Remain Calm - Remember Why You Came...

So tonight I rushed home because I need to bake some Christmas cookies to serve for our now MASSIVE Christmas party to be held on Saturday.

Daddy is not home with us because on the way home from school we were handed a sheet detailing the additional clothing items (white turtlenecks, white tights and dark pants) required for the performance TOMORROW! Did I mention that we have no car, that the nearest shopping is a 20 minute cab ride away and it's THURSDAY night when I need to be baking?

Facing these surprises is a daily thing...so we remain calm and remember why we came...

I've got all three of the "littles" in the bathtub. They're alternately crying and squealing with glee as I hastily wash their hair and bodies so that they might look the most becoming on the big stage tomorrow night in their sequined get-ups.

At the door someone is knocking...

I remember...oh yes, I told Teacher J from the Kindergarten that she was welcome to come over tonight and participate in our Christmas Cookie baking attempt. (Of course this was before Daddy had to be called away for emergency costume shopping.)

But, I said to myself..."remain calm...remember why you came..."

Magpie opens the door and behind it stands not just Teacher J...but Teacher S, Teacher A, Teacher JN, Teacher JY, Teacher T, another lady who works at the company and a gentleman whose name I do not know...8 surprise guests!

"Hi!" Teacher J said, "We were all at dinner and they said they'd like to come see you bake the Christmas cookies."

Remain calm...remember why you came...

"Oh sure" I say bravely "Just let me finish washing, drying and readying these three for bed."

You can imagine the joy the 3 littles felt at the sight of all their teachers in their home, some for the first time, right at bedtime! This on a night that Daddy is calling now every 10 minutes trying to find the costuming items and I'm trying to bake for the massive Christmas party that is less than 48 hours away...

Remain calm...remember why you came...

I work on a plan...where will I roll out the dough? All these eager bakers cannot possibly fit in the kitchen!

With some fast thinking and the help of Magpie and The Bug...we converted the huge dining table we're using this weekend into a set for a cooking show.

I am not kidding...they videoed the whole project.

I came into the room from the kitchen hearing Magpie describing for the camera the contents and their measurements as she added them in to make the Chocolate Chip Cookie dough (this is our first time to make them here!)

Within a few minutes we'd converted to a full on cooking/baking class and all the students were eager to get into the action...it was already 8 PM!

I gave anecdotal stories about this cookie baking ritual at The Old Place. I even showed the precious sugar cookies Gramma Juice sent in the big DHL box last week.

They oooohed and aaaahed!

After three and one half hours...the last ones left...and we've made another memory of living here in The New Place...

Most of the cookies they cut and colored have little to do with traditional Christmas shapes...but I took the opportunity to play and sing many Carols for them and explain to each of them the story of Christmas...

Though I was so tempted to say..."it's too late...we have a huge performance tomorrow...and by the way, I didn't invite 8 of you to drop over tonight for a cooking class..." I'm so thankful that I remembered to remain calm and remember why we came...

This little light of mine...I'm gonna let it shine...