It’s Festivus!
Yes, I have a Festivus mug. Doesn’t everyone? Our family celebrates Festivus, but we do it in our own special way. We don’t have an aluminum pole or air our grievances (we used to air grievances, but one year it got out of control and we decided it wasn’t a very nice way to spend the day before Christmas Eve.) We always go out for bagels, because in the Festivus episode Kramer works at H&S Bagels, and then the kids and I go shopping- my husband splits off to do his own shopping- and then we go home to wrap presents. At night we watch The Polar Express. It’s a far cry from the Costanza’s original Festivus, but it’s what’s evolved for our family over the years; basically a way for us to spend time together during these busy days. I usually request the day off from work (although I don’t tell them WHY I need the day off, ha ha) but today I’m working a half day. That’s okay! I’ll be home just as everyone else is getting started for the day, and we can head out for our bagels. Yesterday I did a long trail run while listening to the Christmas Countdown podcast. I listened to their “Top 5 Stocking Stuffers” episode, and was pleased to note that of their ten (each host had five items) four of them are already going in my kids’ stockings- protein bars, Pokemon cards, scratch-off lottery tickets, and of course, candy. Another topic they randomly touched on was: glitter, or no glitter? On wrapping paper, that is. They agreed that they like glitter if it’s embedded in the wrapping paper, but not if it comes loose and gets all over the house. WELL… Every year I wrap the “Santa” presents in special wrapping paper, which I buy secretly and is only used for those presents. I have very high standards for this paper- it can’t have words, or trucks (I don’t know why so many Christmas wrapping papers have pickup trucks with Christmas trees in the back) and it must be shiny and/or glittery. This year, I have a red paper which is shiny, a red and green striped which has embedded glitter, and… a very pretty cream-colored paper with silver, glittery Christmas trees… which dropped glitter EVERYWHERE. I wrapped presents in the bedroom, and there’s glitter in our bed, on the floor, on my face… once glitter is out there, you can never get rid of it. I can’t wait for the kids to open presents on Christmas, so the glitter can get all over the rest of the house. Well, at least it’s pretty. So Many Cookies, So Little Time. So far I’ve baked: Nicole’s ginger cookies, orange chocolate biscotti, orange cranberry icebox cookies, and “Santa’s trash” cookies, which are basically chocolate chip cookies with potato chips, pretzels, and sprinkles. I’ve run out of time for more baking before Christmas (I also made sugar cookies to be decorated on Christmas Eve) but I consider the week between Christmas and New Years to be a continuation of cookie baking season… so peanut butter balls will definitely be happening. We’re almost there! Christmas Eve is a day of entertaining guests for us, and then the big day…. where I collapse in a heap from exhaustion. I hope everyone is having a nice week, and if you’re celebrating, I hope you’re all ready for a wonderful Christmas. Happy Festivus!