Hi, Everyone!
I’ve been helping Grandma and Grandpa get ready for Christmas! We had nice sunny weather last week, so we drove out to the Christmas tree farm to get our Christmas tree. After we picked one, the tree farmers ran it through a special machine to wrap string around the branches. When the tree is wrapped up that way, the branches stay nice even when the tree is loaded in a car. I helped put the back seats down in Grandma’s car, and we got the tree completely inside! The tree will stay bundled up in the garage until Uncle Steven and Aunt Kara come. Uncle Steven likes to put the lights on the Christmas tree every year.
After we got the tree home, I spent some time with my favorite sunbeam. Then I helped Grandma write Christmas cards and wrap the box of presents to go to Japan. I was very careful to fill out the customs form correctly, so the package would get to Bill-kun and Karin-chan on time! And guess what? When it got dark, I could see that the lights on our apple trees have company! Lots of neighbors have decorated their trees or houses with Christmas lights, too. Grandma and Grandpa’s street looks very pretty after dark.
This time of year, Bruegger’s Bagels sell cranberry orange flavored bagels. They are Grandma’s favorites, and she waits for them all year. Grandma ordered two dozen bagels in advance and brought them home while they were still warm. I helped Grandma pack them all in freezer bags, so she can defrost one every morning. She has enough to last until New Years. I had to crawl into the bags to make sure we hadn’t forgotten any!
Today, Grandma and Grandpa took me to Tuba Christmas. Lots of people bring tubas and baritone horns and play Christmas carols. It sounds really nice! Grandma says that Uncle Bill used to play in Tuba Christmas when he was in school. I got to see the mayor of Rochester and the Tuba Christmas director — he was the director when Uncle Bill played, too! Grandma’s grandfather played sousaphone and her brother plays baritone, so Grandma could show me the different instruments. The Tuba Christmas players are very merry. Lots of them put special decorations on their instruments for Tuba Christmas, and I got to make lots of new friends.
Next week, I’ll be really busy getting ready for Christmas! I want to help Grandma and Grandpa decorate the tree, and we need to get ready for Grandma’s stollen pickup party, too.
Love,
Lion-san.