It's begining to feel a lot like Christmas

We're getting into the swing of the holidays. Which mean social engagements every weekend and occasionally during the week, too. Pretty exhausting, if you ask me! Jennifer got Magda a fancy Advent Calendar and she's always excited when she gets to open another door in the morning.

Although it's hard getting out of bed, I really have been enjoying the cold weather. Last Saturday, we went to the Capitol Tree Lighting and afterwards I got to go caroling with my old Madrigal buddies on Congress Avenue. It was lots of fun, the people loved it, and we actually got paid for doing it! I miss choral singing around this time of year. Most of the people in the group are choir geeks that still have musical outlets, but I never get to do that anymore, so I was grateful to get the chance to sing that way again.

Jennifer also picked up a couple of Christmas in Song books at Alpha Music (it happens to be the same music we used for caroling in Madrigal -- pleasant, not-to-hard SATB arrangements of classical Christmas fare without a hint of Frosty or Rudolph).

So now, for dinner, we light our Advent Wreath and after we've eaten we sing a couple of carols. Magda has a blast with it, and occasionally requests that I sing "comfort and joy" (Go Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen).

Carols are nice and good, but her favorite holiday song is the Dreidel Song which I actually learned years ago from watching South Park's The Spirit of Christmas. Oy vey!