Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Christmas Wrap-up

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!
Christmas for us, isn't as exciting as it once was.
Our youngest, Mikayla, is 8, and at the age where she is afraid to *not* believe in Santa.
She believes this year, but she has seen a lot of holes in the whole theory.
We are hoping next year, she will have figured it all out, and we can take off for the holidays.
A real "white" Christmas...meaning: our pasty white butts sitting on a white sand beach.

This will help to illustrate how different Christmas day is with a house full of teenagers.
Christmas was on Sunday, and our church services began at 11 a.m. Sunday morning.
I had to literally wake the kids up to make it to church on time.
At 11.
They didn't care that Santa! had! come! and dwarfed the tree in presents!

Nope. Not as fun as when they were all little, and our home was electric with excitement.
Stockings are now stuffed with acne face wash, and deodorant.

We started a tradition a few years ago.
Along with their Christmas Eve pajamas, we give them a gag toy to play with.
They look forward to this stupid toy almost more than the real Christmas the next day. 
One year we gave them flying monkeys.
Another year, we gave them Nerf guns, and another year they got Sing-a-ma-jigs.
This year I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find something for them.
But I did.
Oh, man. I totally did.
They all got "Happy Hamsters."
They were the awesomest stupidest things ever!
New fleece PJ pants, heck no, I DID NOT make them.
They run on batteries, and when you put the Hamsters in the plastic ball, they scurry around the carpet. When they hit a wall, or a chair leg, or a random pile of crap, they switch directions.
Some of the stupider hamsters would only go in circles.
We had hamster races all night long.
Ready tiny warriors? GO!!!

We like stupid at our house.
We are easily amused like that.
The kids personalized their hamster balls.
"Eat My Pellets!!"
"Fluffy II"
That was Christmas Eve.
They all slept together in Jayden's room, and the next day woke up for church.

After church, we came home, changed back into our PJ's and did the whole Christmas thing.
It was a good day.



The kids are out of school for another week, so we have been playing games and watching movies every night until the wee hours. It is going to be a rude adjustment to go back to a schedule.
I attempted today.
I hit the gym for my normal 8 a.m. class.
It was a big mistake.
Huge.
My body was very angry.
It was tired, and also harboring 18 pounds of Eggnog Fudge.
But I persevered.
Mostly cause Santa brought me some new shoes, and I looked dang cute.
  Priorities, people.

Santa also brought me a Happy Light.

I have been using it for a couple of weeks now.
I also supplement vitamin D3.
I am happy to report, it TOTALLY WORKS.
No kidding.
I feel normal again, and an added bonus, I no longer have the 2-3:00 musttakeanap slump.
Nor do I crave carbs and sugar.
It is a Christmas miracle!
I know I have a lot of Seasonal Depression suffering readers that have been waiting for my report back on my light therapy.
It works, people.
I don't think it is in my head. I am a very skeptical person.
But, if it *is* in my head, who the crap cares?
I feel better.
I got my light at Costco for fifty bucks.
Much cheaper than murder.

On today's agenda: Reclaiming the house.
I am swimming in the post-Christmas clutter, and I have had enough of it.
And the fudge.

48 comments:

Cynthia Baldwin said...

Those hamsters are AWEsome! :) glad you had a good Xmas- sounds like fun!

loving3boys1girl said...

First time visitor to your blog. Congrats on being Imaginesce's Dec guest designer. I've spent some time checking out your blog and I haven't laughed in so hard in so long. I'm definitely going to continue reading!

~Tracy
blue.tacs at yahoo dot com

Liz said...

love your brand of Christmas Insanity !Today's post is enough to make me want to come back for more. See ya soon !

Frankenmunster said...

well I came on over from the Imaginesce blog and I loved your tags and tag holder box thing over there :-) Also wanted to say I totally need light therapy box because as you said, its cheaper than murder :-D LOL! thanks for a giggle and some inspiration today!

Barbara said...

I enjoyed your projcts at the Imaginisce blog, and am now a follower! Merry Christmas belatedly! The hamster story is great!

Lolô Artesanato said...

Congrats to being a GD in Imaginisce
I love all your projects there
I'm your new follower
xx
Leila

PamSpradlin said...

Cute post...I got seveal smiles out of it. It was nice to meet you on the Imaginisce blog.

Melinda said...

Hi-I'm here from Imaginisce's Blog, love the pizza box of tags and the mini album! And looks like you guys had a really great Christmas! :D

Larissa Heskett said...

Sounds like a fun thing to do once the kids get older!! My day would have LOVED getting us stupid toys when we were growing up!! THANKS for sharing I enjoyed reading your blog posts!! I am a NEW follower. Have a FABULOUS WEEK!! =)

SandiB said...

Just left the Imaginisce blog and your projects are amazing. Congrats on being the guest designer and I just became a follower on your blog.

ajmaluck said...

Congratulations of being the guest designer for Imaginisce. Loved all of your projects and got some great ideas from them. Just became a follower of your blog.

glenda said...

this is my first visit to your blog and i am now a follower! Congratulations on on being Imaginesce's December guest designer!

dstandard said...

Merry Christmas! Looks like fun at your house!

Lisa G. said...

OMG you make me laugh. I have two teen girls and a 9 year old boy, I need to read more of your blog to keep laughing along with you!
Congrats on being the guest designer for Imaginesce's Dec. :)
Cheers!

Patti B said...

Congratulations on being the guest designer at Inaginesces. You have made some great progects. Thanks for sharing.

pattispaperfun.blogspot.com

Betty Anne said...

Congratulations on being a Guest Designer for Imaginesce. I had such fun reading your blog post today,I especially love the crazy things you get for Christmas Eve. The hamster balls were too funny and look like they kept your big family busy.

Dawn said...

Joined as a follower and have been reading your blog for hours. Love your sense of humor. My son got a kick out of the hamster balls. I am also part squirrell and love BLINGY stuff. :)

Colleen said...

Can't believe you had to wake up your teens in order to make it too church. My two are still as excited about Christmas as when they were little, even though they now.

Imaginesce sent me.

Ardilla said...

I just found out about your blog at Imaginisce blog...
You have made a great job, love all the projects I saw there :)

Moni said...

Gorgeous pics of your family. Happy Hamsters are cute. Hugs,moni

Jean said...

What fun traditions!

Angie said...

Looks like your family had a great Christmas! Fabulous work on the Imaginisce blog!!!

Unknown said...

Looks like you had a fabulous Christmas!! Love the ideal of Stupid toys, sounds like fun.

csparky61 said...

Thank you for showcasing your talent and creativity on the Imaginesce blog. I am not sure which I look more forward to, seeing what you have created, or reading your blog. It is good to start each morning with a chuckle! Happy New Year to you and your wonderful family.

Miriam Prantner said...

I love the idea of the gag type toy gift. Looks like a ton of fun!

JaniceA said...

Glad the light is working my mom has one and I think it has helped her feel better, also. Love your easy way of writing about your beautiful family.

Beth Hallgren said...

Already a follower of your antics :) I'm going to find that light, we (my hubby and I) both need it here in gloomy Michigan!

Lucy said...

Sounds like you had a great day. Love your work on Imaginesce :)

Unknown said...

Those hamsters look like something my kids would love! How funny!

Nicole Doiron said...

So happy you had a fun Christmas with your family!
Congrats on being Imaginisce's guest designer! You did some awesome projects!!!

Lillian Child said...

What a delightful blog you have here. I am now a follower. Imaginesce sent me! Love your creative style!

Unknown said...

OH what fun it was to read your wonderful Chirstmas day blog! yes, it does fit if you sing it just right! haha. I wish I knew you and lived close, you sound like you MUST be the most fun person to be around! How could anyone have SAD with you around? Anyway, look forward to many more reads- Happy days, my friend!

Denay said...

I found your blog through Imaginesce's blog and I couldn't be happier! You have a wicked sense of humor and I'm looking forward to exploring your blog.

Love your gag gift tradition, that is something that would go over great with my crew!

I also just wanted to say I love the Believe and Dance in the Rain lo's featured on the Imaginesce blog.

mn36 said...

Great Holiday wrap up letter.
thanks for the chance to win a prize.

sumoffood said...

hello and nice to meet you... you'r "my kinda crazy"! serioiusly enjoy your cards, layouts and AMAZING tips! thanks for taking the time to share with us and Merry Christmas to you whole family..
lynn

Cassie_lu said...

Love the idea of gag gifts. Sounds like fun.

Iris said...

Enjoyed your cute projects over at Imaginisce. Love your sense of humor here on your blog! Iris

Vicki and Don said...

I agree with you...Christmas is definitely different with little kids! This year our granddaughter was with her dad and we celebrated with her on the 23rd. On Christmas Day it was just 5 adults. We still had fun and enjoyed the day, but it really is all about the little kids!

Unknown said...

I love the idea of a gag gift on Christmas eve, too! I am a new follower coming by from Imaginesce.

Unknown said...

Stupid gifts...What a fun family tradition. Thanks for sharing your family Christmas with us. Your Imaginise projects are just so darn cute.

Lolô Artesanato said...

I'm here again
xx and congrats for all gorgeous Imaginisce"s projects
xx
Leila

Jessie G. said...

I got a hamster for my yorkie, Gus! He loves chasing it!

Melinda said...

Hi-from Imaginisce blog! Cute layouts and I really like the bunny card!

Liz said...

joined your blog on Day 1, and back on day 2 - I really like the stamping on acetate - now I can do something with the huge box of packaging I have.

{VICKI} said...

I need one of those lights

{VICKI} said...

Imaginesce sent me again today!
I'm a new follower

Sue D said...

Very funny post! I like the idea of the gag gifts---sounds like the hamsters were a lot of fun.

April D said...

Going to have to get my kids some of those hamsters and I have never even seen that light but I would totally love to have one!