I just bought this for my kids because they asked eleven times in ever increasing volume and they were bugging me while I was trying to find a sports bra that didn’t look medieval:
I also just bought my 8 year old son multiple 2 liter bottles of diet coke for his run at the Mentos experiment. Probably ill-advised, but I think ultimately worth it. I’d show you the video, but he’s in it, and I don’t want to give The Nutrition Police any more of a headstart than they already have.
About this time last year, I sat down and tappity tapped my way into a send-up of The Night Before Christmas. I am feeling far less grumpy and far more in the spirit of the season this year. For one thing, I am grateful that Child the Eldest is still a believer. No, not that kind of believer not that there’s anything wrong with it, but a believer in the Big Man from Up North. You know, the one with the sleigh? I can tell that he wants to start asking questions, but he isn’t quite ready to let doubt creep in. I do love me some holiday. Especially this one. But even a Yuleophile needs a little nudge in the right direction every so often to remind her about what’s really important. I got my nudge. Two days ago. We have some long-time friends, as in “known them for a long time” and “we love them long time,” You guys are sick. Not like that. On Christmas, no less. Yeesh who we see from time to time, sometimes at Wednesday Spaghetti, sometimes when we go out to hear excellent music and sometimes, if we’re really, really lucky, for no special reason at all. We’ll call these friends She Who Has 10 Siblings and He Who Is Nicer than Nice. She Who Has 10 Siblings sent this email two days ago, there are some edits and redactions for reasons of discretion and privacy, but it’s mostly verbatim:
If life were a Made For TV movie, He Who Is Nicer than Nice would have awakened the next morning, thrown away the crutches, and danced a jig around the Christmas tree, lifting his two daughters into his arms, and twirling his beautiful wife around the living room.
Of course, Life isn’t a Made For TV movie. Nevertheless, I have it on good authority that this wonderful family had a really special time reading the responses and good wishes sent by their friends later that day and on into the next. And who knows? Sometimes prayer, in what ever form, takes a while to trickle down. Maybe if more people, even those who don’t know He is Who Is Nicer than Nice Yeah, I’m looking at you, raised their own hopes up on his behalf, that trickle down process would be sped along.
I still believe.
Do you?
On the first day of spaghetti, Well Read Hostess sent to me
A dog who ate a Christmas tree.
On the second day of spaghetti, Well Read Hostess sent to me
Two birthday cakes
and a dog who ate a Christmas tree.
On the third day of spaghetti, Well Read Hostess sent to me
Three wine boxes
two birthday cakes
and a dog who ate a Christmas tree.
On the fourth day of spaghetti, Well Read Hostess sent to me
Four plates of cookies (most of which I ate myself)
three wine boxes
two birthday cakes
and a dog who ate a Christmas tree.
On the fifth day of spaghetti, Well Read Hostess sent to me
Five high school friends,
four plates of cookies (most of which I ate myself)
three wine boxes
two birthday cakes
and a dog who ate a Christmas tree.
On the sixth day of spaghetti, Well Read Hostess sent to me
Six jars of red sauce
five high school friends
four plates of cookies (most of which I ate myself)
three wine boxes
two birthday cakes
and a dog who ate a Christmas tree.
On the seventh day of spaghetti, Well Read Hostess sent to me
Seven bowls of noodles
six jars of red sauce
five high school friends
four plates of cookies (most of which I ate myself)
three wine boxes
two birthday cakes
and a dog who ate a Christmas tree.
On the eighth day of spaghetti, Well Read Hostess sent to me
Eight smiling toddlers
seven bowls of noodles
six jars of red sauce
five high school friends
four plates of cookies (most of which I ate myself)
three wine boxes
two birthday cakes
and a dog who ate a Christmas tree.
On the ninth day of spaghetti, Well Read Hostess sent to me
Nine kids playing dress ups
eight smiling toddlers
seven bowls of noodles
six jars of red sauce
five high school friends
four plates of cookies (most of which I ate myself)
three wine boxes
two birthday cakes
and a dog who ate a Christmas tree.
On the tenth day of spaghetti, Well Read Hostess sent to me
Ten helpful teens
nine kids playing dress ups
eight smiling toddlers
seven bowls of noodles
six jars of red sauce
five high school friends
four plates of cookies (most of which I ate myself)
three wine boxes
two birthday cakes
and a dog who ate a Christmas tree.
On the eleventh day of spaghetti, Well Read Hostess sent to me
Eleven late arrivals (highway closed all day, couldn’t be helped)
ten helpful teens
nine kids playing dress ups
eight smiling toddlers
seven bowls of noodles
six jars of red sauce
five high school friends
four plates of cookies (most of which I ate myself)
three wine boxes
two birthday cakes
and a dog who ate a Christmas tree.
On the twelfth day of spaghetti, Well Read Hostess sent to me
Twelve times the joy
eleven late arrivals (highway closed all day, couldn’t be helped)
ten helpful teens
nine kids playing dress ups
eight smiling toddlers
seven bowls of noodles
six jars of red sauce
five high school friends
four plates of cookies (most of which I ate myself)
three wine boxes
two birthday cakes
and a dog who ate a Christmas tree.
Today’s history lesson:
On or sort of around this day in 2008, I was feeling a little stressed, apparently. As you can read about HERE.
Also, the “Twelve Days of Christmas” refers to the time between Christmas and the epiphany, which marks the day that one is struck by the sudden realization that her pants no longer fit her after eating Christmas cookies and chocolates for two weeks straight. A common myth about the lyrics to this song is that each of the items sent to “me” on the twelve days symbolizes a biblical or religious principle or event. For example, 11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles. Snopes says otherwise, and frankly, it does seem like a bit of stretch to equate French hens with the theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity.
Finally, and not a moment too soon, the history of Wednesday Spaghetti (or Thursday Wednesday Spaghetti, which is what we had last night) can be found here, at Wednesday Spaghetti’s own virtual home.
