Geertsema Christmas

The unveiling of the Geertsema Family Picture 2009!

Here's the nice version:

And here's the "Where's Waldo" version (or maybe....Where's Michael???)

Very Fun! Well, keep an eye on our blogs for more pictures to come of our fabulous weekend!

Christmas

As many of you know, I've become an avid fan of many of Stephen Leacock's writings. I've shared some 'snippets' before, and I'm going to share some more right now... even though Stephanie rolls her eyes and says "not Again!" every time...
But these ones I thought appropriate to the season....

"Let me say right at the start that I am devoted to Christmas -- no time in the year like it. It's all brightness and light and Christmas trees with candles, and holly berries -- with little children dancing in a ring and everyone pretending to be a fine fellow, and pretty nearly succeeding in it.
I was brought up on it; weren't you? It was a sort of family tradition -- house all hung with mottos of MERRY CHRISTMAS, and cotton wool and red flannel.... You had all that in your family, too, didn't you, and your brother Jim always gave your brother Dick a neck-tie every Christmas, just the same as the one Dick gave to Jim, and your mother paid for both of them -- didn't she, so as to teach the children to be generous?
Quite so; and in that case you'll agree with me that of all the side issues and extras that go with Christmas and make it what it is, there isn't one that for warmth and character is in it with Christmas shopping! The pleasure of anticipation, that warm glow about the heart, eh! that joy in generous giving far ahead of getting anything for yourself. That's you, isn't it? Yes, I'm sure it is."

From "My Remarkable Uncle" in a chapter called "Christmas Shopping: Pre-war"

and later in his essay:

"... But it was a kind thought, anyway. I've had quite a few like that. There is a man going round in Montreal wearing, for me, though he doesn't know it, a smoking jacket that I nearly gave him the Christmas after he got married. There is, or was, a retired clergyman who nearly qualified for an encyclopaedia; and ever so many of my young married friends have imaginary sets of Shakespeare. But I needn't expalin it. I am sure that you yourself, and everybody else, have a list of these gifts that never were given. It is very sweet of you to have thought of them. Perhaps this Christmas you might make good on one or two. Change the encyclopaedia to a fountain-pen, or, if you like, to a pencil shapener; only give it, don't wait. But it is getting late - the shops will close soon..."

- from Stephen Leacock, copyright 1942.

Now, I'm not a tailor, but...

I recently came into possession of a new pair of pants.
They're a nice pair of pants, all things considered. But one thing really, truly annoys me.
The buttons...

Buttons seem to be a real problem with the manufacturers of pants lately, because, well, I run across this problem alot.
You see, the button, affixed to the pants above the zipper has come loose. Such that I know it will eventually pop right off. Which is compoundedly annoying for this reason - the manufacturers of these pants have sewn two (2) extra buttons to a tag on the inside of the pants.
Which means that they knew that the button would pop off if worn for anything more than 5 times.
But as I said, this whole button thing is a problem I've had with other pants... Which means that I have gained the experience necessary with a needle and thread to actually sew a button back onto a pair of pants.
What I don't get is this...
Every button that I've sewn onto a pair of pants has never come off. Even if I've worn the pants more than 5 or 6 times, my sewing has not come loose. I'll even stretch that to say that I've worn some pants 30 or 40 times and the button has still not come loose.
AND yet, the manufacturers of pants, who are trained (hopefully) workers with some skill in designing fashionable pantalons can't sew on a button so that it will remain affixed to a pair of trousers for more than 5 wearings.
But the two buttons they sewed to the inside of the pants are still there...

Introducing - Mr. and Mrs. Awesome

A real conversation I had with a child:

At the end of the school day:
Child - "Your new name is Mr. Awesome."
Me - "Oh?"
Child - "Yep, some teachers come in here and they get walked all over. But not you."
Me - "Okay... thanks."

A real conversation I had with Stephanie later that day...

Steph (seeing a letter from the church addressed to Mr. and Mrs. David J. Geertsema) - "Why do I have to be Mrs. David Geertsema?"
Me - "I don't know. It's just the way it is."
Steph - "Well, why shouldn't you be Mr. Steph Geertsema"
Me - "Because it doesn't work that way. Listen, think about this... A kid just called me Mr. Awesome at school today. So what does that make you? Mrs. Awesome."

Fall Work

Since the weather was so beautiful today we thought it was time to get some yard work done. A few weeks ago we had bought some Christmas lights, so this afternoon Dave got up on the roof to put them up. Very exciting! This is also a big step for Dave who sometimes acts like Scrooge at Christmas!!!! Then we raked up all the leaves and cleaned up the yard. It was great to take advantage of a nice day because I'm sure after the snow/hail/sleet we got the other day, there won't be too many nice days left. We'll have to take a picture of the house in the dark when it's all lit up to show you our handiwork (not that it's that creative!) We were also thinking of putting some lights in the bush to the left of the front door, but weren't sure what it would look like. Any thoughts?

One More Time Around the Calendar

So, today is my birthday. So far I've had a good day. I was asked to go to a small Christian school to watch over some children for the day - and get paid. The beauty of it was that there were only 4 children left in the class (half the class went away for the day and I was left with 4). So I read a good amount of "Hatchet" by Gary Paulson. It was nice of them to pay me for my time.

I've been asked a couple times if I feel any older today. Which, of course, everyone knows the answer is 'not really'. I mean, you're told that you're a year older. But really, for about two years I've just rounded my age up to the nearest 10. So when my birthday comes around, I can actually surprise myself, and feel a little younger.
"Your 28?" someone might ask.
To which I'd reply, " I am?" in astonishment. All this time I thought I was 30... I really should keep better track of this thing...

Anyway, Steph and I have choir practice tonight. So we won't be around for much more of the evening. If you haven't called to say "Happy Birthday" you can try later in the evening, or tomorrow.
Just don't ask if I'm 40 yet. 'cause that would be insulting.