Christmas Playlist 2015 Additions

Check these out if you don't have them already:

1. Jingle Bell Rock, Bobby Helms
2. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Casting Crowns
3. White Christmas, Michael Buble (with Shania Twain)
4. Deck the Halls, St. Patrick's Hope Choir
5. Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Chet Atkins
6. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, She & Him
7. Joy to the World, Sufjan Stevens
8. Silver Bells, Martina McBride
9. Ave Maria, Stevie Wonder

Talking to My Kids About ISIS

Our family talked a lot recently about terrorism, and about ISIS specifically. I got into a lot of details that I really didn't want to discuss with my little innocents, but the news was on, it was horrible, and they were asking questions. So it was time.

Then Madeline said, "I hate ISIS. I want to do something to stop them. What can I do?"

As a father, I was proud of her instinct and courage, but I was stumped in practical terms. After a moment, I simply told her to be good. "I think," I suggested, "that every act of kindness is an act of counter-terrorism. So be good. At all costs and at all times, be good and kind and loving." Then, because there is a hawk that stirs my soul at times such as these, I added, "And pray for our warriors who are fighting them head on."

The Pakistan Chord

We have a piano. It is not a very good piano. Old. Banged up. Several keys out of tune.

No one plays our piano. It is a decorative piece. Basically our piano is a table for the router. It is also heavy.

We move a lot. When we move, we have a weight limit. There are many things I could ship in place of a 400 pound router table with keys. So when an offer came to give it away, it was a no brainer.

The first attempt to give it away failed when scaffolding associated with our new siding and windows thwarted efforts to remove it via the window.

A second attempt was scheduled for this week. We informed the kids that it was going. Their response was unexpected.

Madeline wept. Katie and I exchanged a puzzled look.

"That piano is Virginia," Maddie explained. "I took lessons when dad was in Pakistan. We all took lessons together when he was in Pakistan. That piano is what we did together in Virginia when dad was gone. How can you do this? You can't just take that from me. If you take the piano, I'll forget Virginia."

The piano delivery was cancelled. I love my router table.

Trick or Treat Results Prompt Tax Debate

Madeline, dressed as Artemis Queen of the Forest (shown previously), departed early, teamed with friends, and systematically acquired candy from all participating apartments. Caleb and Henry (death and zombie, respectively) stayed with the parental units, to their candy gathering detriment.

Zombie, with a hint of Joker (accidentally)

Caleb reprised last year's Death

The parent-led party, predictably, pursued a leisurely pace, avoided multiple visits to the same distributor, visited with friends, and so forth. The boys' candy haul faced additional headwinds when their group decided to vacate the gathering process in favor of the haunted house. Alas, the house was a bit too haunted (it was the crazy clown) and we exited mid-tour. Thus, anticipated positive candy-for-fun trade offs did not materialize.

Upon returning home, Madeline revealed that her go-without-grown-ups strategy had yielded superior candy returns, even after paying "mom and dad" fees in the form of Butterfingers and Almond Joys.

Caleb and Henry informed their board, at family council, that they intend to seek remedy in the form of a confiscatory candy-tax regime overseen by mom with regular candy distribution.