12 Days of Christmas

No, I haven't started making my Christmas projects, yet--- I just wanted to share a little scene from our day.

It has been a gorgeous day here in Louisiana. One of those perfect March days where a cool breeze is blowing. The sun is shining---not a cloud in the sky.  The temperature reads 73 degrees and as you stand outside you can feel the warmth of the sun kissing your skin.  It was such a beautiful day, I decided to take a walk and bring my camera along.  Most of the trees by the river are still without leaves, but there are a few that are in full bloom.   These are the Bradford Pear trees, also known as the puffy trees in our family.


I love looking at the trees every time we enter our neighborhood.

I love how to white flowers shine in the sunlight. 

The pictures can almost show you the amazingly beautiful day it's been around here.  Not only has the scenery been great, but the company has been awesome as well. Brendon was able to come home early and we spent the afternoon hanging out with our friend and her little boy.  If I'd been able to sneak in an afternoon nap, I'd call this the best day of the year, so far.  

But, there was no nap for me today.  Instead, I've been thinking of decoration ideas for my aunt, buying the fabric for a new sewing project, and compiling my list of things to make with my new silhouette! On top of all that, I prepared dinner to take to one of Brendon's coworkers.  He had shoulder surgery on Wednesday. We figured he'd enjoy some lasagna (his favorite meal) and his wife would enjoy a little company.  We ate dinner and talked.  Owen played and smiled and showed off all of his tricks. 

Around 7:45pm (forty-five minutes after Owen's usual bedtime) we got in the car to drive home.  The trip home is about 20 minutes. Not far at all--- but Owen was so tired, didn't want to be in his car seat, and was making sure to tell us about it! We tried giving him toys or a pacifier, but he wanted nothing to do with either. So, we started singing to him.  Usually, he likes the ABCs (But not today) So, we sang The Itsy Bitsy Spider (Nope--- didn't like that either) and then we sang I've Been Working on the Railroad.  We even personalized the lyrics to say, "Someone's in the kitchen with Owen" but that just made him cry louder.  I guess we're just going to have to let him scream for 20 minutes until we get home. :(

All of the sudden, Brendon starts singing the 12 Days of Christmas.  And, Owen stopped crying! So, we switched from thinking about the beautiful spring day we'd had, to frantically raking our brains to remember the words to the longest Christmas song ever.  Each time we stopped to think of the next line of the song, Owen would cry. Brendon was good at remembering the partridge in a pear tree, two turtle doves, and the three french hens.  And then it all when down hill from there. I started to chime in with suggestions for the lyrics, but that song is impossible to remember in order.  Other than the 5 golden rings, I couldn't think of one correct gift to sing in the song. 

Go ahead, try to name all the gifts from the song... in order and without even a second to pause --- Owen's not patient when it come to his music! 

Verse after verse sang by and we laughed as we butchered the Christmas classic, but Owen was quiet. After the 8 Maids a Milking (or 8 maids a baking--- as Brendon would say), we thought he'd fallen asleep --- but didn't stop sing. We didn't want to risk it and have him start screaming again. 

After all the singing and laughing at ourselves, we made it home. I opened the door to pick him up from his car seat, completely expecting to find him fast asleep and dreaming of "9 ladies lording" (I told you we were really bad at remembering the lyrics).  But, instead he was silently sitting there with a very concerned look on his face. I'm pretty sure he was thinking --- Oh, dear, I've cried too much and my parents have gone completely nuts! 

The look on his face was so funny and made Brendon and I laugh.  It was a perfect ending to a perfect spring day! 

Just incase you're curious.... here are gifts in the song. 

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

12 Drummers Drumming

11 Pipers Piping

10 Lords-a-Leaping

9 Ladies Dancing

8 Maids-a-Milking

7 Swans-a-Swimming

6 Geese-a-Laying

5 Gold Rings

4 Calling Birds

3 French Hens^[8]

2 Turtle Doves

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.