Christmas is certainly not what it used to be.  I’m not sure if it’s because Jenn and I are super busy or because we’re super busy, but I think it’s because we’re super busy.  There’s no doubt that Jenn and I work a ton, partly because we’re working hard to scrape a future together for our new responsibility but mostly I think it’s because we love what we do.  We’re both very driven people who like to succeed in everything we set out to do.  We even work so hard that we succeed in doing things we didn’t set out to do…things like teaching Ryan to say “night night” and “water” (at least we think “awa” is water.) 

So this year, Christmas seems a bit rushed.  Last week, Jenn ran to Home Depot on the way back from the gym and bought a Christmas Tree.  We put the lights on together and we’ve been taking shifts decorating the house while the other watches Ryan or comes home from work.  Some of the decorations are up, many sit still in their boxes.  The spirit of Christmas is still very much alive in our hearts but it just doesn’t sit very high on our minds. I think next year will be so much more fun when Ryan actually understands what’s going on and doesn’t view Santa as a scary man in a red costume.  I see now that most parents live vicariously through their kids and try and recapture some of the magic of Christmas

There is one thing that can bolster our Christmas spirits this season.  In talking with my mother this week, I was reminded of the annual cookie exchange that she puts on with her girlfriends. This reminds me of me of Robin Young’s Congo Bars.  That, in turn, reminds me of Christmas!

There are many joys in this world (and I apologize to all the wonderful cooks who’re reading this and questioning the veracity of what I’m writing) but the truth is there are few culinary joys as wondrous as the Congo bar.  I’m going to go as far as to say tasting one of these heavenly delights might be the very thing that can rejuvenate my Christmas spirit.  Robin, if you’re reading this, no pressure…