Post Christmas Post

Why do I have such a wary side-smile?
Because Troubletron says HE is going to clean up Christmas.
We shall see.

I have lots to share, but time has been short. I'll catch up soon! How were your holidays?

Days of Christmas: Day 24: Ghosts of Christmas Past

Once again, I have scoured the archives (of our photo albums) to find and share some treasured memories of holidays past with you, our blog audience. Let's see what I found.

First, we start with a scene from Christmas morning circa maybe 1989?
To some people, "bed head" means flattened, smashed hair. To me, it means VOLUME. You will see as we progress. But, it's still true today. This was the year by brother Davidtron got his sweet teal bike with pegs and wheel-covers--for tricks. Remember when trick bikes were so cool?

Next, we shift back in time a bit to Christmas, 1983. I was 4 years old and SOOO much cuter than you.
How cute would I be in that dress now?

Christmas isn't all about me, though (yes it is).
Teenbot and Littletron hugged in front of the tree at their Meemaw's house a few years ago. It's nice to think that if aliens or people from the future ever see our pictures, they will think we were a loving family.

The sweetest PJs award goes to Sparklebot's dad:
Though, I think my floor-length night shirt puts me at a close second. Thanks for helping me get the Cabbage Patch and Pony out of the box, dad.

Beards were different back then.

When Littletron was even littler:
1983. Sparklebot stars in her pre-school Christmas play as the cutest elf:
Someone should have taught me to sit in a more ladylike fashion. I struggle with that even today.

I found the reason Troubletron thinks Santa is a child molester:
He probably just wanted your awesome belt, dear.

Did Chuck-E-Cheese blink when that photo was taken? Confusing.

Sparklebot and Davidtron pose by Sparklebot's gingerbread house--Christmas 1984.
I carried around that life-saver man for MONTHS.

The Thug-life GQ award goes to Troubletron (far right):
Suave, baby. Suave.

The Christmas Sparklebot got her skateboard:
(and the year Snowbird made Sparklebot get a boy haircut against her will). Wasn't my black sheep sweater AWESOME? I'd kill for one today.

Side note: that's pretty much the only way I've ever been able to successfully ride a skateboard--sitting/kneeling.

Most likely to become a wife-beater on Christmas morning:
Oh Troubletron. Haha. It's not your fault . . . just like the wall-paper in my parents' basement (aka the pimp-cave) wasn't my fault. We are the victim of our families.
In 1983 (above), I got a little kitchen (so I can learn to be a good wife who cooks), some roller skates, a care bear, my Garfield sleeping bag, and . . .
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE!!!

My face is so amazing in that picture. So are Davidtron's footed pjs. So is the shiny wallpaper. So is the carpet-on-the-walls. So is the brown corduroy built-in couch. In fact, I'm having a hard time finding something that is NOT amazing in that photo.

Ok, this one isn't technically a Christmas picture, but the snowflake-patterned sweater makes it close enough.
His mullet is growing in nicely, and his chain is perfectly placed over his turtleneck.

That's my man.

And, finally, again, my bed head is SO MUCH BIGGER than yours.
I hope Christmas present will be just as great for us as these memories of Christmases past.

Days of Christmas: Day 23 BONUS 2

Maybe it wasn't one of the kids opening the presents early . . .

Days of Christmas: Day 23 Bonus 1

Readers chose Hermey, the elf who wants to be a dentist . . .

. . . over Will Ferrell's "Buddy the elf" as the best misfit elf in polls earlier this week (final count 8:4).


Last week, readers decided they preferred white lights to color lights around Christmastime. I wasn't particularly happy with these results, but I will accept your preferences.

I have a friend who is militant about Christmas lights. She declares that color lights of any kind are "white trashy"--and that white lights are the only classy way to show Christmas spirit. Clearly, my natural response to this stance is to ONLY have color lights.

We have 5 new polls for you to vote in, all of which end at midnight on Christmas! Go check them out on the right side of the screen! Vote fast!

Days of Christmas: Day 23

It finally happened.

After you all voted a few weeks ago that Egg Nog is Grrrrrreat!, Troubletron was bound by a secret pact we had. He had to taste it.

I wanted him to like it, though. I really did. So, I tried to make it as painless for him as possible. I picked up some "vanilla" egg nog at the store (since "vanilla" is his favorite flavor).
But, I already knew how he would react. He's very predictable.

I made him inspect the egg nog (I think we can see his negative attitude already).
And, pour it (look of disdain already forming on his pre-judgmental face).
He then dove in for his first rush of thick, creamy deliciousness.
And . . .
. . . the verdict was . . .
. . .

GWOSS.

He didn't like it. Shocking.

I didn't want the rest of that tiny glass of nog to go to waste though.

Two more days!

Days of Christmas: Day 22

Three days til Christmas!

Today I thought I would show you one way Troubletron and I have been telling ourselves we are helping the environment, if only just a little. For the last month, as presents were wrapped, we have been setting aside the scraps.
When we had a pretty large pile of scrap wrapping paper, I began tracing and cutting out circles of various sizes from the papers:
Then, with the help of Marzipan . . .
. . . I took an old paper grocery sack, and traced a large bowl.
Meanwhile, Troubletron sorted all our circles into their various sizes and types.
Then he goofed off. I need to give him more jobs to do.
I cut out 2 large bowl circles.
And then I cut out smaller circles from inside the bowl shapes (to make them hollow, like wreaths).
Troubletron and I then began arranging the circles onto our wreath frames.
After some experimentation, we got out our glue.
It was Troubletron's first experience with Mod Podge. Glorious.
We attached all our circles, overlapping, to cover the frames.
Then stuck them under some old law school books I will never look at again, but couldn't sell on Amazon since new editions came out right after I used them. Jerks.
We were pretty excited about how our wrapping-paper-scraps wreaths were going to turn out. But, I felt like we needed a third wreath to round things out. Then, I had an idea. A wonderful, awful idea.

We recently moved all our DVDs into DVD books and out of their space-taking cases. So, I gathered all the Christmas DVD cases I could find, pulled off their sleeves and removed their colorful, picture-covered inserts.
(FYI, that Frosty on top is the one that had a completely different DVD inside. Grrrrrr!)

I cut out one 3-inch circle from each DVD cover and arranged them in a circle for our middle wreath:
(I'm saving the rest for another project)

After two days of drying (maybe mod podge wasn't the best glue to use), we ended up with some pretty amazing wreaths:
The DVD cover wreath is really very interesting. I added some ribbon bows over the tacks that hold the wreath on the wall.
And, our wrapping paper wreaths, with added embellishments that came off gifts from my mom turned out beautifully!

I don't think the photos are doing them justice, but they really did turn out great!

So, yeah, that's one way we're trying to save the world. Slowly. Ten wrapping paper scraps at a time.

A lot has been going on here, though, besides wreath-making. I've done more present wrapping this year than I have ever had to in years past (blame the kids).
Creative wrapping has suffered as a result.

Troubletron and I have been doing a little last minute shopping. Even two days after the large storm, the roads are still sketchy. Check out the snow piles in our Target parking lot.
In case you have forgotten, I am 6 ft tall. Troubletron is 6'3". So, you can see the snow accumulation was significant.
I wish I had taken a photo, but in the Old Navy parking lot, the plows made one large mountain of snow in the center that was at least 15 feet high.

And, of course, we have been receiving your Christmas and Holiday cards.
In the spirit of saving the world through recycling, I will remind you of the craft idea for using Holiday cards again from THIS BLOG ENTRY.

But, I found another great way to ACTUALLY recycle all the cards you get. You can donate old holiday greeting cards to St. Jude's Ranch for children (a non-profit benefiting abused, neglected, and abandoned children). Children earn money by taking your old cards, removing the decorative fronts, and creating new cards with them. Go HERE for donation details (and info on purchasing recycled cards!).