There are a few places I love to visit at Christmastime. My sister and I even shared a moment of giddiness on this subject on the phone the other day when I called her in Austin, Texas and asked her what she was doing…
“Shopping at Whole Foods,” she replied.
“Oh ~ how fun!” I said, “Especially at Christmas.”
“I KNOW! I love coming here at Christmas!” she squealed. (Totally understandable.)
Going to Whole Foods (Especially the flagship store in Austin ~ oh my!) on any day is a treat with its gourmet and luxurious specialty food items, but at Christmas? Well, it’s just a wonderland of rich organic chocolates, gigantic gingerbreads, handmade oversized candy canes, and sparkly ciders and champagnes to add cheer to the already festive holiday.
Last year’s birthday and New Year’s trip to NYC
Another favorite place of mine during the holiday season is…..Starbucks. As silly and shallow as it may sound, the first glimpse of those red holiday cups entices me toward the green mermaid sign like never before, and I bask in the retro Christmas tunes, my grande americano, and the holiday tea. And while I’m on a roll, revealing “all the vain things that charm me most” about this already too commercialized season (yes, I know), I might as well tell you that I also visit Barnes and Noble at least 100 times during the holiday season, which is where I stumbled upon this puzzle. It is such a delightful rendition of the enormous Rockefeller Center tree in New York City. It made me nostalgic for the city that I wouldn’t be visiting this holiday season.
It also gave me an idea.
As hard as we try to celebrate this special season ALL the days from Thanksgiving to Christmas with numerous Advent activities, my kids still grow restless waiting for the actual day. (It’s REALLY difficult for it to be about anything but the gifts when you’re a kid, ya know.) And I grow restless with their “hovering” as I like to call it ~ hovering around me and asking me all sorts of questions, adding items to their wish lists, updating me on the exact number of days, hours, minutes, and seconds via their iPod Advent countdown app, and aimlessly wandering around the house (and me) when all schoolwork and chores are done.
In the Time Warner Building ~ There’s a Whole Foods just downstairs!
So, I bought the puzzle. 500 very tiny pieces ~ perfect! It would be a fun reminder of another of my very favorite Christmas destinations (one that I wouldn’t experience this year), and a way to occupy my aimless, hovering, restless children for at least a couple of days.
I kept it hidden until school was finished for the semester (last Wednesday), and then brought it out when some children began asking questions I couldn’t answer….Who’s coming over on Christmas Eve? Who’s picking us up at the airport in Texas? Why can’t we drive to Texas? I don’t like to fly. What are you going to make for breakfast on Christmas day? Can we have waffles this year? What time can we start opening presents on Christmas morning? Could we start at 6 a.m. instead of 7? Is anyone coming over on Christmas day? Will you take me shopping for presents? Has granddad’s package arrived?
Yep. Time for the puzzle.
Kayla and sweet sister friends ~ Kenzie, Maddie, and Mikiah at Rockefeller Center in 2008
I cleared the coffee table in the living room, set out the puzzle, and announced that completion of this project was not optional, and that Christmas presents would only be opened on Christmas Day if the puzzle was complete. There was quite a bit of incredulity and balking at first, and then…..
…a diligent silence fell upon my house.
Ahhhhhh…..
And not only that, but brothers and sisters worked together in unity. There was strategy, harmony, laughter, and teamwork. Amazing. Desperate times require desperate cooperation, I guess.
Dear friend and fellow church planting wife ~ Christie and me at the Plaza Hotel
They worked off and on for two days and finally finished! They had been really “in” to the project while it lasted, and were very proud of their accomplishment. It was only Thursday afternoon though, so on Friday I pulled out a new puzzle that friends had given us for Christmas the night before and suggested they give it another go before Saturday.
Would you believe that they adamantly refused?
Okay, okay…..but guess what next year’s “restless hovering remedy” will be?
Hopefully, this puzzle AND a trip to New York City!
What a wise mother you are. Travel safely. Love, K&J