I spent December 27-January 1 in Iron Belt, Wisconsin, with Rebecca and her family and her extended family. Here are some of the pictures. Rebecca has a lot more with actual people in them; I’ll try to post some of those later.

scout:

madeinthedark:

The Christmas Tree

My BFF made a good point that some aspect of everyone’s mother is this video.

“And pick up all that shit.” — Direct quote from my mom.

Ahahahaha.

eecummings:

“little tree
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you
because you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool bark
and hug you safe and tight
just as your mother would,
only don’t be afraid

look the spangles
that sleep all the year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms
and i’ll give them all to you to hold
every finger shall have its ring
and there won’t a single place dark or unhappy

then when you’re quite dressed
you’ll stand in the window for everyone to see
and how they’ll stare!
oh but you’ll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take hands
and looking up at our beautiful.
we’ll dance and sing
‘Noel Noel’”

— ee cummings

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Note: I had not yet showered at the time I recorded this video. Probably a bad decision, but it’s hard to find a few consecutive minutes of quiet in my house, so I’ll take what I can get.

Sufjan Stevens - Put The Lights On The Tree

Sufjan Stevens - Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)

Sufjan Stevens - Star of Wonder

I call you from the comet’s cradle. / I found you trembling by yourself. / When the night falls lightly on your right-wing shoulder; / wonderful know-it-all slightly where the night gets colder.

Oh, conscience, where will you carry me? / I found you, star of terrifying effigies. / When the night falls, I carry myself to the fortress / of your glorious coat. Oh, I may seek your fortress?

When the night falls, we see the star of wonder. / Wonderful night falls, we see you, we see you.

I see the stars coming down there; coming down there to the yard. / I see the stars coming down there; coming down there to my heart.

I see the stars coming down there, coming down there to the yard.

These days, days, days run away, like horses over the hills.

Sufjan Stevens - I Saw Three Ships

copycats:

Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming - Feist
originally a German Christmas Carol from the 15th century
(posted by sometimesagreatnotion)

Sufjan Stevens - Joy To The World

copycats:

Merry Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Death Cab for Cutie

(posted by sometimesagreatnotion)

Ben Gibbard gets a little drunk and writes a song, and it becomes one of my favorite Christmas songs jams.

This is a deep cut, you guys.