Santa, Can You Hear Me?

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I know it's only July but the kids are building their Christmas list. I guess they paid attention last summer when I stuffed the van top to bottom with "just in case, utter emergency" supplies.

Perhaps they took notes as I repeated, yoga mantra style, "It never hurts to be prepared."

Of course I ignored my husband's frequent references to my OCD-like attention to every possible road trip crisis. Come on, doesn't everyone pack 48 markers, a 64 pack of crayons (with built in sharpener), two back up pencil sharpeners, 3 boxes of Kleenex, GPS, CAA maps, and a cooler of food.

Did I mention the cutting board and knife?

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Okay, so apples may not fall far from trees and I definitely have two mini-me apples; one a Granny Smith the other a Gala. Totally different varieties but still the same fruit. My little apples are just planning ahead. Making sure Santa has enough supplies for their present order of Lego.

Not just any Lego, but the new "girl" line - Lego Friends.

Yes, it's mostly pink, but there's nothing weak about it and from my brief stint as a "Lego Lady" I see the wisdom in their early Christmas order. Lego has a history of running out of the most popular sets and in Canada this is even a greater risk.

For my over planning pommes, a Lego deprived Christmas is too horrible to consider. Hence, the 6 month early Christmas list.

For the past two days the girls have played Lego; building cars, helicopters, and houses with impossibly tiny doors. And the best part? They never argue when they're Legoing. Not one snarky comment. Nada. Zilch.

So, as I sit writing quietly in my cottage living room with tiny powder pink and celery green bricks wedged into my heels, I have to say, "Pass me a stamp."

This is one letter that must get to the North Pole before the December rush.

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*This could totally be me. Joyfully writing while the girls build cities of Lego.
Except for the "bigger-than-my-head" veggie burger.
Definitely would've gone for the Smokie dog.
Just sayin.'

Family Traditions - the Old and the New

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Family Traditions – built on years of repetition and sentiment. Every family has them. Some of the most memorable ones are wrapped around the big holidays – Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Hannukah, and for Tim Burton fans - Halloween.

Does your family open Christmas presents on Christmas Eve or do you wait until morning? Who hands out the pressies? Is it, “Santa’s Elf” or “Mrs. Claus,” or an exhausted mom who didn’t sleep because she was more excited for Christmas morning than her children? (Just curious.) Does this person, not referring to any specific mom, wear a fluffy red hat with puffy white trim while passing around the gifts?

Much to my husband’s horror, I brought a few traditions with me in my tickle trunk of eccentricity, to our marriage. We Griffiths' delight in Christmas crackers, wearing our paper hats through dinner and into dessert. Every year Drew “accidentally” tears his, blaming his ginormous melon-sized cranium. Harrumph, we’re onto you, my sweets, we’re onto you.

My mom started one of my favourite traditions, for my brother and me, and Drew and I now do the same for our girls. We send them on a treasure hunt for gifts on their birthday morning, providing clues that lead them from one present to the next.

A few days ago, we sent my youngest, Sarah, on her hunt.  We’re always at the lake for her birthday,  so hiding her presents in our 600 sq. foot cottage, is quite a challenge.

And every year, our extended family drives the hour from Winnipeg, joining us for the sun, the lake and the mosquitoes. We like to share everything, here in Ponemah. It's tradition.

This year we were treated to a visit from my two American cousins, Liz and Lorraine. I haven’t seen either since the 1980’s. 30 years is a long time between visits and much has changed, but there was an instant family connection that makes me giddy just thinking about.

Over burgers, bright blue icing laden cupcakes, and wine we reminisced, agreeing that we can’t wait another 30 years to see each other again.

We vowed to keep in touch, updating each other with the goings on in our lives - building the newest Family Tradition - Staying Connected.

What are your oldest and dearest traditions?  Which ones would you prefer to dump?

Are there new traditions you’d like to test out?

Please post your comments below – I’d love to hear from you.

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(And no, this is not my family. We can't jump that high.)

Serene, peaceful, writing retreat weekend...ear plugs required.

Months of anticipation and planning are almost over. Finally our writing retreat weekend is less than two weeks away. Two solid days of lake-side writing; no phone, no kids, and no interruptions, unless you count the dawn to dusk scheduled jack-hammering of the paper mill they're demolishing down the bay.

Seriously.

Planned deconstruction times: 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday.

The owner of the B&B actually said, it's so loud, you can't think. A possible hurdle for five writers looking to find their inner zen and tap into a flowing stream of words.

All, is not lost, for we are a resourceful bunch and I have suggested, what I like to call, "Carmichael's Cozy Cottage and Camper Plan B." Five eager writers, one six hundred square foot two bedroom cottage, and a mondo camper in the back yard.

So, when your dream retreat in the wilderness turns into an ear-piercing power tool nightmare, I suppose you could use the complementary ear plugs (found next to the elf-sized shampoo bottles in your bathroom), grin, and pretend you are such a dedicated and driven writer that can work through even a sonic boom, or...you could graciously accept the offered deposit refund, pick up a crisp bottle of chardonnay, and flee to the relative calm of Chez Carmichael.

Fingers crossed the neighbours decide to postpone their deck building party.