Yes.

Ahhhhh. I worked a short time today and am now off, officially until January 5! I may have to do a little thing here and there...but off...for two weeks! After many years of working retail I am beyond grateful for the University's schedule. I remember Judi used to say, "Really? You have to work over the holidays?" and I would get so irritated with her. Now I understand because it's become somewhat normal for me after, let me see....after THIRTEEN years of working for the University. Man, that's just crazy.

Anyway, as always, Owen finds the week before Christmas enormously stressful because he's so excited. Today he wanted to go someplace to look for an amp for the old turntable he just scored from the fourth room, and instead we sent him to the basement. Pathetic I know but there's a whole nother world down there! I heard shouts and yelps and finally he and Ernie came up with various boxes as well as an old amp. It seems to be working well enough, so when I came home from work today I could hear the Kinks pouring out of the upstairs of our house. He is BEYOND excited and made me come up and admire the set up. I told him to be careful not to play it too loud for Leo and he cheerfully reported that he'd given Leo his headphones.

Lord I love those boys.

Owen just pulled Ernie back downstairs to the basement and has now brought a whole box of Kinks albums up to his room. Ernie's heart, just like the grinch's, grew umpteen sizes. He's sitting up there with him. I stuck my head in Leo's room and he pulled the headphone off his ear to talk to me and seemed pretty cheerful. I'm cooking dinner right now and when I'm down we're all going to curl up and eat while watching a Christmas movie.

A few minutes ago I heard someone walking around upstairs and thought it was Ernie so I yelled up. Turns out it was Owen. As he cheerfully expained, he was trying to see how loud it was in our bedroom when he played music. He told me that with the door closed it wasn't too bad...and besides, sometimes it's nice to fall asleep to music, so it might help us sleep. So thoughtful, that boy....

Good God.

I love those boys.

Owen also found a box from my parents' house that we'd never unpacked (shameful I know) and it turned out to be full of family photos from when I was a baby that I had never seen. He also found a bunch of cds of photos I thought I'd lost in a flood. Amazing. I assured him it was the best Christmas present I could have possibly had.

Love those boys. Love them, love them, love them.

Merry Christmas all...and a shout out of love to my friend Pete.