¡Felicia Me Muero!

One of my best New Year's ever was spent in Argentina, in the countryside, San Diego to be precise with my oldest brother and sister, my oldest friend D. and my current husband (then boyfriend). As the night wore on my grandfather got drunk (the first time I witnessed this) and he kept cracking himself up and repeating" Felicia me muero" (Felicia I am dying) instead of "Feliz año nuevo" (Happy New Year). He went on to invent a contrived and illogical game that made him laugh as he explained it. It was a warm (both climate and feeling wise)  and lovely evening. The end of 1999 and the beginning of 2000. Over a decade has passed and I remember it perfectly. Since then many things have happened, including his death, but I will always treasure that special New Year's. Happy 2011 everyone!

Exits & Entrances

J looked at me during dinner and just asked "How will the babies get out?"
I did not think it worth making up some crap so I told him non-chalantly,"out of my conchita" and he chuckled.
The M said "What I really want to know is how they got in there."
Me- "You need a man and a woman and.."
M- "...and love. you can make skin and bones and eyes with love? That is weird."
Strange but true and I think that is enough information for now?

Morning Comments

M was disgusted that her brother had not flushed her poop (we tend to encourage saving water when we pee). I told him it was not a choice to flush when you poop.
M- Unless you are drunk and dumb.
Me- What?
J- Drunk is when you drink and drive.
M-Drunk is when you have too much alcohol and you are like la la la this is so much fun and then next day you feel like a rock hit your head.
Have they been partying behind my back?

Schizo Love

On a yellow piece of paper found on the table...

I hate J. Love M (I am so so sorry- in a box on the side)

other side of the paper...

I love J. Love M. ( I really love J- in a box on the side)

Week 32 Appointment

Well, I wish I could tell you that Twin A is a champ and locked his/her head into the birth canal and is ready to go. But I cannot. At least he/she seems to be turning. Rather than head to head, they are now in an L position with twin A's spine by the exit. I can only hope that he/she is slowly but surely maneuvering down into the desirable vertex position. On a brighter note, I am still pain free and only a bit sluggish. It does not help that I have a bad cold that I cannot take anything for and that I cannot sleep at night due to cold, smushed bladder, general discomfort. I am happy to report that the Dr., who I guess will never be my favorite person, said the baby could turn at the very last moment (unlikely). I learned that you cannot schedule a C- section before week 38 and since she operates on Thursdays, she has me down (just in case) for one on Feb 10. I tried to negotiate the date to 11, my favorite number, or 9, an odd one (not a fan of the even) but she said no. She also does not think I will ever make it that far; Dr. C predicts twins being born between Jan 25-Feb 2. I predict and hope that once contractions start Twin A will think "What the hell is going on here and how can I get out? I see an exit!" If not, C- section it is, which Dr. C referred to today as "major abdominal surgery" entailing 5-10 minutes of yanking babies out and 30-40 minutes of sewing up all of the layers they cut through. Disgusting but realistically a possibility. Turn Baby Turn. Please repeat three times and click your heels!

Fairy Tale Sex

J just made a drawing and asked me to write the following...
Once upon a time there was a princess who married a beautiful prince. Then they went to kiss in the ball. And then they went to get messed up.
Me- what does that mean?
J- they went naked in a pond.

Happy Birthday Mamá!

Qué los cumplas feliz...
We still love you when you are 64!
Tanti baci.
tu primogenita.

Recent Comments II

As my belly moved like there were aliens in it..
Me- I think they are dancing in there.
M- Maybe they have a silver ball in there.
__
J called the dining room in Vt, "the diner"
___
Me- Why do they Barbies have to always be naked?
J- Because they are beautiful and fun that way.
__
Me (while J was acting like a monster) - Where is my ciccione? I want my little sweet boy back (kiss kiss)
J- I do not like you (pause) and I hate your mother.
__
Me, while discussing birthday party options for J- I do not believe in Chuck E. Cheese for a party place (J's request)
M- You do not have to believe it, because it exists, it is a real place.
___
J, while eating a hard boiled egg- I always choke on the choke of the egg.

Snow Baby Snow

Woo-eeh is it snowing hard! We barely made it back to Nueva York but thankfully all three vehicles did. Judging from the snow on the balcony, there is going to be well over a foot by the time we wake up tomorrow. I hope F does not have to go to work. I cannot believe how much crap we brought back from Vt. No matter how much I give away, throw away, put away, I feel like I live in a warehouse. So nice to be back home, sweet home. Week 31 came and left uneventful. Week 32 sneaking up. I will be seeing the Dr. on Wed and will hopefully hear about how successful abuela I has been at flipping twin A. Buona notte a tutti. Take out them snow gloves and sleds, the fun continues domani.

Feliz Navidad!

The house smells like a bacon explosion, but other than that, it is a great Xmas morning. Santa was VERY good to MoJo, who received a dollhouse and a drum set! Santa is not sensitive to our cramped NYC living quarters apparently. Both kids are very into their gifts and cannot even reallly open all of them because it is overwhelming. Abuela I made beautiful handmade items for all (matching more M and I and in turn for J and F) and there are lots of kids books in all three languages. M left Santa a cute note about the snacks she left for him (cookies and milk) and the reindeer (leftover salad from dinner) and addressed him as Mr. Claus. Tia C. did an amazing job compiling about a hundred hours of home videos from various formats into Quiktime so that we can see how little has changed in how we played and my kids play and how young  everyone used to be. She even edited a great 4 minute movie that we will put online somewhere for all to see soon where you can see scenes of blond Miami aunts bathing in 94st tub back to back with MoJo in the same tub. J wants to start a rock group called "Blue 2" and that's all for now folks. Off to do PT exercises. Meery Christmas!

Dashing Through The Snow!

On a round plastic sled meant for a kid... I got onto it with F (very surprised he condoned this) and as we sped down the snowy hill... J thought it would be funny to stand in front of the snow "to make a crash." Next thing I know we are jumping ship, I am face down in the snow in my pj pants and F is freaking out. No harm whatsoever but I may lay off extreme sports avec twins for a while. It was fun while it lasted!

Electrickilly

J's favorite new word after watching Ghostbusters and Back To The Future. He made a crown with lego-like pegs and zaps people with his electrickilly.

M's Note

On the iPad -- her new favorite toy thanks to abuela-- Dear Jo, I love you more than me.

The Cowboy- By M

Please note this is the final draft, handwritten after many frustrated and abandoned attempts..

p. 1 Onse a pod a time there was a boy who had no pet.
p. 2 One day his mom gave a cat to the boy.
p. 3 He liked it so so much.
p. 4 He huged his mom.
p. 5 He named his cat Ruby.
p. 6 Ruby had a nose and a mouth but... (I am not kidding, she used these dots for suspense)
p. 7 No eyes. The boy was sprised
p. 8 so so much. He ren away skremeing I hate you.
p. 9 MOM! (just caps, one word on page- nice twist because you probably thought, like I did that he was insulting poor Ruby).
p. 10 And go away.
p. 11 One day.
p. 12 He turned into
p. 13 a Cow
p. 14 Boy (I think handwriting was just getting hard, I am not sure if there is a deeper meaning to one word per page).
p. 15 Wen his mom fond
p. 16 out he was a cowboy
p. 17 she skrem
p. 18 D
p. 19 There is a chart of reading levels that M made emulating her books and she designated her story a Level 4

MoJo In The Tub...

Singing "Oh, the lord is good to me, and so I thank the lord." My mother who is bathing them "What the hell is that? From school? Well, the lord is not good to me." Very tactful my mother is...

The Trouble With Pregnancy

At this point, is sleeping. I have the equivalent of a huge watermelon in my belly which prohibits me from sleeping face down in any way. On my back is taboo and uncomfortable anway. This leaves on either side with pillows as the only choice. But when I am on a side, teh twin on that side complains. Wouldn't you if a baby your own size plopped on top of you every time your mother shifted positions? Sometimes I think this is just a preview, a way to mentally prepare for the sleep deprivation that lays ahead. It would help if this bed were not a lumpy smushy crappy one.

Productive In Vermont

We went to Weston, a very cute town today, where they sold paraphenelia that reads "What happens in VT, stays in Vt, but nothing every happens in VT." That pretty much sums it up. But today I made some things happen. I enjoyed my morning walk with F and I, recovering from knee surgery, I went to Weston, played in the snow with the kids, drove to the supermarket, peeled so many potatoes I felt like I was in the military, and watched MoJo play RockBand with their uncle/aunt and her significant other. J played the drums (they did not tell him he was not connected) like Bingo and at one point just slumped forward he was so tired. Very funny. M wrote her first book today, about a cowboy. Good stuff. The only thing I need now is for Fedex to bring M's gift from Santa. We have had some snafus but I will hold off on that until I have the loot in hand. Off to make dinner for the midgets.

Happy Birthday Amore!

35. Finally not the younger man. I enjoy these 10 days a year when I am the older woman. We have known each other for 21 of our 35 years. In January it will be 15 years (whoa!) that we are together. Hope you enjoyed your Vermont birthday, surrounded by family, lots of it not yours :) and snow. I loved our morning walk and your afternoon nap while I sledded (supervised, not actually threw myself down a mountain) with kids. I am impressed that you let me drive the car (without you!) to the supermarket, and that you are downstairs making dinner for 12 on your day. I am grateful for every year together and I cannot believe that we will have two more kids to celebrate with next year. Auguri Amore!

When Your Brother Is An ASSHOLE

You can call him one, right after he has called you a bi-atch (that's right, he speaks in ebonics to be extra cool) during a game of Boggle. This should not come as a surprise since your mother always sets up this weird paradigm where you and he are the fat smart ones (typical back handed compliment). Vicious insults even though I was losing the game. My other brother from the same mother is wise and still not here. Will arrive late tonight.As I write, J yells out (as if he had Tourrets "my penis." Me- Your penis what?, J- It struggled, Me (as I try to not piss in my pants), Struggled to do what?, J- to get in this car (points to new wooden car he is playing with). Me- How do you know the word struggled?, J- I learned it when I was a teenager. I digress I know but my son is a lot more interesting and smarter than many of the other people here. My spouse suggests not writing such caustic comments about my brother online for "all" (all 4 people who read this) to see. Who cares? This is my therapy and why should it be kept secret when you act like a jerk? Anyway, J has been cracking jokes right and left today. He told me he did not want to have tetas when he is a teenager and that he will not kiss his sister if she has them. I told him all girls grow up to have tetas and that boys are worse. He asked "Because they fart and burp and pick their nose?" Bingo. More on our scintillating family dynamics later. PS Abuela I is working hard on her "control mental" to flip twin A. I keep reminding her which one has to turn so that she does not inflict any further imbalance on the situation:)

Winter Time, And the Living Is Easy

Too easy. I am officially bored to death. We are in VT, all 11 of us!! My brother "missed" his train today so he is still solo in NYC. VT isnice. But there is not much to do other than eat. Or sleep. Or eat. Try to read. Fall asleep. Too hot. Too many people and opinions all the time. But no fights. So that is good. Will try to practice driving, eating less, and going for a walk (if the crew of pregnancy cops let me) tomorrow. M asked me what exactly we are celebrating on Christmas and we gave some more confusing irrational answers (Me- nothing, family being together and winter time, F- Some people believe it is Jesus's birthday but it is not necessarily true and we do not celebrate that). Both kids behaving great, happy to hang out with the family, play hide and seek, and run around. Just trimmed the tree. Very beautiful. Off to dinner!

Twin Growth: 30 Weeks, 1 Day

Well, I am disappointed. Kiwi and Phoebe are still not in the right position, but more importantly twin A's butt is blocking the exit, i.e. it does not matter what twin B does, it is twin A that must turn around or I am condemned to a a C-section. I should be flexible, realistic, blah blah but I am NOT. I want to push these babies out myself or I am going to be angry and disappointed. So, if you have any suggestions better than any of these cockamamie ones please send them to me, along with any baby turning vibes. These puppies are getting big (3lbs 12oz and 3lbs 8oz) and the bigger they get, the less likely it is that A will budge. Aaaahhhh, please turn baby turn.

Survivor

I have made it through another Christmas pageant. Damn is it long and boring! My kids were adorable in their costumes of course, singing "Jesus our brother kind and good." But the cute lamb and shepherd can only tide you over for so long - their song is in the first five minutes of the show. J remarked that Gabriel, the angel was not an angel but a person and that the kids blowing through golden lattice cones were not really blowing music. When I told him that in a few years the twins would be lambs he said "They will not want to do that."Very astute. Baby Jesus looked like he was big enough to walk away this year. Alas, as "un" into Jesus as I am, I do like traditions. I looked at the 8th graders (all with scintillating mute roles) and felt old, I remember when they were three year old lambs.
This just in- a note I found that M left laying around "I wish I could have whatevre I wanted when I wanted it." Join the club my friend.

30 Weeks Today

Nothing to report. No news is good news? I will have more info post sonogram but each twin is hopefully almost 3lbs. Feel good. Happy that the school pageant is tomorrow and break begins!

Morning Jokester

As I pulled up my "new" hand me down maternity jeans with the attractive huge belly panel... M asked "Where did you get those? Pregnant Woman Dot Com?

Twin Update

Nothing too exciting. I saw the ob yesterday. Good news- I weigh the same. Then again, her scale is a piece of crap so maybe I do not. Bad news- Phoebe & Kiwi are still standing (wtf?) with their feet by the exit. Can one of you turn please before you get too big? It was quite funny to see them head to head again. One turned its head to the other like they were chit chatting while I watched the screen. Friday I go for a real sonogram at the hospital (this is like a part time job!) where they will measure meticulously and see how big they are and if they are growing at the same rate. Stay posted for more twin news. Week 30 is almost here and I could have as little as 6 weeks left (yikes!). Hope it is more like 8.

Morning Inquiry III

M- Does Santa exist?
Me- Yes, I think so.
M- I hope so or I am going to be furious at you.
Me- Why at me?
M- For tricking me.
Shit.

Alvin Ailey Baby!

In addition to attending our school fair and a nice family brunch, I spent my birthday afternoon watching Alvin Ailey. F got us nice tickets because we saw the show a few years ago and it was truly moving. Can you believe the bodies in this picture? They move as well as you imagine they do with an astounding precision and beauty. I do not think a white person could look or move that way. Not pc, I know but almost definitely true. I highly recommend seeing Ailey at some point in your life. It is a breathtaking dance performance filled with heart and rhythm and sorrow and history. Post Ailey we were stuck in a midtown sea of frenetic holiday shoppers, but it did not deter us from enjoying our stroll through Columbus Circle's craft fair. The night was topped off by dinner at my mother's with many many family members. Thank you padre for coming to NYC to be with me and for schlepping my children all over town. Thank you for all of the gifts and love and attention. A la cama!

J Week

It is J week in M's class so she put Jesus and Jewish on her list. She is so damn confused. J wanted to clarify that we are not Jewish. I told him that we were not religious. I asked him if he knew who was Jewish in our family and M said "abuela S." I told them that it was not her but rather abuelo R. M has some  confusion where she equates religion with Jewish. She told me that abuela S. believes in g-d and is Jewish. I am not sure if she does not doesn't but I told her that all religions believe in one. We are not religious I repeated (a useless mantra) and J said, "I know, we are people-ish." Sounds good to me!

J's Insights

While drinking chocolate milk "Do you know why cows have black spots? Because they roll around in chocolate milk."
Later, "This is not chocolate milk. This is tutto leche (i.e. dulce de leche) milk."
While singing "Jesus our brother, kind and good" (pageant song he is rehearsing rigorously) I asked him,  "Do you know who Jesus is?"
M- He doesn't exist.
J-He is a cow in the song.

Watch Your Language!

While discussing Sleeping Beauty, J said "She slept for a long axe time."
Oops , I guess I should watch my language.

Bathroom Etiquette

Me- Did you flush?
J- Yes but I did not wash my hands.
Me-Thanks for the honesty.
M- The honesty is a little disgusting.

Good Bye 34!

My last post this age. Now I can save a finger tap at the gym when the preset 35 pops up as my age. I can say I am on my way to middle age. I am definitely not as young as I feel or think I am anymore. But I am also satisfied with life thus far and have nothing to complain about. So bring it on 35. I will start this age larger than I will end it for sure. 35 years. (Almost) 4 kids. Lots of jobs (I titled this blog 3 jobs but that is debatable- I work at a school (as a Spanish teacher and community service coordinator), tutor 2 adults, 4 teenagers, a bunch of seventh graders at Street Squash, and do lots of fundraising work for my kids' daycare plus my regular domestic duties. Hmm. Maybe more than 3). Still 2 bedrooms but I do not care for now. Rooms are overrated. My mother slept on a couch for most of our childhood. Lots of health and love. Family and friends. One great man as my partner, 2 crazy kids to challenge me and lots of other wonderful people cheering me on. 35, Ready or Not- Here I come!

M's Neologisms

Today she reminded me of two expressions that she coined "Eat your carrot you little rabbit" (ie J finish your dinner) and "It burns like a rocket ship." (Get the soap out of my privates). Funny gal. Expressive language. She is always curious to know if something is "an expression" if she is not familiar with it.

J the Romantic

He went with his sister and abuelo to see his dear friend M in her first ballet recital tonight (that makes sense right, a show with 3 year olds at 6:30pm?) He took her some candy and flowers and asked me "Will I cheer for her?" I said clapping would be better. "Will there be popcorn?" I think he was imagining a soccer game or a movie. I heard M lit up when she saw him. How sweet is that?

29 Weeks: Butternut Squash They Say

Not sure why all pregnancy websites describe baby weight/size in terms of vegetables. I do not want to imagine a garden in my uterus or an edible baby. Okay, this is the final stretch. Kiwi and Phoebe will be here in 6 to 9 weeks. I hope more the latter although I also hope to be able to walk at that point. I am amused at how HUGE my belly is and how well I can still move. I cannot move fast (get cramps) but I am still pretty limber and most importantly, pain free. As I surfed the endless online crap regarding twin pregnancy last night, I came across some really crazy mamma's blog (e.g. she won a race while 5 months pregnant) and her story. This woman was in kick ass shape, a health freak whose twins were vertex vertex (mumbo jumbo for head down like the docs like). Her labor went slowly, she was given pitocin without permission (this drug is often step one to a C-section because it makes contractions crazy strong and fast but it not natural so they may need to take it up a notch and slice you open). Sure enough, she had a C- section and what ensued sounds like a nightmare. She was bloated (you fill up with gas) and unable to produce milk as her body healed. It took her a long time to feel normal and I ask myself "Do I really need that kind of aggravating shit in addition to twins and nursing ?" I REALLY do not want to have a C- section and I am worried that I will have to have one, even if this is irrational and illogical. I think I need to stop thinking about this and just enjoy the relatively little time I have left as a pregnant woman. I am sad that it is the last time, crazy as that may sound, because I really feel well. Natural. Whole. Empowered. Maybe someone will enlist me as their surrogate in the future? I am blabbing. Buenas Noches.

J's Love Note

On a crumpled piece of scrap he scribbled and scrabbled and told my mother that it was for his Uncle D, who he was anxiously waiting for. J said it says "I love you D." My mother asked, "You wrote that?" J looked at her and said "No, I do not know how to write but that is what it says. Write his name and give it to him."

Jingle by M

(left on a notebook page by the computer-she sang this to me and told me it was not done yet)
I mean look at this. Isint it cute? Bukces (because) ts so grand: (how the hell does she know what colons are?) I mean Santa wood liak (like?) it.
This makes no damn sense but I love that she is composing lyrics and music in the Christmas spirit.

M The Groper?

While I procrastinated/input reports/rocked out to my brother's twin mix this morning... M's teacher came to tell me that she had been taken to the head of the division for grabbing her classmate's crotch after partaking in excessive "potty talk." What can I say? She is a touchy feely person. Her teacher said that M claimed that the kid had done it to her first, but that smelled like BS to me. When I told M not to tell me a story but rather the truth, she was very surprised that I knew she was fibbing. How could you know? I told her it was because I was her mother and knew her better than anyone because she used to live inside of me. She smiled and said: Then I can always tell when you are lying too:)

J's Recent Quips

While fighting over what to watch on Tv (to M): You will love me when I am dead.
To me re M saying Elmo was babyish: M says Elmo is for babies but it is not true, it is for people.
To me on the way home: I want to play with Nonini (Nonna Mariní) when I get home.
To me when a baby was kicking me hard on the bus: If that is the boy kicking, it is my baby.
To me as he looked me over intently: How will the babies come out?
Me: When they are ready, we will go to the hospital and they will be born.
J: Yeah, but how will they come out?
This might be too PG13/R to know to reveal at this point no? I remember M's face when I finally told her a few months ago after she insisted on knowing: I knew they came out of your privates but I thought it was your butt.
I could see how given the size of my ass she might think that:)

The Passion of the Confused 6 Year Old

Today M's teacher told me that she was talking animatedly to her friends about Jesus. About how he was dragging himself through the streets (imitation of a slumped staggering body). About how he died hanging, that he was carrying a cross, bleeding. M's teacher cut her off when she deemed it too graphic. I was sort of amused and embarrassed since I definitely never spoke to her about any of that. Nor do I know squat about how Jesus dies beyond the basic visuals. I told her she was probably just repeating something she heard. When I questioned the religious midget about where she got her Jesus info, she non-chalantly replied "Nobody told me. I saw all of the pictures of this in the museum." F confirmed that she was describing the passion of Christ. This LBJ agnostic barely knows what the hell that means. M is already ahead of me in religious education.

No Smoking!

MoJo perplexed when their nonna went down to smoke
M (to me) Does she know that smoking will kill her?
Me- Yes. I tell her but you should too.
J (to nonna upon her return)- Do not smoke. It is bad for your body.
Nonna- Thanks for your advice!

Twin Trivia

For your information/entertainment

Sick Day

For J Not me. Work on the computer, fall asleep on couch while watching Looney Tunes, read 1000 stories day for me. If he is not better tomorrow at least his Italian nonna will be here to supervise. Today is a test for me, doing a micro-release of planning, power, teaching etc as I let my sub take over. Happy she is there. I guess. A dopo.

Shower of Friends

Thank you so much for a lovely afternoon. I am pretty much anti showers, anti so much attention, and anti surprises but it was very nice. A special thank you to T for organizing and for all of G & C's work along with S & D's. The food was yummy and abundant, the decorations awesome (watch for their recycling on Oscar night), the games fun, and the company the best. Thanks for taking time out of your weekends to come. Stay posted for a summary of people's bets from the master chart. XO Bonne Nuit!

Happy Birthday Espinaca!

Damn girl, you are 15 already! Hope you have an ab fab day full of love and chocolate. What kind of camera are you buying?
Tanti baci!

Lechuga

The Heat Is On!

If you have been procrastinating.. it is time to place your bets on Kiwi/Phoebe. Start thinking. You need to guess birth date, gender(s), birth weights, time between them popping out and oh, yes,  name them:) I will post a summary of the bets so far later this weekend and I will wait for more new bets (or you can modify old ones) to have a nice varied slate of predictions.
Happy Friday!!

28 Weeks & Going Strong

I am very grateful for (in no order of importance):
Feeling great
Being pain free
Feeling lots of kicking
Having two cuckoo healthy children
A husband coming home tomorrow
A job
No wart on my knee
Lots of siblings and parents
Great friends
Pregnancy, which is slowly fading away
A good substitute who began today
Dress down today tomorrow (purple converse baby)
In treatment

Toothless Monster

That is what M. proclaimed herself after pulling her own tooth out. It was too gross for me to do and she was too nervous so I offered that she do it herself. Her look of wonder and satisfaction was priceless. She is super excited that tomorrow she can eat a chocolate from her advent calendar, find a treat from the tooth fairy under her pillow and a little treat from her Santa calendar. Life sure is exciting when you are six and the world is such a magical place.

Forgive Me Body For I Have Sinned

Once in a (long) while I crave something disgusting. Like a cigarette (not when I am pregnant) or a hotdog (when I am). But I let it pass because I know I will be sick if I succumb. Well, I have to purge myself of the grossest sin/betrayal of (food) principles in the last DECADE. I was hungry (surprise!) walking to tutoring. On my old block again (86 St.), I recalled when we would eat fast food like it was going out of style. Remember the cartoons on the big screen at the McDonald's on Third and 85 St.? Somewhere around 2001 I vowed to NEVER touch the shit again. How could I after reading Fast Food Nation and watching Super Size Me and countless other films on the crap they serve? Well, as I strolled past Burger King, now on the other side of 86 St., I just walked in. I almost ordered a hamburger, a Whopper. I felt a frenetic urge to eat crap. But I contained myself and ate their fish sandwich. When asked, "sandwich or meal?" I contained myself further and went for just the 1000 calorie sandwich. I inhaled it. And it tasted good. But I will not do that again for another decade. Sorry twins, but a little junk never hurt anybody right?

The Title for My Autobiography

(quoted from M tonight during a meltdown)
"Every Day I Try to Be Good and Somebody Ruins It."

Religion Confusion

We celebrate almost every holiday at my school despite its Episcopalian background and history. As we colored menorahs today, a Pre-K student asked me "Are you Jewish?" I don't have a good answer but I said "No. I am nothing (probably the worst answer) but half of my family is Jewish." He said, "Oh, I am not Jewish, I am Christmas." Other kids agreed even though I told them that Christmas is not a religion. Oh well, might as well be.