New Year's Eve

Leftover pork chops, way-spicy nachos, carrots and chocolate chips were the menu items. Mike went to Family Video to choose, well, some family videos. He returned with Pirates of the Carribean 1 & 2 as well as Larry the Cable Guy. I guess the kids and I will find something on TV instead.

Speaking of TV, I put on my best "Mom" voice and announced to the kids that since they are almost 9 and 11 years old, tonight they will be allowed to stay up to watch the ball drop at Times Square and ring in the new year. I was expecting cheers of elation. Instead I got, "What?! That's Eastern Standard Time, Mom! It will be only 11:00 here!!"

When did they learn about time zones anyway? And why are they pulling out daily geography information now? It's vacation time!

Back to the nachos . . .

Christmas Machine

OFF. We pulled the plug on the outdoor lights today and took down the tree. The living room seems darker, but SO MUCH larger.

Next for our family are six winter birthdays. Here's one from last year.

4:30 a.m.

They see you when you're sleeping (That's when they sneak to the tree to peek at the stockings.). They know when you're awake (That's when they stop tearing open the gifts long enough to scream, "Merry Christmas! Santa was here!").

Or perhaps your Christmas Eve and morning were more like our friends, the Bickersons. Go ahead - click on it!! Read the December 26th post titled "4:20 a.m."

Overheard

What NOT to say at a family Christmas party:

1. A radio?! What am I going to do with another radio?
2. So, how much extra skin do you have now after birthing those babies?
3. What?! Santa Claus is deceased?!
4. They didn't have a real baby so they used a dumb doll to be Jesus.
5. Wanna trade your radio for this gift?

Relax with the Caribou

Has anyone seen this full-page add in Good Housekeeping? There is a beautifully-dressed woman wandering through a peaceful-looking herd of caribou, holding a CARIBOU COFFEE granola bar in one hand, and petting a large-antlered creature with the other.

Is there anything relaxing about this to you? I mean, I'm a mom. I'm thinking, "You're gonna poke your eye out! Wash your hands before you touch your food! Watch where you're stepping! If you bring any caribou manure in the house you're gonna be scrubbing the floors for an entire month and I'm not kidding you!"

No Caption Required

Golf Cart Christmas Tag

Or was it hide-and-seek? Leave it to six cousins to create games such as this. It became particularly interesting as daylight faded. . . .

What else are you supposed to do when three babies are asleep in the house and all the presents have been unwrapped?!

Trouble

Once a year, whether they like it or not, these brothers get their picture taken. Where's the missing sis? Skiing the slopes, perhaps?

Good food, interesting conversation and free entertainment - what else can you ask for in a family Christmas party?! And a fun time was had by all!

Happy Birthday!

I was in Quinn's third grade classroom this afternoon for the Christmas party. Throughout the day, they had sung Christmas songs, watched Christmas movies and enjoyed the swing choir's performance of Christmas carols.

As I helped to pass out Christmas-themed napkins and plates for the Christmas cookies, one of the lesser-attentive students ly commented, "Oo-Oo-Oo! Cookies! Who's having a birthday?"

I answered, "Ummm . . . Jesus!"

He sincerely thought the afternoon party was to celebrate a classmate's birthday.

Now he knows.

Cookies for Santa

Santa is coming to our house tonight because we will be traveling over the weekend. The kids set out homemade cookies for him and were thoughtful enough to etch a personalized message onto the gingerbread man's torso.

So Big!

When did the tree get so short?! It's hard to believe that they are too big to carry. Even Quinn is too big to sit on my lap for very long. Once again, Mr. Rellim had to remind me of the genetics into which I married. Oh, yeah. . . .

Miracle on Main Street

- the title of the Christmas musical at church. This is a shot of Quinn and Rachel's guest appearance as Mary and Joseph. Rachel had to kneel so that she wouldn't tower over Quinn.

Firefox.com

Look! It's a picture sporting Rachel's 'tude. I'm not only a loser (with a big "L" sign) - I'm a double loser!!

OH- about the firefox title . . . I was finally able to upload a picture by using firefox browser instead of internet explorer. Why can't this just be easy?

Image Uploads

I'm getting a little bit annoyed . . .

I've been trying to upload pictures for my posts for about a week, but am not having any success. I've cleared the cache, allowed pop-ups on this site, added the address to allowable sites in my privacy controls and even tried holding "Ctrl" button while clicking the image upload icon.

Any advice out there?!

Christmas Musical

Mary tried to walk off stage before the song began. Joseph sneezed on the baby. Both commented that the baby doll Jesus "looked freaky." But all went well and the entire musical was excellent.

Mary and Joseph

The kids have not participated in the practices for the church's annual children's Christmas musical due to other commitments on Wednesday nights. However, the director called last week to ask if they could fill in for a part that was inadvertently not filled. Our commitment would be for only Saturday morning practice (today) and the actual performance tomorrow afternoon.

The characters for whom they needed actors?

Mary and Joseph!!

There's even talk about using an actual baby instead of a doll. I'll keep you posted on how it all works out.

Lone Clappers

Last night was Rachel's first band concert. We sat in the bleachers on the highest seat in the farthest corner from the door. To entertain ourselves between songs, we tried to be the last people clapping following each song.

Toward the end of the concert, Mike asked me to hold his wedding ring so he could "clap louder."

Who needs MTV with us around?

Firestarter

Hint: Before agreeing to allow your children to start a fire in the fireplace, make sure the flue is open.

Postscript: Thank goodness for new batteries in smoke detectors (not that the thick cloud of choking smoke wasn't a significant clue).

Rhyming Math

Sometimes it works - "7 x 7, Frankenstein! 7 x 7 is 49."

Sometimes it doesn't - "8 x 8, This is great! 8 x 8 is 64."

Someone please tell Mr. Rellim.

Cookie Grammar

Rachel learned an important lesson about grammar in baking today.

The first recipe instructed her to "cream butter and sugar." She wanted to add heavy whipping cream to the mixture until I told her that "cream" was a verb in that sentence.

The second recipe instructed her to "add light cream" to the mixture, so she turned up the mixer to run faster. Alas, "cream" was a noun and essential ingredient to the recipe, which was eventually added, but after much laughter.

Look out, bake sale! Here we come!!!!

"Bleating" ?

My friend is a member of the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Dixon, California. Last week they received free publicity via the Sacramento news. You see, the two sheep that were borrowed by the pastor of the church from a local farmer for the live nativity, had restraining orders against them. Apparently, at last year's event, these same sheep "wreaked " on the town, possibly by bleating loudly or knocking over trash bins.

Who woulda thunk to ask a question like that to the sheep's owners?

"Uh, Mr. Farmer, I'd like to borrow your sheep for a live nativity, however I must ask you a few questions. Do either of your sheep owe child support, back alimony payments or have any order of protection issued against them?"

Leave it to California . . .

Refill Prince

At the movie theatre today, we saw THE NATIVITY (rated PG). It was loved by all.

At least we think the kids liked it. At final count, they had eaten seven or eight bags of popcorn and five slushies.

I'm surprised the snack counter workers kept giving him free refills. On the other hand, he does have a persuasive personality. He actually talked them into a refill on the way out the door.

Who stole my Christmas purchases?!

I was sure I had all my gifts purchased, wrapped and waiting under the bed. I was sure all I had to do was pull out the packages, don the bows and drink some eggnog.

Well . . . I'll be drinking eggnog alright! But now I'll have to do some shopping too!!!

On the other hand, maybe Mr. Rellim won't mind receiving shower gel, a Johnny Cash CD and a Hawaiian shirt on Christmas morning.

What do you think?