Adventageous

It's the run-up to Christmas, which begins as soon as the Thanksgiving turkey has been washed down.  This year offered all the usual parties, kicking off with Chevron Santa and a breakfast buffet.  It was a reminder of how fast my baby boy is growing up, as it's the first year he's been happy in proximity to a red-dressed bearded old man.  We'll be working on stranger danger to make sure it doesn't happen again.

The winter season has brought some unseasonal weather, which meant a birthday party was relocated from a rainy local park to Chick-Fil-A.  For those unacquainted, it's a fast-food restaurant, like McDonalds but for chicken, and extremely religious.  Now imagine holding a birthday party in there on a packed Saturday afternoon.  I sat in the corner supping a milkshake and admiring the chaos.

We rounded out the weekend with the Houston Museum of Natural Science Christmas bash.  Santa was here too, but why bother with him when you can ride a dinosaur?  Finally science delivers something worthwhile.

I collapsed at home after all this, cradling a brandy, and wondering the same thing I do every year: how am I going to make it to actual Christmas Day?

What do you say if a stranger offers you sweeties?

Perfect party location.

Six-yr-old Sebas and his no-artificial-ingredients cake.

Oh, and it was fancy dress.

 

A little pre-Yule yard work.

Rudolph the red-nosed velociraptor.

Pete and Emila, an old friend from pre-school.

One for next year's card.

Advent is all about preparing for Christmas, i.e. getting the body ready for even more indulgence.