a wrench like me

jack has always had a real distinctive speech pattern. many years ago, a student coined it "jackanese". his speech has greatly improved, but he still has his own jack way of saying things. he is a pretty quotable kid with phrases such as...

"mom is having some angerment issues!"

while we were cuddling at night, "Can we be a little more cuddleish? We're not too much in cuddle formation."

and recently this beauty, while playing with the thermometer, "mom! it's 83 degrees down my pants!"

he can often be heard singing around the house (since it's jack, he can probably be heard at the neighbors too). lately it's been "amazing grace, how sweet the sound. that saved a wrench like me..."

i am glad for the little things that make me chuckle because frankly, this whole merry christmas thing still isn't quite working for me this year. though we are doing some "christmas-y" things. like decorating the huge gingerbread men i bought from trader joe's...

the men were not delicious as a whole (thus they sit on on kitchen counter with most of their limbs still in tact), but the m&m toppings were a big hit...

and emmie's winter chorus concert was also sweet, in a different way...

she rocked her speaking role (not that i'm biased or anything)...

lulu was impressed...

though i'm not in much of a christmas mood these days, i'm so thankful for the christ of christmas. this christmas i am reminded more than ever that it isn't about the decorations and the baking and the gifts and the traditions. it isn't even ultimately about being with the ones you love. christmas is...amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wrench like me. so keep on singing, jack. that's the true christmas spirit.