♪ HAVE A HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS ♪
♪ IT'S THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR ♪
REBECCA: WHAT TIME OF YEAR IS IT?
JONATHAN: CHRISTMAS TIME.
REBECCA: YEAH,
OKAY, SO HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS.
JONATHAN: IS THAT THE THEME OF TODAY'S EPISODE?
REBECCA: YEAH, I'M HOLLY AND JOLLY OVER HERE.
JONATHAN: OKAY.
REBECCA: OKAY, SO...
JONATHAN: I'LL BE HOLLY,
YOU BE JOLLY.
REBECCA: JOLLY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
♪♪
REBECCA: WELCOME TO THE REBECCA WEISS PODCAST.
JONATHAN: THANK YOU.
I LOVE YOUR NEW SET.
IT'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING
I'VE EVER SEEN.
REBECCA: IT WAS A COLLAB EFFORT BETWEEN ME AND YOU.
JONATHAN: I KNOW AND ELIANA.
SHE WAS WITH US.
REBECCA: YEAH.
CALL US UP,
IF YOU WANT US FOR INTERIOR DESIGNER TIPS.
JONATHAN: ACTUALLY, DON'T.
OUR SCHEDULES ARE COMPLETELY BOOKED.
REBECCA: WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.
JONATHAN: YEAH,
AND THAT TOO.
REBECCA: OKAY, SO HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS.
JONATHAN: IS THAT THE THEME OF TODAY'S EPISODE?
REBECCA: YEAH,
I'M HOLLY AND JOLLY OVER HERE.
JONATHAN: OKAY.
REBECCA: OKAY, SO...
JONATHAN: I'LL BE HOLLY
AND YOU BE JOLLY.
REBECCA: JOLLY.
OKAY, SO WHAT IS CHRISTMAS TO YOU?
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT CHRISTMAS?
LET'S DO AN EASY QUESTION.
JONATHAN: WELL, NOW THAT I HAVE KIDS,
I FEEL LIKE MY FAVORITE PART OF CHRISTMAS IS LIKE
ENJOYING CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE KIDS.
BUT I ALSO LIKE, YOU KNOW, SETTING UP THE TREE,
GETTING IT DECORATED.
REBECCA: WE HAD NO DECORATIONS ON IT LAST YEAR.
JONATHAN: PUTTING LIGHTS ON OUR HOUSE.
WELL, FOR ME,
THE LIGHTS ARE GOOD ENOUGH.
REBECCA: THAT WAS BASICALLY OUR TREE.
JONATHAN: TO ME, THAT'S DECORATED.
I ACTUALLY DON'T LIKE ALL THE FROU-FROU, FROU-FROU?
REBECCA: OH, YOU KNOW WHAT
I JUST REALIZED,
IF WE DON'T BUY ORNAMENTS NOW,
THEY'RE GOING TO BE ALL SOLD OUT.
JONATHAN: YEAH, BUT THAT'S MY GRAND PLAN IS TO JUST
DELAY UNTIL THEY'RE ALL GONE.
I DON'T LIKE ALL THE ORNAMENTS TO BE HONEST.
I LIKE THE LIGHTS.
I THINK THAT LOOKS THE CLEANEST.
REBECCA: IF ANYONE ASKS, WE'RE JUST MINIMALISTS.
JONATHAN: OKAY.
REBECCA: YEAH.
THAT'S TRENDY, RIGHT?
JONATHAN: I DON'T KNOW.
I'M NOT THE RIGHT GUY FOR THAT.
BUT YEAH, MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT CHRISTMAS IS,
UM, OF COURSE, CELEBRATING JESUS
COMING TO EARTH.
BUT REALLY DOING ALL THE FESTIVITIES AS A FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, MY PARENTS ARE COMING TO TOWN.
THE BOYS ARE EXCITED.
WE'LL DO WHATEVER IS GOING ON.
I MEAN, WHAT DO WE DO?
WE COME HERE.
REBECCA: WHAT DO WE DO?
JONATHAN: YEAH, WE COME HERE
WHERE WE HAVE THE DAYSTAR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS,
WHICH IS A LOT OF FUN.
REBECCA: UH-HUH.
JONATHAN: I LOVE, BOTH OF OUR BOYS LOVE RECEIVING GIFTS.
SO IT'S FUN FOR ME
AND YOU TO LIKE GET THEM SOMETHING.
REBECCA: AND GIFTS IS YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE.
JONATHAN: IS THAT TRUE?
REBECCA: IT'S TRUE.
JONATHAN: I FEEL LIKE I FIT LIKE ALL THE LOVE LANGUAGES.
IT MIGHT BE LIKE --
REBECCA: I WANT ALL OF THEM.
JONATHAN: I'M HOARDING THEM, YEAH.
REBECCA: NO, I WOULD SAY
I THINK GIFTS IS YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE BECAUSE YOU ARE
ALWAYS INTENTIONAL ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE GIFTS.
AND I AM NOT THAT WAY AND YOU HAVE HELPED TEACH ME THAT,
YOU'VE HELPED DEVELOP THAT IN ME.
JONATHAN: BUT YEAH, MY FAVORITE GIFTS
ARE THE ONES THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME.
SO I ACTUALLY WILL ARGUE LIKE THIS WATCH, YOU GAVE THIS
TO ME ON OUR WEDDING DAY.
REBECCA: HEY!
JONATHAN: IT HAS OUR WEDDING DAY INSCRIBED ON THE BACK.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY THOUGHTFUL.
REBECCA: YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE?
I WOULD SAY IT'S WAY MORE FUN TO GIVE GIFTS TO
SOMEONE WHOSE LOVE LANGUAGE IS GIFTS BECAUSE
THEY APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.
AND I THINK ASHY, LITTLE ASH.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: HE LOVES GIFTS.
JONATHAN: OUR FIRSTBORN SON LOVES GIFTS.
REBECCA: HE'S ALREADY ASKING ABOUT FUTURE GIFTS.
JONATHAN: HANUKKAH, HIS BIRTHDAY, YEAH.
REBECCA: YEAH.
JONATHAN: OKAY, SO WHAT DOES
CHRISTMAS MEAN TO YOU OR WHAT ARE YOU MOST
EXCITED ABOUT CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR?
REBECCA: WELL, I AM VERY MUCH THE PERSON
I DO NOT CELEBRATE LIKE IN JULY.
I AM LIKE VERY MUCH A MAYBE NOVEMBER.
JONATHAN: WHEN DO YOU START GETTING FESTIVE IN YOUR HEART?
REBECCA: YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREAT DEBATE AMONG PEOPLE.
DO YOU START CELEBRATING IN NOVEMBER?
DO YOU START CELEBRATING AFTER THANKSGIVING?
DO YOU START IN DECEMBER?
EVERYONE'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
THERE'S ALWAYS THE VERY EAGER CHRISTMAS PEOPLE.
THEY LIKE TO START
PRETTY MUCH AS SOON AS NOVEMBER STARTS.
BUT I AM MORE OF A TRUE GIVE THANKSGIVING ITS SPACE
AND THEN LET CHRISTMAS BE CELEBRATED.
JONATHAN: I AM THE SAME.
REBECCA: YEAH, BECAUSE WE BOTH LOVE THANKSGIVING.
PIE, FOOTBALL, FALL LEAVES,
IT'S A GREAT TIME AND BEING GRATEFUL,
BUT THIS ISN'T A THANKSGIVING EPISODE.
THIS IS A CHRISTMAS EPISODE.
OKAY, REALLY QUICK.
ONE MORE THING ABOUT CHRISTMAS
AND THEN WE'LL JUMP INTO THIS GAME THAT THEY HAVE
PREPARED FOR US.
WHAT DO I LOVE ABOUT CHRISTMAS?
I THINK CHRISTMAS BECAME A LOT MORE MEANINGFUL TO ME
WHEN I REDEDICATED MY LIFE TO JESUS.
BECAUSE I BECAME INTO REALLY CELEBRATING
THE INCARNATION,
YOU KNOW, EMMANUEL, GOD WITH US, RIGHT?
UM, AS WE'VE HAD KIDS,
IT'S JUST MADE IT SO MUCH MORE FULL OF WONDER
BECAUSE THEY SEE THE WORLD IN SUCH A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE AS US AND I LOVE BEING ABLE TO SEE
THE WORLD THROUGH A CHILD'S EYES BECAUSE CHILDREN ARE
SO INNOCENT AND THEY ARE SO CAPTIVATED BY THE
SIMPLE THINGS THAT I THINK WE MIGHT TAKE FOR GRANTED.
OH, WE SEE THAT EVERY DAY.
SO THEY BRING WONDER BACK INTO THE HOME AND JOY.
AND NOW THAT WE HAVE OUR ELIANA JOY,
IT'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE NEW YEAR WITH NEW THINGS
TO DO AS A FAMILY OF FIVE.
WHAT?
JONATHAN: I KNOW.
REBECCA: SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND YOU KNOW
I WILL SAY IN TEXAS,
I ACTUALLY LIKE THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.
IT'S NOT -- THE WEATHER'S NICE.
THERE'S A TON OF THINGS TO DO FOR CHRISTMAS AND SO
IT'S A GOOD TIME.
BUT ONE YEAR,
WE WILL HAVE A SNOW CHRISTMAS.
WE WILL GO SOMEWHERE, IT'S MY DREAM.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL EVER DO IT,
BUT I'VE NEVER REALLY BEEN IN A PLACE
THAT SNOWS ON CHRISTMAS.
JONATHAN: WE'VE HAD SNOW HERE.
REBECCA: NOT DURING CHRISTMAS.
IT'S ALWAYS LIKE IN FEBRUARY.
JONATHAN: OKAY.
REBECCA: IT'S OKAY YOU'RE FROM CALIFORNIA.
JONATHAN: NO, I FEEL
LIKE IT'S BEEN DURING CHRISTMAS.
REBECCA: THERE WAS ONE CHRISTMAS WHERE IT SNOWED.
YOU WERE NOT HERE.
JONATHAN: WE'VE HAD THE BUBBLE SNOW.
REBECCA: WHAT'S THE BUBBLE SNOW?
JONATHAN: IT'S LIKE A --
REBECCA: OH, AT DAYSTAR, THE FAKE SNOW.
YEAH, WE HAVE THAT AT LEAST OKAY.
OKAY, WELL, LET'S GET INTO THIS GAME.
JONATHAN: LET'S PLAY.
REBECCA: ALL RIGHT.
WHERE ARE MY CARDS?
WHO'S GOING TO GO FIRST?
ME OR YOU?
JONATHAN: YOU WILL GO FIRST BECAUSE YOU ARE THE
HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTEST.
SO WE'RE PLAYING A GAME CALLED NEVER HAVE I EVER
AND I THINK WE RAISE THESE UP.
♪ YOU RAISE ME UP ♪
REBECCA: DO YOU KNOW THAT SONG?
JONATHAN: NEVER HAVE I EVER SPENT A CHRISTMAS ALONE.
REBECCA: THANK GOD.
JONATHAN: HAVE I EVER SPENT A CHRISTMAS ALONE?
I AM MOST CERTAINLY HAVE.
REBECCA: YOU HAVE?
JONATHAN: I'M SURE OF IT.
REBECCA: GIVE RECEIPTS.
JONATHAN: I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK WHEN I LIVED IN ISRAEL.
I DON'T THINK I WAS WITH ANYBODY.
REBECCA: DO THEY CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN ISRAEL?
JONATHAN: YEAH.
SORT OF, SOME DO, SOME DON'T.
THERE'S LIKE A LARGE CHRISTIAN POPULATION IN ISRAEL.
SO LIKE WHERE I WAS LIVING IN HAIFA,
IT GETS REALLY DECORATED.
AND THEN WE WENT --
OH, NO, I WASN'T ALONE.
I HAD FRIENDS.
REBECCA: YEAH.
JONATHAN: I GUESS I WAS THINKING WITH FAMILY.
SO I WASN'T ALONE.
REBECCA: YEAH.
JONATHAN: I WAS WITH FRIENDS.
SO THAT WAS COOL.
BUT, YEAH, YOU GO TO LIKE NAZARETH AND IT'S ALL DECORATED.
YOU KNOW, HAIFA WHERE I WAS LIVING,
THERE'S A WHOLE AREA --
REBECCA: 'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE JESUS WAS BORN.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: SO I MEAN, YEAH, THERE SHOULD
BE SOME CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS.
JONATHAN: WE WENT TO NAZARETH AND WE WENT
AND VISITED A CHURCH.
I WAS WITH A BUDDY OF MINE.
AND WE SANG CHRISTMAS CAROLS AND IT WAS HUNKY DORY.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A CHRISTMAS PHRASE,
BUT IT WAS IT WAS SWEET.
REBECCA: WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS EVER?
JONATHAN: UM, I CAN'T THINK OF ONE.
REBECCA: IT'S OKAY.
I ASKED YOU OFF THE CUFF.
JONATHAN: YEAH, MAYBE ONES WITH AS A FAMILY.
I'VE ENJOYED THOSE THE MOST OUT OF ALL MY CHRISTMASES.
YOU KNOW, HAVING KIDS, LIKE I SAID, LIKE HAVING KIDS
MAKES IT SO MUCH MORE FUN TO ME AND EXCITING.
REBECCA: YEAH.
JONATHAN: AND IT'S JUST BEEN SOME --
REBECCA: THERE'S BEEN SOME SAD TIMES AROUND CHRISTMAS TOO.
JONATHAN: YEAH, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
LET'S GO INTO THE SAD TIMES OF CHRISTMAS.
REBECCA: I'M JUST SAYING...
JONATHAN: COMMENT BELOW IF YOU'VE HAD A SAD CHRISTMAS.
REBECCA: A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE.
JONATHAN: I KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT SAD TIMES.
REBECCA: BUT IF THERE'S ANYONE WATCHING JUST KNOW THAT --
JONATHAN: FIRST OF ALL, CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT
JESUS COMING TO EARTH.
SO HE'S HERE FOR YOU.
REBECCA: YEAH.
AND JUST KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE NOT ALONE AND THE LORD LOVES YOU.
AND YOU KNOW,
WE'VE HAD HARD CHRISTMASES AS WELL.
JONATHAN: BUT SERIOUSLY,
DO YOU COMMENT BELOW AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS, BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO GO THROUGH
AND READ A BUNCH OF FAVORITE CHRISTMAS STORIES.
REBECCA: THAT IS A GREAT ONE.
JONATHAN: YEAH, I'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT THOSE ARE.
OKAY, YOU ASK ME A QUESTION.
REBECCA: OKAY, NEVER HAVE I EVER BAKED
CHRISTMAS COOKIES FROM SCRATCH.
JONATHAN: I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT.
REBECCA: I HAVE.
JONATHAN: WHAT?
REBECCA: YEAH.
JONATHAN: NOT FOR ME.
REBECCA: BUT I'VE BAKED A LOT OF STUFF
FOR YOU FROM SCRATCH.
JONATHAN: I DON'T REMEMBER.
REBECCA: I MADE YOU BANOFFEE PIE.
REMEMBER HOW GOOD THAT WAS.
JONATHAN: NOT AT ALL.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT WORD IS.
REBECCA: IT'S AN ENGLISH PIE.
JONATHAN: NEVER HAVE I EVER IGNORED CHRISTMAS CAROLERS
AT THE FRONT DOOR.
REBECCA: HAVE YOU EVER EVEN HAD CHRISTMAS CAROLS
AT THE FRONT DOOR?
THAT'S NEVER EVEN BEEN A THING.
JONATHAN: THE ONLY TIME
I HAVE NEVER IGNORED THEM,
THE ONLY TIME
I REMEMBER EVER SEEING THEM WAS AT YOUR MOM'S HOUSE.
AND...
REBECCA: OH, WAS IT JOE NINOWSKI?
JONATHAN: YES.
REBECCA: YEAH, THAT WAS SO COOL.
OUR VERY OWN, JOE NINOWSKI,
HE CAME TO THE DOOR.
JONATHAN: WASN'T IT A SURPRISE, RIGHT?
IT WAS A SURPRISE.
I WAS SURPRISED.
REBECCA: HE GAVE US LIKE A LITTLE HEADS UP.
HE WAS LIKE,
HEY, I FORGOT WHAT THAT WAS.
JONATHAN: THAT WOULD BE SAVAGE TO JUST IGNORE THEM.
REBECCA: THAT WOULD BE SAVAGE.
JONATHAN: JUST OPEN THE DOOR AND SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS,
YOU KNOW.
REBECCA: THAT'S A LITTLE BAH-HUMBUG.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: UM, I DON'T, BESIDES JOE,
I'VE NEVER HAD CHRISTMAS CAROLS,
BUT HAVE I GONE CHRISTMAS CAROLING?
JONATHAN: THIS IS A GOOD ONE.
NEVER HAVE I EVER PRETENDED TO LIKE A GIFT.
REBECCA: OH, I TOTALLY HAVE.
JONATHAN: YEAH, I COULD THINK OF HALF A DOZEN GIFTS,
AS A GIFT CONNOISSEUR.
REBECCA: BUT THE QUESTION IS ARE YOU GOOD AT MAKING
THE PERSON BELIEVE THAT YOU LIKED IT WHEN
IN FACT YOU DID NOT.
JONATHAN: I'M NOT BECAUSE I SECRETLY WANT THEM TO KNOW
THAT THEY'VE MESSED UP, YOU KNOW.
REBECCA: I DON'T, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I'M VERY
GOOD AT IT.
I'M LIKE THANK YOU.
JONATHAN: GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF A GIFT THAT I
GAVE YOU THAT YOU PRETENDED LIKE YOU LIKED
THAT YOU DIDN'T ACTUALLY LIKE, I CAN THINK OF A FEW.
REBECCA: YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB
WITH MY GIFTS.
I'M THINKING MORE ABOUT LIKE OTHER --
JONATHAN: WELL, I THINK YOU CAN THINK OF AT LEAST ONE THAT
I'VE GIVEN YOU THAT YOU DIDN'T LOVE.
WHAT ABOUT THAT MIRROR?
THAT MIRROR I GAVE YOU.
DID YOU LIKE THAT?
REBECCA: THAT WAS SUCH A RANDOM GIFT.
THAT WAS, OKAY,
THAT WAS FUNNY BECAUSE --
JONATHAN: WELL, LISTEN, WHEN IT'S HANUKKAH
AND WE'RE GIVING EIGHT GIFTS,
YOU KNOW, YOU DO RUN OUT OF IDEAS, EVENTUALLY.
AND YOU CAN'T GIVE EIGHT DIAMOND RINGS, YOU KNOW,
IT'S LIKE...
REBECCA: UM, I WAS GONNA SAY WE ARE A CHRISMUKKAH FAMILY.
IS THAT HOW YOU SAY IT?
JONATHAN: I DON'T KNOW.
I WAS JUST GOING ALONG WITH WHAT YOU SAID.
REBECCA: YOU WERE LIKE, YEAH.
JONATHAN: I JUST THINK WE DO HANUKKAH AND CHRISTMAS, YEAH.
REBECCA: UM, BUT I WILL SAY THAT STORY WAS,
I THINK YOU HAD ALREADY GIVEN ME HANUKKAH GIFTS.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: AND THEN WE WERE ALL OPENING UP GIFTS ON
CHRISTMAS WITH YOUR PARENTS.
JONATHAN: RIGHT.
REBECCA: AND THEN THERE WAS LIKE ONE GIFT FOR ME
UNDER THE TREE,
AND IT WAS A MIRROR.
JONATHAN: THAT IS FUNNY.
REBECCA: AND I WAS LIKE A MIRROR?
[ LAUGHTER ]
REBECCA: BUT I LOVE THAT MIRROR
AND I USE THAT MIRROR.
JONATHAN: I KNOW, IT'S PRACTICAL.
REBECCA: SO BUT I CAN THINK OF MANY GIFTS,
I'VE GOTTEN FROM OTHER PEOPLE, WHICH I WILL NOT
SAY ON THIS PODCAST, THAT I DID NOT LIKE.
AND YEAH, IT'S VERY AWKWARD,
BUT ALWAYS GRATEFUL BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT COUNTS.
OKAY, NEVER HAVE I EVER GONE SHOPPING
THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
I THINK I HAVE.
JONATHAN: GONE SHOPPING THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
I HAVE DEFINITELY DONE THAT.
REBECCA: YOU HAVE?
JONATHAN: OH, YEAH.
REBECCA: YOU'RE LIKE ALWAYS MR. PREPARED, MR. RESPONSIBLE.
JONATHAN: CHRISTMAS IS TOUGH.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU CAN NEVER REALLY
BE PREPARED ENOUGH,
I FEEL LIKE.
REBECCA: YEAH.
JONATHAN: I DON'T KNOW OR I'M NOT THE TYPE
THAT'S WIRED FOR IT AND I ALWAYS THINK OF SOMETHING
LAST MINUTE OR YOU'RE EITHER SHOPPING BECAUSE IT
JUST SAYS SHOPPING, RIGHT?
OR YOU'RE GOING RUNNING OUT
AND YOU'RE GETTING LIKE SUPPLIES TO HOST
OR TO BRING SOMEWHERE.
REBECCA: RIGHT, WE DO THIS LIKE EVERY YEAR.
JONATHAN: YEAH, IT'S HONESTLY --
REBECCA: WE DO THIS.
JONATHAN: THAT PART IS REALLY NOT THE MOST --
REBECCA: WE SHOULD DO IT DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR.
JONATHAN: YEAH, GOOD LUCK.
REBECCA: COMMENT DOWN BELOW IF YOU THINK WE WILL.
JONATHAN: IT'S GOING TO SAY THEY WON'T KNOW.
REBECCA: NO, WE'LL GIVE A POLL.
NO, I'M JUST KIDDING, BUT UM,
THAT'S TRUE AND THE THING WITH CHRISTMAS IS THAT IF
YOU WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE TO GO SHOPPING.
JONATHAN: EVERYONE ELSE IS OUT THERE TOO.
REBECCA: IT'S THE ABSOLUTE WORST.
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO HAPPEN,
BUT THAT'S THE THING YOU GOT TO BE SO LIKE SUPER PREPARED.
JONATHAN: UH, NEVER HAVE I EVER RECEIVED AN EXPENSIVE GIFT.
REBECCA: YOU HAVE, I HAVE.
JONATHAN: YEAH, WE BOTH HAVE.
REBECCA: THANK YOU.
JONATHAN: THANK YOU.
REBECCA: TO THE PEOPLE WHO GAVE.
JONATHAN: YEAH, THOSE THAT HAVE GIVEN EXPENSIVE GIFTS,
MORE ARE WELCOME.
I'M JUST KIDDING.
OKAY, GO AHEAD.
REBECCA: UM, NEVER HAVE I EVER PEEKED AT A PRESENT.
I THINK I HAVE, I HAVE HAD TO.
JONATHAN: I'VE NEVER DONE THAT, THAT'S WRONG.
REBECCA: WHAT?
JONATHAN: YEAH, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WAIT.
I KNOW ASHER HAS BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HIDE THEM,
HE'LL JUST START --
NOW HE'S AT AN AGE WHERE I THINK HE'D RESPECT THE BOUNDARY.
REBECCA: HE'S TOO GOOD AT IT.
JONATHAN: BUT WHEN HE WAS A TODDLER,
IT WAS LIKE YOU COULDN'T LEAVE THE PRESENTS OUT.
REBECCA: WELL, HE FOUND HIS BIRTHDAY PRESENT
IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AND HE WAS LIKE, LOOK, MOM.
LOOK WHAT I FOUND.
JONATHAN: WE NICKNAME HIM TRACKER
BECAUSE HE FINDS EVERYTHING.
REBECCA: HE FINDS EVERYTHING.
ALL RIGHT,
IT'S MY TURN, RIGHT?
NO, IT'S YOUR TURN.
JONATHAN: NEVER HAVE I EVER REGIFTED A GIFT,
I DIDN'T LIKE.
REBECCA: THAT IS A THING.
JONATHAN: ISN'T THAT THE BEST, THOUGH?
REBECCA: THAT IS BEING FRUGAL.
JONATHAN: I MEAN, WHY DO I LIKE DOING IT?
IT'S CALLED STEWARDSHIP.
REBECCA: IT'S BEING A GOOD STEWARD.
JONATHAN: IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT,
SOMEBODY ELSE WILL.
ONE MAN'S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN'S TREASURE.
SO I BELIEVE IN SHARING...
REBECCA: THAT'S CARING.
JONATHAN: AND YOU NEED TO GIVE,
GIVE IT AWAY IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO USE IT.
REBECCA: YOU GIVE IT ALL AWAY.
JONATHAN: BUT DON'T BE WEIRD ABOUT IT.
LIKE ADD SOMETHING TO IT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU GET LIKE A GIFT
AND IT'S LIKE NOT THAT VERY GOOD,
YOU'RE LIKE,
WOW, THAT'S A REALLY BAD GIFT.
DON'T JUST GIVE THAT -- GIVE THAT PLUS SOMETHING ELSE
TO SOMEONE SO THEY THEY FEEL GOOD
ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GETTING.
REBECCA: AND LIKE, YEAH,
I'M TELLING YOU SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT
NOT LIKE, SOMEONE ELSE USUALLY WILL.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
IT'S JUST A PREFERENCE THING.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: YEAH, ALL RIGHT.
NEVER HAVE I EVER TAKEN SOMEONE ELSE'S CHRISTMAS GIFT.
WHAT?
JONATHAN: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, TAKEN?
REBECCA: I'VE NEVER, LIKE YOU BUY IT FOR SOMEONE AND THEN
YOU END UP GIVING IT TO YOURSELF.
JONATHAN: NO.
REBECCA: NO, WHAT?
JONATHAN: I MEAN...
REBECCA: THAT'S AWKWARD.
JONATHAN: I CAN'T THINK OF ONE.
REBECCA: ME NEITHER.
JONATHAN: YEAH, NEVER HAVE I EVER MADE A GINGERBREAD HOUSE.
REBECCA: NO, I HAVE.
JONATHAN: YEAH, I THINK EVERY AMERICAN HAS.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN AMERICAN.
REBECCA: EVERY AMERICAN.
JONATHAN: YEAH, EVERY AMERICAN HAS DONE THAT.
REBECCA: IN AMERICA, GINGERBREAD.
JONATHAN: NEVER HAVE I EVER...
REBECCA: I JUST THREW A QUESTION ACCIDENTALLY.
JONATHAN: KISSED MY SPOUSE UNDER THE MISTLETOE.
REBECCA: YEAH, WE HAVE.
JONATHAN: WHAT IF I DID THAT?
I DON'T KNOW.
I CAN'T RECALL.
REBECCA: WHO HAVE YOU KISSED HIM?
I'M JUST KIDDING.
JONATHAN: ARE YOU SURE WE HAVE?
I THINK YOU'RE JUST SAYING THAT.
HAVE WE EVER?
I'M SURE WE HAVE.
REBECCA: OKAY, REMEMBER WHEN I WENT TO GO SPEAK IN MICHIGAN.
JONATHAN: YES, YOU'RE RIGHT.
REBECCA: AND WE STAYED AT THAT,
UM, REALLY CUTE HOTEL.
THEY HAD MISTLETOE HANGING UP BECAUSE IT WAS DECORATED.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: REALLY CUTE FOR CHRISTMAS.
THAT IS THE TIME I REMEMBER.
JONATHAN: THAT WAS SUCH A CUTE TOWN FOR CHRISTMAS.
REBECCA: THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN.
THAT WAS PRE-KIDS, RIGHT?
JONATHAN: IT WAS.
REBECCA: THAT WAS RIGHT BEFORE WE GOT PREGNANT WITH ASHER.
JONATHAN: A SHORT WINDOW OF TIME, MARRIED WITHOUT CHILDREN.
REBECCA: YES, IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER THOSE DAYS.
YOU KNOW, I JUST HAVE TO SAY LIKE RANDOM SIDENOTE.
I WATCHED ONE OF MY FRIEND'S VIDEOS AND IT WAS
LIKE A DAY IN MY LIFE AND SHE HAD NO KIDS.
AND I WAS JUST WATCHING IT LIKE SHE HAS SO MUCH FREE TIME.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: IT'S LIKE HARD TO IMAGINE LIFE
WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEFORE KIDS.
JONATHAN: RIGHT.
REBECCA: BUT WE LOVE THEM AND THEY GROW UP FAST.
JONATHAN: DOESN'T MATTER,
YOU LOVE THEM OR NOT, THEY'RE THERE,
YOU KNOW, OKAY.
REBECCA: ALL RIGHT.
OH, THIS,
OH, THIS IS CONJURING UP SOME MEMORIES.
NEVER HAVE I EVER BEEN SICK ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
JONATHAN: YES, ACCORDING TO REBECCA I HAVE.
REBECCA: YES, I HAVE.
MOVING ON.
JONATHAN: NEVER HAVE I EVER CRIED OVER A GIFT.
REBECCA: YOU'VE CRIED OVER A CHRISTMAS CARD.
JONATHAN: WHO?
REBECCA: YOU.
JONATHAN: I DON'T REMEMBER DOING THAT.
REBECCA: I'VE WRITTEN YOU CARDS THAT HAVE MADE YOU CRY.
JONATHAN: THEN I HAVE CRIED.
REBECCA: I'M GOOD AT WHAT I WRITE.
JONATHAN: BUT THAT'S NOT A GIFT.
SO NO, YOU'VE CRIED.
REBECCA: OVER A GIFT?
JONATHAN: NO, BUT GIFTS DON'T REALLY GET
YOUR HEART RACING.
YOU LIKE THE WORDS.
REBECCA: NO, YOU GET MY HEART RACING.
JONATHAN: I FEEL LIKE THERE'S GOT TO BE
A GIFT THAT, NO, I GUESS NOT.
REBECCA: WHAT GETS ME TO CRY IS...
JONATHAN: IS GOD'S PRESENCE.
REBECA: ANY KIND OF THING
THAT'S LIKE, UM,
WHAT'S THE WORD?
JONATHAN: SENTIMENTAL.
REBECCA: YES.
SENTIMENTAL STUFF DOES MAKE ME CRY.
LIKE IF ANY KIND OF VIDEO
IS MADE OF OUR KIDS AND US,
OVER THE PAST YEARS.
I AM DONE, I'M GOING TO CRY.
JONATHAN: YES, THAT ONE VIDEO THAT YOU MADE OF ASHER
WHEN HE WAS LIKE TWO.
EVERY TIME I WATCH THAT, I CRY,
WHICH IS WEIRD, BUT YEAH.
JUST IN THE MIDDLE OF APRIL,
I'M WATCHING THIS VIDEO CRYING.
REBECCA: I WAS HOLDING ELIANA TODAY AND I WAS
LITERALLY LIKE HIT WITH THE FACT THAT I KNOW THAT
SHE'S GOING TO BE BIG SO SOON.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: AND IT HIT ME
LIKE A TON OF BRICKS.
I WAS LIKE NO, I WAS HOLDING HER LIKE AS CLOSE
TO ME AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
JONATHAN: WE GOTTA WRAP THIS UP
SO WE CAN GO HOLD HER.
REBECCA: I KNOW.
JONATHAN: OKAY.
NEVER HAVE I EVER LISTENED TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC
BEFORE DECEMBER.
REBECCA: OH, I HAVE.
JONATHAN: WELL, I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO YOU SING FOR
THE LAST JUST THREE DAYS.
♪ JUST HEAR THOSE SLEIGH BELLS RINGING ♪
JONATHAN: NEVER HAVE I EVER GOT FOOD POISONING
FROM A CHRISTMAS DINNER.
REBECA: WHY DO YOU GET TO GO TWICE?
JONATHAN: BECAUSE YOU'RE SLOW.
REBECCA: I AM SLOW.
HAVE YOU EVER BUILT A SNOWMAN?
I HAVE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS AROUND CHRISTMAS.
IT DOESN'T SNOW IN TEXAS.
JONATHAN: I DON'T THINK SO.
REBECCA: REALLY?
ALL RIGHT, NEW GOAL.
WE GOTTA GET YOU --
JONATHAN: THE SAME YEAR THAT WE DO YOUR
WHITE CHRISTMAS SOMEWHERE,
WE'LL DO A SNOWMAN FOR ME THERE.
REBECCA: YAY.
OKAY, ONE MORE.
JONATHAN: ONE LAST THING, WHILE WE HAVE YOUR
ATTENTION, COMMENT BELOW
WHERE DO YOU RECOMMEND
I TAKE REBECCA AND THE KIDS FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS SOMEWHERE.
YOU PEOPLE WILL KNOW GOOD PLACES
AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR SOME OPTIONS.
OKAY.
REBECCA: ME TOO.
JONATHAN: WHAT I SAID A SECOND AGO WAS
NEVER HAVE I EVER GOT
FOOD POISONING FROM A CHRISTMAS DINNER.
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T THINK SO, I HAVE NOT.
REBECCA: I'VE GOTTEN FOOD POISONING.
JONATHAN: FROM A CHRISTMAS DINNER?
I DON'T KNOW IF -- IT WAS DURING CHRISTMAS TIME.
IT WAS LIKE I WAS REALLY YOUNG AND IT WAS ON OUR
WAY TO VISIT FAMILY IN GEORGIA.
WE STOPPED AT A BUFFET.
JONATHAN: OH, ROUGH.
REBECCA: I MEAN, I MEAN, THAT SPEAKS FOR IT
IN AND OF ITSELF.
AND I WAS LIKE EIGHT YEARS OLD AND I REMEMBER
CLIMBING, CRAWLING ACROSS THE FLOOR IN PAIN
IN MY GRANDPARENTS' HOUSE.
JONATHAN: OH, GOODNESS.
REBECCA: IT'S LIKE THOSE MEMORIES
THAT LIKE STICK WITH YOU.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: AND LIKE EVERYONE WAS ASLEEP.
JONATHAN: I THINK THAT MEMORY WILL STICK WITH ME
JUST HEARING ABOUT IT.
REBECCA: RYAN'S, I THINK THE NAME OF IT WAS RYAN'S BUFFET.
JONATHAN: PUT A SCREENSHOT OF THAT IN THERE.
REBECCA: OKAY.
THIS IS THE LAST ONE.
UNLESS YOU HAVE A GOOD ONE AFTER MINE.
NEVER HAVE I EVER TOLD A CHILD ABOUT
THE TRUTH OF SANTA CLAUS.
I HAVE.
JONATHAN: I'VE DEFINITELY DONE THAT.
DIDN'T I DO IT LIKE
RECENTLY BY ACCIDENT?
LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT IT.
REBECCA: FOURTH GRADE,
I DID IT.
I DID NOT REALIZE THAT KIDS THOUGHT SANTA WAS STILL REAL.
LIKE I THOUGHT EVERYONE KNEW THAT IT WASN'T
A THING AND SO I SAID IT AND YEAH.
RUINED SOME CHRISTMAS SPIRIT RIGHT THERE.
I JUST THOUGHT EVERYONE KNEW AT THAT POINT.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE LIKE NINE.
JONATHAN: I ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW IF I EVER KNEW THAT --
I DON'T THINK I EVER KNEW THAT SANTA WAS A THING.
REBECCA: REALLY?
JONATHAN: YEAH, LIKE I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER LIKE,
OH, SANTA IS GOING TO BRING YOU GIFTS.
YEAH, I DON'T THINK --
REBECCA: IT WAS A THING FOR ME AND I LOVED IT.
JONATHAN: NO, IT'S KIND OF A COOL LIKE --
REBECCA: IT IS.
JONATHAN: MADE UP THING.
REBECCA: EVERYONE HAS LIKE A DIFFERENT OPINION ON IF
YOU SHOULD TELL YOUR KIDS OR NOT.
JONATHAN: I THINK I JUST ALWAYS KNEW
MY PARENTS WERE GIVING ME THE GIFTS.
REBECCA: I MEAN, YEAH.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
DID ASHER EVER THINK THAT THERE WAS A SANTA?
REBECCA: NO.
JONATHAN: WE COULD TRY THIS YEAR,
AND SEE IF HE FALLS FOR IT.
REBECCA: I DON'T KNOW.
JONATHAN: I ALMOST DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE HIM,
YOU KNOW.
REBECCA: WELL, THIS IS OPENING A PHILOSOPHICAL DEBATE.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: I THINK EVERY PARENT --
I THINK OUR WHOLE THING WAS,
WE WERE NOT SURE, THE REASON WHY WE WERE HESITANT
ABOUT DOING THE WHOLE SANTA THING.
BECAUSE WE LOVE LIKE THE FUN OF IT IS WE DIDN'T
BECAUSE WE TELL HIM ABOUT JESUS AND
ABOUT ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.
SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO TELL HIM ABOUT THE LORD AND
THAT BEING REAL AND THEN TELLING HIM ABOUT SANTA
AND THEN THAT NOT BEING REAL.
JONATHAN: BECAUSE THEN IT'S
LIKE WHAT'S REAL,
WHAT'S NOT REAL.
REBECCA: AND LITERALLY YOU'LL HEAR FROM
ADULTS FROM THEIR CHILDHOOD, SOME WILL SAY,
WE'RE THANKFUL THAT MY KID --
MY PARENTS TOLD ME THE TRUTH.
BECAUSE WHEN I FOUND OUT THEY WERE LYING ABOUT SANTA,
THAT HURT MY FEELINGS.
AND THEN OTHER KIDS SAY,
I'M GLAD MY PARENTS GAVE ME THAT MEMORY.
SO YOU JUST DO THE BEST YOU CAN AND YOU JUST PRAY
ABOUT AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR FAMILY.
NO JUDGMENT HERE.
JUDGEMENT FREE-ZONE ON
THE REBECCA WEISS PODCAST.
JONATHAN: YEAH, I THINK IT'S A FUN IDEA TO DO IT
BECAUSE YOU CAN DO THAT THING
WHERE YOU LIKE PRETEND LIKE --
REBECCA: ASHER SAT ON SANTA'S LAP LAST YEAR, THOUGH.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: SORRY, I INTERRUPTED YOU.
JONATHAN: YOU DID.
YOU CAN DO THAT THING
WHERE YOU PRETEND THAT
SANTA IS COMING AT NIGHT
AND THEN THEY DO LIKE THE SNOW TRACKS ON THE GROUND.
REBECCA: YEAH.
JONATHAN: AND LIKE THEY PRETEND LIKE HE DRINKS
THE MILK...
REBECCA: AND THE COOKIES.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: I THINK WE DID THAT ONE YEAR.
JONATHAN: I DON'T REMEMBER EVER DOING IT.
REBECCA: BUT WE DO NOT DO ELF ON THE SHELF.
I DO NOT WANT TO COMMIT TO THAT.
JONATHAN: NO, WE DO MENSCH THE BENCH.
REBECCA: IS THAT A THING?
JONATHAN: IT'S THE JEWISH ONE, YEAH.
MENSCH THE BENCH, YEAH
REBECCA: I'VE SEEN THAT AT TARGET.
JONTHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: OH, MY GOODNESS.
JONATHAN: UH, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT ELF ON THE SHELF IS.
REBECCA: IT'S OKAY.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE THAT FAMILY.
JONATHAN: OKAY.
REBECCA: SO LAST ONE?
JONATHAN: SURE.
REBECCA: HAVE YOU EVER --
SURE.
HAVE YOU EVER WORN MATCHING PAJAMAS?
JONATHAN: NO.
REBECCA: WE HAVE NOT.
EVERY YEAR I WANT TO SEE MATCHING PAJAMAS AND EVERY YEAR
THEY SELL OUT.
SO I JUST DON'T DO IT.
JONATHAN: I MIGHT DO IT FOR ELIANA
WHEN SHE'S LIKE FOUR, OR 5 OR 6 YEARS OLD.
REBECCA: SHE'S GOING TO BE SO CUTE.
JONATHAN: YEAH, BUT I MEAN,
LISTEN, YOU'LL HAVE TO REALLY FIND SOMETHING COOL
BECAUSE I'M NOT --
REBECCA: YOU'RE GONNA WANT HANUKKAH PAJAMAS.
JONATHAN: YEAH, OR ONES THAT ARE COMFORTABLE OR, YOU KNOW,
LOOK COOL, IF THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE.
REBECCA: DO ANY CHRISTMAS PAJAMAS LOOK COOL?
JONATHAN: NOT REALLY, YOU'RE RIGHT.
I DON'T REALLY LIKE PAJAMAS IN GENERAL,
I'M NOT LIKE --
REBECCA: WE'RE NOT PAJAMA PEOPLE.
JONATHAN: NO.
REBECCA: WE JUST WEAR LIKE T-SHIRTS.
JONATHAN: BASKETBALL SHORTS.
REBECCA: YEAH, NORMAL SHORTS.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: WE'RE NOT REALLY FANCY LIKE THAT.
JONATHAN: YEAH.
REBECCA: ALL RIGHT, WELL, IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS,
WE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.
JONATHAN: AND IF YOU'RE NOT WATCHING IT,
WE ALSO HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TOO.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE WATCHING THIS TO GET
A NICE CHRISTMAS.
REBECCA: NO, I WAS JUST TRYING TO WRAP IT UP.
JONATHAN: AND I WON'T LET YOU.
REBECCA: HOW DO WE WRAP THIS UP?
OKAY, YOU TAKE US OUT.
JONATHAN: UM, LIKE, COMMENT AND SHARE.
WE'D LOVE TO HEAR
YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MEMORIES BELOW AND YOUR
FAVORITE DESTINATIONS OF WHERE YOU RECOMMEND
I TAKE REBECCA AND THE KIDS TO HAVE A WHITE CHRISTMAS.
♪♪