Reminds me of The Onion article:
 "Girl announces she wants to be a
 horseback-riding-doctor-teacher-
princess-magical-fairy-busdriver."
Or, in this case,
a cheerleading doctor. 

I got me some new galoshes,
a baby doll
 and a Bucky Badger hoodie.
I'm ready for anything.

In honor of his rockstar focus on his health and well being lately,
Mike got a raw food Christmas Dinner... which we all enjoyed
(mostly) and, if nothing else, had a very fun
time experimenting with this style of
food preparation. I made a Gingerbread Cake
which was not raw, but vegan and gluten-free...
and it saved the day as far as Winnie
was concerned.

And this? Well, this just goes to show you that
the we know how to celebrate in supremely
classy style. 

The Christmas Eve "one present tonight" Gifts
were a hit. 

Treats for Team Santa. One plate for Santa ("because he's big")
and one plate for all the elves to share
("because they are small and there are lots of them")
an apple for the reindeer
and 48 straws
("because I have no idea how many elves he'll bring with him").
More careful consideration, arrangement,
rearrangement and planning
and arranging once more
has not happened in the history of food service. 

I really want to climb trees.
I really want to be less scared once I do. 

Don't lose me! I'm really tiny compared
to these trees!

Yup, mom. Time for boots.

Explorin'.

So, by "decorate the cookies,"
you mean what exactly...?

She means THIS!
Stripes, Polka-Dots and other
fabulous designs!

Call it Solstice, Hanukkah or Christmas, it's the season of
fun creations and giving. So, we have gifts at the ready--
to take with us on spontaneous play dates or
to give to people who come a calling.
I've parted with three butterflies (one of
lesser known but important symbols of the season).

Hey! It's for you! Something about
wanting her hair accessories back.
I have no idea what she's
talking about.

Tonight, Winona and I, Julie, went to see the symphony's Yuletide Celebration-- a variety show featuring Tap Dancing Santas (hilarious and fabulous!), a 12ish person chorus, a phenomenol 20-25 minute or so rendition of The Christmas Carol in which ONE MAN did the entire thing as a monologue while a cast of 20 or so acted it out... simply incredible theater!, amazing soloist who sang a gospel called Rise Up, Shepards and O Holy Night--cried during both, ballerinas, battling xylophonists, Mrs. Clause, cute little elves and a finale appearance by Santa... all with a full symphonic backdrop. Whew. Amazing. Fun. Inspiring.

Winnie wants to get back into ballet classes and "see if Megan is doing anything new these days" (Megan was her ballet teacher last year). She really, really, really wants to be "on a stage like that!" I would really, really, really love that. The "Stage Bug" bit her at her dance recital last June (click here) and tonight's dazzling performance--all those young kids on stage!--brought back the itch.

No cameras were allowed in the theater, so you'll just have to take my word for it: Winona was pretty darn cute laughing and clapping and singing along!

'Tis the season to be crafty, Fa La La La La La La La La...

Quick! Do something fun! Mom's in the bathroom...

Hey! Nona! Got more blue? I'm runnin' low over here.

 

  Creations...

 And, in the spirit of crafting and in the spirit of, well, a pervasive feeling of late that if the holidays are NOT going to be about buying too much stuff and they're NOT going to be about an immaculate birth then they better BE about something. Especially with a five year old in the house. Turns out, five year olds LOVE those holidays...and their spirit is very contagious. But what? What are we celebrating? Neither Mike nor I is comfortable celebrating the religious Christmas, and the secular Christmas has been largely defined by copious levels of consumerism--which is unappealing at best. We like Solstice. We can get into the celebration of the season and the return of the light (the sun (son?) Ok, I won't start). The symbolism and traditions of the Winter Solstice resonate with us... and give us a fun, celebratory focus during this time of year when celebrations abound. We'll still open stockings on Christmas morn, and Winnie asked at bedtime tonight if she can go sit in Santa's lap ("Connor did it! I want to try!"). Sure, absolutely. It's all part of the fun. I'm looking forward to coming up with ways to make Solstice really fun...
and what our family looks forward to.

So, tonight I made our advent calendar for Solstice. We'll begin counting down tomorrow, and in 10 days--on the full moon--we will be there! At the shortest day and the longest night of the year...
At the peak event of the December celebrations at chez nous.

 Chappy Chanukkah!

 And Happy Winter! Today, after rearranging the living room to accomodate a Solschrisnakkah tree, we went to get it, brought it home and decorated it. I, Jez, checked out for a nap after getting the tree in the door, and left the hanging of lights and ornaments to the rest of the fam...

Because, I had to rest up for the annual Winter Lights Faire at the Waldorf School.

The Faire is a dreamy celebration of the season--with open fires, dreidel games, candle-making, silk-dying, wreath decorating, etc... fun happening throughout the Waldorf campus. Winona took in a puppet show, of which there are no pictures because someone, who shall remain unnamed, was not displaying her best puppet show audience behavior. We all made it through the (abbreviated) version of the Nutcracker, however. Winnie was rapt.

Came home, had dinner, watched the Wizard of Oz and fell fast asleep by 7:30.

There are definite bonuses to the shorter days, thinks mom. "Bedtime" can come mighty early. :) 

A typical scene at Chez Grossman.

I will scream a scream that will be heard by next Tuesday if you try to help me eat.

Or climb the stairs, Or turn the pages of the book. Try me.

I am Jezebel Alisa Dean Grossman, the Bold and Boisterous, and

I. Can. Do. It.

Thanks.

Sometimes a Great Notion... like this morning's
notion to get out of town or, more accurately, the house.
It's been a long (and fun!, but long) season of
homey celebrations and I was needing a change of scenery.
 My first inclination was to head to the mountains in
search of snow, but it was already 10 am and
it seemed like a gear-ambitious trek. So I filled a lunchbox
with grabbable snacks, threw a change of clothes, raincoats
 and a silly amount of fleece in the car and announced
that we were going to the coast.
An hour later, we were driving through the Ken Kesey novel
referenced (with an attempt at a visual of the landscape) above.

We started with a trek up to the Lighthouse.

"Mom. The Hat. It's not working for me."

"I'll help you, Jezzie. This is a long hill for your little legs."
(actual quote, unlike previous quote)

We got to the Lighthouse just as a tour
was heading up so we got to climb
the spiral staircase,
see the huge light up close and catch a
breathtaking view....

All of which adds up to a well-deserved snack.

If birds are your thing--meaning,
you can say the word "bird" and
like to follow it up with "tweet!tweet!,"
the coast can keep your attention for hours.

There are more birds out there. I know it.

Fun, damp, refreshing day.

With all this birthday hoopla, I've been a little
bit in the shadows. No more. I'm one and a half
and have a few things to share with you about
living life as Jezebel Alisa Dean Grossman.

I love to make people laugh. I wake mama up by blowing raspberries
on her belly or forehead. I do a silly back and forth dance with
my tongue hanging out and my arms flailing. I say "tick-tick-tick!" and
reach for your neck or feet to tickle. I have antics.
Lots of antics.

I can often--always--be found getting into stuff.
I'm curious and quick--a dazzling combination if
you see if from my perspective.
Mom and Dad don't always see it that way.

I am a Super Snuggler. Once I've packed all the
running, climbing, pushing, pulling, opening, distributing,
throwing, tasting, chasing and laughing I can into a day,
I really like to snuggle up with a good book.
I give kisses freely and unsolicited... and say
"Ah wuuuuv wooo" which when said by others sounds more like
 "I love you." 

Maybe it was all the talk in the air of being
thankful and giving thanks that inspired this.
Whatever it was, it melted me.

"Dear Mom, (although I'm rather partial to Dr. Mom, that's not how the narration went)
I love our family. I love you to the moon, with priates and gypsies."

Pirates and gypsies created a spelling challenge, apparently;
but that was how the narration went--all three times I asked her to read it to me.
Okay, maybe four. She got no help with this... it was a surpise to Daddy, too.

Yesterday was a good day by all measure:
Thanksgiving and my 5th birthday!



Here are a few shots from our day...



Ok, seriously. Enough with the presents. Let's go to the park!

One does not know true happiness until one has walked in these shoes.

WEEEEE!

Again. 38 more times.

Pumpkin Birthday Pie!

Nice job, Papa Bear!

Gma and KooKoo know my style.

Good night. We are all very thankful for the good, good life.