Strange Things Afoot

We were in Tennessee for most of the week, so when I woke this morning I left John a-dreaming and came down to check email. And then I got into a longish conversation on the phone and all of a sudden it was noon. I decided I should really go upstairs to get dressed (not that I plan to do anything on this one delightfully open day of Christmas break, but someone could come to my door and catch me in my slovenlies) so up I went.

And SOMEBODY has made my bed.

I stared at it in mild shock then pulled on my Harvey pajamas and came back down to report on this wondrous turn of events. Aren't you glad I did?

Now if you stop by and catch me in my Harveys, you can't say you weren't warned.

Won't Go...Won't Go... Won't Go! WON'T GO! aka John Denver & Muppets Nail This Song

Tricky German Pronunciation

Mom: Do you remember the names of our cousins who are coming?

Anna: William, Evey, and... Chanukah?

Mom: (Laughing) That's Johanna! Or you can call her "Honey."

Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean (1 of 3)

I found this while lurking on a friend-of-a-friend's blog. So very warped. But also the funniest Bean I've seen.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean (2 of 3)

Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean (3 of 3)

I'll Be Home For Cookies

When I sat down to write this post it wasn't going to be all about cookies.
But then it kinda turned out that way.

This morning I thought I'd do the last bit of Christmas prep necessary but the online gift research muddled my brain and depressed me enough that I balked at going out and instead baked 3 dozen peanut butter blossoms for Kate's Young Women cookie exchange tonight. I had made the dough on Monday and flash-frozen the balls so all I had to do today was bake them and push chocolate stars on top. Nice!

Tomorrow I will bake an additional 6 dozen for another cookie exchange. I'm supposed to bring some extras to sample, but I'm thinking my quality control efforts have taken extras out of the equation. I'd have to make another batch. By the way, I highly recommend making your cookie dough ahead of baking day. It eliminates most of the mess and contributes to feelings of smug Martha-like domesticity. Or pure holiday enjoyment. Whichever.

Come to think of it, I can't believe I've never heard of a cookie dough exchange... wouldn't that be fabulous? Imagine having a freezer full of cookie possibilities. Sugar cookies would be so much more fun to decorate if the mixing, rolling, and cutting part was out of the way. How about snickerdoodles pre-formed and coated in cinnamon sugar or thumbprints all ready to bake and fill with jam? Maximum fun and minimal mess. (Any takers?)

Anyway, despite the pre-made cookies, my kitchen was a disaster because Kate decided it was more worth her while to leave early and lug her life possessions (no fewer than three bags hauled back and forth each day of middle school) to the bus stop than to clean up the kitchen and ride in comfort with Mom. I am secretly hoping her bus stop experience was unpleasant -- but only enough for her to rethink the kitchen deal.

By the way, Kate rocked her district cross-country race last night. So I guess I shouldn't begrudge her skipping out on kitchen detail. And then, there is that plate of cookies she's bringing home tonight...

Come on...

Kate's $60 black dress for Symphonic Band came home today in a plastic bag. Un-hemmed.

Their first concert is in two days.