First – a PSA on behalf of all holiday novelty items that relatives may consider sending to our children: “Don’t. Please.”
I like to call this picture “The Island of Misfit Christmas Decor Characters”
Pictured: Hallmark Snowman (unmasked to reveal that he’s really a robot), Nutcracker ornament with
a broken head, one-armed Dancing Santa and nose-less Frosty the Snowman
Gone but not forgotten: singing Douglas Fir, Hallmark Moose with colorful string of lights and
Coca Cola Polar Bear playing the bass (I’d like to buy the world a Coke…)
Run Dancing Santa! Run as fast as those jolly little legs can go!
Don’t let them take your other arm.
But enough about the plight of the Hallmark holiday crap that my children have mauled over the past few years… Sunday was Christmas! Here is what ours looked like:
BEFORE
AFTERMATH
And here is bonus picture of Chris very carefully pouring the buttermilk I bought for making biscuits into the quiche pie crusts (he thought it was heavy cream).
Fun fact: buttermilk doesn’t ruin quiche – but it’s definitely a little different.
It was a good Christmas. Both sets of grandparents were here, as was my brother. A few friends dropped by to visit. And there were minimal displays of poor behavior on behalf of the children. Or at least, we thought they were fine and everyone else talked about us behind our backs. Both scenarios suit me well enough.
Yesterday the tree started smelling and I was all set to take it down. But the public outcry against dismantling the tree before New Year’s day convinced me to live with the smell of old cheese for the rest of the week. Then my mother came to the rescue with the suggestion of pouring some bleach in the water, and the day was saved! Of course there is nothing to do about the fact that needles sprinkle to the floor every time one of our neighbors walks up or down their stairs…so we’ll just have to live with threat of a fire hazard for the rest of the week.
All in the name of holiday cheer. As it should be.
Hoping that all of you who celebrate Christmas had a very merry one – and that everyone else enjoyed a fabulous “thank god it’s almost over” Sunday!
See you in the New Year…
Looks like a fun day! Happy new year!
Beautiful pics of the kids!
In addition to the obnoxious Hallmark noise making decorations, I have to add ornaments. Enough of the ornaments. My MIL LOVES giving ornaments so not only do I have my DH’s 20 year collection, I now have mine plus 13 years of kid ornaments. So doing the math, on average each Christmas we add at least 6 new ones in addition to the quilted ones she makes as gift tags. I don’t have the heart to tell her to stop since she loves it so much but good heavens… Sorry this was almost a mini-blog post.. I can’t say it on mine!
kaaaate! i´m finally able to leave a comment. (even tried emailing you, but couldn´t find your address.) now that i have your attention… what should i write? … i know it goes without saying- but i love your crazy stories! you always make me laugh out load, and i thank you for that. wishing you and your family a wonderful 2012. big hugs my friend!
Beautiful pictures, Kate… just lovely. I hope you had a wonderful, memorable Christmas. I can’t believe how quickly December went by. I need a pause button, please! I love your tree. :)
Oh, and we have the same dancing Santa – too funny! Happy New Year to you – I hope to see you in 2012! xoxo
I love your island of misfit Christmas ornaments! Especially the fact that you have poor Santa’s arm on display. Hehe. Looks like you had a fun Christmas (wonderful pictures by the way). Hope 2012 is a great one for you!
What a beautiful tree! My mom got into the habit of sending these hallmark animated singing snowmen, until I had to nix that! My youngest just plays them over and over and over and over…
Happy New Year, Wishing you a wonderful 2012…
So much fun. I forgot to take a picture of the tree before the carnage this year. Sigh. It was so pretty.
Looks like you had a wonderful holiday, mangled decorations and all :).
The tightrope walker was pretty amazing. He didn’t stay in that position though, it was part of a pretty fast-paced and seriously impressive rocking back and forth thing.
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You crack me up! I hope my snowman doesn’t meet a similar fate!
I hope the holidays were good to you. I love these photos and the armless Santa. Poor guy.
And your tree? Still amazing.
Happy New Year to you, friend.
You’re so funny. See, and rather than just throw the plastic arm away, I’d put it near the phone or somewhere random where it would live on for another 6 months.
Beautiful Christmas photos! I think the aftermath is even prettier.
Love the pics + the buttermilk incident + the tree!
Oh my god: that beautiful tree, and the beautiful kids, with the jammies and the cowlick, too lovely to bear. But then, you balanced nicely with the collection of maimed holiday icons. Camel toe Santa was very frightening to me.