Sunday, December 19, 2010

The geese are almost fat enough

Do you remember that nursery rhyme...

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat
Please put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny then a ha'penny will do.
If you haven't got a ha'penny then God Bless you.

Is anyone actually cooking a goose for Christmas this year? Just curious because that's not something you hear about too often anymore. In case you are wondering~I'm not. I do know that potatoes roasted in goose fat are the best potatoes in the universe. That's my helpful, but perhaps not so nutritious kitchen tip for the holidays.

We had a nice weekend and I am finally feeling more ready for Christmas to arrive. I've decided having a child in the house makes all the difference. And if that child happens to be 20 years old, so much the better. Because while toddlers are definitely a lot of fun this time of year, they are not a lot of help in the baking, shopping, wrapping department, all things in which my 'baby' girl excels.

On Friday we got an early start (keep in mind early is a relative term to a tired college student still recovering from a week of exams) and agreed the first thing we needed to do was fortify ourselves for the day ahead with a nice breakfast out. It's important to keep your priorities straight this time of year you know.

We buzzed thru the mall in record time and I think even my daughter was impressed/amazed/aghast at how quickly the money spends. We had several more errands to do before heading home but we managed to maneuver successfully thru the holiday traffic (seriously, get off your phones while you're driving people!) skip lunch (see, we knew breakfast out was important), and still be home for a cup of tea by 4 PM. The wrapping commenced soon after and daughter2, who used to work for a retailer of fine handbags, knows how to tie some beautiful ribbon so she had that job finished in no time flat.

Now, can your toddler do all that?
I thought not.
Put this one in the pro column for kids growing up.

Saturday the hubs ran a few errands which may or may not have included driving the dog around in the MG wearing an antler headband. The dog, not the hubs. This is especially fun because the MG is a right hand drive car and nothing beats the reaction of the person in the car beside you when they look over to see a dog with antlers in the 'driver's seat'.

While he was out and about I did a little wrapping and a lot of dusting and vacuuming and sweet daughter2 made a wonderful middle eastern style salad she'd seen on The Barefoot Contessa the day before.

Does your toddler make you lunch?
I thought not.

We had a family friend stopping for lunch on his way home from college and we were all excited to see him. My girls were very good friends with our across the street neighbors when we lived in Maryland and while we're all still in touch we had not seen the boy in about 6 years. The boy and daughter2 are the same age and they shared many hours of childhood together way back when. I think you know that our mischievous toddler girl grew up and guess what? So did that little boy. In his place is a grown up man making a cross country road trip home for Christmas break. How did that happen? I'm pretty sure it was only a minute ago my girls and his sister were trying to talk him into a game of My Little Pony...


I think you can tell from the look on his face they did not succeed. I like to think they helped prepare him for military life which is where he's headed. I'm pretty sure my backyard is where he learned to take orders. A four star general's got nothin' on a group of little girls when it comes to being bossy.


And it only took me six tries to capture this lovely blurry picture.
Hey Santa!
We need a new camera!

After a late lunch we sent him on his way with coffee and cookies and all I could think was, coffee?? How can he drink coffee?? Shouldn't I be offering him a juice box? Somehow that feels more right to me.

Hey time!
Slow down!
Better yet, back up!
It only marches on. Sigh.

We finished up the weekend attending the Christmas cantata at church. The music was absolutely beautiful and it just fills you right up to the brim. I like to think I am not completely distracted by all there is to do this time of year but if I'm honest, most days my head is full of lists and tasks to be done, stops to be made and food to be bought and prepared. Sitting in a dimly lit sanctuary with a sweet daughter by my side I let myself forget about all those things and I gave myself a gift...a moment to think about the why.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

In the busyness of the season I pray you find a moment too.

22 comments:

  1. Oh, I know what you mean. My baby just turned 34 today and I want time to SLOW DOWN!

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  2. This was lovely. I miss being filled to the brim at our old church's Christmas concerts, that's a great way to put it.

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  3. Lindsey turns 16 tomorrow! Not sure where that time went. Ashley just went to breakfast with my Dad! LOL He just picked her up. She'll be hungry again by 1 though! :)

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  4. I love that picture!
    Can't wait to see you the day after tomorrow!

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  5. A goose? Absolutely not. T-bones for me please. ahaha. I'm such a rebel. The mind picture of your hubs and the dog driving around town in the MG is priceless. :) I love the pic of the boy adamantly refusing to play with the girls. Thanks so much for sharing. Blessings, SusanD

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  6. I got a lump in my throat as I read your post. I miss the days when my girls would jump into bed with me in the morning and snuggle with a stuffed animal or a doll. They are now 20 & 18 and have boyfriends. Boyfriends that have families that I have to share time with :( Thank you Jesus that I like their boyfriends else I would have a really hard time with all of it.

    Mind you, I still have a 6 yr son who cuddles with me but he comes with nerf guns, race cars & basketballs. Harder to cuddle when there's shooting, racing, and bouncing to be done. Haha

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  7. OK let me make sure I have the picture in my head. Hubs had taken the dog for a ride, The dog is in the "drivers seat" with antlers on, and there is NO PHOTO! Really? I have never heard of that child's rhyme about the goose. And it is amazing that your children got older and yet you stayed so young. What is your secreat?

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  8. Sounds busy and fun! Time does go fast. Enjoy your holiday week!

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  9. Yep, as adorable as toddlers can be, there's definitely many upsides to having adult children! Including grandchildren (which I pray that you'll be blessed with -- in due time ha!).

    Enjoy this week leading to Christmas!

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  10. No goose for Christmas, but we are doing turkey this year instead of ham. There are definite pluses to having your kids grow up. Thanks for reminding me of a few of them. : )

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  11. Agreed. As cute as toddlers are at Christmas (and I miss buying cheap presents for them!) older kids are not only less work themselves, but they help out too!

    Sounds like you're all set for a lovely Christmas.

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  12. You've given me something to put in the 'pro' column of my littles growing up... oh. so. quickly.

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  13. Joyce, it all sounds perfect. I do love his face in that pictures. I will keep him in my prayers. I agree, toddlers could not do all of those things however my 29 year old won't either. She wrapped some presents but that was it. Bitched when she had to make cookies for a party at work and I wouldn't help! I will be baking this week. I feel better about things too, it's all finally coming together. Have a very Merry Christmas. No goose here.

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  14. When you find a way to make time slow down let me know! I was talking to an adorable 6 year old yesterday (whom I have known since she was a baby) and she told me she was going to be 7 on her next birthday. I said,"You need to stop getting older." She said, as she threw up her hands, "I just can't help it!" Oh, and she had that adorable no front teeth grin. :)

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  15. I guess we´re all in agreement here. Time´s a flyin´. I´m so glad you have your "little one" home. My girls will be home again tonight. They had a week of vacation on the beach in Brazil. Can´t wait to hear their adventures. I missed them already. You can get used to a full house so fast. :)
    Hope you have a good week Joyce!

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  16. Goose no way but I remember in Germany that is all you could find for special holiday meals! Hope your week slows down and soon all your babies will be home and the joy begins! Have a wonderful Christmas!

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  17. It sounds like your holiday had gotten off to a great start. My two sons (both married now with children of their own) were never interested in shopping, gift wrapping, etc. You're blessed having daughters to help you and share in the Christmas spirit. Have a blessed Christmas.

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  18. Oh, yes grown up children really are lots of fun! There's something to be said for each season of life. This was a splendid entry that "filled me to the brim." Blessings!

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  19. No geese here, but the other day in the Kroger parking lot, a woman came up to me and asked if I knew where to "get duck". What? As is, a duck to eat? I hate to judge (okay, not really), but she definitely didn't look like the type of person who would be serving duck on her Christmas table. I made sure I held on to my pocketbook tightly!

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  20. I'm thinking daughter2 and the boy neighbor look pretty nice in the grown up photo? How 'bout you? Was anyone else thinking that? I haven't read anyone else's comments before the writing of my own, but I'm gonna go peek and see if anyone else was thinking similarly.

    It sounds like you had a nice, productive weekend with daughter2 and hubby.

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  21. Ditto! Isn't it funny too how we almost rely on them once they get to a certain age? For instance, I could not/would not have gotten my cards out as quickly or efficiently as I did without Miss K.

    P.S. No geese here. :)

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  22. I have never eaten a goose. Sounds like you all are as busy as we are here. Fun times, but I am just about ready for a rest. Can't wait until my other daughter gets here with her hubby this week. I know you are anxious to have #2 join you all. Merry Christmas! Love & blessings from NC!

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