This was one of my Christmas gifts from Husband. It's pretty much the best gift ever.
It might only be trumped by this gift, which will find a place on my desk at work.
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Better late than never
Scenes from a Christmas to remember...
The 2011 Hallmark ornament that Husband went out and purchased for me.
Our tree.
As Christmas party favors and small gifts, I made over twenty ornaments out of felt. Six of these were bacon. Am awesome.
Happy KittyMarie.
Happy Daddy.
Happy Husband.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
My favorite Christmas gift
I just wanted to include here my favorite Christmas gift of the season, which came from my dear, dear Husband. My first pair of Tom's shoes!
They are sparkly and comfortable and so darn cute your head might explode! And somewhere in the world, Husband's purchase helped a child in need. I can't wait until I need a new pair!
They are sparkly and comfortable and so darn cute your head might explode! And somewhere in the world, Husband's purchase helped a child in need. I can't wait until I need a new pair!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Christmas Cheer to last you through the New Year
(Did anyone catch my title rhyme? Anyone? Anyone? Moving on...)
Christmas 2008 had its ups and downs, but it was generally a rousing success. Husband and I took the entire week of Christmas off, and the sleeping in was much appreciated. The stomach flu, however, was very much a party crasher. Husband was down from Friday through Tuesday, including an urgent care visit and several trips to CVS for over-the-counter cure-alls. Also, much ginger ale. Once he seemed to kick the nasty bug, I came down with a much more friendly version and was horizontal for most of Christmas Eve. It worked out because it was too icy to attend the Christmas Eve Service at church, which was cancelled anyway. We didn't get to enjoy much of the Christmas Day feast because of our lack of appetites, but we made up for it on Saturday at my extended family's Christmas celebration.
Christmas 2008 had its ups and downs, but it was generally a rousing success. Husband and I took the entire week of Christmas off, and the sleeping in was much appreciated. The stomach flu, however, was very much a party crasher. Husband was down from Friday through Tuesday, including an urgent care visit and several trips to CVS for over-the-counter cure-alls. Also, much ginger ale. Once he seemed to kick the nasty bug, I came down with a much more friendly version and was horizontal for most of Christmas Eve. It worked out because it was too icy to attend the Christmas Eve Service at church, which was cancelled anyway. We didn't get to enjoy much of the Christmas Day feast because of our lack of appetites, but we made up for it on Saturday at my extended family's Christmas celebration.
This couch was definitely at its maximum capacity. But aren't we cute?
The obligatory "couple standing together" picture at my parents' house on Christmas afternoon. Please note the festively colored-but-not-gaudy Christmas sweater (mine, not Boba Fett).
Our stockings runneth over. The second Chritsmas at my parents' house for us as a married couple and Husband still doesn't have a stocking with his name on it...I guess from now on he'll just have to be known as "Season's Greetings." Please refer to him as such.
My dad thinks he's funny. Yes, that is a battery-operated spider with "realistic fuzzy texture" and "spider egg remote control." It hasn't made it out of the box yet and will remain so, as long as I can keep our stock of batteries hidden (batteries not included, thank all that is holy). I prefer my spiders under glass. Or plastic cellophane, in this case.
This was the absolute highlight of MY Christmas season. Husband has been drooling over the PS3 for quite some time now, repeatedly explaining to me how it plays Blu-Ray movies and how they are SoMuchMoreAwesome than regular DVDs and OhIWantOneeeee. He e-mailed me a great deal from Amazon one day, and I impulsively decided to completely ignore our mutual decision to keep Christmas small this year because of that house purchase thing and snapped one up. I had the system mailed to my parents' house, and they wrapped up the boxes and hid them away until all of our packages were opened Christmas day. Then, I casually said, "Didn't Kyle have one more gift to open?" and went to fetch the box from the hiding place. He was completely confused, then incredulous, then dumbfounded, then happyfunyeayyyyy. The memory of seeing him open his gift was the best thing I received this Christmas. Wonder how I can top myself next year...
The memory really was a great gift, but this robe was pretty sweet, too! (Please ignore the InSaNe BeDhEaD. I slept on it wet and apparently pissed off some demi-god of hair.) I also received a digital picture frame, which I love! It was definitely something I have been coveting but would never buy for myself!
Finally, I leave you with this picture of the aftermath of receiving the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. It is both horrifyingly grotesque and hilarious. As Husband said when he took the picture, "It looks like you just opened the cure for cancer." This is my Christmas gift to you, dear reader.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
A Jolly Hello...
Merry Christmas!
May you enjoy the day with the ones you love the best
in good health and happiness!
May you enjoy the day with the ones you love the best
in good health and happiness!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Of Christmas cards and colds and idiots
Christmas inches closer and closer. This year, I was able to throw together a few Christmas cards, handmade by yours truly, and got them out in the mail last weekend. Here's a sampling of the fare:
If you didn't receive one in the mail, I am sorry. Perhaps I just don't love you enough (although I probably just didn't have enough cards...there are only so many glittery snowmen to go around! Also, I ran out of envelopes. It was a very lean Christmas card year that I blame completely on my lack of craft space.)
Is any of this making sense? I have been down with a sore throat/cough/runny nose/cold/black plague of some kind for a few days now. I stayed home from work yesterday and, thanks to a Nyquil-induced coma, I slept until 3 p.m. Yes, that's three o'clock in the afternoon. Then I got up, did some laundry, wrapped a few final Christmas presents, and completely avoided the editing work sitting in my inbox. But I did make dinner. Although I completely avoid all responsibility if the rest of the household comes down with a similar black plague.
Just when I was feeling better, Husband and I headed into work this morning (a few hours late due to the icy road conditions). We putted along at a reasonable speed, only to be passed by a Jeep which, in the middle of passing, spun out of control coming inches from hitting my poor little red car. I think Husband really scared the other driver when he stepped out of our car and crossed the road to the ditch where the Jeep had come to rest. He was just going to check and see if the man was okay, but he does look rather intimidating with his newly shorn head (my doing) and bulky coat. The man scurried through the field and went on, seemingly unhurt, only to pass another car only a few miles ahead (IDIOT).
So, as a wrap-up to this post that I've completely lost control of: If you didn't receive a spectacular Christmas card, handmade by moi, make me love you more and better luck next year; Avoid my bodily emissions at all costs lest you be stricken with the plague; don't be an idiot driving out on the roads because you will die or some fellow driver will kill you.
That is all. I wish I'd brought some Nyquil to work...
If you didn't receive one in the mail, I am sorry. Perhaps I just don't love you enough (although I probably just didn't have enough cards...there are only so many glittery snowmen to go around! Also, I ran out of envelopes. It was a very lean Christmas card year that I blame completely on my lack of craft space.)
Is any of this making sense? I have been down with a sore throat/cough/runny nose/cold/black plague of some kind for a few days now. I stayed home from work yesterday and, thanks to a Nyquil-induced coma, I slept until 3 p.m. Yes, that's three o'clock in the afternoon. Then I got up, did some laundry, wrapped a few final Christmas presents, and completely avoided the editing work sitting in my inbox. But I did make dinner. Although I completely avoid all responsibility if the rest of the household comes down with a similar black plague.
Just when I was feeling better, Husband and I headed into work this morning (a few hours late due to the icy road conditions). We putted along at a reasonable speed, only to be passed by a Jeep which, in the middle of passing, spun out of control coming inches from hitting my poor little red car. I think Husband really scared the other driver when he stepped out of our car and crossed the road to the ditch where the Jeep had come to rest. He was just going to check and see if the man was okay, but he does look rather intimidating with his newly shorn head (my doing) and bulky coat. The man scurried through the field and went on, seemingly unhurt, only to pass another car only a few miles ahead (IDIOT).
So, as a wrap-up to this post that I've completely lost control of: If you didn't receive a spectacular Christmas card, handmade by moi, make me love you more and better luck next year; Avoid my bodily emissions at all costs lest you be stricken with the plague; don't be an idiot driving out on the roads because you will die or some fellow driver will kill you.
That is all. I wish I'd brought some Nyquil to work...
Monday, December 8, 2008
These are a few of my favorite things....
...I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feeeeeel...so baaaaad.
Husband and I ventured to my parents' house for the second annual hanging of the greens (a.k.a. loading their tree with every conceivable ornament for optimum tackiness). As "second annual" would suggest, we did this with them last year, and I really enjoy the new tradition. My dad and I have always been the ones to decorate while my mom flitted about in the kitchen, never joining in, but enjoying the result nonetheless. Here is the product of our work this year, flanked by my two favorite men:
With the ongoing theme of My Crafty Mother, here is a little tree she made from pine cones collected at our former cabin on the lake in Wisconsin.
Another Older Than My Dad decoration. There are two of these Santas. A reserved jollyness, no?
Husband and I ventured to my parents' house for the second annual hanging of the greens (a.k.a. loading their tree with every conceivable ornament for optimum tackiness). As "second annual" would suggest, we did this with them last year, and I really enjoy the new tradition. My dad and I have always been the ones to decorate while my mom flitted about in the kitchen, never joining in, but enjoying the result nonetheless. Here is the product of our work this year, flanked by my two favorite men:
It's difficult to see, but my mother crocheted the tree skirt, which adds a little bit of personality. Here is my most favorite tree ornament:
We have three of these Santa ornaments and they are older than my dad. I don't know why I like them so much, perhaps it's just The Familiar.
With the ongoing theme of My Crafty Mother, here is a little tree she made from pine cones collected at our former cabin on the lake in Wisconsin.
Another Older Than My Dad decoration. There are two of these Santas. A reserved jollyness, no?
This isn't the greatest picture, but the cuteness of Santa and his sled is undeniable.
Finally, the pièce de résistance: a 3-D sign My Crafty Mother carved out of wood, painted, and nailed together for the church's lawn. If your Christmas cards from me don't measure up to The Craftiness, please blame it on my father's genes.
Finally, the pièce de résistance: a 3-D sign My Crafty Mother carved out of wood, painted, and nailed together for the church's lawn. If your Christmas cards from me don't measure up to The Craftiness, please blame it on my father's genes.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Paint by Number
35: The number of pounds I probably gained from gorging myself upon two bountiful Thanksgiving feasts and several days worth of leftovers. Maybe it wasn't a mistake that I made twice the needed amount of deviled eggs...
13: The number of days of work left before Christmas vacation. Husband and I haven't had a real vacation since our Honeymoon to Michigan in July 2007 (I can't believe we're almost in 2009!), so, we decided to take the entire week of Christmas off. We're not actually going anywhere interesting or engaging in any productive activity, but at least we won't be at work. However, knowing my luck, one or both of us will be dying of the flu or something during that week. I bet you ten bucks.
9: The number of glorious vacation days starting December 20.
5: The number of weeks since we put in our counteroffer to the bank for the house. That is, of course, after the 8 week wait for a response about the first offer. We signed the counteroffer and it was faxed on October 31, Halloween. Yes, that was 5 weeks ago. And still counting...
4: The number of Christmas presents left to buy. We only have two gifts to obtain for my extended family gift exchange, one more gift for Mother-In-Law, and one gift for an adorable little boy who looks like he could be our child if one didn't know better. Luckily, we pretty much know what all of the gifts are going to be. Hooray commercialism!
Seriously, I want to claim him as my own. Husband agrees. He's too cute. His entire face is much cuter, of course, but I'm afraid of the Internet Crazies, so this is my way of protecting half-face baby.
0: The number of minutes I have left before I should be getting back to work! And you too! I see you there, reading this blog at work. Shame on us.
13: The number of days of work left before Christmas vacation. Husband and I haven't had a real vacation since our Honeymoon to Michigan in July 2007 (I can't believe we're almost in 2009!), so, we decided to take the entire week of Christmas off. We're not actually going anywhere interesting or engaging in any productive activity, but at least we won't be at work. However, knowing my luck, one or both of us will be dying of the flu or something during that week. I bet you ten bucks.
9: The number of glorious vacation days starting December 20.
5: The number of weeks since we put in our counteroffer to the bank for the house. That is, of course, after the 8 week wait for a response about the first offer. We signed the counteroffer and it was faxed on October 31, Halloween. Yes, that was 5 weeks ago. And still counting...
4: The number of Christmas presents left to buy. We only have two gifts to obtain for my extended family gift exchange, one more gift for Mother-In-Law, and one gift for an adorable little boy who looks like he could be our child if one didn't know better. Luckily, we pretty much know what all of the gifts are going to be. Hooray commercialism!
Seriously, I want to claim him as my own. Husband agrees. He's too cute. His entire face is much cuter, of course, but I'm afraid of the Internet Crazies, so this is my way of protecting half-face baby.0: The number of minutes I have left before I should be getting back to work! And you too! I see you there, reading this blog at work. Shame on us.
Friday, November 14, 2008
As Tevye would say, "Traditiooooooon...Tradition!"
As if the world needed more proof of what a truly vile person I am and the questionable company that I keep, the one Christmas tradition that I am most looking forward to this year is a little something I like to call "Christmas letters." While I may decry the premature arrival of the commercial Christmas season, I will admit I've been anxiously awaiting this tradition for months.
In an annual event that has been occurring for several years now, sometime during the Christmas holiday, a group of my dear friends will gather together, possibly exchange gifts, perhaps munch on some sweet goodies, and get down to the real business of the day: we bust open the local newspapers and read elementary kids' letters to Santa. There is no other time in my life when I laugh more uproariously than while sitting with fellow sick-minded individuals and mocking the wide-eyed children's letters to the Great Bearded One. If nothing else, these letters reveal the sad state of our public education system (or what people in my county would more likely refer to as "book learnin' ").
But they don't stop with just letters. Oh, no. There are poems, individual letters in words spelled into other words (for example, SNOW: soft, neat, outdoors, white), and plain old itemized lists of "I Wants." The best gem we have ever uncovered occurred during last Christmas' festivities. In a letter that probably should have elicited some kind of intervention by a social worker, one little girl reminded Santa, "You're my best friend in my heart. YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?!"
(I know I'm a terrible person. The first step is acknowledgment...RIGHT?!) I'm starting to get even more excited just thinking about it...
In an annual event that has been occurring for several years now, sometime during the Christmas holiday, a group of my dear friends will gather together, possibly exchange gifts, perhaps munch on some sweet goodies, and get down to the real business of the day: we bust open the local newspapers and read elementary kids' letters to Santa. There is no other time in my life when I laugh more uproariously than while sitting with fellow sick-minded individuals and mocking the wide-eyed children's letters to the Great Bearded One. If nothing else, these letters reveal the sad state of our public education system (or what people in my county would more likely refer to as "book learnin' ").
But they don't stop with just letters. Oh, no. There are poems, individual letters in words spelled into other words (for example, SNOW: soft, neat, outdoors, white), and plain old itemized lists of "I Wants." The best gem we have ever uncovered occurred during last Christmas' festivities. In a letter that probably should have elicited some kind of intervention by a social worker, one little girl reminded Santa, "You're my best friend in my heart. YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?!"
(I know I'm a terrible person. The first step is acknowledgment...RIGHT?!) I'm starting to get even more excited just thinking about it...
Monday, November 10, 2008
Deck the Bloody Halls
This weekend Husband and I spent Friday evening dining with friends and family and then wandering around The Biggest City Within 50 Miles trying to fill the hours before we met a fellow Dinky College alum and his sister who were in town for a wedding. We visited the local mall, Best Buy, and Barnes and Noble, and I noticed something very disconcerting.
Christmas. Is. Upon. Us. At least according to the commercial powers that be.
Although Santa wasn't yet sitting on his throne in the middle of the mall, the entire joint was already extensively decorated. As we meandered into other stores, there were even jaunty carols being piped out of the loudspeakers.
Already.
May I take this moment to remind everyone that there are still seventeen days BEFORE Thanksgiving. If I haven't yet eaten my weight in slabs of turkey and pillows of mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce shaped like a tin can, I don't even want to think about Christmas.
I understand that the sale projections for the Christmas season are grim and so the stores are trying to jump start consumer spending (although putting a price on Christmas is quite disgusting), but forcing me into the Christmas spirit more than a fortnight before I even have to be in the Thanksgiving spirit is just cruel. By the time Christmas actually arrives, the shimmering lights have becoming blinding, the sharp scents of pine and cinnamon offend my olfactory senses, and the merry carols nauseate me. I get Christmas'ed out and seriously begin contemplating buying gifts in July and hibernating until the eve of December 25.
As I chatted about this matter with a dear friend who does not celebrate Christmas traditionally with the giving of gifts, this beautiful lady (beautiful both inside and out, and, by inside, I do mean the inside of her bra) said, "My main thing is...you know I love you. I should tell you more than just one day a year." Although I probably won't ever celebrate Christmas without the giving of gifts, I heartily agree with her. So, know today that I love you. Know that tomorrow I love you. And if I don't seem to be in the Christmas spirit come the 25th, know that it's only because I'm busy throwing up after hearing "Deck the Halls" for the billiondy-ith time this year.
Christmas. Is. Upon. Us. At least according to the commercial powers that be.
Although Santa wasn't yet sitting on his throne in the middle of the mall, the entire joint was already extensively decorated. As we meandered into other stores, there were even jaunty carols being piped out of the loudspeakers.
Already.
May I take this moment to remind everyone that there are still seventeen days BEFORE Thanksgiving. If I haven't yet eaten my weight in slabs of turkey and pillows of mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce shaped like a tin can, I don't even want to think about Christmas.
I understand that the sale projections for the Christmas season are grim and so the stores are trying to jump start consumer spending (although putting a price on Christmas is quite disgusting), but forcing me into the Christmas spirit more than a fortnight before I even have to be in the Thanksgiving spirit is just cruel. By the time Christmas actually arrives, the shimmering lights have becoming blinding, the sharp scents of pine and cinnamon offend my olfactory senses, and the merry carols nauseate me. I get Christmas'ed out and seriously begin contemplating buying gifts in July and hibernating until the eve of December 25.
As I chatted about this matter with a dear friend who does not celebrate Christmas traditionally with the giving of gifts, this beautiful lady (beautiful both inside and out, and, by inside, I do mean the inside of her bra) said, "My main thing is...you know I love you. I should tell you more than just one day a year." Although I probably won't ever celebrate Christmas without the giving of gifts, I heartily agree with her. So, know today that I love you. Know that tomorrow I love you. And if I don't seem to be in the Christmas spirit come the 25th, know that it's only because I'm busy throwing up after hearing "Deck the Halls" for the billiondy-ith time this year.
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