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All I Want For Christmas

To quote Mariah Carey's famous Christmas song from the unforgettable film, "Sparkle" (which I never saw and I am not quite sure I got the title right, but everyone said it was quite something)*

"I don't want a lot for Christmas,
There's just one thing I need 
I don't care about the presents 
Underneath the Christmas tree 
I just want you for my own 
More than you could ever know 
Make my wish come true 
All I want for Christmas is... "

A house. And not just a house. A house that is on a bright, corner lot on a tree lined street. I want one room, big enough for a grand piano and for my musician friends to come over and make music with me. I want a gas stove and an oven with some pleasant counter space so I can cook fabulous meals for my family and friends and guests, whomever they may be. I want a nice, deep tub and I want windows -- glorious windows to let the sunshine in. I want a second unit -- above or below, I don't care so long as we can rent it and it helps to pay for the mortgage. I want a skinny, little yard where my wonderful husband can tend a tiny little vegetable garden and where we can set out one, long, table in the summer time, string lights and have dinners with the people we love. I want a place to fill with memories. To paint and to put nails in the walls. A kitchen for glass doored cabinetry and coffee cakes. A place to make scratches and dents, a place for Christmas trees and trick-or-treat. I want a house that is my house; that is my home.

And since our landlord is selling, my timing couldn't be better.

 Now to find all of that at a price I can afford in the place I want to live... Wish me luck or excessive generosity from Santa.

 Now that I think of it, maybe that is a lot... especially with that second unit...

 *When I searched for "sparkle" and "Mariah Carey" I discovered the movie is actually called Glitter, in case you are looking for an old new Pop Christmas Classic. It is famous, or infamous for being ... well ... you can see here 
*Also... I am not sure the song is actually from Sparkle Glitter. But it is a great song.
*for your viewing pleasure, the original and one of my favorite interpretations of the classic

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The Nice List.

Holidays are a big freaking deal at the TD house. 
We like our carols loud, our sweaters ugly, and our eggnog straight up. 

You can call it excessive (my husband certainly has -- humbug!)
 We just call it merry.

In this exuberant spirit of "more is more," and as a public service to Mr. One, who really loves some clear direction on this stuff, here is the first of many installments of Five's Holiday Gift Guide. Happy Giving!


One's Top 5 Christmas Wish List
I'll post kiddie wish lists this weekend!
Maybe next week I'll make my Hanukkah wish list. With eight things....

1. The New Yorker.   Bite-sized nuggets of excellent writing? Yes please! And a subscription keeps giving all year long -- 52 little love letters in your mail box.
2. Heady, tropical perfume. I love this stuff. It's like a vacation in a bottle. A vacation of the non-bottled variety would also be super....


4. A gorgeous statement necklace. Since my sweet babies have busted so many of my favorites...


4. What I *really* want is a house in Denver, since that's where we're spending most of our time these days, (and it would be awfully nice to have a house located where we actually live, no?). But I realize that's a pretty big item for Santa to lug around on his sleigh, so I'm not getting my hopes up. But once I DO have a house, (or am living in the one I already have, I suppose), I desperately want one of my awesomely artistic siblings to come make a moss mural on a garden wall. Isn't this amazing?

5. Babysitting Coupons. Before I had kids, I thought these were a total cop-out. 
I WAS SO WRONG. The end.



Also, this.

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Holiday to do list:

Christmas is *so* sooon! Unfortunately there are a few things that I have to do before I can start to really celebrate (finish 3 term papers, prepare for {and give} 3 final presentations, study for 2 finals, take those 2 finals...). BUT, after all that nonsense is out of the way, I have some serious crafting planned. 

I'm looking forward to making this pretty moss wreath (these projects are also calling to me...):

Attempting to replicate this starry canvas concoction:


Finishing the stockings I started sewing last year....
And Through the Woods

Making a few of these:
 

And baking eating these: 

Even more exciting than the crafts are the people who will be coerced into making them with me! Two, Three, Five and I will be joining Momo, One, and the rest of the brood, in Denver for some serious holiday magic.

I. Cannot. Wait. 

16 days!


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On Mothering


On Mothering

 Late last night—or perhaps early this morn—I woke up to a whimper coming from the room next door. 
As Disco had just recently gone silent, I took it on me to allay this discontent. 
Into the nursery I peered and found Tiny, looking awfully cute if a teensy bit whiny. 
Though I asked, he gave no cause for his dread. And he was swiftly soothed with a rub of his belly and a kiss on the head. 
As his breath slowed to a steady snore, I victoriously made my way to the door
(Smugly thinking to myself the whole way “I’m gonna kick butt at this mom-stuff someday.”)
But before I was out came another small cry, and I turned to see Tiny again with a tear in his eye. 
So back to bed I went to calm him once more, and when he went silent I ran for the door.  
A third time he called before I escaped, and soon his small body upon me was draped. 
And there he slept the whole night through, not even stirring when joined by a dog or two. 
And when the dawn came I was awfully tired, as under that babe this babe had been mired.
I ran for the train late and untidy, getting a kiss on my way from a sweet bright-eyed Tiny.
"I will be a good mom" I thought on my way, but I'm glad I don't have to fill that role today.



One and the kiddos have been visiting since Thanksgiving, and Dr. P and I are enjoying their company immensely. I feel a special kind of safety every time I walk into the kitchen and see my lovely sister’s smiling face, and a new respect for what is means to be a mother to three delicious children (not to mention Momo's 10!).

During the few hours I’m home each evening One never seems to have a hand free or a moment to herself.  There is always a mouth to feed, a tear to dry, a mess to clean or a bum to wipe. While Dr. P and I like to relax with a glass of wine and an episode of homeland, Disney heroes and spilled milk have swallowed up her leisure time. Yet, One glides through it all with a serene smile on her lips. Come May, we will all be singing the praises of moms everywhere, but in this holiday season, as mothers are at their wit's end trying to make things magical for those they love, I am feeling awed and grateful for all of the mothers I have the honor of loving. 

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Wonder Around The Corner

My sweet husband and I have been on a little adventure this past month. As with any adventure, there have been unexpected turns and challenges. There have also been moments of transcendence. One of those came when we drove across the border from Colorado to Utah. We took a little detour and visited Arches National Park. We hiked up to a vista where we could see the famed Delicate Arch just in time for sunset. As we stood in awe of the beauty around us, we thought about the last year, our three years together before that and the endless list of things we have to be grateful for. This week, I want to express my gratitude to all of you for your love, your support, your enthusiasm, your prayers and thoughts. I want to thank you for joining me and my sisters on our blogging journey. We love reading what you have to say and sharing with you. I am so grateful to be on this incredible planet because even when things are far from perfect, there is always wonder just around the corner and wonderful people to share it with.

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