10 days: Christmas crafting

11 days: carols at the spinet

12 days: the countdown begins

A race and a concert.

This was Calvin's first year in the Boychoir of Ann Arbor. He tried out their camp last summer, then this fall joined their ranks in the young boys' preperatory choir. They rehearse once a week with a very patient, very understanding young conductor who goes through note reading, sol fetch, and unending lessons in polite behavoir. The rehearsals are an hour and thirty minutes long, and because I rarely have errands and don't want to drive home just to drive back, I usually take work and sit in the back of the room, so I get to hear all the absurdity, and wonderfulness, that is a late afternoon singing rehearsal with a dozen boys between the ages of 8 and 12. I imagine the Performing Choir rehearsals are more sophisticated; Jon was in the choir himself when he was younger, during the choir's first few years of inception. In fact, Calvin is the first child of an alumnus to join—the first returnee.

So the annual Christmas concert tonight was Calvin's first ever choir performance. And, following the closing piece with alumni invited to join the singers on the stage, 2014 became the first performance of the Boychoir of Ann Arbor, founded 27 years ago, with a father and son appearance.

Also, earlier in the day I ran in the annual Holiday Hustle 5K and finished in 12th place for my age bracket in exactly 26 minutes.

Look for Jon in the back right...he's the one in the vest and tie.

0 days: Merry Christmas

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care...the presents are wrapped and under the tree, Calvin's stocking is full, and the santa gifts set out, just waiting to be found. Now the parents pour a glass of wine and sit back to enjoy the sight. Tomorrow will be a day of shredding wrappings and exuberant thank yous, but more importantly it will be a day spent together in laughter and joy.

1 day: Xmas eve at Kerrytown

Tradition, tradition. Up and at 'em, Christmas Eve morning always finds our family descending upon the Kerrytown shops shortly after they open. We stop at the toy store, the spice market, the antique seller, the kitchen department, and end up at the grocery and seafood counter. We top it all off with seafood chowder and bee-bim-bop for brunch.

As I've gotten older the traditions have changed some. While we used to fool around all afternoon, waiting for the evening's festivities, now those of us in the middle generation spend the midday hours in last minute shopping trips and lightning quick baking endeavors. But some traditions stay the same, and when dinner rolls around we always sit down to oyster stew, cabbage rolls, and mostaccioli, and finish with chocolate whipped cream cake (a.k.a. freezer box cake? Or Christmas Eve cake, as it is called my recipe box).