I didn’t know what to expect for Ellie’s first Christmas.  She’s not quite a year old yet, so I knew she wouldn’t be opening her own presents or really get what was going on. But I was expecting her to be her normal excited self. If she’s excited for a normal Monday, then why wouldn’t she flip out with excitement over Christmas with the site of packages, bows, and pretty paper? But after her nap on Christmas Eve, she woke up with a fever and wasn’t quite herself. Aya was getting over having a cold and now Ellie had one too.   Even so, I thought as soon as we got to my grandma’s she’d put her happy face on and still be excited.
FREDDIE THE FROZEN CHRISTMAS FROG
To help battle the cold dry winter air, my dad came over to help me install a whole house humidifier on the furnace. Well exactly, I stood there and handed him tools. I’m a pretty handy guy, but dealing with the furnace was out of my league, so I played the role of assistant. As I was looking around the basement floor for a screw driver, I noticed something under the floor drain cover. It honestly looked like a mound of poop. Thinking this was odd, I took a closer look. It was pretty poorly lit by the floor drain and I was about to take the cover off when I noticed this “mound” had a nose. I jumped back as I wasn’t absolutely sure what this was. It was only able to determine that this was not something, but someone.
LOST IN TRANSLATION: THE TOILET GOD
When Aya’s parents were in town we settled into a nice routine. They’d play with Ellie all day, or we’d be out shopping, and then we’d come home for dinner. After dinner, Aya would put Ellie down, and then we’d all meet at the dinner table for dessert and coffee. This is when we’d all chat and catch up. Well, they would chat and catch up. I’d mostly sit there and laugh when they would laugh just so I would feel like I was part of the conversation. But on the last night, I really wanted to actually participate a little more.
STRANGERS, SNUGGIES, AND THE EZ CRACKER
When Aya’s mom is in town, there are always a few stops we have to make. We always venture out to the Somerset mall, or as they call it, the Somerset “Collection.” This place has all the exclusive stores like Tiffany’s, and Louis Vuitton so they can’t just call it a mall, even though they have a GAP and a Macy’s like every other mall does. After the “Collection” we hit Target and Bed, Bath, & Beyond. I don’t mind going shopping with them, and especially now with Ellie around, I have a buddy. Also with shopping at a different mall, I can scope out the mallwalking situation for a possible mallwalking trip. This mall is three times as big as my mall, AND it has three floors! And a Starbucks! However, the Somerset “Collection” does NOT have a Big Boy like my mall does. Maybe if we’re all lucky, one day they’ll make that addition. What better way to celebrate your purchase of a purse that costs more than my mortgage payment than by eating a Big Boy’s Slim Jim?Â
THANKSGIVING
One great thing about living in a multi-cultural home is that Ellie gets to celebrate both American and Japanese holidays. Thanksgiving wasn’t so much about pilgrims and native Americans in our house this year. It was more about east meets west. Aya’s parents were in town from Japan to visit, and we were able to include her family with our regular Thanksgiving dinner this year. The typical crowd is us, my folks, my brother Patrick, his wife Kristen, grandma, my good friend Rob, and his fiance Jesse. And also this year, Aya’s parents.