Christmas Hero

On Thanksgiving we had the opportunity to let our inner Liverpudlians loose by playing Beatles Rockband at Bryan's aunt's house. It was truly awesome. At one point Bryan (an actual drummer) was on percussion, Spencer (my brother-in-law who truly plays the guitar) on strings, and me (a real-life singer) on vocals.

Yeah, we have skills.

We don't have Rockband, although we do have Guitar Hero. Peter has tried playing it, but he and Cooper prefer to use the guitars as vacuums and zoom them around the floor.

This young man had a slightly bigger vision for his guitar time. And yes, it is a bit long, but stick with it, or at least have it on your computer while you're doing other things so you can watch it in the background.



Maybe I should call him Electric Company Hero due to the amazingly massive power bill his family is going to have next month.

Lets Make a Deal

Why hello Migraine, it's been a while.

I can't say I've missed you, nor am I particularly thrilled to see you again. I was hoping the two Tylenol and two pieces of sugar-free chocolate would have sent you scurrying, but judging from the numbness in my tongue and my flattening vision, you've decided to set-up camp.

I have one request before I lose the power to form coherent (or any) sentences: would you be swift? I'll go to sleep and let you do your thing if you'll be gone by the time I have to wake up and do mine.

Deal?

Seasonal Soundtrack

I grew-up with a specific idea of what Christmas music was. For me it fell into three camps:

1. Church Christmas music
2. Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, and Perry Como Christmas music
3. The Nutcracker Suite
   

We had a tape of the second kind of Christmas music that we would listen to in the van as we drove from place to place during the holiday season. I specifically remember listening to it as we journeyed to a rehearsal of a children's choir that I (and at least one of my brothers, though I can't recall which one, or was it two of them?) belonged to. Those soothing voices always make me think of twinkling lights and opening presents.

When Bryan and I got married I expected that he would cherish the same Yuletide songs and singers that I did.

I was wrong.

Bryan grew up listening to the Christmas stylings of Mannheim Steamroller. I had never even heard of this group until I'd been in college for a few years, and then I just heard their name in passing. Bryan played some of their music for me and it was... okay. It was so different from I was used to that it didn't feel like Christmas.

I remember one very cold, very snowy evening during the first December Bryan and I were married. It was either a Tuesday or a Thursday because I had a class that finished at just after five and Bryan had to be at work at five, which meant that the car went with him and I crunched home in the snow on foot. The whole way home I thought about what I needed to do that night: the dishes, my homework, etc. We lived just five blocks from campus but I was thoroughly chilled by the time I got to our little apartment. I punched the code into the keypad that kept our door locked, turned the handle, and walked into a world of magic. Before leaving for work Bryan had cleaned our apartment and turned on the Christmas tree lights. He had also put in a CD of Christmas music, Mannheim Steamroller. My house was a wonderful contrast to the gloom outside.

Since that day I have had a warm place in my heart for the Christmas music of Mannheim Steamroller.

I was thinking about this yesterday as the boys listened to four or five different Christmas CDs. One of them was a Perry Como, Bing Crosby, and Nat King Cole CD. Another was a Mannheim Steamroller CD.

I'm glad that they're getting a little bit of each.

Part of the Vernacular

I may be mistaken, but I'm fairly certain that Cooper has the lowest voice in nursery.

And Primary.

Ha Ha

Me: (after seeing Peter doing a tell-tale dance) Peter, you need to go to the bathroom.

Peter: No I don't.

Me: (emphatically) Yes, you do.

Peter: (more emphatically) NO, I DON'T.

Me: Peter, why do you ignore your body?

Peter: Oh, it was just joking.

Marge in Charge

I think I have control issues.

On Saturday Bryan picked up lunch from the Golden Arches for our family. Included in his order were two Coca-Cola glasses. Peter thought they were really cool and immediately wanted to drink out of one of them. I told him they had to be washed first, so he started emptying the dishwasher of clean dishes. I helped him and soon that big magical box was ready to wash our new breakable toys. I even let him (very carefully) place the glasses in the dishwasher. Then Peter reached for one of the dirty dishes in the kitchen sink so he could put it in the dishwasher as well.

And I asked him to stop.

Let's review this, shall we? My child voluntarily emptied the dishwasher and attempted to fill it up, but I wouldn't let him.

Crazy much?

I'm not sure why I stopped him. He was picking up a plastic dish, it's not like it would have broken. Was I afraid he would fill it up *gasp* wrong? I work really hard to have the boys help me around the house, even if it means projects being done differently than I would do them.

I think I need a new mantra. Maybe something about letting things go or not having to always have control. How about "If you let them, they will clean." That has a nice ring to it.

You Can Dance If You Want To

Since the park is not a desirable option when it's twenty degrees outside, we have been burning off our energy indoors. Dancing is our favorite activity, followed closely by throwing tantrums. Both are effective ways to tire a body out, although the first is significantly more pleasant than the second.

I can totally see these boys busting a move at stake dances in ten to thirteen years, can't you?

The Look

I have seen this same look on Peter's face multiple times. So, is Bryan wearing Peter's face, or does Peter wear Bryan's face now?

Paul looking composed, Melinda looking angelic, and Bryan plotting something awesome

I squeal every time I see a picture of Bryan as a child. He was just so cute. I told him once that if I had known him when I was little I would have chased him around the playground.

He told me he would have thought I was weird.

Touché.

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hudred Minutes

Over the past two weeks a specific thought has been floating through my conscience: I'm so glad we're not moving right now. This time last year we were knee-deep in boxes and thankful that we had found a place to live.

I just re-read the posts that I wrote around the time that we moved last year (it was fun, I'm quite humorous). It's hard to believe we've been here a year already. And it makes me wonder where we'll be a year from now. Bryan and I like it here, and we don't love moving, but our lease is up in March, so our future living arrangements depend on whether our landlord decides to raise our rent or leave it where it is.

The best thing about living here? It's a tie between having a house big enough for our family to come stay with us when they're in town and the garage. I really love the garage.

Hurray for not moving during Thanksgiving this year!

Face Off

Yesterday morning while putting the last of the decorations on the Christmas tree, Peter reached for this homemade decoration.


He held it out to Cooper and the following conversation took place:

Peter: Oh look Cooper, it's you.

Me: Actually Peter, that's you.

Peter: (taking a closer look at the picture) Oh, that's me, but I'm wearing Cooper's face.