Roast Beast

In the 4th installment of our Christmas play list we bring to you ROAST BEAST!

Just like a perfect roast, which begins its journey seared in a hot pan, dark and crisp so starts our holiday season.  Next the meat is roasted slowly on low in a warm oven. For our little family here in the Northwest, the closer to Christmas Day the more things slow down as we enjoy peaceful nights at home, together, in front of a slow fire, gazing at the lights of our Christmas tree.

We hope that this holiday brings you peaceful quiet nights with those you love!

Love,

Kenneth, Wendy and Awsumb

"I think the most likely reason of all may have been that his heart was two sizes too small."

1.       "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

2.       "Naughty Naughty Children (Better Start Actin' Nice)" - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

3.       "Joel the Lump of Coal" - The Killers

"All the Who girls and boys would wake bright and early.  They'd rush for their toys.  And then!  Oh, the noise!"

4.       "Lonely Christmas Eve" - Ben Folds

5.       "Making Christmas" - Rise Against

6.       "His Favorite Christmas Story" - Capital Lights

"He took every present! … And he stuffed them in bags.  Then the Grinch, very nimbly, stuffed all the bags, one by one, up the chimbley!"

7.       "[Everybody's Waitin' For] Man with the Bag" - Brian Setzer Orchestra

8.       “Best Christmas Ever" - Julian Moon

"Cindy Lou Who... stared at the Grinch and said, "Santy Claus, why, why are you taking our Christmas tree?  WHY?"

9.       "Where Are You Christmas?" - Faith Hill

10.   "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Bright Eyes

11.   "Someday at Christmas" - Little & Ashley

"Every Who down in Who-Ville, the tall and the small, was singing!   Without any presents at all!"

12.   "Welcome Christmas" - cast of Glee

13.  "That's Christmas to Me - Pentatonix

(LINK TO MUSIC COMING...)

https://play.spotify.com/user/1225515021/playlist/0JoW4s3aF7WuhjKHwguouO

The Nutcracker

Oh, I better explain The Nutcracker....

Years before we had our little boy Kenneth used to buy me season ballet tickets.  And so of course we have seen The Nutcracker performed by Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle many times.

And let me tell you the sets are magical.  All inspired by the art of  Maurice Sendak.  The pages of his book really comes to life!  The Christmas tree grows, it's amazing.

BUT the end.... OMG the end!

OK let me back up. When I was growing up my two sisters took dance classes at a cutesy little dance school.  "Miss Margene's" I think it was.  Anyway, every other year Miss Margene shared her scary Nutcracker nightmare with us.  Talk about the longest recital in history.  In order to make sure every class and child was showcased enough she added in all sorts of extra numbers and songs.  One year there was a sister dance and they both performed together as sugar plum fairies.  Cute.  Another year one of my sisters spent most of one number rolling back and forth across the stage as a wave. Yeah, you get the idea.  Nonetheless, the parents really did love it.  Mothers and Grandmothers anyway.

So back to PNB's Nutcracker.  The story finally wraps up at just the perfect time that you decide you need to get up and stretch your legs.  As you reach for the shoes you kicked off (I'm short, I can never reach the floor comfortable and often loose a shoe in church pews and theater seats)  just as you start to glance towards the exit here comes another number...

And one by one all these storybook characters that were never IN the story to begin with come out and get their special solo.  One after the other after the other.  Now that I think about this, I am pretty sure I am thinking about PNB's production of Sleeping Beauty, which is long, really long.  Well done, but long.  One year these two delightful grade school girls were sitting in front of us.  And they were pretty much finished with the ballet by intermission.  So when this finale of all finales started they just lost it.  Melting out of their seats, asking for food and drink as though they had been starved for a year.  Oh, it was so funny.  What's not funny is that you didn't have to be a gradeschool kid with zero attention span...  Any normal person would be wondering how long the nightmare would go on (except the performers own Mothers and Grandmothers of course).

It wasn't hard to get Kenneth to take me to the ballet. We already held season tickets to the Paramount so we could catch all the off Broadway shows that came to town.  And Kenneth LOVES music.  But those last few numbers always just pushed him just over that edge.

And so I laughed when I first heard Straight No Chaser's "Nutcracker" which he had included, unbeknownst to me, in our annual Christmas playlist.  And no, we don't see it as a lousy tradition.  Although, for some reason we have never taken Awsumb to the Nutcracker. We've talked about it, we just never make it happen. Next year for sure! 

So Kenneth, I'm leaning in closely and whispering softly, "I can't wait for you to take me next year!"

Royal Blue

 

The end of another year.

An eventful year.

A stressful year.

A painful year.

A mournful year.

Yet still a year

 filled with love,

hope and happiness.

 

 

No specific commentary on this year's selection.  But we are obviously missing a loved one.  And thinking about those close to us who will spend this holiday alone. Yet still thankful for all that we have and looking forward to celebrating with loved ones still with us, both near and far away.

Wishing you a

Royal Blue Christmas!

Love,

Kenneth, Wendy

 and Awsumb

 

 

You can listen to our 2013 Christmas Mix on Spotify

 

Click the music tab on the right side of this blog to see previous Christmas mixes.

Good Tidings Of Great Joy

 The Gospel According to St Luke, Chapter 2

 1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus,

that all the world should be taxed.

 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife,
being great with child.

 6 And so it was, that, while they were there,
 the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

  8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,

keeping watch over their flock by night.

 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

  10 And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for, behold,

I bring you agood tidings

of great bjoy,

which shall be to all people.

 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 12 And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 Awsumb and his Nativity age 1

Awsumb telling the Christmas Story

 in his own words age 3

 

When Awsumb was small he was so cute when he would play with his Little People Nativity and retell the Christmas Story.  He always got a big kick out of the part when the angel appears to the shepherds and how they were "so afraid!"  Excitedly he would continue the story and repeat the words of the angel, "Fear Not! behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."  And then he would finish by announcing the birth of the Savior.

 

And we can find joy in these good tidings of great joy because we have been given the biggest gift of all, the Savior.  Not only the greatest example, but his life, his life so that we might be saved.  Really, what comfort this sweet and simple message gives.  And I have watched this message be part of the comfort my husband and his family feels as they buried their father, husband, grandfather.  Because they understand that there is a plan.

 

I was trying to decide if I should get out Awsumb's Playmobil Nativity that has replaced his Little People Nativity from the toddler years.  I didn't know if he would still want to open the little boxes each day and play with all the little pieces.  But while making our Christmas card for the year I was thinking about him and how from such a little age he too could find excitement in the good tidings of great joy and see that the delights of the season were all about knowing that he has a Father who is in Heaven and who loves him enough to send his son.

 

May you all feel the comfort and peace that the news of these good tidings of great joy bring!

Merry Christmas!

Red Ranger Came Calling - Vashon Island Treed Bicycle

from 2011...

Years ago a friend of mine who has an equal love for beautiful children's books brought this book to me.  Red Ranger Came Calling by Berkeley Breathed.  Yes that Berkeley Breathed best known for Bloom County, from the Sunday Comics.  Not only is the art stunning.  The story is such a wonderful tale about a little boy that no longer believes in Santa, if he ever did. Until he calls on well, Santa. Set in the depression about a little boy on Vashon Island. You may recognize the author Berkeley Breathed from the funny papers. The book is hysterical and if the performance by Book-IT theater in Seattle even better!  If this production is ever at a small theater near you - GO!

 

I simply love this story and am sort of giving away part of the ending...

 

When my father comes to town we love to go on little adventures.  Usually in between sales calls or meetings.  We often find a little antique store or some where interesting to explore. I love these visits with my father.  He comes to town on business several times of year and a day or two riding along with him in the car talking and laughing keeps me going to rest of the year when I miss him so!

 

And in November 2011 we found it!  We decided to take the $25 ferry ride to Vashon Island. We met Aunt Vi's at the Country Store and she even signed some books for us!  Then we found it!  The treed bicycle!  Near 20312 Vashon Hwy. SW, Vashon Island, WA  The bike tree is off of Vashon Highway (which runs between the Seattle and Tacoma ferry ports on either end of the island) on the northeast corner of the Vashon Highway and SW 204 St. intersection, about 50-60 ft (very rough guesstimate) into the woods on the north side of Sound Food Cafe.

 

 

There are so many stories about this hidden gem.  Sometimes this picture is forwarded around with a story about a young man that went off to war and never returned. The bike is very small, for a small child and this is certainly not true.  I found this tidbit online trying to find the true history of the treed bicycle.  Above is a picture that is often passed around on the internet.

 

The tree is believed to have belonged to Claire Hartvigsson (her married name, her husband also grew up on Vashon) by her twin brother, Bud. He was a real prankster. These families settled on Vashon in the early days of Washington and more than a few generations of Norwegians were born and raised there. Bud never would admit he had done it, but he chewed the end of his cigar and snickered when people tried to get him to admit it. Both of them are long gone now, but I know Claire's daughter and the family has always called it "Claire's bicycle."

Posted by Wendy Sutich on Mon Dec 06, 2010 at 09:54 PM

 

This spot has been vandalized many times.  The handle bars are often removed and mysteriously replaced.  Please be respectful of any current residents and both human and non in the area.  Keep this for another generation to find!

 Grandpa Awsumb and Awsumb 

 

Current condition 11-30-11 missing handlebars 

 

one of the pedals...

 

Point Robinson Lighthouse

 

The coolest beach ever with HUGE clam shells!

 

Mt Rainier as seen from Vashon Island

 

 

Don't Shoot Your Eye Out!

Sometimes I write posts I never post... for one reason or another or because I need to sort through photos...  this is from 2010

Guest Post from Kenneth: 

You've probably all seen The Christmas Story.  You know the one where the little boy with big glasses wants a BB gun for Christmas and everyone tells him "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!"  This is one of the few "holiday" movies that we actually watch each year because it is really funny and doesn't overload you on saccharine "Christmas miracles"...  Well, I would never have guessed, but this year "The Christmas Story" came home.

Awsumb has a great uncle who makes sure that he doesn't miss out on all of the classic boy stuff.  For example, last year as he entered Cub Scouts, Uncle pulled me aside and asked if they could give him a pocketknife.  They did, and not a crummy keychain one, either.  And Awsumb really loves Cubs.  He wears his uniform with pride and quickly burns through the achievements to get his rank advancements.  He absolutely LOVED the Cub Scout day camp this year...  especially when they got to shoot the BB guns.  Wouldn't you know?  This year, Uncle pulls us aside and asks if he can give Awsumb a BB gun.

I love the Christmas Story because of the youthful, witty narration that captures the excitement of a big boy (just about Awsumb's age) who knows what he wants and is desperately trying to get it.  It would be easy to write him off as that spoiled kid (you probably have seen before) who throws a fit if he doesn't get what he wants, but you also get to see him in his humble, imperfect, but still functional home.  You get to see him persecuted at school and humiliated in the bunny pajamas from his auntie.  By the time the presents are opened and there was no BB gun, you really feel sorry for him.

 

This year, I listened to the original book and liked it much better.  For example, in the book, little Ralphie puts just as much enthusiasm into getting a really great gift for his parents and brother -- something they will really like.  You know that toy zephyr that his brother falls asleep with in the movie?  That was the "perfect gift" that Ralphie found to give his brother.  It helped to solidify that this was a good boy who really wanted a BB gun, as opposed to the canonical spoiled brat.

So back to our Christmas...  Awsumb never asked for a BB gun...  he probably never considered it in the realm of possibility, I guess.  He did hint strongly about those crazy autmatic Nerf guns this year, but Mom drew the line at having "enough Nerf guns already".  So maybe he automatically extended that to cover BB guns as well...  when Awsumb got to meet Santa?  He asked for Santa to "surprise him".  Santa did...  but so did Uncle!


By request, we recreated the last scene of the movie.  We opened everything else first, cleaned up the paper, and exhaled.

"Well, Awsumb, did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?  What's that over there?"

And over on the side of the entertainment center was one more package.  It did not contain a strange lamp, but an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200 shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock!  (Okay, no compass in the stock, but it is an official Red Ryder air rifle, just like Ralphie's.)

 

And like Ralphie, Awsumb was thrilled.  Unlike Ralphie, Awsumb hasn't shot unattended -- and so far, at least -- he hasn't shot his eye out.

 

Forgive me Auntie!  Early Christmas morning... but I just love this photo of the three of you!

 

Oh, how I love these two guys!

Red Ryder BB Gun

Not posted or distributed due to current news events of the season from 2012.  But I feel like enough time has passed I can now share...

 

 The Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle

 

"Guaranteed to shoot your eye out!"

 

Love, Your Mother, Your Teacher and Santa Claus

 

May your Christmas be full of warm memories!

 

 

Love, Kenneth, Wendy and Awsumb

Mixed Nuts

What's Christmas without a tin of mixed nuts?  As a kid I always picked out the peanuts.  Maybe you learned to like the almonds.  But in the end you always feel like your being cheated as your left with a tin full of the yucky nuts that nobody wants to eat.  As I grew older some of those duds became favorites like cashews and pistachios.  I even learned to love chesnuts (best enjoyed hot off a cart on a busy city street).  

I admit I have never and can never imagine enjoying walnuts. But I now view a tin of mixed nuts as a fun treat.... minus those nasty walnuts of course.  Because, with a tin of mixed nuts, we all have our favorites.  And that's a little similar to how I feel about Christmas music. There are songs I have always loved, songs I learned to love and songs I still don't care for.  And that's why this year's Christmas playlist is titled Mixed Nuts.  Merry Christmas!

You can listen to this playlist on Spotify – or just click play on the embedded playlist below!  Kenneth has included some comments on our selections below.

“Miraculum (Instrumental)”, Lincoln Brewster:
Wendy loves the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, but the two songs (which I also enjoy) have officially crossed over into the “everyone’s heard them, seen them live, and has them on a portable device” category. So, this is a cool track in the spirit of the orchestra. From a whole cd perspective, I really liked this CD, which I can’t say about the Trans-Siberian stuff.

“I’m Getting Nuttin For Christmas”, Relient K:
(Obligatory nut reference, pt. 1)
Yes, we had to include versions of any nut-related songs we can find. So, sorry to everyone who may be tiring of Relient K, one of our very favorite Christmas CDs. It is fun, though!

“Christmas Without You”, OneRepublic:

”Christmas Song”, American Bang:
This is a nice track about embracing the Christmas spirit, reconciling a lost relationship and then resolving to stay together… “no one should spend Christmas alone.” (It couldn’t keep the band together… they broke up in 2010.)

“Christmas Card”, Steven Curtis Chapman:

Consider this playlist our Christmas Card. And each year, one of the themes for me is this: “I’m sending you this Christmas card to let you know somebody loves you… and let you know you’re not alone.” At Christmas, we celebrate the fact that “wherever we are, He is with Us”.

“For the Beauty of the Earth (Nativity Version)”, BarlowGirl:
Maybe this is usually classified in the Church as a “Thanksgiving song”, but it totally qualifies and Wendy and I both love it.

“When Love Was Born”, Mark Schulz

“The Christmas Song”, Colbie Caillat:
(Obligatory nut reference, pt. 2)

“Sunny Christmas”, Renee & Jeremy:
Awsumb’s best friend’s dad asked me a couple weeks ago, “So, are you going to Disneyland this Christmas?” I coughed a little and said “No,” while thinking “but we ARE going to Disney World!” (We hadn’t told Awsumb yet…) Anyway, we seem to spend as much time in sunny and 70 weather as snowy weather in December. So… “Have a Sunny Christmas!”

“Because It’s Christmas”, Sidewalk Prophets

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”, Lincoln Brewster

“All I Want for Christmas is You”, Bowling for Soup:
Semi-embarassing disclaimer: As a long-time Mariah Carey fan, I think “All I Want…” is a modern Christmas classic, but it’s definitely something I would include here. So now that the alternative versions of the song are starting to appear, I was surprised to hear Wendy say, “We should put this song on the cd…” I said, “You know that’s the Mariah Carey song, right?”

“Believe in Me”, fun.

“Always In The Season”, Pomplamoose:
We have a couple tracks from an indie-band, who has taken the YouTube train to modest success. They typically record their music as live videos where “what you see is what you hear”. Their music sounds timeless, but also eclectic.

“Little Drummer Boy”, MercyMe
Wendy's favorite Christmas tribute since childhood.

“Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”, Pomplamoose:
(Obligatory nut reference, pt. 3… you know, it’s from the Nutcracker…) Speaking of eclectic, their CD is called “Christmas in Space.” You might get a sense of that from this track. (Maybe they should use this for a Space Mountain holiday overlay…)

“We Wish You A Merry Christmas”, Renee & Jeremy

BONUS NUTS 
These songs didn't make the playlist, but based on how many times Awsumb begged me to repeat them while working on picking tracks, these are probably his favorites:

These first two "bonus nuts" are Awsumb's picks.  They didn't make the playlist, but based on how many times Awsumb begged me to repeat them while working on picking tracks, these are probably his favorites...
 
“All I Need Is Love”, CeeLo Green.
Awsumb loves this track, which mashes up samples of the early 2000’s Mambo No. 5 and the Muppet’s “Mahna Mahna” for a danceable Christmas song… with the Muppets! Awsumb has been a lot less interested in kid’s music lately, but he wants to hit repeat on this song every time it comes on.

"Something in the Air", Grayson Sanders
I haven't seen this on TV yet, but I guess this is the Coca Cola Christmas jingle?  So if you see polar bears dancing, this is probably the song.

These next two?  They are just nuts - or the artists are...

"The Greatest Gift of All (the Hobbit)", The DoubleClicks
The DoubleClicks are the YouTube poster band for geeks.  If someone around you starts laughing during this song, they have just outed themselves as being somewhere on the plus side of the nerd spectrum.

"Christmas Unicorn", Sufjan Stevens
This song is just... nuts!

Don't Forget The Parsley!

Our little Awsumb has always been precocious.  When he was very small and we went out to dinner he would get really upset if the service staff would not address him directly. He liked to order for himself.  One night while we were dining out he placed his order then added, “Don’t forget the parsley!”  He had noticed that when we go out, besides having someone else to serve us a cold drink and no dishes to clean up, that it was the little things that made it special.  Even a small garnish like parsley was an important part of the experience for him.   And it was that small thing that he cared about and didn’t want to miss out on.

 I have since realized that in a child’s eyes, it’s the little things that matter. And sometimes when you remember the little things, they don’t even care about the big things. This is why the large cardboard box that comes with a new toy, bed or whatever might be more exciting to them than the thing we spent money and time selecting for them.

 This is the time of year that I sometimes hear people worry that they can’t do enough for their children for Christmas.  Of course our challenge is trying to make sure our son doesn’t take things for granted.   As an only child he often gets things other kids in bigger families might not.  And although Awsumb has all that he wants and more, there are still things he asks for like and iPad, which he is NOT going to get.  Awsumb has brought up the idea of getting an iPad a few times recently.  And we have strictly told him this is just not going to happen.

 This weekend we put up our Christmas tree and the next morning Awsumb crawled in my bed to cuddle with me.  He said, “Ya know, even if we don’t get anything for Christmas we have such a beautiful tree.  And Auntie and Uncle are coming to stay with us.  We’ll all be together and Christmas will be so wonderful.”  He then paused and said, “As long as we get some chocolate!”  Apparently chocolate is very important to making Christmas special.  “At least a little piece.”

 Just a great reminder that it’s the little things that make memories and make celebrations and  holidays special.  Just like that small garnish of parsley, having a simple treat like chocolate, spending time with family and all those small, simple things are what our children will grow up and remember.  Take the time to make the little memories with your children.  For, it’s these little things that will help them remember that someone loves them.

 So this Christmas don’t forget the parsley, and some chocolate, at least a little piece!

Christmas Disney Surprise - TAKE TWO!

Here we go again!  O.K. You should all know by now Kenneth is obsessed, free 3-day park hoppers have been burning a hole in his pocket and he once again found killer flights and suggested we fly down for the weekend. Ready or not, here we come!



We managed to pull this off last year and the trip was a big success!  As seen in last years video, the big reveal was much slower as we woke Awsumb up telling him we were going to some crazy early morning sale and promised he would see Santa later that day.  I didn't even plan to video tape his reaction and wish I would have as I just ended up with a dark iPhone video  taken when Awsumb started asking why we seemed to be driving to the airport.

This year, as a "too cool for school" 10 year old he was a little more reserved and knowing I was video taping he didn't exactly give me the screaming and jumping for joy reaction I thought he would... but by the time we actually out our shoes on and started loaded up the suitcases in the car he was pretty hyper about our little adventure.

I am glad we were able to pull this off as a surprise because Kenneth was so excited he kept openly talking about it in front of our little guy!  ...  leaving me constantly scrambling to cover it up.

I sure hope he doesn't think we are doing this EVERY Christmas!

The first day was beautiful, and a little crowded.  The second day was POURING rain!  Which was fun for us because all the locals stayed home leaving no lines for us!  Check back for pictures from our rainy Christmas at Disneyland!

Crackers and Cheese

Why does Christmas music have to be so cheesy?

And I don't get some of them anyway...Let's start with Pine Cones and Holly Berries, which the elementary school choir teacher tortured us with every. single. year.  I still get this song stuck in my head today...



"Popcorn for you, apples for me"

Why can't they both have popcorn AND apples? Who is depriving these kids? Does one of them have braces? And if they do wouldn't apples be bad too?  These are the things I think about and it's just a downward spiral from there...

"Nutcracker handy"

Who wrote this song?  Meredith Wilson is who pops up on a quick internet search and apparently his parents were too poor to afford both popcorn AND apples.

And then there's Jingle Bells, which plaques me at all time of the year.  But at least it's a tune I can actually hmm or drum and get someone to recognize (remember, I'm tune deaf!)

Basically Christmas music can be an OCD nightmare... and not in a good way.   After all who wants to be stuck with some of these songs running through your head while your gardening IN JUNE?!

So in an effort to keep The Soundtrack of Kenneth's Life going he searches high and low to find me the very best NON cheesy Christmas music.  This year we give you....  CRACKERS AND CHEESE!

Kenneth's comments regarding our selections:

"This Time of Year", The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.  On the surface this track might sound a little anti-Christmas and some of you might like that about this song.  For me this song is opposed to many of the consumer-oriented customs of Christmas - massive consumer indulgence and Griswold-style Christmas lights - while emphasizing the feeling that "gets me and never lets me act like I don't care" and remembering that Christmas is special "cause all of us get together."

"Happy XMas (War is Over)", Sense Field.  Originally recorded by John Lennon, this Christmas song was intended as a call for peace.  At the end of the year, "what have you done" to help the "weak and the strong", the "rich and the poor ones" and everyone else have a "very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year?"  Someone else asked those questions a couple thousand years ago.

"One Silent Night", Ffh.  This track takes the spirit, setting and even snippets of the traditional Silent Night and wraps it all up in a mid-tempo pop anthem.  It's a really pretty version.

"The Lights and the Buzz", Jack's Mannequin.  This is the time of year when Awsumb always wants it to snow.  He says, "if it's going to be this cold anyway, we could at least have some snow!"  Sometimes the stress of life can keep us from feeling like it's Christmas.  Even if "life has been no holiday", the Christmas break can "remove the splinters" and remind us that "it's good to be alive."

"I Hope That it Snows", Madi Diaz.

"Forget You, Santa! (Cee-Lo Greeen vs. Jackson 5)", Voicedude.  Didn't get what you wanted from Santa this year?  I love a mashup and this song humorously mashes up the Jackson 5's Santa Claus with "Forget You" (the friendly version of the big 2010 hit song from Cee-Lo Green) and for good measure overlays some lines from great Christmas specials and movies.

"We Three Kings", Greg Simpson.  Now pretty hard to find, but it sounds like the Three Kings are driving across the desert, "following yonder star" with their gifts secured in the back.  You know, with their hands out the window riding the wind...

 "A Cradle in Bethlehem", The Beautiful Mistake.

"Rudolph (You Don't Have to Put On the Red Light)", mojochronic.  Another great holiday mash-up combining The Police's Roxanne with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - and sound clips from the classic animated show.  You will never hear another Rudolph like this!

"I'll Be Home for Christmas", Matchbook Romance.

 "Maybe This Christmas", Ron Sexsmith.  Another beautiful Christmas wish that we can find peace on earth, in our own families as well as in the world.  "Maybe this Christmas will find us at last in heavenly peace, grateful, at least, for the love we've been shown in the past..."

"Leaving Heaven (feat. Vince Gill)", Matthew West.

"(It Must've Been Ol') Santa Claus", Harry Connick, Jr.  This song captures the excitement of a child on Christmas Eve.  He's old enough to have doubts about Santa, but young enough to imagine amazing things.  

"Hey Santa!", Straight No Chaser.

"Elf's Lament (feat. Michael Buble)", Barenaked Ladies.  "Girls and boys, before you wish for what you wish for...  consider the price to an Elf."  Christmas is the time of year to think about others.  This is the theme song of "Occupy North Pole."

 "Angel (Holiday)," Jack Johnson.  Christmas is good because it reminds us to think about how much we care about those we love.  I am lucky to have someone who lights up Christmas for me and makes our home a beautiful place to be, especially at this time of year.  "I've got an angel...  She give me presents with her presence alone, She gives me every thing I wish for, gives me kisses... just for coming home..." (Anyone who's groaning right now better stop, because we warned you!  This mix is called Crackers and Cheese, right?)

"Do You Hear What I Hear", Sawyer Brown.

"To Be Alone With You", Sufjan Stevens.  This unique artist is known for making independent "chamber pop" and has a seriously great Christmas album (four discs!) that sounds like no other Christmas album you'll hear.  This song is not from that album, but is sweet and powerful and reminds us what the Savior did for us, and is a great way to close this mix.

Previous blogs regarding Christmas music you may be interested in: Mixed Christmas and The Sounds of Christmas

What Christmas music is on your playlist this year?

A Christmas Card

This year we are reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, who also happens to be one of my favorite authors.  The first time I was introduced to this story was by Donald Duck and his little Nephews in Mickey's Christmas Carol.  Some say Dickens wrote it to revive Christmas traditions which seemed to be dying out.  And of course to remind man to forget about himself and give to those less fortunate.

Although some have called A Christmas Carol a secular story, it’s clear to whoever reads it carefully that without Christ, the "mighty Founder" of Christmas, there is no reason to celebrate. As Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, explains, nothing about Christmas can be separate from "the veneration due to its sacred name and origin." This is what gives meaning to Scrooge’s resolution at the end of the story: "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."

It was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, “God Bless Us, Every One!

If there’s hope for mean old Scrooge, Dickens is saying, there must be hope for each of us. And there is hope for each of us, through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Charles Dickens left his children with his own testimony of Christ and requested it not be published, but that it should be kept in the family. After the last of his children died, the family decided to share the book with the world and published The Life of Our Lord by Charles Dickens.  The book begins...

"My Dear Children, I am very anxious that you should know something about the History of Jesus Christ. For everybody ought to know about Him. No one ever lived who was so good, so kind, so gentle, and so sorry for all people who did wrong, or were in any way ill or miserable, as He was."

I can't think of a more beautiful gift, than your own testimony.

Making Christmas, Making Christmas!

December 1st and so it begins... To some it truly is The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Last year at this time I was putting together 150 Christmas boxes at the office.  Shredded cardboard was all over the conference room and crinkle cut stuffing was flying about as red and green dust began to fill the air!  It was the job nobody wanted to do, but still the office felt obligated to do up special Christmas boxes each year.  Although they could have done something as simple as gift cards or a small bonus, they insisted on these frilly boxes and I totally loved every minute of it!  Because I cared about sharing something with these people to thank them for a job well done and wish them a Merry Christmas.  What's so bad about spending a few hours making mountains move (seriously, I was lost in mountains of gift boxes!) and listening to my favorite Christmas music?  This was totally my theme song!
Making Christmas - Nightmare Revisited

Rise Against
Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favorite movies and I have to watch it every year.  Jack, the King of Halloween grows restless, looking for something  more.  One day while wandering in the woods he finds Christmas land.  Curious about the joy and wonder he finds he brings all sort of things home trying to get down to the bottom of this thing called Christmas.  Why was it so magical?  What was it all about?  After kidnapping Santa and making a complete nightmare out of Christmas, Jack never really understands the meaning of Christmas because he spent all his time analyzing the "things of Christmas."

The Corner Critic's review of the movie said, "It is a carefully crafted satire against the blandness of traditional holidays, about how their meanings become diluted to the point of nonexistence."

Tim Burton was inspired to write this story after finding himself in a holiday display at a department store. "Christmas decorations were being combined with Halloween decorations – that was the genesis of the whole concept. So routine are our holidays that department stores almost cannot wait to decorate for them."

And don't forget the Christmas Music! Our family gets a kick out of Straight No Chaser's hit song The Christmas Can Can... because after just a few errands, you've heard them all! And just as Tim Burton discovered the typical store really can become The Nightmare Before Christmas!

The movie is a commentary on how our culture robs symbols of their meaning and mixes them together until they serve a different purpose all together.  And every year I notice more and more traditions that just clutter up Christmas and are really more about fueling consumerism.
 
And it's those things that create holiday stress make the season a nightmare to some people. Maybe Jack and The Grinch need to get together. Jack could never figure out what all the Christmas stuff meant... But Christmas doesn't need to be saved... because as the Grinch knows, even without all the stuff, Christmas comes anyway!

Adults who are asked to remember Christmases when their parents didn't have much, often have fond memories about what they did do or get that year.  Kids are more likely to remember a small or special thing than a lot of meaningless things.

What are your plans to create a simple and more meaningful Christmas for your family?

Previous blogs you may like to read:

Don't Let the Grinch Steal Your Christmas!

The Gift of Nothing

The Present

BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS!?!?!

Because my son has TOO MANY TOYS! last month I begged everyone we knew to send books this year for Christmas. I knew my son would love it because he can never get enough books.  I began thinking about this because some of the most fun he had on his birthday was shopping for books.  So when my Uncle said he was brining a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas I decided there was no topping that gift and books it was.

Then one night while kissing Awsumb goodnight, I realized he was in major need of a new bookcase. His little bookcase was double stacked and books were overflowing onto the floor. Not to mention all the shelves he had taken over in other bookcases around the house.  And that's when I had the idea to give him a new bookcase full of new books!  Friends and family joined in on the fun. I also pulled a few series from Kenneth's collection to pass onto Awsumb.

I wrapped up all the books and then wrapped the entire bookcase.  (excuse the iphone shot, I'll update with better photos later).  We gave him three guesses.  He said, "A rocket ship, a TV, or a bunk bed!"

He loved it and was pretty suprised!  After the weekend everyone started emailing me this You Tube video...


His parents have since removed comments and keep saying, "he's only 3!"  At any age that kind of  talk is not allowed in my house.  In an attempt to redeem their child this year they made a new video of their child opening books for Christmas.

I'm so glad that my child love to read and loves books. Awsumb has been wandering around with books tucked under his arm since he was a toddler.  He never destroyed or ruined books, even as a baby... Awsumb wondered in awe over the words and illustrations as he carefully turned one page at a time.  But even more, I am glad that he is thankful for gifts of any kind. Including 45 new pairs of socks!

Maybe Kenneth will edit some video of Awsumb's reaction later. I think this will be a pretty memorable Christmas!  And one that he will use for years to come!

No crib for a bed...

This tiny little manger, is empty you can see.

Fill it with straw, to make it as soft as can be.

In December add a piece of straw each day,

For service you give and kind words you say.

Show daily acts of kindness. Do them secretly

So this manger will be ready, for a special baby.

This Christmas I placed each piece of a new Playmobil Nativity set in Awsumb's Playmobil Winter Forest Friends Advent Calendar.  Remembering how much my little sister loved this activity when she was little, I also cut a few pieces of embroidery thread into hay for Awsumb to earn for the baby Jesus.  One night Awsumb had the idea to quickly unload the entire dishwasher before Daddy got home.  This is a new responsiblity for Awsumb and he often doesn't put large dishes or pans away or forgets to do the top rack.  So there he was furiously trying to unload every single dish and put them away before he was caught... when I heard such a clatter!  Instantly I knew what it was and told him to stay put.  Awsumb had climbed up on the counter with a large Pyrex dish to put it away on the top shelf. What made him think it even went up there in the first place I'll never know?!  And of course not only did it break into a million little pieces, but it took a few dishes with it as well.

Awsumb was so upset it took me a while to figure out if he was hurt.  And even after that he wouldn't calm down. He kept asking how we was "ever going to earn enough soft hay before the baby Jesus arrived, when he couldn't even do a simple job like unload the dishwasher?" 

Awsumb was sure that I was going to be sad and that old Pyrex must have cost at least $100. "I don't have that kind of money," he kept saying.  There was no soothing him.  To distract him I sent him to open the next box to his nativity. He came out of his room carrying this shepherd complete with hobo stick and exclaimed, "What is this?  A hint that I'm kicked out of the family." 

He thought it was a homeless guy, not a shepherd!

And of course that led him back to being upset there would not be enough soft hay for he baby Jesus.

In frustration he said,

 "Maybe we should just get him a blanket!"

The funny part is that the Pyrex was a replacement gift from my father after I had a major Pyrex disaster of my own 15 years ago.  Let's just say I learned that night not to put a pyrex dish on hot burner!  The pan exploded EVERYWHERE and the hot shards of glass melted into the vinyl flooring making clean up impossible. 

Looks like I need a new Pyrex, Dad!

Best and Worst of Christmas 2010

 

KLEENEX!  That's right my husband gave me a box of Kleenex....  Under the tree, wrapped with a bow and everything! OK, it's not as bad as it sounds.  First off you should know that years before we had children we stopped buying Christmas gifts to eachother.  Instead we buy cartloads of toys for kids in need. One year we filled the car with so many toys and games, that I had to get in and let Kenneth stack stuff all around me so it would all fit...  Too bad that was pre-digital camera days, because it was hilarious - my face pinned to the passenger side window surrounded by Hot Wheels race tracks and Little People Doll houses!

This was such a fun tradition for us during the years we were praying desperately to have a child of our own.  We continue the tradition now that we have a little boy. Every year Awsumb and Kenneth take a big bag of toys over to the Giving Tree at Microsoft and we look for other ways to help during the season.

Kenneth and I still exchange stockings.  Because of the size limitation this usually leads us to give only smaller more thoughtful items. And lucky for me all my favorite things fit in a stocking ie: perfume, jewelry, lipgloss, markers and pens, etc.  Plus there is usually enough room for a paperback and a movie.

So this year, Kenneth hands me this funny round shaped package all wrapped up with a bow and says, "this woulnd't fit."  What could it be?  And what an unusual shape, I must admit I was a bit excited!  So, I pulled off the paper when what to my wondering eyes should appear?  A cream and brown swirled box of Kleenex, more oval than round!  Because this has been the Christmas of surprises, I'll say that I was sure surprised!

Actually it was a pretty sweet little gift. I suffer from year-round allergies.  Years of daily nose bleeds, steroid sprays and trauma to my nasal passages has led to quite a mess.  When I see a new doctor I have to explain that, "NO I have never used cocaine!"  I take multiple allergy prescriptions and still resort to Benadryl many days just for some relief. 

I can never seem to keep enough tissue in the house and it's often at the top of my list.  These days I prefer Puff's to Kleenex. I guess Kenneth has been watching me lately as I look at the cute little designer boxes of Kleenex and pass them up, selecting thebig industrial - family sized boxes of tissue.  So he just wanted me to have something cute and fun... even though it didn't fit in my stocking!  But it sure is funny and I am never going to let him live this one down!

I shouldn't be so hard on him because of our last minute trip to Disney and all that we have going on we agreed to go really simple on our stockings this year.   Kenneth still managed to sneak in a Alfred Hitchcock boxed set of DVD's.  And in all fairness among Kenneth's stocking goodies was a DVD he got FOR FREE from the Disney Movie Club! LOL!  Hey, it was in the pile of DVD's and games set aside for Awsumb and I thought he bought it because he wanted me to put it in his stocking! 

What was the best and worst gift you received this year?