Christmas Recap

Well, Christmas is over. I've got to dismember my tree and put all my santa heads and snowman heads away.

I only got one 3x sweater from my mother in law. Seriously, I put it on and it fell to my waist.

I only got one inappropriate comment from the Uncle - "you think maybe you can teach the wife a good BJ technique? I keep trying to get her to do it but she won't. . ." I wonder why . . .

I got an interesting gift from the aunt - a booklet that contains a poem written by her 10 year old. The other 100 pages are from kids I never heard of, but it was cute.

I got a laptop from my mama. Yeah!!!

The husband got an air compresser, a floor jack and some jack stands, a wildlife camera to mount on a tree in the woods, and a barbeque set.

The boy got every toy imaginable.

We still have left overs. And, if I never see another cookie again, it'll be too soon.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I've a wedding and a new years' party this weekend - Fun!!

The Bestest Present Ever

Of all the toys expensive and not, and the clothes and cookies abundant, the favorite toy of the season?

This $9.99 doggy and blanket that my Grandma got my son at Kohl's. He named it Shoebee and has talked to it constantly since yesterday morning.

There is something wonderful about watching the joy from a child on Christmas morning. This small item brought him joy. I only wish I'd known before I spent all that other money . . .

Merry Christmas

This is my guys on Christmas morning. They are angry with me because I'm telling them to wait to open presents till after pictures. I didn't get a very good picture as you can see!

Merry Christmas to everyone!!

Christmas Presents - UPDATED

To indulge Roses request for more bad Christmas stories I will tell of last Christmas.

Every year we have a traditional Slovak Christmas Eve dinner with my husband's family (A post all its own I assure you). Every year, we get gifts from them though I still am uncertain why.

Last year was the humdinger of all years as far as gifts go. We got scarves.

Now, I like me a good scarf. But, these were homemade scarves. You know the kind that are made of the fleece fabric and then knotted? Yeah - these were not those.

These scarves were about three feet long and were cut out of the fleece fabric. That is all. THAT IS ALL!! Seriously, the cheapest present I ever got. Someone took a bolt of fabric and said "this would make nice scarves" and then proceeded to simply cut the fabric into the shape of a scarf and then hand them out at Christmas! They didn't even cut them evenly, no! you could see the unsteady hand of the scissors as they cut out each scarf. They didn't even wrap them!

I'm sorry, but I wouldn't even put that on my dog. Now, I realize that it is the "gift" that counts. And while I would normally agree - not in this case. I'm thinking that they thought they had an obligation to gift something to us and so presented us with these long pieces of fabric. I would have fixed them - sewn them together, or knotted them, but she gave us all a different color.

I'm usually not so cynical about Christmas gifts, but really - if my 3 year old gave this to me I would be elated, cause a three year old would think that cutting a piece of fabric into a scarf is a masterpiece and it is - from a three year old.

We received these gifts from a 47 year old woman!

As for the mil - I've gotten size 3X sweaters (too big); size xs sweaters (too small), I've gotten electric pink purses, I've gotten plastic inflatable balls which you can put pictures in and then kick around, I've gotten socks, I've gotten books on how to improve my life (I like mine very much thanks) and I've even gotten underwear - not in my size, style or color.

I love the woman, but I'm difficult to buy for. I know it. I prefer if no one buy me gifts because it is unnecessary. I do appreciate the thought. I really do. But I have a box in the basement of gifts given to me by my husband's family that I either cannot or will not use. The box is full folks! Full. I can't throw any away for fear she will ask - as she always does - "where is such and such that I gave you?" She likes her gifts to be acknowledged over and over and over and over and over . . .

We got the MIL a Dyson this year for Mother's Day and Christmas all rolled together. So it isn't as if we mistreat her. There is no cause for alarm with this post - trust me. It is simply that I am difficult to buy for - at least where they are concerned.

Now, they know what I like (snowman heads and snowbabies) and how I decorate, dress and even the movies and music I listen to on a daily basis. But, that knowledge doesn't translate into gifts.

Oh, but back to the dinner - gifts are usually accompanied by something inappropriate from my Husband's uncle. Like for instance when we were dating I was asked if I needed knee-pads for Christmas *wink, wink* because the [one day husband] was looking pretty happy and content lately and I "must be getting in a lot of knee-time."

Then there was the time that my mil bought the underwear and the uncle said "I'd ask you to model that but they aren't sexy enough. Go throw on a negligee and come on out." ----folks, I used to be cute . . . ----

Oh, but then there was the time when he had a running conversation with himself about whether I liked it on the top, bottom or from behind . . . while extolling the virtues of each position and offering to show them to me if I'd like.

Then there was the year I was pregnant with my son and he said - at the dinner table - "she is obviously accustomed to being on her back, now it is time for her to get in the kitchen!"

UPDATED: I almost forgot! My husband's other uncle is a quadraplegic with limited use of his hands though no range of motion. He drinks everything out of a sippy cup. Two years ago, when my son was 1 1/2. The shock-uncle thought it would be cute to put beer in quad-uncle's sippy cup. He put a whole beer in a christmas cup. My son drank said beer. ALL OF IT! No one knew cause - who would have done such a thing. The baby was drunk. Seriously drunk. Slurring his small words, walking funny, falling down. The shock-uncle laughed and explained what had happened. I wanted to run his ass down with a car. No such luck. We don't let the Boy near shock-uncle for fear of a reinactment.

So, trust me!!! I can overlook the bad gifts, cause I've got the bad uncle to look forward to every year! UGH!

Christmas Eve is two days away - how fun.

Christmas Meme!

I've been tagged, but this here meme thingy by Richmond. So here goes:

Christmas Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both! Usually bags for those hard to wrap shapes and since I love fun paper and ribbons and stuff, wrapping for all the rest.

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. I hate walking across the floor in my bare feet only to have a pine needle jammed between my toes!

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the weekend after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? Generally the first weekend in January.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, actually, I do.

6. Favorite gift you received as a child? I have no idea, but I'm guessing it was my stereo.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. We got it as a gift when we got married. It is very nice, and all of the pieces are attached so they cannot get lost.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Everyone would say me.

9. Easiest person to buy for? My nephew and my son.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. Please, email is cheap.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Anything my mother-in-law gives me. She's sweet but has no idea what to buy me.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? It is a toss up between A Smoky Mountain Christmas with Dolly Parton and White Christmas.

13. When do you start shopping? The day after Christmas and all through the year. I usually have all of my big shopping done by October. But then I pick up odds and ends in December like everyone else. I have a Christmas Closet that is always full.

14.Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Ummmm, next question.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Kolachi rolls. Not the cookies, the nut or apricot rolls. MMMMMM.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored inside, white outside.

17.Favorite Christmas song? Leroy the Redneck Reindeer.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We used to travel home, now we are home.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s Reindeer? Yes, but they always leave out Leroy.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Right now, a star.

21. Open the presents on Christmas eve or morning? Christmas Morning - after a big hearty breakfast.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People.

23. Do you have Jebus in your heart this Christmas? Jebus is a dear friend, who brought warmth north with him for Christmas. *wink*

24. What would you like for Christmas? An in-house counsel position near Pittsburgh, or near enough that I don't have more than an 1 1/2 hour commute. Please! Anyone? Buehler?

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! I HOPE YOU GET A LITTLE SPECIAL SOMETHING, SOMETHING IN YOUR STOCKINGS! No seriously, I've been told that stockings are enjoyable - fishnet are preferable, but the DH likes the ones with the seam up the back of the leg . . . . . *snicker*

Dirty Trick!

So, a certain someone got a gift from me but won't open it till Christmas! The suspense! I'm terrible at giving gifts cause I always want people to open them right away. This certain someone (she knows who she is) is all about tradition. Pooh! *smile*

When I get gifts I can't wait to open them. Afterall, it doesn't happen that I get surprises that often so I like to indulge.

So, how about you? Do you wait till Christmas or do you tear into those gifts as soon as you get them?

The Christmas Letter

I had a discussion with a friend last night about the infamous "Christmas Letter". I explained to her that I don't write them. The number one reason I don't write them is this: If you are on my Christmas card list - I love you and you and I speak enough or you know enough about me that you know some of what is happening in my life. So, no need for the Christmas Letter.

Besides I find some Christmas Letters to be outstandingly pretentious or so sad and depressing that I'd like to put my head in the oven after reading them. But, because I'm such a cynical gal, here is the sad and depressing yet slightly pretentious letter I'd send if I sent such things . . .

Dear Family and Friends,

Much love, Oddy.

See what I mean? No one wants to get a Christmas Letter from me, trust me. Hell, I threw up a little in my mouth just writing it! *snicker*

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you get everything you want, and if that isn't in the cards - I hope you've family that loves you - holding your hand!

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town!

Have you been naughty or nice?

Weekend fun

This weekend, we took some much needed family time. We went bowling, we made a ginger bread house. We shopped for daddy's christmas present - which is "his bery own spatula, like Spongebob has!" and we even got in some Christmas movies.

I made a real dinner last night - and because the boy has completely memorized the entire "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" book we had:

Who-Roast Beast (beef)
Who-Pudding (vanilla)
Who-Bread (italian)
Who-Hash (potatos)

and gingerbread men cookies - cause the boy likes to bite their heads off.

How was your weekend??

Christmas In Oddyboboland

So, the tree is up and the house is clean(er) and presents are bought. Almost ready . . .

Here are some pictures of the Boy helping with my tree. He is showing off his favorite power ranger ornament. And before anyone says anything . . . yes, I have an addiction to snowman and santa head ornaments!

The puffy eyes are because he was still a little sick.

Remember

Those who fail to remember history are doomed to repeat it.

I remember. Do you?

Blast of Cold

Folks, it is cold here. That is all.

What a surprise!

Thank you all for the anniversary good wishes! And the nice compliments.

So, the husband, who is never romantic and doesn't buy me gifts - bought me a diamond necklace for our 10th anniversary yesterday! And the card was extra sweet. I kinda felt bad when I gave him a roll of aluminum foil!

What??? It's the aluminum/tin anniversary! How was I to know he was going to go all mushy on me?

When I saw the gift and started to open it, my son started to cry. I asked him why he was crying and he said "Mommy, I feel soooo bad!, I didn't get you a present, I'm sorry!" What a cutie!

Then comes the bad part. The Boy - has hand, foot and mouth. It is a virus kids in daycare get. Cept, he isn't in daycare. Uggh! Fever last night 102. Uggh!