Christmas Moments to Remember

Buster has been wonderful in giving me moments I'll treasure and hope to be able to tell my grandchildren about when they are young. Each year, there seems to be something he says, that i remember as a "kodak" moment. When we first got our first set of chicks, he peeked into the box to see the RIR baby chicks. He promptly stuck his finger in the air holes trying to touch them, and then looked up at me and said, "mommy, look! these chicks have red peckers!!" That's the day he learned that chickens may peck but they have beaks.

Recently, my son was invited to go to a Christmas party given by the parents of one of his cub scout buddies. We were to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Houston Food Bank, and a dessert, for the potluck. It was a wonderful event, with marshmallow roastings, hay rides, and even Santa making a show. Buster, being 6, understands that there is a Santa and was excited and looking forward to the event. On our drive to the party, I asked Buster if he was excited to see Santa, to which he replied, "yeah, but I just hope it's not Jacobs dad dressed up as Santa with a fake beard".

My chin dropped and I couldn't help but laugh out loud. The moment had come to where he understood that there were Santa imposters.

I remember, to this day, the day I got my first bicycle. My dad came into my room to tell me he had heard some racus outside last night and thought he had seen a reindeer. I ran with him outside to see a shiny new pink bike, with training wheels, and shiny strands coming out of the handlebars and thought, wow, Santa came to my house last night.

I sat in that truck, driving to the party, wondering when did Buster come to the realization that there were fake santas and how he felt when he realized they weren't all real. I'm guessing it must have been a let down since he wasn't looking forward to seeing Jacobs dad in a Santa suit.

We arrived at the party and was greeted by Jacob's dad. A little relief. He had a wonderful time doing what 6 year old boys do with other boys their age, running, chasing, playing power ranger....

Then there was a clammer at the front door, and jingle bells and parents shouting, "Santa's Here!!"

All the children (and there were lots and lots of children) all rushed into the living room and sat in front of the BIG chair as Santa made it into the living room with two helpers carrying two big bags of presents. Jacob's mom, had in her hand, the list of all the childrens names (all three pages) and the children sat, in very much anticipation, listening for their name to be called so they could sit on Santa's lap to tell him what they wanted for Christmas and to receive a present from one of the bags. Buster came running up to me, to make sure I had put his name on that list and after reassuring him I had, he ran back to sit on the floor, waiting for his name to be called.

It was a wonderful, wonderful party. One I'm sure he won't remember, but his mom, definitely will. As we drove home, I asked him if he enjoyed talking to Santa and brought up the fact that it wasn't Jacob's dad with a fake beard. He says, "it was okay, but i think it was a fake Santa". I asked, "Did he have a fake beard?" to which he replied, "no, but he didn't know my name, and the real Santa knows my name".

How smart kids get as they get older.

Merry Christmas Everyone.

What!? No Tamales!!

I don't know about ya'll, but tradition here is to buy tamales every Christmas. And at my work, i have a coworker who's family gets together every year to make tamales and she sells them to us at work. I look forward to it every year and end up buying several dozens of the pork and chicken. (more the pork). I'd freeze them and eat them for breakfast, take some home and freeze them and eat them for snack. sometimes, i'd pan fry them and eat them with rice. they were better than potato chips and you definitely couldn't just eat one. and don't dare put any sause on them. there was no need to cover up the flavor of them tamales.

Well, turns out this year, her mama ain't makin' none. WHAT!!!!!??? this can't be!!! where am i suppose to get the tamales? yeah, i know, i can get them anywhere, i live in houston, for goodness sakes. but still...now i have to hope the batch i buy from who knows who, tastes as good and isn't skimpy on the filling and isn't over priced. ugh! first its the economy, now the tamales!!