OMSH

Around these here parts we sing a lot. If you haven’t already been tormented by one or two of my random recordings consider yourself blessed. Sometimes words get jumbled up a bit – especially when the girls are pulling songs off the radio – songs they don’t understand (and/or shouldn’t be listening to).

Jeff and I had a good snicker the other day hearing Meredith in the shower belting out lyrics to Alanis Morissette’s, “Ironic”…

“It’s like rain on your wedding day
It’s a free ride FRITO PIE when you’ve already paid…”

Yep, darn that FRITO PIE when I’ve already paid.

Carols and Cocoa

Our Elementary school hosted a fun little shin-dig the other night, Carols and Cocoa. The kids had spent weeks preparing their Christmas Carols at school and Kenny was convinced that we were going to miss it; he reminded me no less than 2 dozen times before the day actually arrived.

The parents were to come in and pick a pod to sit in while the different grades rotated in and out of the pods singing their carols. Meredith gave us “permission” to station ourselves in the Pre-K pod, which was great because Kenny nearly busted a gut waiting for us to hear the two songs he was to sing, “Feliz Navidad” and “The Merry Hula”.

They began with “The Merry Hula” and he was surprisingly theatric with all his hand motions and his boisterous bellowing of the song.

From there, they moved on to “Feliz Navidad” where Kenny completely sold out to the music, bursting forth his intense desire to wish us all a Merry Christmas “…from the bottom of [his] heart!”

See that little girl next to him. She’s a bit sweet on him I’m told. Who can blame her? I cerainly can’t.

A few classes later, Meredith moved on in with the rest of the 2nd graders. Smashed between her buddies Tatum (famed winner of last week’s Turkey Trot) and Daniella, she sang “Frosty the Snowman”…

…and “Silent Night, Holy Night”.

Note the sweaters that everyone is wearing. Also note that our erratic temperatures have gone from 36 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 to 65 to 81 to 64 and this weekend it is said to drop to freezing temperatures only to rise to the 80s again. I ask you, is it no wonder my son can’t stop coughing?

Anyway, back to the sweaters – they were for effect. Seriously.
Meredith wore a scarf to look (her words) “Christmas-y”.

After the hard work of caroling through the pods was over, the kids lined up for cookies and cocoa.

Some kids lined up to take photos with Santa Claus – who, amazingly enough, did not look like a recovering alcoholic (note to self: School volunteer Santa Clauses are apparently SOBER and JOLLY, unlike the veiny-faced mall Santa Clauses I’ve encountered).

“Huh?”

It’s nothing Emelie, go back to eating your cookie. There, there, that’s a good girl.

This was post eye-rolling. She’s going to be such a good mother.

The school was hot. As in, I don’t think the principal and the person who has the keys to the air conditioning were on the same page. The kids were stripping off their already unnecessary sweaters and scarfs, only to heat up more from their hot cocoa.

One parent *ahem*Jeff*ahem*, with a less than stellar attitude *cough*sputter*Jeff*, lined-up accidentally in the picture with Santa line in an attempt to get cocoa. This particular parent cast dirty looks from afar as the line proceeded to move 1/8 cm every 5 minutes.

Bah Humbug!

Fortunately, I came to the rescue with my charm and good wit to secure some cocoa for the two men in my life who were acting darn near close to extinction without it.

Sorry, no photo of this – they were dehydrating so fast, I didn’t have the time.

But once everyone got their single cookie and single cup of cocoa into their sweaty hot bodies we called it a night, gathered our things and headed home for a late night of catching up on homework and chores.

Kenny: “Momma, I think we should open the gifts under the tree tonight.”

Me: “You do?”

Kenny: “Yep, I do!”

Me: “Why?”

Kenny: “Because we WANT to!”

Me: “You know what, let’s do it. Let’s open the gifts under the tree tonight!”

Without giving me a chance to change my mind, he dashes out of my room and into the living room. Twenty seconds later he returns much more slowly with a half-smerk, half-irritated look on his face.

Kenny: “Momma, there are no presents under the tree.”

Me: “Yep, I know – you didn’t really think I’d let you unwrap presents yet, didja?”

Typically I’m not so cruel – typically.

And with that I’ll leave off with a precious shot of my two girls…

…about 2 minutes before they launched into their 1 trillionth argument of the day.