Tannenbaum

Some of us are workin' here.

Giving a Pass

Here's my video about giving people a pass for the holiday season.

I Need a Little Christmas

There are people that keep up their Christmas lights all year round. Some even keep up their Christmas trees all year. I don't think I would ever be one of those people, but sometimes I think... maybe.

Santa's Workshop Annex

For fear that the pillow/dog bed/throw-blanket eating dogs in our family might find it difficult to resist delicious Christmas presents, we are shoving packages in a lot of hard-to-reach places.

The Winter Concert

Parents: No food or beverages allowed in the auditorium.

The elementary school performed their Winter Concert today and of course because Bob's a fifth grader, it would be his last. Mr. Rosenberg got to the packed auditorium before I did and secured two seats. He stood waving me to my spot in the dark theater. As I got closer, an elderly Chinese gentleman, the great-grandfather of one of the students, slid into one of our seats. I took the other seat and Mr. Rosenberg shrugged and stood against the wall. During the seat shuffling, it quickly became apparent that the older man spoke no English. He smiled and nodded and seemed confused. His adult granddaughter, leaned over from her seat in the row behind us and whispered to him in Mandarin. 

The school principal introduced the show. The kindergartners performed "The Merry Hula" with sign language and "Let's Go Fly a Kite," waving pastel homemade paper kites overhead. When the first graders took the stage, the elderly man sat up in his seat, craning to see. A boy from the Mandarin/English dual-immersion class introduced a poem called "Big Panda, Big Panda." The students from the class recited the poem together in Mandarin. I glanced at the man. His smile was wide and his eyes were shining. And then I tried not to cry watching him try not to cry. We sat together in the dark, mostly not crying. 

8th Annual Bob's 99 Cent Store Holiday Shopping Trip (*spoiler alert for immediate family)

It's back! Bob's Annual 99 Cent Store Holiday Shopping Trip happened. And-a heeeeere we go!

MeeMee (my mom) - Small candy dish decorated with a snowman's head wearing a Santa hat. " This is the happiest plate ever. MeeMee will be really into it."

Mr. Rosenberg - Stuffed animal style hat in the shape of a Teddy bear. "He needs to keep his head warm because of the no hair plus the bonus is it looks sort of like a puppy."

Aunt Jill - Travel cup with color-it-yourself mandala paper inserts. (It's hard to explain.) "I know she likes coloring these papers with the designs and also drinking drinks."

Ba-Jan (Mr. Rosenberg's mom) - Small candy dish decorated with a silver snowflake. "Because it could double as a Hanukkah kind of thing maybe or something but it's not too Christmas-y but still enough Christmas-y."

Aunt Jen - Jewelry dish in the shape of a snowman. "Aunt Jen LOVES snowmen." 


Me - Holiday salt and pepper shakers. (Bob saw me looking at them and made me look away so he could pick the style. He put them in a gift box and only he and the checker at 99 Cent Store know what shape they're in.) "Don't look. Did you look? I mean, I know you know, but you don't REALLY, FULLY know. You know?"

Pops - Hostess Snoball™ flavored ice cream. (Yes. It exists.) "Pops favorite thing is ice cream and this one looks really good plus it's the only flavor they have."

How Lovely Are Thy Branches

I usually end up decorating the tree by myself. Mr. Rosenberg will hang the lights and Bob will put up an ornament or two and then move on. This year was a new deal. Since ye olde shoulder is not great, this guy took it upon himself to decorate the whole tree. There was hot chocolate and Christmas music and a little story about each ornament. Assuming my shoulder is 100% next season, I still might fake it anyway.

The Tinsel Tree

For quite some time, I've been looking for a little tree to house the glass bird Christmas ornaments I've been collecting for the past thirty years. Last summer I found this little tinsel number. I set it up this evening on the piano and it's making me very happy.

About Mr. Claus

"Mom? Do you think Santa just comes right through the front door since we don't have a chimney?"

"Yep."

"He must have a special key that opens every door in the whole world."

Santa Snacks

"Felix? What kind of snacks do you leave out for Santa?"

"Milk and cookies, usually. What about you, Bob?"

"Yeah, cookies and sometimes hot chocolate and carrots for the reindeer. Desmond, what do you leave?"

"Cookies with almond milk or soy milk or something."

"Does Santa like almond milk?"

"I guess."

"You guys, wouldn't it be weird if Santa drank reindeer milk?"

"Yeah. That's sort of creepy."

"Yeah."

Lucky Pennies

This season, Bob was back for his third annual holiday shopping trip to the 99 Cent Store. His choices were thoughtful and most excellent.

For Jeff
Package of hooks and screws "For Dad's workshop." (What workshop?)
Bar of soap "For the sweating."

For Bajan (Jeff's Mom)
Package of white daisy napkin rings "What are these?"
Eyeshadow "Ladies like make up."

For MeeMee (My Mom)
Blue plastic vase with faux red roses "She can put it on her table for beauty."
Sparkly adhesive fingernail decorations "Glittery."

For Aunt Jill (Jeff's Sister)
Glass vase "For flowers or other things."
Liquid hand soap with goldfish decorations "They aren't real fish. I'll tell her."

For Aunt Jen (Bob's Godmother)
Orange flashlight "In case her electricity goes out like ours."
Snowman window decals "She's really into snowmen."

For Pops (Jeff's Step-dad)
Bar of soap "Because he does exercise too."
Large bag of tortilla chips "Because old guys like chips, mostly."

For Me
Package of 175 gold safety pins "Because they are golden like pirate treasure."
White beaded necklace with silver-toned starfish pendant "They are all jewels."

They are all jewels.

Merry and Merriest to You

Our Star Wars Christmas Cake, decorations courtesy of Bob Rosenberg

"Hey Dad? You wanna lick this plane?"
Merry Christmas.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Merry 80's Christmas

"Smile you guys! Lisa will be posting this on her blog in 30 years!"

Because I like any excuse to show off my fancy 80's perm, once again I am sharing this memento from my 1981 holiday job at the Capitola Mall. My friend Scott is the 17-year-old Santa. Happy and Merry.

I'll Be In Touch

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"Mom? I told Santa that we'd send him my list. Do you have his email?"

The Set Up

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"Hey, Mom! You know what I want for Christmas?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I do."

"No, you know what I want for Christmas?"

"Yes, Bob. I've seen your list many times."

"Mom, really. You know what I want for Christmas?"

"What, Bob?"

"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth! Gotcha! I heard that on the radio, Mom."

Thanks, Santa

"Mom? What did you get me for Christmas last year?"

"Hmm... I don't remember."

"That's because you didn't get me anything. Only Santa did."

"Some of your gifts were from me. We opened everything so fast maybe you just didn't know what was from who."

"Mom, you should use tags this year. You know, tags?"

Worth Every Penny

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Bob made his second annual trip to the 99 Cent Store to do his Christmas shopping. The results were spectacular. With careful consideration, he managed to find an item that was somehow perfect for each recipient on his list...

For Jeff: A pair of aviator sunglasses
"Just like the ones he has but with no scratches!"

For Bajan (Jeff's Mom): An angel figurine holding a small red heart
"She'll like the wings-lady."

For Pops (Jeff's Stepdad): A calculator
"Pops will know how to use this with the numbers."

For Mee Mee (My Mom): A blue vase with a shell pattern around the top
"Because Mee Mee likes the beach."

For Aunt Jill (Jeff's Sister): A compact of assorted lip gloss
"For wearing her make ups."

For Aunt Jen (Bob's Godmother): A green vase
"Because Aunt Jen really likes green."

And for me, his mother...


A pint of Hydrogen Peroxide Solution
"Because it's so super good."

Wishing You the Best Christmas in the Galaxy

... and may The Holiday Force be with you!

Santa Claus is Coming... In Through the Patio Door

Today is the last day of advent. Our sweet, wooden advent calendar has been opened every day by my son Bob. The month started with two weeks worth of tiny, individually wrapped Star Wars toys. By the third week, Bob was opening his daily door to reveal little chocolates and his favorite candy: peanut butter cups. This past week's crazy busyness is evidenced by Bob opening the teensy doors to find cash crammed into the little compartments. He will open the last one this morning.

Tonight will find a group of us at my mom's place. As tradition dictates, Bob, my sister-in-law, my in-laws, and Bob's godmother and I will all pile into my mom's guest bathroom. Since my mom doesn't have a fireplace, we will leave her and my husband out in the living room to let Santa inside the house to fill all of our stockings. As we each hold our breath and listen to the sound of sleigh bells and Santa ho, ho, ho-ing his way through the living room, Bob will barely be able to contain his excitement. Neither will we.

And Christmas will begin.

Away in a Manger, Baby!

Apparently these Wise Men arrived via dune buggy. Camels are so year one.

When I came upon this little scene, I was reminded of this little scene over at Jeni's. (I think our boys are soul brothers.)