A little bit of nothing

An (almost) full moon last night:

I love a winter evening sky – icy blue, thin white clouds, the black silhouettes of leafless trees.  This picture captures very little of what it actually looked like, which reminds me that one of my 2012 New Year’s resolutions is to take a photography course.

George pointing out his all-time favorite Christmas character – Frosty the Snowman.  According to George all snowmen are named “Frosty the Snowman” and you must say the entire name each and every time you refer to them.

I have never heard an exercise in patience as I did the other day listening to Frances play hide-and-seek with George upstairs while I was downstairs attempting to clean.  The game went something like this:

F:        “Okay, George.  I’ll hide and you find me.  I’ll tell you when I’m ready … okay, I’m ready!

G:        “OH!  One, two, three, four”

F:        “George!  You don’t have to count; I’m ready now!

G:        “Oh!  One, two, three, four”

F:        “No, George!  Come find me now; I’m hiding in Nana's room”

G:        “Oh!  Okay!”  [George finds Frances]

F:        “Okay George, now YOU hide and I’ll find you.”

G:        “Okay!  One, two, three, four … ready!”

F:        “No George, I count and YOU hide.  Are you ready?”

G:        “Oh!  Ready!  One, two, three, four …”

I’m sure you get the picture.  This went on for a good 20 minutes or more, which is plenty of time for me to have gotten something productive done around the house.  Except that instead I stood at the bottom of the stairs listening and giggling.  I kept reminding myself that moments likes these were what I missed when I worked—and the dirty dishes can wait.

I recently wrote about a book I had just finished (that I loved) and one I was currently reading called “The School of Essential Ingredients.”  Sadly, I didn’t love that book so I can’t recommend it (unrealistic plot, flowery writing).  I have since started “The Marriage Plot,” Jeffrey Eugenides’ latest novel.  He also wrote “The Virgin Suicides” (which I have not read) and “Middlesex” (a great book and one that Will loves to make fun of because it is indeed about a hermaphrodite).  I am hesitant to comment on “The Marriage Plot” when I am only half-way through it (I hate to give it the same jinx I bestowed upon “The School of Essential Ingredients” after all), so I’ll reserve opinion for later. 

Our elf made his way to the mistletoe today

He wisened up after yesterday’s near-death experience when the back door closed on one of his feet as he sat peacefully on the top ledge of the door.  Needless to say, his injury created quite a stir among the youngest in the household who were convinced that his magic was lost because I had to touch him in order to remove the appendage from the door jam and readjust his position.  For those of you who aren’t versed in “Elf on the Shelf” rules, touching the little guy is a Cardinal sin and is intended to result in immediate naughty-list status.  Both kiddos were quite relieved to see him hanging from the hallway chandelier this morning, evidence that “Elfy” (as Frances calls him) or “SHELF!” (as George yells every time he sees him) was still on the up and up with Santa.

We’ve been playing dress-up nearly every afternoon, particularly with the sun setting at 4:30pm - over two hours before Daddy gets home if he comes home at all.  Will’s been working a lot recently, which is great for the economy but hard on us and hardest on Will who hasn’t seen his princess in this get-up in a long time.  I think this weekend calls for another father/daughter dance party.

Have a great Friday, everyone!