Start with a simple song, "Jingle Bells"
Dashing through the snow (okay, that's not bad other than we live in Arizona, but she still knows what snow is although she doesn't think it's fair that I can't make it snow down here.)
In a one horse open sleigh
Over the hills we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bobtails ring WAIT, what? What's a bobtail? I'm assuming here the author is discussing the bells put on the horse's tail although I'm not an equestrian, is "bobtail" a correct term for the horse's tail?
Making spirit's bright
what fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight!
Overall, not too bad of a song, let's move on to "Deck the Halls"
Deck the Halls with boughs of holly. Problem--I know what a bough is, but it's not a word I ever, ever use in conversation with her.
Tra-la-la (etc.)
'Tis the season to be jolly
repeat
Don we now our gay apparel. Okay for this generation that phrase right there could take on a whole different meaning than during the writer's time don't you think?
repeat
Troll the ancient yuletide carol. I'm not gonna lie, I don't even know what this means, but I don't think it has anything to do with an ugly creature that scares small children.
See the blazing Yule before us. What the heck is this yule junk he keeps mentioning?
(Yule: Christmas, or Christmas season) Don't act like you knew that one either. So, since there were definitely not any Christmas lights then, is this a pyromaniac's song or what?
There's more, but I think that I've made my point with this song.
Okay, I had to get that out. Most of the songs aren't too bad, but the language is definitely old school.
Now, moving onto Christmas trees and Christmas Cheer. We decorated our tree last week. Well, Ryanna and I decorated it and Owen tried to systematically remove as many of the ornaments as he could reach. It didn't help our cause that the ornaments are shaped like balls either. As soon as he tore it off the tree, he launched it across the room. He also put the really little ones in his mouth (see picture). Good thing these suckers are made of plastic 'cause I can't tell you how many times a day now I start thinking, "Owen is playing so quietly and it's so wonderful that he's reached this stage," only to slowly realize that he is playing quietly because he's being NAUGHTY!!!
Do boys come programmed to think that the word "no" means that you are playing some sort of tag or keep away or is this just a second child syndrome? Instead of crying or looking guilty, he puts on his beautiful, dimpled grin and I have to start to giggle and it's really hard to discipline him. Plus, he's getting to be a pretty quick runner. I blame all of these characteristics on his dad because I was very obedient as a child (the fact I had no siblings to fight with is insignificant).
Owen fell asleep later after all of his mischief and I put his in his new sleeping bag by the tree. It was so cute!While we put up the tree, I played Christmas music. It was also overcast and rainy here, as close to "snowy" as you're gonna get. It really did feel like Christmas. Plus, since it was gloomy outside, we could immediately plug in our tree and see the pretty lights. Not all of them 'cause two of my strands don't work and I don't know how to fix it and my hubby is too busy to deal with it, so with some strategic turning and placement of the tree, we just pretend. Santa isn't real, so why can't I pretend all my lights work?
Now, all I have to do is put on the necessary five pounds of weight from received goodies from others. So, I'm waiting...bring it on. Santa you ain't got nothin' on me!
16 comments:
Your tree is so pretty!!! I love it! I know what you mean about the ornaments. I will start to think that BO is being really good, only to find him picking all the ornaments off the tree. Several times I have had to threaten to take down the tree. That seems to solve things pretty quickly.
Santa can't come if the tree isn't there ;)
love the tree! the blazing Yule is a yule log, some ceremonial log for burning at christmas time...just a thought..maybe not so much of a pyro as originally thought:)
Ah....here's something I actually know about...
Bobtail is the name of the horse. Perhaps he is named that because his tail bobs as he trots, but yeah, the other verses make that more clear.
And like jenw said, the yule is the yule log in the fire. So it's okay for it to blaze.
And, finally, troll is just a strange old word for singing heartily.
Your tree is very pretty even without all the lights working...isn't that frustrating? Last year we got all our lights out and none of them worked. I blame the out of state move. :)
i'm with ya on the words. kids don't get it but they don't care. the other day wyatt was singing "feliz nabidab" and "oh the weather outside is delightful". still so cute no matter what. try reading the classics to them. i started to read my kids "the lion, the witch and the wardrobe" years ago and i quit because it was taking me hours to read the book, translate it into terms they would understand (from our era) and then move on. i gave up. i need the classics for dummies. actually, i'll just let them read their "hannah montana" and "high school musical" books and call it a day. :)
Did you get a bigger tree this year? Maybe it's just the picture....very beautiful! Now you have something in your front room! ;)
Owen looks so cute in his sleeping bag....maybe it will be the key to naps!
I look at the words of those carols and think...they didn't even make a lot of sense even when I was singing them (back in the day). However, at least we could sing them in our school Christmas program. Yes, you heard me right...even though the words are a little strange...we were allowed to say the word "Christmas" and even rejoice publically in the Christmas season back then. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was pretty down with that! Now, we let 2 people in a thousand tell us it's offensive. Bah humbug...if it bugs people that much (that the majority of us are celebrating Christmas which is centered around Jesus Christ) they should work on Christmas and treat it like any other day but don't take away my freedom of speech. When I was the young women's president several years ago, we did a google search on the lyrics to Christmas songs and each pair of girls had to talk about their appointed song...it's a good way to become endeared to the song and the meaning. Merry Christmas!! Your tree is beautiful :) and so are your kids!
HAHA! Never thought about the words really. Isaac just makes up his own words if he doesn't understand :) Something I did too as a child. Sometimes make a fool of myself singing what I "thought" lyrics were to songs.
Thanks Lara for teaching me something new :)
Love the picture of Owen sleeping by the tree. Priceless!
Your tree looks great. Are you ready for Tuesday night?
I am right there with you on the Christmas songs.
YOu are hilarious! I loved the lyrics bashing session....it is so true that half of those things don't make sense. How about getting Wesley to say the Pledge of Allegiance? He doesn't understand any of it!
I am anxious for a response about some of your favorite books...I am reading the Witch of Portobello and just got the Wedding Day as well as a few more off of your list. How do you find these books? Why do you like them?
I love Owen's little sleeping bag. Did someone make it for you? It looks so warm and fuzzy...I want one for myself.
Pretty tree! Wait til' Owen turns two or maybe he already is, but my little sweet boy has turned in to a little devil spawn...the tree is his fall back now.
On a more festive note I love Christmas music and have been and will probably continue to live in blissful ignorance about the lyrics-so what if Q sings Fleas in my dog?!?! Merry Christmas!
joann fabrics and michael's had advent calendars. random i know. you might still be able to catch a couple and on sale :)
That picture of Owen sleeping under the tree it too dang cute! I loved your entire post, as usual. You make my cheeks hurt, which I assume means I must be burning calories, so thanks for that too! You are so fabulous!
Yeewwwzzzer, 29!! jk ;-) My day is coming soon but I’m OK with that. I feel like I’ve “been there, done that” with the 20’s. Time for something new. Also your house looks like mine in how we decorate and fill it with things. Who needs furniture anyway???
Its fun to read your blog!! Have a great Christmas!!
Santa isn't real? You're kidding right? :)
I DID always kindof worry about your kids because of Derek. At least they have your obedient genes mixed in there!
I also struggled with disciplining around 2 year olds! It seems pointless, they are going to do what they want to anyway.
Check out my blog for somt MEDIUM size pictures (Thanks, by the way, I didn't even know I could so that until you mentioned it, I struggle with blogging)!
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