Hi there, it’s Mom. Today is the Christmas day! In Japan we had Indian summer until recently. I wondered if we would have winter, but a cold air mass came down and I feel that winter was barely on time. This evening we will have Christmas dinner.
I finished settling the table and decorating the Christmas figures. I also finished setting the wine which Dad chose for the dinner in a panier. Only left I have to do is to finish up cooking. The main dish is chicken, not turkey, as most Japanese prepare for Christmas.
At Christmas I always remember the roasted turkey that I had at my friend’s house in the United States. I really liked the corn bread stuffed inside, and the roasted turkey became one of my favorite dishes. However, I have heard the radio program saying “… this recipe saves to 2,200kcal per person per a meal. It’s quite healthy, isn’t it!” I knew the American dishes are really big, but I was about to fall over when I heard it.
Zoe and Hugo stick around me and Dad because they found something was different today. “What are you doing, Mom?” asks Hugo. I am writing this article in a spare time during the cooking, but Hugo disturbs me by lifting my hand onto his head using his muzzle and touching his whisker pads to the corner of the PC. What is happening do you think, Hugo? But I cannot tell you yet, Baby.
Today will be a big day for you guys, Zoe and Hugo. You will get Christmas gifts! The gift is always the same, two tastes of CIAO treats in a red stocking per kid. Zoe’s stocking has a rabbit on front and Hugo’s does a panda. I use the same stocking every year.
It is impossible to leave the gifts at their beds while Zoe and Hugo are sleeping because they seldom fall in asleep. So I just give them directly saying “Here’s your gift. Happy Christmas!” Furthermore, these treats will be used for their regular weekly treats, they are not the Christmas gifts indeed, strictly speaking. I wonder if they say “It’s mean!”
After settling the table I shut the door of the room so that Zoe and Hugo do not get in. Since the decoration- the figures of Santa Claus, turkeys and cats, and a small Christmas tree made of glass- are so fragile, I am afraid that they might break them by dropping them. I also want to avoid them from getting injured. They scratched the door to enter the room when I shut it, but their interest moved to something else after a while. They are such good kids.
Oh, the music. I used to have a CD of Christmas songs, but it went somewhere unnoticeably. I liked that CD because it includes lots of pleasant songs… I tried to find it every year since I lost it, but this year I just gave it up and bought the new ones. The new ones are omnibus, including the Christmas songs by the old and recent pop singers. But now I will play Enya, which makes Zoe and Hugo relaxed. Since they have been excited all day today without taking a nap, I am going to have them take a rest.
Hugo was killing time by laying upside down on the middle step of the cat tower, but he seems to ran out of patience; he started to enjoy himself in the hammock. This hammock is his favorite because it fits his body perfectly. He now relaxes in there by partly closing his eyes. Zoe is taking a rest in a closet where warm air stays inside. Dad is taking a nap. Hon, you must be tired to have gone through the hard work for the year. I am glad that you are able to take 11 days off for Christmas and the new year. I hope you enjoy this Christmas and take a rest during the days off.
I think I am going to start the Christmas dinner a bit earlier this evening. I make it a rule to feed Zoe and Hugo before our dinner so that I do not forget. Once before I was tangled up too much with cooking and I totally forgot to feed them! I remembered that I did not do it during I was eating. They just waited for me without complaining, so I felt guilty so much. That’s why I make myself feed them first. They do not seem to care if their dinner is served early as long as they are certainly fed.
Every year before Christmas dinner we sing “Jingle Bell,” which is the original version of mine. The lyrics means “Today is the pleasant Christmas day. I am waiting for a gift by Santa. I am glad today is Christmas. Let’s celebrate it altogether.” It is very simple and I enjoy singing it with cuddling Zoe and Hugo. Dad, who is always quiet, might be too shy to sing it… 😉
Followed by the song we pray for all cats in the world for their happiness. There are many suffering cats in the world, so we pray for them so that they can be as warm, full, and happy as possible.
After those, me and Dad start dinner, but feeding the kids comes first. Since this Christmas is on the weekend and Zoe and Hugo are given CIAO treats on Saturdays, I will also give it to them right after the sing and pray. But Kids, each of you will be given the half of it, as usual.
It is always true that Zoe and Hugo settle in their favorite place after we start meals. When they find the sign that we will start the meal, they get out of the room. They are so grace to leave me and Dad alone during the dinner. They might become happy when they feel the indication of us wherever we are.
That is so sweet of them! I swear, me and Dad will keep this happy home where Zoe and Hugo can feel cozy and safe. I guess today’s dinner will longer than usual, and soon after it, it will be the time for bed. I am waiting for sleeping with them as usual. Sweet dreams!