Above is a photo of Leah and Charlie in their matching onesies at the Christmas Eve party we went to at Kendall’s mom’s last night. For all my anti-holiday yammering in years past, I secretly love Christmas and most of what it stands for. I just don’t want to go anywhere near a mall, that’s all. We spent Christmas Eve day with family and friends. My friend Shari is visiting from Chicago and we also spent some time with my daughter’s French grandparents (my ex-in-laws) who are visiting from Paris. Off to Kendall’s sister’s this morning for some more family togetherness. I mostly wanted to add this post so that “Auschwitz” was no longer at the top of my blog on Christmas Day!
I wish everyone who stops by here a warm and fun holiday, surrounded by people you love. Charlie is having a great first Christmas, even though I keep reminding him that we’re Jewish and don’t believe in that clinically obese negative role model in the red suit. Here are some more photos of Charlie from earlier this week, taken by his Auntie Campbell who gave us a bunch of these framed shots for Christmas.
And a few more shots from the Big Day...
...and a Happy New Year!
I just read a brilliant blod (cribchronicles.com), sadly not written by me, but where she refers to Christmas with her Jewish cousins, who call it International Present Day.
As a Jew, I sort of feel the same way!
Cute kids by the way. Seriously cute.
Posted by: Rebecca | December 25, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Hi there Danny. Just came back from my Chinese restaurant Christmas dinner where I overcompensated for not having a real Christmas by eating way too much of this greasy-spoon restaurant's food, including an eggroll, which I usually NEVER EAT. I'm also a lover of the Christmas spirit -- hey, we Jews wrote the songs, and even the main character in the big story is a Jewish guy. I do appreciate how others want to be politically correct during the Holiday season, not wanting to offend non-Christians during Christmas. I think that is a wonderful thing about this country. But sometimes it goes a little too far. I'm certainly not going to melt if someone says Merry Christmas to me. This week, a few local bloggers went to this Christmas concert that someone got tickets to -- holiday songs played by up and coming rock band. The next day, the organizer sent me an email and apologized for not inviting me. She was worried that I might be OFFENDED because they were playing Christmas songs like Frosty the Snowman, that ultra-religious hymn. In fact, she didn't invite any of her Jewish friends for the same reason. Isn't that crazy? I probably know more of the songs than anyone else!
Posted by: Neil | December 25, 2009 at 06:43 PM
i'm the (flattered) blogger who writes cribchronicles.com that Rebecca was talking about. every year we celebrate with my partner's sister and husband and kids, who are Jewish. it's fun. in the leadup to the holidays, the kids have sing-offs of Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel and Away in a Manger by Skype. then we desperately try to find blue present bags with no Christmas signification. we usually fail. :)
Posted by: Bon | December 26, 2009 at 06:22 AM
Great post title! Can never get too much "Charlie". Happy holidays!
Posted by: Chris | December 26, 2009 at 06:42 AM
Chris, the commenter above, stole my exact words. Sooooo ditto.
Posted by: Erica M | December 26, 2009 at 09:12 AM
I do understand the celebrating Christmas as a Jewish person conundrum...hosting my Irish inlaws for a big Christmas dinner is always tremendous fun....
It's blizzarding here Danny. Time to get on a plane for a warm climate. You are in the right place(for so many reasons). Sue G.
Posted by: Sue G | December 26, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Danny,
I discovered your blog several months ago when I was searching for information about Fiddler on the Roof. I bookmarked it and visit it periodically--I find the writing enjoyable even though I don't personally know you.
If you feel like you need a Chicago fix, here's a story I wrote set in the Windy City.
http://www.paradigmjournal.com/more/Caplan_The%20Famous%20Writer.html
David
Posted by: David Caplan | December 27, 2009 at 08:14 AM
"Christmas with the Jews": what a great title, Danny. It sounds like the name of a seasonal sit-com...or at least the name of a sit-com episode.
I love seeing pics of the Miller kids -- what a joy!
Posted by: Pearl | December 27, 2009 at 05:18 PM
I'm all for celebrating any holiday that comes up...Except for father's day. That one I have no use for, sadly. So, belated Merry Christmas and onto the next one, Happy new Year!
Posted by: churlita | December 28, 2009 at 10:22 AM
wooooooooooooooow.......that kid is way cute
Posted by: jeff | December 28, 2009 at 02:03 PM
and i think your an amazing person
Posted by: jeff ( not Spencer's dad) | December 28, 2009 at 02:16 PM
It is a VERY Merry Christmakkah
for many people I know and thats a wondeeful thing. Both your children are beautiful and blessing to all of you.
Posted by: julie | December 28, 2009 at 03:22 PM
What a wonderful Xmas/Hannukah time for Charlie and Leah and what fab pictures. I hope this will be a wonderful New Year for you all and many more to follow.
Love,
Bubbe Marilyn
Posted by: Marilyn Molnar | December 28, 2009 at 04:18 PM
I've been away from the manger for a few days and missed out on this post when it first went up but I'm catching up now.
Love the kids and their jammies. If I can believe in Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis, among others, I figure you can enjoy the hell out of the man in red. Who else do you know whose only job is to bring you gifts? He's the only one who made Christmas memorable for us little savages at Christmas. Our parents weren't getting within a mile of their parents churches.
Wonderful post!
Amitiés,
Posted by: The Pliers | December 28, 2009 at 06:32 PM
Charlie looks so L.A. in those sunglasses! I think I love his crooked smile the most. What's coming through more and more is his individuality. And he looks SO GOOD -- so healthy and alert. Blessings! Blessings!
Posted by: amba | December 29, 2009 at 02:31 PM
To my liberal Democrat friends: Please accept with no obligation, implied or explicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2010, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishie.
To Everyone else, including my conservative Republican friends:Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and will have a Happy New Year!
Posted by: john armstrong | January 12, 2010 at 09:38 AM