Jessica Day George

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Christmas!

Oh, I love Christmas! Love it, love it, love it! Baked goods, turkey, ham, candy, presents, snow, yummy smelling things . . . what is not to love? NOTHING!

So here we are getting ready for Christmas at Maison le George, and it's looking good. The trees are up and decorated (we have three, one is fancy, one is dripping with Star Wars and other pop culture ornaments, one has Old World Father Christmases on it), the stockings are hung by the chimney with care, the kitchen towels have been switched from brown and orange to red and green. I'm knitting something red with sparkles in it! AH!

I'm also reading some great, great books. It's what I do, and every year I recommend them as well!

Like "Let it Snow" by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle.

Or, speaking of miracles, "Miracle" by Connie Willis.

But let's not forget the classics, like "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens! This year I'm reading it aloud to Boy, with translations from ye Victorian as I go. It's the beautifully illustrated version by P. J. Lynch, he whose "East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon" is a big inspiration for my "Sun and Moon."

I've alread read "A Highland Christmas" by M. C. Beaton, and I can't decide whether to go with "The Legend of Holly Claus" or "A Christmas Story" when I'm done with "Miracle."

Boy and I have read some picture books together, too, like "Olive the Other Reindeer", "Llama Llama Holiday Drama", "The Grinch" and "Merry Christmas, Splat!" And we'll be reading "The Polar Express", "Red Ranger Came Calling", and "Santa Calls" in the next few days, I'm sure!

We've watched some of our favorite movies as well. Like "Elf", "A Christmas Story", "The Muppet Christmas Carol", and "Rudolph." We watched "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," which never really holds the kids' interest, and always makes my husband and I snicker naughtily. (I'm sorry, but there is a song in there that is wildly inappropriate in today's more cynical world. Watch it, and see if you can tell which one!)

A great deal of hot chocolate has been drunk already, and will continue to be drunk. My sister has made sausage dip, and I have partaken of it. There have been things baked with Andes bits, and I have made sure that my recipe for Pumpkin Empanadas (which has become our Christmas morning breakfast of choice) is close at hand.

Because it's Christmas. I'm being nicer to people. I'm occasionally giddy about things, like Christmas music, and wrapping paper. It's a wonderful time, a time when anything is possible. A time to think about so many miraculous things, like flying reindeer, talking snowmen, fat men who can slide down chimneys, but also babies being born in stables, new stars shining in the sky, and peace on earth.

Raise your glass of hot chocolate with me, won't you?

Merry Christmas, and God bless us every one!

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Christmas wouldn't be complete without books and great food. And more books. And, well, food. (There goes my diet.)

Stephanie Pellegrin said...

I read LET IT SNOW on the car trip home (which is about 12 hours) last year and it was amazing! I've been searching for more YA Christmas books.

alisonwonderland said...

Lovely post! Merry Christmas to you!

Jaleh D said...

Right now snow is a bad word. I haven't gone anywhere over the past 3 days. Today I'll make it to town for work, but only because I'm getting a ride. The driveway is impassable by our little car. But as least the white crud and the wind that has exasperated the problem have both stopped. We might be able to get the driveway cleared and have it stay cleared for awhile.

Meriaten said...

you make me want to have a better christmas - this sounds so magical!

Stephanie said...

The Legend of Holly Claus! I love that book. :) I've read my copy so much that it's starting to wear down. |D

Your Christmases sound really fun. :) I don't remember mine too well...but there's no hot chocolate. And a fake tree. And no books (unless I lock myself in my room to read). And my countdown until school starts again. |D

Merry Christmas!

lauren said...

Okay, I have something that doesn't have to do with Christmas, although I am dying with anticipation :). My friends told me I need to read this book called "The Other Worlds" by M.l. Greye. Has anyone read it? And if so, is it any good?

Unknown said...

You know what they say, Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!(and happy new year!)