The Monkey Barrel

Archive for December, 2006

The heater is humming here
In the hotel suite.
Fred and John swathed in
Crisp white linen,
Snoring away in dreamland.
Luke curled around blankie,
Stirring, beginning the process.
Waking up, my family.
Family, it’s always a new word to me.
Everyday being redefined by
Priorities, essentials.
The ones who give more
Than you could ever repay,
They are the circle.
It is not the blood that binds.
When it finds faith in another,
The soul ties.
Love is the bond.

The white christmas I prayed for, came not as I had dreamed. No fluffy mounds of chilly flakes blanketing the ground in snowy stillness. No soft crunch of muffled footsteps through powdery drifts. No, our white christmas came in the form of flour and sugar clouding the air and littering the kitchen floor in a flurry of baking cookies and rolling dough, and forming noodles. Covered head to toe in white stuff that clings but doesn’t soak and smells as glorious as any winter snow ever could. It isn’t quiet and it doesn’t muffle the children squaling, but the noise in this kitchen is equally as delightful. So to you, our dear readers, may your days be merry, your holiday be bright, and may all your Christmases be white…..

Who knew that those evergreen boughs would evoke such delight into our wee Luke’s heart. Unadorned it held no interest for him, but bedecked in garland lights and ornaments galore, Luke is rapt in its glow. Both he and John rearrange the ornaments to their hearts delight, but poor Luke nearly destroyed himself and the tree when trying to “wear” the garland around his neck! Eeeek! The best part of Christmas as a grown up is watching the pure and innocent delight that grows in your children when they begin to realize what the season holds in store. I cannot wait for the Christmas when the meaning of the greatest gift for us all finally hits home to them.

John had his first math word problem. It’s a hoot so I thought I’d share.

Cody ( a boy in John’s class) has four cows. John gave him two more cows. Three of the cows died, but two calves were born. How many cows are left?

After telling us the answer, John said, “Mrs Keasey says Cody is a bad farmer!) Hahaha, we were crackin up and thought you might too.