Christmas Morning Pictures

Here's a fun picture of half the family in front of our Charlie Brown tree.

Here's the rest of us... I'm still laughing at A's facial expression. He looks like he had just a little too much Egg Nog.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and that your New Year is fantastic!!

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

You ever have those moments in life where a decision that is easily made and without much thought comes back to haunt you? Last night I decided that I needed a night out (I'd been stuck inside my house since the 24th and was going a little nuts) so I took the kids to the new movie Marley and Me.

We were enjoying it until we realized that the dog is going to die and then within minutes all three of us are bawling like little babies. I felt horrible to see my children actually crying over a movie. It was like I had personally caused their pain.

As I reflect on the night, I tend to vascillate between laughter (come on, tell me you're not a little amused at the thought of me turning to look at my kids and having them look back at me like "WHY? Mom!? Why did you force us see this?" and heart-wrenching guilt for making them cry because I needed a 'night out.' Ahhh, memories...

The List

Things I've Done. To participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done. (I'd added a rule: If you want to add something that you've done that's not on the list - feel free!)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen an eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (not for want of trying!)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Milked a cow

Getting our Christmas Groove On

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Christmas Portrait

I found this picture in our family pictures from last year. I guess I never really looked at it. This is our little 'angel' saying "ROCK ON!" for the camera. Nice portrait wouldn't you say?

Today's Comic

Mom: Ok, T go get your shoes on we're going to deliver our Christmas goodies.
T: Oh YAY! Do I get to deliver one myself?
M: Sure!
T: Oh Mom! I love you, you're the best. You're kinda mean, but that's ok!
M: (Unable to respond due to laughing so hard.)

Miracles & Funnies

WOW! It snowed last night!!! There is actually still snow on the ground this morning! The kids were so excited. They kept shouting, "It's snowing, It's snowing!!!" and jumping and and down. This morning, although still freezing, the snow has started to melt due to the sunshine.

T was quite distraught about this and instantly ordered me to:

T: Make the sun stop melting the snow, Mom!

And so I replied:

M: How do I do that?
T: Blow it away.
M: How do I blow it away? I am not that strong.
T: You turn into a Halloween Ghost and just blow it away! (Said like, "Man I have to explain EVERYTHING around here!")

Now, she's wandering around the house singing, "I'm getting nothing for Christmas cause I aint been nothing but bad."

LOVE IT!

Holiday-itis

Lately, I've been having a hard time feeling the Christmas 'spirit.' I have been Christmas shopping, I've listened to Christmas music, I've listened to Spiritual Christmas message after Spiritual Christmas message, I've decorated the inside and outside of my house and... nothing. At least not until today.

Today, I recalled the Christmases of my childhood. I remembered that every time a holiday was approaching, my mother was always in the kitchen. We each got to pick our favorite candy, cookie, etc and she would make them all... and then some! And so today, I've discovered that my holiday-self is encased in Chocolately Dipped Goodness, Sugar Cookies and Almond Rocha. Strange that it takes food to find myself... And strange how badly that works for my wasteline! But it is what it is, so why fight it? And so...

Today I am baking. MMMMM-MMM There's nothing like Christmas chocolates, cookies, and caramels to make you say, "It's a Jolly Holiday!" Or wait, was that Bert?? ... Anyway, I am transformed! I am so excited about Christmas and absolutely loving my time in the kitchen.

And now I say to you, if you are having a hard time getting in the Holiday Spirit, whip out those dishes and sacks of sugar and start baking. It'll make all those "Bah Humbugs" history.