Do I have to wear this?

In the morning bustle of getting ready for work, Latin Club, and Jazz Band practice before school, I noticed that my daughter and I had coincidentally dressed in similar outfits - blue jeans and black sweaters. I shouldn't have said anything. Because as soon as I remarked about our choices, she immediately launched into "remember that time you MADE us wear the SAME dress? It was SOOOOOOO embarrassing!"

She was four years old, for pete's sake!

I bought matching dresses from Hanna Andersson for Mother's Day and thought we looked just fine. Even at that young age, my daughter vehemently disagreed and scowled the few hours we wore the dresses. (Scowling really isn't a usual thing with her - she's a very good-natured person.) Afterward, I tucked my dress away, never to see the light of day again. She wore hers until she outgrew it.

Particularly for holidays and family photos, it's traditional for Southern mamas to have matching ensembles for their children. Wooden Soldier, Orient Expressed, Kelly's Kids, Hanna Andersson - there are legions of specialty catalogs that indulge our love of coordinating plaids and dots, stitched embroidery and smocking.

I have to admit that what looks adorable on young children gets downright silly as they reach the tween years. Yet some steel-spined Southern mamas will insist on matching outfits (including those Christmas Eve pajamas) right up until the time a kid escapes to college.

I confess that my favorite photos of my kids feature them in matching black turtlenecks or white tees and jeans. But I no longer insist that they dress alike for the annual Christmas photo. It's hard enough to get them together in the same place, ready to smile somewhat naturally.

As for dressing like my daughter, I'm very careful not to cross that line. Wouldn't want to mark her for life!

Warning: Elves At Work

For nearly 9 years, two elves have joined our family every Christmas . . . for as long as we've lived in Dunwoody. They arrive the Sunday after Thanksgiving and leave Christmas Eve. Lucy comes for AG, and, until two years ago, Bentley came for A. Their needs are simple (fresh water and crackers left out each night plus a sprinkling of snow dust to re-animate them after midnight) and their ways quite mischievous. Through the years, they have:

• toilet-papered the house
  
• scattered Christmas books all over the floor
  
• lined up all of the kids' shoes through the upstairs hall and down the stairs
  
• hidden in some really imaginative spots
  
• stacked all the kitchen chairs on top of the table
  
• tried to hitch a ride in the kids' backpacks to school
• practiced driving in the family van
• cooked up pancakes and made a huge mess with the flour
• helped complete the annual mega-puzzle we all work on
  
• teased Scooter the Wonder Dog by banging on his kennel
• and had pillow fights under the Christmas tree

This may be Lucy's last year with AG. At ten, she's been asking a lot of questions. A didn't look for Bentley last year, but what then-14-year-old male would? For the past few years, he'd just been sharing with his sister.

Ah, well. It's been a lovely tradition. Who knows . . . just because the kids get older doesn't mean Mom has to grow up! Those mischievous elves may still have a willing host for Christmas Future.

It looks like New Year's will be a festive time here in the neighborhood. We have a gathering for New Year's Eve that begins early in the evening and one for New Year's Day, a Southern-flavored open house featuring Hoppin' John. (That's black-eyed peas, rice, and ham plus lots of other yummy ingredients. It's good luck to start the New Year with a bowl-ful!) I think I'll make that Dunwoody Dip for the New Year's Eve party.

I'm still knitting away on the Einstein Coat and trying to finish the newest handbag design. It's so relaxing to have these few days at home. Back to work on Wednesday, but it'll be very quiet at the Nature Center, despite a camp for little ones. I might wander the trails a bit, picking up trash and checking on things.

Tomorrow, I'm hosting the church's continental breakfast. The Dunkin' Donuts Munchkins are ordered, the juice is cooling in the fridge, and now I need to make the Sausage Balls and Deviled Eggs. I love this time of year!