Merry Christmas to all my peoples of the interwebs! Here's a little nugget of what we've been doing to celebrate.
Our zoo sets up some lights to lure the humans in at night.
Cousins. That's what's up.
Refueling with giant candy canes.
And though I love the lights at the zoo, this next set of lights is the best of my life. Mr. Gilley in Small Town, Alabamy, started setting up these crazy, amazing, cooky, fun, mechanical, everything-spins-and-twirls lights forever ago. Now he has passed away, but his family still puts the lights up in his honor every year. We drive an hour and a half one way to see these suckers. It's like the Disney World of Christmas lights.
But mostly I love all of the carved figures. These guys tap dance and spin under a blanket of lights.
I have no words for this tight rope act.
I bet King Kong up there didn't see this note before he agreed to that gig.
My son gave himself a present from Santa Claus(e).
He also loves us so yery mutch.
So much that he wrapped this up and gave it to my husband for Christmas. I love the kid phase where they wrap up random toys from around the house to give to us and each other.
This giant set of Lincoln Logs was my best thrift store find for Christmas. They had a giant bag of these for $7. Does anyone know what the white sticks are for?
Plush lion not included in the thrifted Lincoln Logs.
My daughter's favorite present was these Iwako Japanese take apart erasers, which soon became part of our nativity. Pandas and elephants in Jesus' stable make me smile.
Another important person born this time of year: my sistah. She is so amazingly talented, healthy and fun and pretty much the best sister I could have ever hoped, wished or prayed for. The kids were stoked to hand craft some birthday goodies for her, and because my sister is the healthiest lady ever, I gave her kale and frozen blueberries for her birthday instead of cake.
She looks only a couple of years older than those kids flanking her. I'm trying to learn all of the secrets to her fountain of youth.
What's your favorite December tradition?
Did you get any sweet deals on gifts for people? Or thrift any?
What was the most hilarious or awesome gift you received (from a kid or adult)?
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Good morning and Merry Christmas!!! It always seems funny to me to see pics of people celebrating Christmas without big winter coats on!!! Your family looks very happy!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite December tradition is baking with my kids and then looking at the lights. And I really love Christmas Eve church service!
We finally saw snow today in KY! It didn't stick, but it was blowing tons of giant flakes. The sky was beautiful.
DeleteMerry Christmas! I love your pictures here today. The wrapped up big bird is my fav. I miss that cute kid stage. Now I have teenagers who don't get up until noon on Christmas morning forcing their mother to turn to blogs with little ones to get her cuteness fix. LOL We have one of those over the top houses that we visit every Christmas too. Thankfully ours is only 5 mins away! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHa! That is going to be weird to have laid back teenagers at Christmas. We almost had a mutiny when we waited until 8:30 a.m. to open presents.
DeleteMerry Christmas!! Favourite Christmas tradition: Christmas day brunch at my sister in laws and then an hour + drive to my parents for Christmas dinner with my siblings & their partners. Wouldn't miss either of these events for the world. So much fun.
ReplyDeleteLove family time at Christmas!
DeleteMerry Christmas! It does make sense for much to be spelled (spelt?) with a t. I love multitasking Mary, ha!
ReplyDeleteI know. I still like to spell theater like theatre, so you know.:)
DeleteI finished all of my Christmas shopping in November! It was amazing! Made for a very relaxing holiday season, indeed. Most hilarious gift: a chanting bowl from my mom. Look it up. It's freaking WEIRD.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your family!
Googled. At least it's not a gift you'll get two of.
Delete:-) My son, who's five, gathered up a whole bunch of his toys and spent the better part of yesterday evening wrapping them up. It was so sweet: he was quite thoughtful about what he chose for each person. For instance, I received a stuffed dragon - to guard me while I sleep, he explained (I don't like sleeping in total darkness and recently shared this with him).
ReplyDeleteYour kids are adorable! Merry Christmas!
That is so sweet of him. I think I would have cried a little with that one. Fingers crossed that my kids retain a tiny ounce of their sweetness in teenager-hood.
DeleteIt looks like you had loads of fun!!! Merry, merry Xmas friend!!!! Only a few months before I'm on the road again:)
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm excited for you to be back at it. Though I'm sure you are even more excited.
DeleteHappy Christmas!!! And Happy Birthday, Sister!! I love the Madonna-style conical bra she's wearing in the photo ;) And oh my word, that wooden Mary is terrifying...baby Jesus would definitely cry hard if he saw her!!!
ReplyDeleteMy best present was a camera - or better phrased, 2013's victim, as I kill cameras quickly, easily and effortlessly. I am promising to keep this one safe all year. But the best thing was seeing my little boy's face as he unwrapped his new bike. Pretty gorgeous.
Hope you all had a wonderful day!!! xx
That was my first thought with the bowl art too.:)
DeleteHere's to making it a full year without breaking your camera!
Merry Christmas!!!
ReplyDeleteKind of a funny story - one of my students one brought in just one very fancy earring for me. I of course told him how much I loved it, but then sent it home sneakily. He had taken it from his mom at the house to give to me.
ReplyDeleteThat is adorable.
DeleteMerry Christmas! Looks like you all had loads of fun!!! I got a new hydration thingy for long runs from the inlaws. Can't wait to put that to use:)
ReplyDeleteMe too! Well, actually I bought a Camelbak for the dirty santa game and stole my own present (boring, but I needed that thing, and no one else wanted it!). I already used it once and love it. Which one did you get?
DeleteLovely pictures ! Lincoln logs.. haven't seen them for years. How fun. Sorry but I don't know about the white sticks.
ReplyDeleteThey are finding creative ways to use them. I guess that's the beauty of no instruction manual.:)
DeleteLoved lincoln logs as a kid...funniest present was my son's shirt that said...Great Story Babe (in bold letters) now go make me a sandwich (in smaller letters below)
ReplyDeleteWait, I need that shirt for myself.
Deleteand a very merry belated xmas to u!! it sure looks like u and ur awesome family had a wonderful time! :)
ReplyDeleteMy first time commenting! I love your blog and been following you and your bq dream, heartbroken for you both times but just love love your attitude! I too am a mom of 4- twin boys, single boy, and baby girl- and love reading how you balance the training with your family and the great sense of humor you show in both. Looking forward to more stories in 2013!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading! My favorite Indigo Girls quote, "You have to laugh at yourself because you'd cry your eyes out if you didn't."
DeleteMerry Christmas! always impressed with your thrifting! best deal was on my boyfriends sport coat-got it the day after thanksgiving and it was more than 50% off. i didn’t receive any funny gifts but my cousins boyfriend brought an actual “dirty” gift to family dirty santa. not sure he got the memo….made for entertainment though!
ReplyDelete