圣诞节是家里最热闹的时候了。大人们忙着准备礼物，做圣诞老人好帮手，各种美食甜点忙得团团转。。。孩子们也不闲着。几十年来，先生家就和表亲家聚到一起，很多孩子们表演节目，现在我们的孩子也继续着这个传统。在大人们忙碌的当儿，孩子们聚在另外的屋子里秘密地准备节目。

先生爱说爱笑，是个孩子王，常为孩子们出谋划策。两年前十一岁的小外甥女为他写了一首诗:

Ode to Uncle  

Uncle , our great director, we'd like now to acknowledge
For in a blink of an eye we'll all be in college

As our director you showcase our talent so rare
And open our eyes to your love that is there

To you we're a decicated troupe so fond
Why, we've even followed you to lily pond

Now for each cousin a very special rhyme
Don't worry, I'll be finished with this poem in due time

To M. M.you are the Godfather with the Riolo batutti
Every good Sicilian boy needs a capo de tutti

To G.A. you are the chair
She loves to snuggle up with the cuddle bear

To I. R. you are the great Spam master
Luckly, his metabolism runs a wee bit faster

Uncle, you and I live in history, our heads in a book
If the house was on fire we wouldn't even look

To Meimei you are her Papa and fellow nerd
And she's the fastest swimmer in the world, so you've heard

To A.M. those fried eggs were a chocker
But you both sure enjoy a good game of Poker

To Dabao you have more than a chemical bond
You are his Papa, his pal, his Bond, his James Bond

To you it's not important which country a cousin is from
In your eyes we're all as Italian as they come

Uncle your sound fills the air like a Lake Tahoe bear
The family needs your big voice to always be there
 
This poem is for you and all that you share
With a big cousin wish that you please take care
 
孩子写的诗里有很多典故，比如夏天野营时先生带着当时只有四五岁的他们步行几英里去莲花塘Lily Pond，久久不归急得其他家长打救急电话叫森林巡警。。。然后不顾其他人只吃健康食品的要求，做高盐高脂午餐肉Spam，买苏打水给孩子们分。。。孩子诗中有一两处押韵和选词有父母帮了忙，比如Capo de tutti是电影Godfather里听来的，意思是头头。

到圣诞节的时候这些生活点滴都成了素材，孩子们各显其能发挥特长，拿爷爷奶奶爸爸妈妈开玩笑是常有的事。比如他们编一首诗让时间回转到三四十年前，圣诞老人读着当时还是孩子的父母们的单子：小燕儿想要一个。。。编故事的时候，先生和雪儿问我当时想要什么？鞭炮好不好？“小燕儿想要鞭炮，不能给她！她会把房子点着火！”我一听，这么野蛮？我不要鞭炮，我想要个娃娃。。。赶快改改你们的词吧! 等圣诞节表演的时候，就听圣诞老人说: “小燕儿想要China doll，不能给她！娃娃会被摔成千百碎片的”。。。啊？这圣诞老人真抠门儿，小弟要的溜冰车圣诞老人也不给，说他要摔掉大门牙！这可是真事儿，婆婆到现在还念叨着他的门牙有多么完美。。。

然后就听三个女孩上场了，先唱一首柔美的It's a small world. 然后摇身一变成了三个Nona，诺娜就是意大利语奶奶或姥姥的意思，孩子们的奶奶从没回过意大利，她自己的姥姥姥爷是一百多年前从西西里移民来的。话说雪儿和表妹们表演的三个Nona惟妙惟肖，回到了意大利，满心欢喜，可还满世界找Nordstrom商店要为孙儿女们买礼品。。。

说到拿爷爷开心，几个孩子们围坐在一起要开画家协会会议，表演爷爷的演员说：“我建议我们下一次外出绘画到Napa酒乡去画winery...I mean nice scenery...( 画酒厂。。。我是想说。。。画美景）然后几个画家就说到下一期会议议题，爷爷说：“Michelangelo and Merlot... meeting adjoured. ” 米开朗基罗和温和红酒？还挺押韵。。。三句话不离酒，这可怎么好？

最让人感动的是孩子们把太奶奶也搬上了舞台，小诺娜过世有些年了，她留给孩子们的爱还在他们的心中滋润着。我想像着如果我的父亲还在，能看到今天孙子孙女的活泼可爱，他可能也会开怀大笑，不再坚持他上四中清华做教授的严谨生活态度，教育我们要抓紧生命一分一秒了吧！

～唱吧跳吧孩子们，尽情地享受生活吧～

去参加教堂子夜弥撒时神父讲到他小时候看到的卡通片，故事里的动物们在平安夜有了能说话交流的机会，天亮后就失去了这个能力。不禁让我们浮想联翩：如果我们突然失去了说话的能力，会不会后悔没有多说一句温柔的话？多说一句感恩的话？

Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!

～圣诞快乐～

 
Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!

 
圣诞夜我设的餐桌

 
尝尝姨妈姨夫从北京让先生带回来的稻香村酥皮饽饽吧

 
爷爷奶奶家的圣诞晚餐


 公婆家的圣诞点心
 

 三个小姐妹表演公主时装秀
 

 大宝雪儿兄妹表演America the Beautiful

 
雪儿和表妹们表演节目三个Nona

 
女孩子们表演芭蕾
 
 
雪儿跳爱尔兰舞蹈
 

 雪儿报幕，男孩子们的节目是《游戏迷》

 
大团圆谢幕


 又一年圣诞大宝和表弟说相声
 
 
雪儿读诗，表妹们为她伴唱
 
 
表姐妹的和声很柔美 It's a small world


大宝和表弟表妹乐器表演


 歌曲Santa Baby
Santa Baby, hurry down the chimney tonight
 
 
大宝和表弟们表演sushi Santa

  
大宝和表弟表演小品

 
雪儿和表妹表弟小合唱


   小品Nerd～书呆子

  
孩子们自编自演小品Evil Villian Therapy Session

 
把爷爷请上台，唱you're a mean one, Mr Grinch

The First Noel

The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

And by the light of that same star
Three Wise men came from country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

This star drew nigh to the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both Pause and stay
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

Then entered in those Wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel! 

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel! 

～圣诞快乐～