Random Images from Christmas

The festivities are over, the packages are gone. The tree is still standing, which is an amazing feat. The kids are busy playing with their new stuff (not 'toys' of course) and the animals are happy things are getting back to normal. Another Christmas is in the books, and I can't wait for the next. Only 363 days to go!

Present OD

Christmas glee

Who puts presents this far under the tree?

Two santa's helpers, and one supervisor

Supervising really, really is hard work, just ask Clyde

Actually the holidays are just exhausting

Chief present inspector

Tree guards (Ramses now just goes and randomly sits by the tree so
I can take his picture.

Christmas Sunset

"May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas which is peace;
The heart of Christmas which is love."
~Ada V. Hendricks

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time."  ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Wouldn't life be worth the living
Wouldn't dreams be coming true
If we kept the Christmas spirit
All the whole year through?"
~Author Unknown

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays....

Our Christmas wish ~

May Santa think you're nice not naughty
May Christmas be a great party
May those you love surround you
May the Christmas cookie pounds be few
May the love of the season carry on
May you awaken tomorrow to view a beautiful dawn (unless you like to sleep in)
May your Christmas spirit never cease
May your new year be filled with peace

Happy Holidays from the Twisted Threads crew to you.

Mercury

Devin, Ramya, Bella, Ramses

Lance, (Ramses), and Neptune

Not pictured: Heather, Cory, Sara the tortoise, Slider the turtle, the fish, the yarn stash, the spinning wheels...

Full of Beans

Today was a day of full onset Christmas prep. First, my mom's present came in the mail which meant 3 hours of solid work on the computer for me sorting and collating media to sync it.

Then, we picked up the kids from their final day of school, which was really a field trip day for them, the poor dears spent the entire time skiing, what torture. They were starving so after we fed them we went to the store to split up and Christmas shop. This has seemed an awesome deal in the planning stages, what could be more fun? Of course the reality of it was that both kids were so hyped up from the end of school, the skiing and Christmas that shopping with them was rather like shopping with an untrained puppy in a store full of raw bones. But we persevered, and then went home to wrap them. Kid quote of the day: "Just because my mouth isn't tired doesn't mean my lungs and legs aren't tired!" When Devin and I deviated with a short trip to the Hallmark store and I decided to walk there instead of battling through the overcrowded parking lot again.

And yes, we did walk. The weather here has been freakishly dry which meas we don't have 72 inches of snow which means the temperatures aren't dropping drastically. More on this another time. The frozen tundra and I have an uneasy truce going right now in which I will not badmouth it, and it in return won't snow. Sorry snowmobiling, wishing for a white Christmas, can't wait to snowshoe/icefish peeps. That's our agreement. If broken my ranting about the stupidity of a city in the middle of the frozen tundra and that the people claim to enjoy the cold while never really setting foot outside of the artificial warmth.

In any case, after shopping with the puppies, er kids, and wrapping presents I set out the craft project I've chosen in lieu of cookies. Sure, these don't look as appetizing as cookies, but they're healthier. And cheaper. And rather pretty. I'm still making a few cookies, but we're handing out these instead this year.

I hope all of you are accomplishing your Christmas lists while still getting a little time to look at lights, listen or sing carols, and soak in the feeling that this time of year brings :).

Christmas Countdown

We have one Christmas decoration up. In our defense, we have 3 cats. 3 cats who when after we lovingly decorated the Christmas tree last year took it upon themselves to dismantle, dismember, and break every item and eventually the tree itself. I'm really not exaggerating. This year, we have not attempted a tree. Instead, we have started a desensitization program for the cats in the form of one small decoration. It is looking rather ragged but it's still together.

Since there is no tree, there are no presents. There were a few presents, but those were taken to Volunteers of America for their Adopt a Family Program. The presents for the kids, are in the mail. Because work schedule eliminated malls from the program. Instead, Amazon was our best friend.

We love wrapping presents though!

Since there is no tree, there are no lights. The potential for a large vet bill prohibits those, along with the poinsettias, and other baubles and bows.

I however did arrange for a White Christmas again, so we're decorated outside anyway.

And I believe the Grinch said it best:

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."
- Dr. Seuss

Because, when you think about it, we all get lost in the hustle and bustle, finding the right gifts for people who will never remember what you got them anyway. Finding the perfect Christmas decoration when it's ok not to decorate. Searching always for the real meaning of Christmas instead of realizing that we already have it with us.

I am going to enjoy this week before Christmas, not with panic over what I haven't done (have I mentioned I haven't baked any Christmas candy yet?), but by being thankful for what I have, and what I try to give every day.