Brown Paper Bags

I'm sure my childhood Christmases were wilder than I remember.  There were parties, and strep throat, and cookies to bake.  I remember variety in events from year to year.  Caroling some,but not all.  Lots of people and just a few depending on who had leave. A year with so much snow the church youth went sledding every weekend for a month.  Great presents.  Not so great presents.  Fun relatives and well... you get the idea.  But what I remember most are brown paper bags.
My best friend's church was just down the road from us.  A beautiful German styled brick and stone building with stained glass windows that actually raised to let in fresh spring and summer air.  I have never forgotten the Sunday we worshipped as a thunder storm rolled in across the tobacco field outside.  It's a small building with a little sanctuary and a basement for Sunday school.  Every year, St.Paul held a Christmas eve service.  It would be dark and cold outside while the inside of the little building was bulging at the seams with parishioners and visitors like myself, all dressed in their holiday best.  This wasn't a night for doctrinal differences- just the coming together of a community to welcome the Savior.  The program was the same every year.  The youth read by candlelight, the children acted the parts of the nativity,and the congregation sang every traditional hymn you can imagine.  Loud booming voices of hardworking farmers mixed with warbly sopranos from little old ladies in dresses and snow boots.  I never remember a song leader,but to my little mind,the program seemed to have a life of its own.  ( I always wanted to be in this program as the parts were assigned on a rotational basis guaranteeing every girl eventually played Mary etc- a fairness for which I had great respect.)  At the front of the church stood what I was sure was the largest tree ever.  A towering cedar tree covered in lights, crowding the first few rows and filling the area with a fresh sweet smell.  Every year the same and every year an opportunity to set aside the craziness that leads up to Christmas and for just an hour or so become fully wrapped up in the mystery and joy that is really Christmas.  I always went home and changed or added to my letter to Santa to something about peace and good will.  But not before we got one of those wonderful brown paper bags.  Better than any trick or treat bucket or Valentine treat.  A plain brown bag filled with oranges and full size candy bars.  Hershey's, Peanut butter cups,and sweet and sour suckers.  All the smells and tastes and memories of Christmas in plain wrapping.  Sweet.  Simple.  Perfect.

Christmas Is Not For Introverts

"If I had my way- and I shan't- my Christmas day eating and drinking would consist of an omelet, cold ham and a nice bottle of wine at lunchtime, and a smoked salmon sandwich with a glass of champagne on a tray in the evening.  This lovely,selfish,anti gorging, un- Christmas dream of hospitality either given or taken, must be shared by thousands of women who know it's all Lombard Street to a China orange that they'll spend both Christmas Eve and Christmas morning peeling,chopping,mixing, boiling,roasting and steaming.  They will eat and drink too much, that someone will say the turkey isn't quite as good as last year, or discover the rum for the pudding has been forgotten.  .........We are so many fathoms deep in custom, tradition and sentiment over Christmas; we have got so far with our obsessive present buying and frenzied cooking, from
the spirit of a simple Christian festival, that only the most determined of scrooges can actually turn their faces to the wall and ignore the whole thing when the time comes.  All the same, there must be quite a few small families, couples without children, and people living alone, who like to celebrate Christmas in a reasonably modest and civilized way: inviting a friend or two who might otherwise be alone (well, maybe like you and me, they'd rather BE alone, but this is an eccentricity not accepted at Christmas time.)
Elizabeth David
Elizebeth David's Christmas

Such is the first chapter of a lovely book written by a contemporary of Julia Child.  Each  year, somewhere between Halloween and Thanksgiving, I look at our rapidly filling calendar and I begin our annual conversation on required events.
Me- "Promise me if we found out I was dying, I would get one last Christmas my way." 
Brian- "I promise, absolutely, we'll make it happen."
 Me- "Even though it will make other people mad?"
Brian- "Even then."
Me- "Isn't it sad I have to die to get this?"
Brian- "Then make it happen this year."

And while we both know it won't happen, I love him for saying it will.  Christmas just isn't an event for introverts.  For those of us whom the real meaning of the season is found in sitting in quiet reflection beneath the tree.  A friend and I once spent a wonderful afternoon lying under the tree just staring through the lights and tinsel. Or who dream of years with homemade ornaments, the smell of baking bread that will be secretly left on door steps- No huge announcement please, and time to play with the few carefully chosen gifts.  Time for advent calendars and solemn, candle lit, worshipful church services to welcome the King.  Everyone else demands the actual day,why can't He.  This is the point each year that I become officially fried.  Be patient with me, I am trying.

CPC Dinners 2010 or What to do with 30lbs of Cream Cheese

 

Most years, I do the desserts for the employee Christmas dinner.  It is always a challenge to cook for so many.  It is also fun in a stressful,self abusing kind of way.  I do large scale cooking just enough to know I never want a job in this area.  There is always some new twist such as J throwing a cake down the basement stairs, or complete icing disasters. This was the first year weather caused problems and made what is usually 2 days of chaos into 4 plus unplanned “elves” home from school.  I thought this year I would try to put in pictures what 30 lbs of cream cheese, 6 dozen eggs, a few gallons of whipping cream and 15 pounds of sugar can do to your kitchen.

Big cooking needs big bowls.

We did 16 cheesecakes.  Brian and Had both helped.

 

And then we killed the kitchen aid mixer.  That is oil dripping from the motor.  My 15 year old Sunbeam that gets used at least 3 x per week kept right on going.

 

Of course paying attention to food means L was on her own.  She used her time to go through the recycling.  As B says to L, “You cardboard shredder, you!”

Space Camp

Through these doors enter America’s future Astronauts, Scientists and Engineers

B and I had the opportunity to spend a weekend at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. We lived in the space habitat and tried out all kinds of simulators.  We also learned about space history, designed rockets, and flew a space mission.  B was the commander of the mission.  She did very well.  Her mother was a basket case!






Having run of the museum at night was really exciting.





Performing experiments in the International Space station.


Walking on the moon.

Water Parks

 

Really,this is the last Disney post.  We love water parks and were a little worried the weather would not cooperate.  We had to adjust the schedule, But we found two awesome days for water play.

I can’t believe we got away with this,but Brian put L in a tube and launched her down a small slide.

This padded area at Blizzard Beach made it perfect for L.

Any day where you can play to exhaustion, eat huge ice cream sundaes and smoked turkey legs,and fall into blissful sleep is a great day.

I would be remiss if I didn’t tell one of the traveling home stories.  For some insane reason,we made the trip home in one day.  Yes, our pictures can be found next to the word “insanity”.  At one point J and L were taking turns yelling back and forth at each other and then blowing very wet raspberries. They were not fussing and found the whole thing hilarious.  Exhaustion can make parents do strange things.  Brian finally said “As long as you stop yelling, you can keep spitting at each other.”  That folks, is called creative parenting.

The Dance

A few minutes after we were seated at Boma, I was placing drink orders for my crew that was rushing the buffet line, and I noticed a family being seated behind us.  I saw the dad first, pushing a travel wheelchair with a boy about nine.  He didn't have full head control and wore those all telling braces on his feet.  The boy was transferred to a regular chair situated between Dad and Grandpa.  Mom, Sister, and Grandma filled the other side.  I couldn't help but stare a little and keep turning to observe what I knew was probably us in five years.  L was wide open and keeping her from clearing the table was pretty consuming, but I kept glancing back.  This time everyone at the table was in the buffet line except for the boy and Grandpa.  Grandpa's arm was draped protectively around Boy's shoulders and he was smiling and seemed to be sharing some fabulous secret.  Dad returned and began feeding Boy.  In a few moments, Grandma was beside Boy, patting his hand, casually wiping his mouth.  Few more crazy minutes at our own table and then I glanced back again.  There was an almost effortless,unspoken movement around the table.  Each adult taking a turn at comforting or feeding Boy, each adult having a chance to fill his or her own plate, each one taking time to look adoringly on Sister.  No one was stressed, smiles and soft laughter drifted over the food.  Another look from me and the song had played on.  Dad was helping sister get dessert.  Mom was helping Boy with a straw,  Grandpa headed for more food. It was like watching a beautiful Viennese waltz.  Oh that we could all strive to dance as beautifully as this young man and his many partners.

Animal Kingdom

In Animal Kingdom, we once again arrived very early for breakfast and then were able to be on one of the first safari expeditions of the day.  It was amazing.  The animals roam semi freely so you never know what you will see.  Morning was promoted as the best views and we were not disappointed. 

When will we ever be this close to a giraffe?!?  It just kept coming closer as we all snapped pictures and held our breath in awe.

And who isn’t a sucker for baby elephants.

As usual, we then parted ways so big people could ride expedition everest, and little people could find characters. 
We met back up for the Lion King show.  We had front row seats and characters paid special attention to L.  J was invited to be part of the show.



After lunch, Mama had intended for us all to rest before supper at Boma, mine and Brian’s favorite place to eat at Disney, but the lure of AK was just too strong.  B and H had more rides to find and we all wanted to see Nemo and Tough to be a Bug.  As we entered the 3-D bug experience, J was unsure.  By the time it started he was screaming.  This would not have been funny but for L’s cackles at the same show.  Of course this made J fuss at L which made her laugh harder.  What would we do with out siblings. ; )
The Dig is just a huge playground that everyone loved.



And then we found flying dinosaurs.  So much for rest, and yes, exhaustion reigned.

Chef Mickey’s & Pirates

 

Swing your napkin and celebrate with Mickey and Friends.  Who has time to eat with such shenanigans!

 

Spinning for my pirate name.

We patiently await our pirate transformation.

L chose to stay a princess!!