The story of 2010-

Once upon a time...
 

there was a little a'this,

(how cute)

a little a'that,

 (how sweet)

 

 ...and no she di'n't.

And they all lived happily ever after...


Stay tuned for the gripping sequel entitled 'The Story of 2011'...


Happy New Year everybody!  Don't do anything I wouldn't do!  (Meaning no drugs, no alchohol, and NO Tim Allen movies.)  

(Toy Story doesn't count)

post-Christmas posted-post

After my last post I assume I don't have to explain my lack of Christmas morning pictures, right?

So... Two.

Two pictures.

Brenda's high point and Suzie's low.

Enjoy.

If I had had just half a brain that morning I would have also snapped a picture of Garret bonding with his new Sheriff Woody doll.  Maybe I'll still do that.

Or maybe I won't.

Maybe that's just the bologna talking... 

(ask Tyler)

 So I can sum up our Christmas weekend into one word.  Family.  Family, family, family!  We are awesomely surrounded by both extended sides and, therefore, were bouncing from one home to another to laugh and play and goof and eat and give and receive and hug and smooch.  With Mike's family we had a dramatic reading, an in-house helicopter, some insanely good almond roca, some white-'elephanting', and plenty of 'OOOOhs and AAAAAhs.  With my family we had one divine ham dinner, a careful-to-not-pee-your-pants hilarious game of Madlibs, some 'name that tune' (I think I totally won.), and one gruesome bear suicide.

It's no wonder I'm still recouping.  

Wait, what??

Oh, don't worry.  It was a teddy bear.

***added  note- Somehow I gave the impression that we opened at 2 am.  NO FREAKIN' WAY.  10 am people!  HOORAH!  (I'm a middle-of-the-night blogger...)

Christmas spirit

You think this is going to be a deep, nostalgic sort of post.  Don't ya?  Well, sorry to disappoint you but I've got way too much 'Good&Plenty' in my system for serious.  (Thank you Santa) 

So this is my impromptu 'tell-all-about-my-Christmas' post.

No pictures 'cause it's impromptu.

Why imprompty?  Uh, I mean impropmtu.  Arrr, impromptu (Stupid 2am fingers.)

Because it's 2 am and I don't want to watch Barney.

CHRISTMAS!!

Saturday morning Mike and I donned out cheerleading sweaters and skirts and pigtails and pompoms...

Mike in a skirt?  Oh heavens.  Thank goodness I'm being metaphorical. 

"What's this??  I see a present fooooorrr BRENDA!!  Wanna open it?  Over here Brenda!  What is it???  What could it be???  WOW!  A Star Wars lego person-thingy!!!  COOL!!  Oh wait, Brenda, come back!  Brenda!  You can play with legos later!  Leave the legos in your room 'cause there's more presents!  YEAH! 
Whhhooooo's next???  It's a present for SUZIE!!  See Suzie?  LOOK!  No, no Brenda.  It's for SUZIE!  OK, you can help her open it.  What is it???  HUH??  WOW!  A baby doll!!  No, Brenda, give it to Suzie.  YAY!!  A BABY DOLL!!!
Is Garret next????  OOOOOh, Garret look!  ...Garret?  Garret wake up!!  Wake up Garret!!!  Look!  It's aaaaa...  OK Brenda you can open it.  WOOHOO!!  A Woody doll for Garret!  No, no Suzie.  It's for Garret!  GARRET WAKE UP!  Look!  A WOODY DOLL! 

Ummm, where's Brenda?  Is she back in her room with her legos?  Brenda!!!  Come open more presents!  
 PLEASE???  YEAH!  THERE'S MORE!!"


...Cheerleaders?  Yes.  Never thought that'd be me. 

Now would be the time to expound on the wonders of this weekend but alas, Suzie has completed her why-the-hickory-heck-is-this-girl-up-at-2-am playtime and is drifting into toddler dreamland.  So off I go to drift into my own dreamland which will definitely, dreamily, include another box of 'Good&Plenty'.

Santa's no fool

Her bedroom is covered in "snow". (stuffing from the living room cushion)
The bathroom is still drying from today's flooding. (the legos needed a bath...?)
And my closet was visited by a tornado.  (dress up time never looked so good)

...And she thinks she's getting toys in her stocking?

It only took 10 years to finish

 Before our first Christmas I was shopping and just fell in LOVE with an adorable Santa stocking.  It was $15.  Too much to spend  on our little budget, and how was I to know how many to buy??  (Back then, just 9 months after getting married, I assumed we'd have a house full of kids...)  So, with Mom's advice, I bought just one, went home to copy it, and returned it shortly after.  With each addition to the family I've brought out the red felt and material scraps, still happy with the design I picked.

Mario does not get a stocking.

...Actually, a rudolph would be cute...

hmmm...
 

mike's (the first)

Brenda's

all five

hi Mario

Also, a resolution I'm bouncing around in my head is re-learning how to crochet and not forgetting this time.  Thanks, Mom, for the inspiration.  Janet LOVES the hats and gave me a gift to give you.  So everyone fake  your joy when next year I present you with one of those crocheted, rooster-ish, toilet paper covers...

I was there when Jesus came...

A TON of work went into our 'Night in Bethlehem' activity at church.  Thank goodness I had nothing to do with it or our annual Christmas party would have been popcorn and a Muppet movie.  (I don't do complicated...)  But I did, however, get to be the photographer.  That's just what I want to be!!

The gym was a courtyard of booths, each with it's own specialty.  You could learn to make pottery, candles, jewelry.  You could sample ancient (yet fresh) foods.  There was even a toy shop!  Everyone was draped in cloth, robes, sheets...  We were a handsome bunch.  I looked like my linen closet just puked on me, but hey, I was behind the camera...

It was a lively crowd with laughter, games, visiting, and even a little tax-collecting.  But when 'night' came a reverent hush fell over us as we waited for Mary and Joseph.

 

We watched the innkeeper reject them and the wisemen (3 ten-yr-olds, so cute) gather.  The kings brought their gifts and we all sang 'Silent Night'.

Weeks ago I saw a fascinating documentary about the photographers of the White House.  I remember the comment from Pete-something (the photo-guy on 9-11) who said it wasn't until he was home that night that the magnitude of what had transpired truly hit him.  'The camera', he said, 'works as an emotional buffer.'  In my own little way, I know what he was talking about because there was a moment when I took a break from the weight of my camera and almost immediately felt a sudden rush of sweet emotion.  The room was full of people I care about and we were all there to celebrate the life of Christ.  Oh now I'm getting blubbery. 

Christmas makes me mushy...

potty break?

I walked into something awkward today.

Didn't ask.  Just put them back where they belong...

signs of Christmas

 Brenda was outside with Mike the other night.

"Look Brenda, an airplane!" Mike said, pointing.

Brenda gazed up and corrected her father.

"That's not a airplane, that's a Santa Claus!"

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

And I was surprised how little the kids were interested in candy houses.  

 
I was very interested.  

Very.

(tummy ache)

new wheels

I could tell the whole, detailed story of how I had the strong impression that I needed to get Garret out with me on my runs.  And how I had to just shrug my shoulders and figure it wasn't meant to be, for now, when researching the cost of large, handicap-friendly strollers.  And how my parents showed up, a few weeks later, with an early Christmas/birthday present.  And how I'm stumped on how to thank them enough...  

But, for now, let's look at some pics-

Yesterday was our first run and though it was slow and more work for me, it felt GREAT.  Garret giggled and flailed.  I would stop to check his mood and each time he would rock forward with a grin, seeming to say- 'Keep going!'.   

And this afternoon, just minutes after walking in from the bus, Garret went to the stroller, sat down, and laughed with anticipation.  'Sorry, munchkin.  We can't go when Daddy's gone, but we'll go again real soon...'

I guess the best way to thank you, Mom and Dad, is to use it, use it, use it.
And we will, we will, we will!!!  :)

You'd be featured too, if your sweater matched...

This is my new lamp.

This is me saying, 'Don't you love my new lamp?"

This is new lamp and me celebrating our mutual admiration.

I know you might hate it.  I'm used to getting funny looks when showing-off my latest discoveries.  (Got that from Dad who specifically wore L.A. Gear shoes when they suddenly became reputation-crushing lame.  I remember wishing I had his guts...)  But just know that my friend, Monica, likes it just the way it is.  And she's smart and pretty.  So there.

(Click *here* if you think I'm full of it.  I dare you.)

P.S.  Tomorrow's post will be brought to you by the surprise of blue skies today, and the ever-ongoing non-surprise of how awesome my parents are.  I might get mushy...

Kickin' up the last post, a bit...

photoshop makes dreams come true

tender-December mercies

A Christmas miracle in our house is the continued existence of our sweet little nativity set. I loved it first as a wedding gift and I love it even more today. Merely a decade old, it shows the wear-and-tear that comes as an occupational hazard in our home, but each piece still stands humbly to remind us of what we are truly celebrating...

Sweet baby Jesus. Even with a tattered face, He is still adored as the centerpiece-


The dedicated shepherd has faithfully kept his flock-


The wise men came with presents in hand...


...lead by a blinded camel-


Oh, good morning Garret!


Ummm, sweetie-pie? Can you move so Mommy can take a picture?


Thanks Gare-bear. Isn't it delicious?

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Mrs. Munchnik stuck in an elevator...

First- the answers to the last post's mystery movie quotes...

1. Christmas Carol
2. A Christmas Story
3. Elf
4. Charlie Brown Christmas
5. White Christmas
6. Home Alone
7. Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer
8. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
9. Miracle on 34th St
10. Mixed Nuts
11. The GRINCH of course!

They're all classics to me. (Even though I can't stand 'Home Alone'...) Have you seen 'Mixed Nuts'? It's a fantastic display of CRAZY. Madeline Kahn (who was BRILLIANT in 'What's Up Doc') is the icing on top. (Title reference)

But I have to say my favorite is 'A Christmas Story'. (Actually, my favorite Christmas movie is probably 'A Muppet Christmas Carol', but I didn't quote that one so...) Nothing beats Ralphie's little brother in his puffy winter suit... "Wait up guys, WAIT UP!!!!!..."

Second- just a little o' this

famous Christmas movie quotes-

Do you recognize them???

1.
If these shadows remain unaltered by the future, none other of my species will find him here. But if he is to die, then let him die...! "AND DECREASE THE SURPLUS POPULATION!"

************

2.

Aunt Clara had for years labored under the delusion that I was not only perpetually 4 years old, but also a girl.

************

3.

You like sugar, huh?
Is there sugar in syrup?
Yes.
Then YES!

4.
Try to catch snowflakes on your tongue. It's fun.
Mmm. Needs sugar.
It's too early. I never eat December snowflakes. I always wait until January.
They sure look ripe to me.

**************

5.

Yesterday, she couldn't sleep. Today, she won't eat. She's in love.
Well if that's love, somebody goofed.

**************

6.

What kind of a mother am I?
If it makes you feel any better, I forgot my reading glasses.

7.
This fog's as thick as peanut butter!
You mean pea soup.
You eat what you like, and I'll eat what I like!

*************

8.
Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?
"Naw, I'm doing just fine..."

*************

9.
But... but maybe he's only a little crazy like painters or composers or... or some of those men in Washington.

10.
"My psychiatrist thinks we should break up."
"What? I didn't know you were going to a psychiatrist."
"Well I'm not actually going to one. I've been dating one for four months."

*************

11.
"Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!"

Let me explain-

Tyler (my brother) wanted me to write him a short story. He got his story (last post) and now he wants a sequel. I say 'Hey, this blog isn't all about you, you know.
...It's all about The Suzinator'
So perhaps the sequel will include a sidekick...

ALSO- Any suggestions for Christmas music? I'd like to get some new music because the radio keeps playing that mind-numbing Mariah Carey number.
My favorites are Barbara Streisand, Martina McBride, The Messiah, Mannheim Steamroller, and Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack.