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December 29, 2007
Three Day Window
Two days and 1,140 miles later, we have returned to the barn. All restrooms on the return trip were up to code. Our week in Missouri/Kansas was restful and full of family fun. Some highlights follow.
The morning after the disgusting bathroom escapade, we were comforted by this enormous beacon of Jesus.
Perhaps it is some sort of water tower, or perhaps it is a covert missile silo. Or perhaps it is merely what it purports to be.
One of the major reasons for driving to Missouri is John.
John is my father. He was born and raised in Nebraska and now he lives in Missouri.
The day after we arrived at my dad's house, we drove west to Topeka, capital of Kansas, to visit various members of my dad's family, including cousins Sarah and Geoff.
And my grandma, Mary Swanson.
Back in Missouri, we baked cookies.
And ate bratwurst.
Sitting before the wholesome glow of the holiday hearth, we received our traditional Christmas eve gifts from my stepmom Judy.
My step brother-in-law King and I were given matching penguin pants.
And Robbi some pregnant lady pajamas.
The next morning, we had Christmas proper. There was a new stocking this year, presented by proud Grandpa-to-be John.
It contained a few small objects.
A rubber ducky that lets you know when the bath is too hot.
A very soft rattle shaped like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.
And a Winnie the Pooh hat. The hat got me. It pushed me right over the edge.
To top it all off, my stepsister Gina and King gave us a Brooklyn Bridge onesie. Although you cannot see it, I was weeping hysterically as this picture was taken.
Other emotional gifts included this oversized tub of fabric softener, which pleased my stepsister Courtney to no small degree.
Later we unwrapped the mini co-sleeper, in which our child will eventually spend a great deal of its time.
Iggy was an unwilling participant in the Christmas cheer.
As the day continued, we cooked.
We tramped about in the snow.
And for some reason I shaved, a decision I have come to regret.
In her ongoing quest to better understand the Swansons and their ways, Robbi took a leading role in preparing the Yorkshire pudding this year.
She was delighted watching it bake.
We all agree that this year's pudding was the best we can remember.
Christmas at my dad's house is a festive affair, with much energy devoted to atmosphere.
Candles, for example, are everywhere.
We ate a lot and went to bed groaning.
The rest of the week comprised more eating, sleeping, tramping around in the snow, and more eating.
One day, we went over to visit our friends Ali and Matt, who have a little girl who is not only cute and well-behaved but also sweet and wise beyond her sixteen months. We practiced what scant parenting impulses we possess.
Margo was very good at pointing out all the cats in this book to Robbi.
And was a champ when it came to identifying my nose.
The night before we left to drive back home, my family threw a surprise baby shower for us. The first part of the shower included really tasty desserts from an Italian bakery.
It turned out, there were clues that should have alerted us to the fact that a shower was in the offing. For example, this tiny bottle, part of the baby-shower-themed table confetti that littered the tablecloth.
We got a lot of nice gifts, including a baby towel, some baby booties, and a baby snot remover. I was holding it together pretty well until we opened the Pooh Bear pajamas and matching cap.
Turns out I'm a sucker for little hats.
After the useful gifts, there was a second round of presents for the baby.
Including:
This plastic bag (the label reads "Baby's first toy")
And these thumbtacks.
Fun for the whole family.
Also, some mousetraps.
What better way to keep Baby's little fingers away from the family cheese?
Not pictured but also appreciated: a package of razor blades, a tube of superglue, a bottle of tabasco, and some permanent markers.
And a cigar. And some tiny baby handcuffs. Pink ones and blue ones, just to cover the bases.
The next morning we left for home.
The drive was uneventful. The lone excitement came when we were stopped for gas and some pregnant lady started cleaning our windshield.
Just past PIttsburgh, we saw the windmills.
Home again, we set up our co-sleeper just for kicks.
We read aloud from one of our new baby books on the drive home, and had baby on the mind.
After admiring our loot, we immediately put it away again, painfully aware of the cat dander falling like rain on all of baby's belongings. It is a foregone conclusion that our child will live in a dusty home. But we can at least give it a day or two of clean bedding before this happens. We owe it that much.
Tuesday night we depart for Massachusetts, where Robbi and I will be teaching a winter term course together at Williams College for the month of January. We have assembled six writers and six visual artists who will work in pairs to create work that combines both words and pictures.
Before then, though, Robbi is hoping to finish the illustrations for Volume 12, which will be a different sort of book.
Posted by bogenamp at December 29, 2007 07:09 PM