So This Is Christmas

It's a bit tough to write a Christmas wrap-up post on the blog, because I'm always depressed after Christmas is over.  I love the month of December - Christmas lights, Christmas music everywhere I go, Christmas decorations at the office, making my "manly pickles" and even Christmas shopping.  It's all over so quickly on December 26.  Boom!  Lights out.  No more Christmas.

This December has been different for me, though.  Difficult at times, frankly.  Early in the month, I wrecked my low back carrying the stroller upstairs in the middle of the night because Joe wouldn't sleep in his crib.  A day or two later, I was in excruciating pain, unlike anything I've felt since my freshman year of college (28 years ago), the last time my back went out.  When we took the boys to Cheekwood to see Santa Claus, I almost passed out as I stood and waited in line for the photographs taken with them in his lap.  My low back locked up and my knees buckled and I barely avoided collapsing on the floor in pain.  Jude's brother, James, and his wife drove me home.

I've not been able to run the entire month, which has sent me spiraling into a tailspin of depression.  Not being able to run and not knowing when I'll be able to run again negatively affects my life on so many levels.  I'm less patient at home and at work, I don't feel good about myself, I'm irritable, I don't sleep well and I have no energy.  It's hard for me to put into words how devastating it is for me not to be able to run.  I know it's hard for Jude (or anyone else) to understand how difficult it is for me not being able to run.

To add insult to injury, the boys have been sick, off an on, for most of the month.  Jude took them to the doctor Christmas Eve, because they had terrible coughs (especially J.P.).  Then, I got a stomach virus or a touch of stomach flu two days before Christmas.  I felt awful, really awful, Christmas Eve, and not much better on Christmas day.  Now, after Christmas, we all have colds.  J.P. and Joe have runny noses and I'm congested.  It's a Christmas infirmary at our house.

Enough bitching and moaning.  To the good stuff and, thankfully, there was lot of good stuff.

J.P. is at the perfect age for Santa Claus.  He was "all in" for Elf on the Shelf and he was definitely all in for Santa Claus.  One night after dinner, Jude and J.P. worked on a Christmas list together, so he could show it to Santa Claus at the Nashville Symphony's Christmas program.  The twist, though, was that they drew (and colored) what he wanted from Santa, as opposed to writing out an actual list.  And, yes, he did show it to Santa Claus, too.

Christmas Eve, J.P. was so excited he couldn't stand it.  Christmas morning, Jude made him stay in bed until almost 7 a.m.  I went downstairs first, got the video camera ready, and filmed Jude, J.P. and Joey as they came down and into the living room.  J.P. immediately noticed Santa Claus had taken some of the pasta he left out for the reindeer.  He also noticed Santa had eaten the reindeer cupcakes he had left for him.  Then, it was on to the gifts Santa had left for him.

The big ticket items was a new bicycle.  A neon green, 24-inch Cannondale bicycle, to be precise.  It needs training wheels (on order) and a kickstand, but then he'll be ready to ride.  The Titans' football helmet and the Spiderman mask were huge hits.  As usual, it was like sensory overload, as he went from toy to toy, squealing with delight at each new discovery.

For Joe, Christmas morning was a little more subdued.  As was the case with J.P. on his first Christmas, Joe was more interested in playing with wrapping paper and bows than toys.  It was funny, though, when we realized he couldn't take his eyes off J.P. when he was wearing his Spiderman mask.  It was like he was hypnotized.

Jude's mom and dad came over mid-morning and we opened up Christmas presents with them, as has become our tradition.  After naps in the afternoon, we drove down to my mom's house in Brentwood to celebrate Christmas with my family.  There, it was controlled chaos, as everyone opened up their presents simultaneously.  We didn't stay long, as the boys were tired and I didn't feel well, but it was good to see everyone.

This week, the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, has been laid back.  We're off work Monday and Tuesday, then it's off the races for 2013.  Time to do it all over again.

 

Santa at the Nashville Symphony

This year, like last, we attended a Christmas program for children at the Nashville Symphony.  It's pretty cool, because the Symphony hosts a "petting zoo" for children before the program.  The children have an opportunity to "pet" the instruments, which J.P. enjoys.

Santa Claus also makes an appearance before and after the program.  We arrived a little early and were in the front of the line, waiting on Santa.  Although he was a little late, our patience paid off and when he arrived, J.P. and Joe were in his lap within minutes.

Santa and the boys at the Nashville Symphony.

Elf on the Shelf

This year, Elf on the Shelf appeared at our house on Elliott Avenue for the first time.  J.P. was enthralled by the magic involved, what the Elf appearing each morning in a different spot than he had been in the night before when J.P. went to bed.  The second or third night of December, he named him "Teddy the Elf," although I think he changed the name once of twice prior to Christmas.

Several mornings, Jude overheard J.P. talking to "Teddy" when he found where he had landed to rest after his late night sojourn to the North Pole to see Santa Claus.  "Did you have a nice trip, Teddy?" J.P. asked.  "Did you see Santa Claus?"

A couple of nights (when Jude and I were very tired and sleepy), "Teddy" decided to stay in the same place two days in a row.  Although it took some explaining from us, Jude and I were able to convince J.P. that sometimes "Teddy" likes one place in the house so much he decides to return and rest there after his trip to the North Pole, two nights in a row.

"Teddy" the Elf and J.P. (2011).  Actually, that might be one of the best photos I've ever taken of J.P.  Definitely top 5.

All Good Things

It's a rainy, really rainy Thursday, a few days before Christmas, and I just dropped J.P. off at Children's House for school.  Today is the last day of the semester and school closes at 11 a.m. today for Christmas.  I ducked in Bongo Java for a quick cup of coffee and toast.

As J.P. hopped out of my truck at Children's House this morning, happy as can be (talking about how excited he is to be going to "Vandy Camp" tomorrow), my heart skipped a beat or two.  I felt more than a little sad as I was struck with the realization that, in all likelihood, he just has one more semester at Children's House in Classroom B.  This fall, it's off to kindergarten.

It feels like we're just getting into the swing of things - play dates with classmates, getting to know other parents, my participation as a board member at at Children's House, etc. - and, suddenly, J.P. will be off to school somewhere else.  How can that be?

I think having a child caused you to spend a lot of time looking backwards in time, in a constant state of amazement at how quickly time has passed.  At least, that's the way it works for me.  Memories.  All kinds of memories of when J.P. was younger.  Hell, of when I was younger.  I suspect that tendency to look backwards will become more pronounced over time, as the road behind us inevitably lengthens over the passage of years.

Just the other day, or so it seems, Jude and I dropped J.P. off at Children's House together, for the first time and as we pulled away, Jude looked at me and smiled at the tears in my eyes.  Yesterday, or so it seems, I dropped him off to start his second year at Children's House.  He was wearing shorts and it was hot.  Today, he was bundled and it was cold and rainy and we're days away from my favorite holiday of the year - Christmas.  Again, how can that be?

Children's House has been such a blessing for our family.  A true gift to us, that our son has had a place to go the last two years, every day, where he's been able to learn, explore, grow and develop in a safe and nurturing environment.  It's been such a relief for Jude and me to know that in the middle of our busy, sometime crazy lives, J.P. is at Children's House, a place where he is loved and has learned to love.

A attorney friend of mine, Greg Smith, had this to say 2 + years ago, when Jude and I were trying to decide if J.P. was ready to go to school at Children's House five days a week (he was) - "The only bad thing about Children's House is that your children have to leave.  I wish my boys could have stayed there forever."

Greg, I couldn't agree more, my friend.  I wish J.P. could stay at Children's House forever.

The playground at Children's House, on a late fall morning after I dropped J.P. off.

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree

Tonight, after dinner, we decorated the Christmas tree.  My favorite month of the year is December and my favorite holiday, by far, is Christmas, so it stands to reason that I love decorating the Christmas tree.  Over the years, we've accumulated of all shapes and sizes, the majority of which have sentimental value of some sort to me (I am, of course, the kind of nostalgia).

JP was berside himself with excitement.  When I pulled up in front of the house after work, I could see him in the large, glass, oval window of our front door, literally jumping up and down with anticipation.  

After we finished decorating the Christmas tree, we turned the lights off in the den so we could look at it.  With Joey beside me on the floor, I began playing "DJ," cueing up ramdom songs on my cell phone w/Spotify and the Jawbone Bluetooth speaker.  JP and Jude danced together in front of the Christmas, spinning around and laughing uncontrollably, as I played the "Spin Doctors" and "Cowboy Mouth," among others.  

My enduring memory - another "snapshot moment" - will be of the two of them dancing and laughing together in the dark in front of our beautiful Christmas tree, their faces illuminated only by the white lights on the tree.  

Hide and Seek at Santa's Trees

This morning, after church, Jude, JP, Joey and I went to Santa's Trees on 12th Avenue near our house to pick out a Christmas tree.  In years past, we've gotten our tree at Home Depot because it's much cheaper than your average Christmas tree lot.  However, I hurt my back a week or so ago carrying the stroller upstairs in the middle of the night (that's another story) and since Santa's Trees will deliver and set your tree up, we decided it was the way to go.

Picking out our Christmas was fine but after we did that, the real fun began.  We divided into two teams - JP and Jude vs. Joey and me - and played hide and seek amongst the Christmas trees.  As Joey and I were paying for our Christmas tree and arranging delivery, JP and Jude hid in the trees.  Joey and I looked for them and, finally, found them crouched down toward the side of the lot.  JP laughed when we found them.

Next, Joey and I hid, while JP and Jude counted to 25.  I could hear them looking for us and when JP saw us, I ran further into the Christmas trees, carrying Joey in my arms.  Joey was laughing as we ran between the trees.  JP was squealing and laughing - the kind of spontaneous, innocent and unplanned laughter that you only hear from an child.  Finally, they caught us and we all laughed together, out of breath.

We played a couple more rounds of hide and seek, then went home, happy.

Just another reason why December is my favorite month of the year.