Christmas Decorating chez Jonasson

I always said that the person I married would have to be tall, intelligent and make me laugh.  Of course, it also went without saying that he would have to make a good father.  One of the things I love about Rob is his joy for Christmas and the Advent season.  With snowflakes falling outside, today is the perfect day to put up the Christmas tree.

The tradition is that Rob puts up the Christmas tree (http://www.bhg.com/christmas/trees/how-to-decorate-a-christmas-tree/).  When we were first married he did it himself.  It was particularly sad sixteen years ago when, after six and a half years of marriage, we celebrated another Christmas without children.  That all changed when we adopted Thomas, and brought him home only three weeks later.

Now, Rob and Thomas put up the tree.  Four and a half years later, we were joined by another baby, Jacqueline.  At first she just got in the way when Rob decorated the house.  She actually undid the work that Rob did, taking off every last candy cane that Rob hung on the branches, taking each one behind the chair and eating it.  But after a few years, Jacqueline started to help, too, hanging ornaments on the branches of the tree.

Then our black cat with mint coloured eyes named Midnight Mint joined the family.  And like Jacqueline, she hinders the decorating process.  After Rob carefully hangs all of the ornaments, she proceeds to climb up the middle of the tree and hang from the top, knocking every last one off.

So, today the tradition continues.  Rob will put on an eclectic mix of Christmas music, everything from "Give This Chrismtas Away" from the Veggietales Story of St. Nicholas to the Motown Christmas CD.  Thomas will stand with branches in his hand.  Jacqueline will sift through the cardboard boxes for her favourite ornaments.  And Midnight will hide under the couch ready to pounce.  It's Christmas chez Jonasson.

Nukel, Lachen & Washlappen

My husband Rob, the son of German immigrants, spoke only German until he attended school at 5 years of age.  He also attended German school every Saturday morning until he was in Grade 7. Although his parents have long since learned English and he no longer speaks German on any consistent basis, he has retained much of the vocabulary.  Occasionally a German words slips past his lips, words that the rest of us have adopted.

When Thomas and Jacqueline were babies they sucked on a "nukel".  While the official German word for a soother is "schnuller", "nukel" is the company that makes soothers.  It is the equivalent of English speaking North Americans using the term Kleenex rather than tissue.

When we go to the beach at Long Point, we wear "lachen".  We can never find "lachen" big enough for Rob's feet, though, so he usually wears a pair that are one size too small.  

When we wash the dishes, we use a "washlappen".  In my house, we called it a J-cloth, but the term "washlappen" sounds so much more fun.  The "washlappen" literally laps up the water.

When someone seems to thrive on chaos in his or her life, he exhibits "schweinerei" or "a pig's mess".

Jacqueline's giant stuffed green animal is a "frosch".  Jacqueline chose Mr. Froggo, out of her giant stuffie pile, to travel to Boston with us a couple of weekends ago.

The furry black creature named Midnight that lives in our house is a "katze",  Rob's mom used to refer to their pet as a "katze" and we kept the tradition going.  Midnight eats "katze tuna" and drinks "katze milk".

At Christmas time, our kids open an "Adventskalendar" or Advent calendar; the original version, without the chocolate, was started by German Lutherans.

When I tuck Jacqueline in each night I say:  Guten nacht"  "Schlaff gut!  (Good night!  Sleep well!) This is a holdover from when Rob used to say goodnight to me in the Teacher's College dorm.  I was on the 4th floor, he was on the 1st.

It goes to show you that what you learn as a child often stays with you for the rest of your life. Maybe our children will pass some of these German word on to their children.

https://www.onlinebabystore.com.au/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/t/n/tn_hb1.jpg