Just Learned ALL The Words To 'Jingle Bells.'

Cousins are for hugging.

Well, it's officially the Christmas Season.

It was rung in by the Official 7.5 Hour Gridlock Post-Thanksgiving Trans-Indiana Commute Day (Observed).

Thankfully, Peej and I have been blessed by some pretty rockin' travel companions. I think you'll recognize the archetypes: One likes to read the entire time, occasionally stopping to inquire about snacks. Seated next to her is that one person who always dozes off for entire states, waking momentarily to announce that they'll drive the next leg...before sleeping well into Ohio. Then there's the gal who Just Has A Little Work To Finish Up, but still berates anyone who doesn't acknowledge the stellar harmonies and transitions on her playlist. She also has to pee a lot. Finally, we've got the guy who has taken up the glove thrown down by I-65. And Is NOT Driving Too Fast, Thanks. He also has a positively Rain Man reaction to various townships' gas prices. And will recite and repeat them with regret until the vehicle passes into a better county with even cheaper gas. WHY DIDN'T WE STOP!?

Thanksgiving itself was a whirl of fabulous meals (and meal reduxes) and insanely good pie (and redux plus a thousand), plus lots of lovely family- and an incredibly large number of Zuzu-holdin' arms. I even took a nap. I got my Graeter's and Skyline fixes, saw Nora lose her shiz with excitement over Cousin Time, and- awesomesauciest of all- saw my mother-in-law onstage in a musical revue. (Due to various Susannah-related constraints, I actually got to see a preview performance and had the whole theatre to myself. No big deal, just the kinda V.I.P. stuff I do in Ohio.)

And now, aside from a few moments of head-cold snarfiness (as a result of germy hands/toys, etc. shoved directly into my ocular cavities), I'm fully ready to embrace the holidays.

My Christmasness cannot be rushed. I'm a big fan of not celebrating one holiday until another has had its due. I realize I'm in an ever-dwindling crew of folks who do not care for Santa sales in August, but it's something I really try to hold to. Among this is my (perhaps misinformed?) disdain for midnight or 4am sales on Black Friday. Why? Well, it's because we're shockingly wealthy. (Oh, P.J. hates that joke. I think it's a rollicker.) Okay, the real reason is this: when I hear of people camping out immediately after Thanksgiving dinner, I wonder if they've done the math. For every hour they're sitting in the cold, waiting to "save" money, is pretty much an hour on the ol' personal time clock. And even if they only value themselves at minimum wage (which I do not- I'm downright six figures on the payroll of Me Time), you really hafta add that total to the items on which you've saved. I'd rather spend extra money than stand in the cold for even an hour.

Okay, I think I just gave my husband an aneurysm.

Besides, if Christmas feels thrust upon me too soon, I'm not really in the whole Christmas spirit thing. And if I'm not listening to fabulous holiday music and sipping a [large] peppermint schnapps on ice while signing cards and comfily shopping online, well then...I might as well just do an automatic transfer into each person's bank account and call it a day. ("Five dollars for you...and five dollars for you...")

But now I'm ready. And I've taken the ol' WishBook and circled pages 4-271 with easily decoded margin notes for optimum toy purchasing. (Okay, only two people will get that reference. And they are both my parents.)

Fa la la.

I Am Also Thankful For Pie.

I am thankful for so many things this year. My family (and their health.) My friends (and their continued awesomeness- and, uh, health.) Bean and Ender- even though they continue to wake us up at ungodly hours to let us know their kitty bowls are half-full. The fact that I get to write every day...and have people sometimes want to see it.

I am excruciatingly thankful for the crazy-easy six hour drive we took yesterday with the girls.

But mostly? I thank God and fate and luck and chance and exceptional timing for these three right here:

(Thanks for reading.)

Happy Thanksgiving.