Auld Lang Syne

So, 2012. Not my favorite year. It seems like I had my share of tears and stress this year. Much like the Christmas dinner leftovers, I'm ready to say goodbye to 2012 and see what 2013 holds. Granted, it could be better. It could be worse. But there's nothing like the promise of a new year to make the optimism bubble up.

But before I close this year, I want to remember a busy, festive and spirited December:

Sam's 11th birthday (my sweet, dear, growing boy)
Cheesecake Factory
Dungeons & Dragons
Grandma Becky
Grandma Fran and Grandpa Larry
Batman Live
Secret Santa
School parties
Teachers' gifts
Kindergarten sing-a-long
Eno's
Emporium Pies
Chocolate Oreo Truffles
Rolo Delights
Book Club Christmas
Christmas Eve Program
Sam the Narrator
Jacob the Shepherd
Abby the Angel
Mai's on Christmas Eve
Kindle Fire
Nabi
Lord of the Rings
The Hobbitt
Chuck Norris, the guinea pig
the Ukelele
Christmas Day snow
Dallas World Aquarium
Les Miserables
American Girl Boutique and Bistro

And now, New Year's Eve. 2013. Resolutions. New opportunities. New memories. More to come.

No Words

“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” Abraham Lincoln

That Kid

So last Friday Bryon was asked to speak at Jake's career day. Apparently his school had lined up 10 attorneys to talk to the second grade class about lawyerin'. Bryon was a little perplexed. After all, how do you make law interesting to a bunch of 8 year olds. Start with a joke, I told him. In the end, he pulled it off. Bryon has a knack for being witty in unusual circumstances.

At some point he told the kids that his job involves working with lots of other professionals - lawyers, judges, clerks, police officers, juries.

"Do you ever work with Santa?" someone asked him.

"No, not yet."

"Because Jacob says there is no Santa."

Jacob being my Jacob. My kid Jake. The kid who is now telling all his classmates there is no Santa. The kid whose name is being whispered through clenched teeth in households around Oak Cliff. That Jacob.

And once again Bryon answered the question with panache. "Well then Jacob won't be getting any Christmas presents, will he?"

Later that evening I reminded Jake that just as we'd told him to not tell his sister he no longer believed in Santa, he shouldn't be telling his classmates either. I'm not sure why he's so set on spoiling it for others - maybe because he's a little sad about it himself.

Yes, Sam and Jake, There Is a Santa Claus

Last Friday we took Sam and Jake to see Somebody's Darling at the Kessler. Three of the musicians in the band have been teachers at School of Rock, and Nate, the drummer, just happens to be one of Jake's favorite people ever. Jake was nearly in tears at the thought of getting to see Nate in person and on stage. And Nate didn't disappoint. Neither did the band. They are good - "on the verge" good I heard someone in the audience say.

Before the show we took the boys out to eat. Just us four. I was looking forward to it because eating out with all three kids can still be a challenge but eating out with two seems much more manageable - man-to-man defense, if you will.

Seconds after we sat down Sam and Jake got serious. "So we know there is no Santa Claus," Sam said. "Yeah. It's impossible. Someone who did what Santa does would burn up," Jake added. "We think you eat the cookies and put out the presents."

So there it is. November 30, 2012 - the day the music died.

Initially I didn't confirm or deny. "Are we really having this conversation right now?"

"Yes," Jake said. "We want to know."

"Then, yes. It's Dad and me. But listen. If you tell Abby I will be so upset. Please don't ruin it for her. Or me. It's so much fun when you guys believe. It truly is magical and these days you don't believe long enough."

Truth be told I think Sam stopped believing a couple of years ago, but it's not his style to ruin it for anybody else. That's Jake's style. He wouldn't tell you outright there is no Santa, but he'll debunk every legend until you don't believe either.

In spite of it all, General Jolly Apple Snowball, our elf on the shelf, appeared December 1, as he has for the past three years. And despite Sam and Jake's newly confirmed suspicions, they both were surprised to see him. Saturday morning, after they found the elf peeking out from their bookcase, Jake pulled me aside. "So I know you are Santa, but how DOES that elf get in the house every year?"