When is Seven O'Clock coming?

I have two pieces that I'm sitting on about my Muslim kids' first Christmas (Santa centered). The posts have the potential to be so good, but they're sooooo half-written. I can't wait until I carve out enough time to finish them, because, guess what? I just got a dog.

I really want to share some of the highlights of experiencing Christmas (NOT IN ANY RELIGIOUS CONTEXT AND WITH LOTS OF SENSITIVITY TO THEIR OWN MUSLIM TRADITIONS) with the boys now.  I hope you enjoy...

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Yusef: I'm not buying anyone presents. And then I'm taking all of Hanni's.

Hanni: Presents aren't very important.

Yusef: They're extremely important to me.

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I'm becoming budget conscious as a single mom of two. I heard from a friend that the trees are cheapest in Queens, so I organized a much publicized four hour window in the kids' busy calendar to go buy ourselves some Christmas cheer.

I tried to get them excited about the tree for an entire week, when that wasn't working, I invited our beloved and highly cheerful friend Rose to come with us. Sunday came along, and we loaded two grumbling teenagers into the big car, and this was their response to my enforced fun...allll the way to Sunnyside, Queens.

Yusef: Why are we going to Queens?
Hanni: Why would we pay money for a Christmas tree now when we could just get one on the street after everyone throws them out?
Yusef: I didn't know we were going all the way to Queens.
Hanni: Maybe we could rent a tree. We should rent a tree.
Yusef: Miss do you know where you're going? Gawd.
Hanni: How much is this tree going to cost us? We could just go to a forest and cut one.

I responded the way any patient, rational parent would. I grabbed the phone from the kid closest to me and threw it across the car.

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Hanni: What time is Seven O'Clock coming?

Me: Who?

Hanni: Seven O'Clock!

Yusef: Santa Claus

Me: Oh, umm, he's coming Christmas eve--after midnight.

Hanni: Is he real?

Me: Yes...yes, of course he's real.

Yusef: How will he find us?

Hanni: Is he the Snowman?

Yusef: He's not going to have enough time.

Hanni: Is he going to bring his cows in here?

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While decorating the Christmas tree...
Yusef: Oh my gawd. We have to stop putting stuff on the tree it's going to be so ugly. Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! 

Hanni: We should say good-bye to her now.

Me: Who?

Hanni: The tree. 

Me: Why?

Hanni: Because it's going to hurt too much later.

Yusef: Miss, Christmas music is nice. Baby, it's freezing out there. 

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Me: Hanni, come down quick, there's carrollers outside.

Hanni: What are they doing?

Me: They're singing Christmas songs.

Hanni: They should go home. It's cold.