It's the night before Christmas, and all through the house,
the kids are so pumped
they're like a wound-tight Mighty Mouse.
they're like a wound-tight Mighty Mouse.
The stockings are hung by the fireplace covered with Scooter hair,
and the kids hope it won't be Atnas who comes this year.
[Gary just warned the kids that sometimes it's Atnas who shows up. He steals from houses instead of bringing in gifts. He doesn't come down the chimney; he comes up through the toilet.]
Caroline's definitely concerned.
Here's our attempt at a village. If you notice, the personalized snowmen are truly personalized. Well, if you live in this house and your name is Gordon (close as we could get to Grant--wasn't that from you, Ross? ) and then there's the blue permanent-markered SAM. Thanks, Caroline. The M's so big, it wraps clear around to the S.
And as promised, here's the before, during, and after of the tree:
As we carted it home from Lowe's...
With the lights on... this was Dec 10th, the night of Jack's concert.
Yes, we have some light swaggin' going on. I like it! It's like a Milky Way effect.
And then the final product several days after that. This year we have actually been able to leave gifts under the tree and no little hands tore into them. This is a first since 1998. No kidding.
Tomorrow I am gonna post a picture of the tree as it is in the morning, counting on that it will be visited by Santa and not Atnas. For those of you who haven't been at our house on Christmas morning, you will see how much we love Christmas where Christmas means opening gifts. It literally takes us all morning. It's so much fun! And now let's go on a little ornament tour. This is one that we have that was on our tree as I was growing up. And it was probably an old hand-me-down even then. 
This is one I made in 1991 when I lived in my apartment in Centralia. This is the original potpourri. It seems kinda gross that the potpourri is 18 years old but really it looks ok. If you like potpourri on your tree. And who doesn't? Oh, now, just put your hands down. 
Hey, it's not all just old stuff on our tree. Here are the kids' new cool ornaments.
I just noticed it looks like Sam is again testing out his John Deere's true mowing capability. See it heading over the glass grapes?
And of course, gotta represent the kid-made ones. Courtesy Sam, 2009. 
And the ornament that is broken (you see Cat lost his head) but still every year it must go on the tree because I paid, like, DO NOT READ THIS GARY, $25 for it. 
Just a pretty one. 
This is one I made in 1991 when I lived in my apartment in Centralia. This is the original potpourri. It seems kinda gross that the potpourri is 18 years old but really it looks ok. If you like potpourri on your tree. And who doesn't? Oh, now, just put your hands down. Hey, it's not all just old stuff on our tree. Here are the kids' new cool ornaments.I just noticed it looks like Sam is again testing out his John Deere's true mowing capability. See it heading over the glass grapes?
And of course, gotta represent the kid-made ones. Courtesy Sam, 2009. And the ornament that is broken (you see Cat lost his head) but still every year it must go on the tree because I paid, like, DO NOT READ THIS GARY, $25 for it. Just a pretty one. Each year I try to buy one new ornament that signifies something special about the year. This one represents 2008 when we went to Tallahassee for summer vacation and stayed with Julia and then headed to St. George Island where we made family sandcastles at dusk after the storms each day.
Can you even believe there were no kidney-shaped ornaments to be found?!
So, here's to the big guy coming tonight! Hope he stops by and leaves some merry for each and every one of you!
Merry Christmas!!
Love from us!
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