How’s everyone’s weekend going? Ours has been rather Christmasy.
Today we’re heading downtown to take in some of the Christkindl Market. Today is the last day, so if you haven’t been yet or want to go again, get moving. It’s open between 10 and 4 today. It’s a great way to get some unique Christmas shopping done and give yourself diabetes. I especially recommend the apple fritters and the schnitzel dinner, both of which Carin was lovely enough to pop in and bring home for us a couple of nights ago because it’s close to her office.
As for yesterday, we went to the first of the family Christmas parties. It’s nice to have them spread out this year instead of all in one big clump like usual. It was a lovely time (thanks Brad for having us), much of which I spent playing with the Seppa Tebby Tebby nephew. Apparently he was excited to see me.
“Are you going to uncle Brad’s today?”
“Yes.”
“Is uncle Steve going to be there?”
“Let’s go wild!”
Nobody knows where that came from. I don’t think I’ve ever said that to him in his life. But hey, I’ll take being the let’s go wild uncle if it means I’m one of the fun relatives.
And fun we did have. We ate freezies together. We jumped around. We ran. We played with an airplane complete with pre pillow (I had him saying propeller by the end). We made every animal sound you can think of. We walked hand in hand in a giant circle around the house like 25 times saying hello to people including my dad, who decided to slap me on the ass every time we passed him. Don’t ask. These are my family. Just smile to yourself, say “that explains a lot” and move on. We sang songs. Boy were there songs. We were treated to such classics as Hickerary Dock, Humpty Dumpty Haggery Fall, and my personal favourite, Rassie In the Buppy In the Kitchen. I was able, somehow, to determine that that would be this:
There was also much Wheels On the Bus, including verses about lions, tigers, bears, and something that sounded like “the queer on the bus goes tutu ray.” Yup, we’re all just as lost as you are.
I even got to hear him swear for the first time! We’re all sat down to dinner and my sister realizes “shit, I forgot one of the presents!” And of course, of all the things to repeat, “Shit!” as loud and as clear as the day is long. We all nearly died. I didn’t know if I was going to wear Carin’s mouthful of stuffing or if she was going to choke on it, but what a time.
Next up is Christmas with Carin’s family, at least the parts of it that are going to be in the country. It will be smaller than usual, but there will be children, which means there will be fun. I’m sure one of us will be around to talk all about it.
Oh man, those songs. When he was singing Humpty Dumpty, when we got to the “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men” part, it sounded like”a bunch of mumbling …and all the worst men.” Worst men? Horsemen? Workmen? Only he knows. Watching him hop around like a frog and go “ribbit, ribbit, ribbit!” was pretty awesome. It’s amazing what we’ll do when kids are around. Also, it’s amazing how fast you can forget every kids’ song you ever knew as soon as someone says “Distract him! Sing something!” Uh, um, um…
I’m glad he can say Humpty Dumpty now, but I’m kind of sad that “hummo dee!” is gone.
I talked to my sister this morning and I am happy to report that Rassie in the Buppy in the Kitchen is still very much a thing. Whenever she’s cooking, he sings it. Sometimes he’ll even put on the oven mitts and do a little dance.