Seven Christmas-y Quick Takes

1. Today we plan to go to the farm stand and pick up some green foods, which I am not sure I’ll even recognize, but I’m hoping my memory will serve me well. We’ll also get our Christmas tree from the same farm stand which is obviously very convenient. While I’d like to do that thing where we decorate the tree AS A FAMILY! tonight, the reality is I’ll do most of it (after LG goes to bed.) I think some sort of festive drink (hot toddy? spiked cider?) would be fun, but the reality of that is that I’ll probably just have some wine.

2. I mentioned last week about not having any rules and while I still pretty much stand by that, I just don’t stand by Christmas decorations before December. (For me — you do whatever the hell you want, obviously.) I know a lot of people subscribe to the school of thought that Christmas starts Thanksgiving weekend, and while I don’t disagree, Thanksgiving also came early this year and if you do a real tree like we do, you’re asking for a fire hazard if you keep it up for a month plus.

3. Speaking of rules, I came up with more LG rules:

House Rule #1: Mom And Dad Are Always Right
House Rule #2: No Kids On The Couch Without A Parent
House Rule #2, Sub-Rule A: No Standing On The Couch Ever, Even If A Parent Is There
House Rule #3: No Crossing The Street Without Holding Someone’s Hand
House Rule #4: If You Have A Problem With Any Of The Rules, Refer To Rule #1

The reason this all came up was because we were meeting our BFFs for brunch yesterday and as we were about to walk across the parking lot, LG refused to hold either of our hands and so we ended up having to carry her into the restaurant so she wouldn’t she lay down on the street and cry LIKE SHE DOES EVERY DAY AT DAYCARE DROP-OFF. (OMG.)

I get that she’s independent (WONDER WHERE SHE GOT THAT) and obviously doesn’t understand “danger” and “bad drivers,” but damn. Nothing makes you feel like an awesome person than dragging your kid through a parking lot. Or, OR, hitching them up under your arm at their waist so you can go change their diaper in the In ‘n Out, because they wouldn’t hold your hand in the restaurant and tried to lay down on the floor instead and ew, gross.

Anyway, so we have more rules now, is the point. They’re going well.

4. I am mentally preparing my holiday meals, which you know from years past gives me great pleasure. For Hanukkah, we’ll of course do latkes and probably a roasted chicken. Normally for Christmas Eve/day we do roasted meat of some sort on one day (depending on work schedules) and a big breakfast followed by fancy appetizers (and champagne!) on the other day. My parents are moving up to Northern California this week (!!!) so our plans will differ a little from the norm, but if there’s anything we all excel at, it’s eating and drinking champagne, so I’m sure whatever we do will be filled with both those things.

5. I was searching the TV guide for Christmas/holiday movies to record and watch this month and I asked Twitter for their recommendations. Here’s a pretty good list of movies, some of which I haven’t seen, but plan to this year:

Love Actually
While You Were Sleeping
A Christmas Story
You’ve Got Mail (not really a Christmas movie, I suppose, but still great and holiday-y)
Elf
Home Alone
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
The Family Man (people not fans of Nicolas Cage need not apply)
The Santa Clause
Last Holiday
The Holiday (I’ve never seen it)
White Christmas (I’ve never seen it)
The Family Stone (This one is hard for me to watch)
It’s A Wonderful Life (I fell asleep watching this the other night; must re-watch)
Miracle On 34th Street (I may or may not have seen this. I don’t remember.)

I am sure I’m missing a lot — what’s your favorite?

6. Back to the Christmas tree, I am a little concerned about having one with a mobile LG toddling around. I assume non-breakable ornaments go on the bottom of the tree, but what about lights? I can just see her yanking all the lights off and eh, my whole tree is going to look lame this year, isn’t it? (Although I must admit, I’m crossing my fingers she’s scared of the tree and just steers clear.)

7. Speaking of LG again, I still don’t have a stocking for her and I can’t say I’m that bothered by it. If I find myself in Target and they have non-ugly stockings, then I’ll pick one up, because it would be kind of fun to stock (heh) it with treats and little things (like toothbrushes and socks, haha, being a parent is awesome) but even without a stocking, I can still do that. Whether I will remains to be seen. Depends on if she ruins my tree or not.