The Best and Worst Traditions of our Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! I'm a big believer in traditions.

* Let's start with the bad: *

If you've read my previous posts, you know that I consider myself to be quite the ....uhhhh... exceptional! .... photographer, and so I bring to you the Worst Christmas Card Photo Ever (you should double-click to enlarge it to get the full, glorious effect):


And if you think my photography skills are amazing, check out the Worst Christmas Video Ever (recorded by yours truly, of course):



Nose picking, dog barking, camera dropped, Mommy yelling AND singing (which was worse??). Let's see, did I leave anything out in putting together this memorable, one-of-a-kind video? And it cut off where it did because, well, we never DID get a verse of song actually sung successfully. Merry Christmas, Grandma & Grandpa.

Here's Noah trying on the cats' Christmas present (a crinkle-tube for you non-cat people). Not much to say here about this treasured moment, although I think I overheard Mark mutter "Not our proudest moment as parents."


And now may I present the Most Expensive Christmas Bomb present. In her short almost-two years of life, Shelby has always been ripped off present-wise because we figured she wouldn't know the difference. Well, this year I wanted to do right by her (and because she's old enough she might start remembering how unfairly treated she was by her parents when it came to gift-giving), and so her loving Mommy bought her the BIGGEST and the most EXPENSIVE Christmas gift this year - her very own special chicken bean bag chair (I know how ridiculous that sounds, but just look at the photo, okay? It's super-cute, am I right or what?!?!).


Well, she hates it and refused to sit in it after I took this first photo. So now it sits in the playroom in the corner, completely unused and neglected. And I'm not going to list how insanely stupidly expensive this present was, because of the sheer humiliation of it all, especially seeing as how I have a university minor in Accounting.

* And now let's move on to the BEST! *

What Christmas would be complete without my "Merry Toes" tradition?!? And this year I'm happy to announce that Shelby and Noah joined me in this festive feat! Bwa ha ha, get it?!?! Ha ha ha! Anyway, I'm still working on getting Mark and Connor to join in on this one, no luck yet.


I LOVE Christmas lights. And as you can see, I'm pretty much the only person on our street that does. Boy, do I love our house at Christmastime! *blissful sigh*


I know it's not one of those wild Christmas houses (but which I also love), because I like to keep our Christmas decorations respectful and elegant and spiritual, if you know what I mean. Hence the nativity family in the door wreath, the candles in windows (to signify lighting the path for the Holy Family) and an angel.

I also love to drive around and look at Christmas lights every chance I get. However, Connor and Noah are getting sick of looking at Christmas lights. So now I have to think of new ways to bribe them. This year I let them sit in the back of our SUV on big pillows with sippy cups full of hot chocolate and a box of Dunkin Donuts munchkin donuts to eat. It works, and as you can see, the sugar overload definitely puts them in a good mood! I should note that I only do this on nights that Mark is home to put them to bed. I'm extra-thoughtful like that, you know.


And bling-baby Shelby's favorite Christmas present was from Grandma Davis, a furry purse full of necklaces and hair bows. And every day since, Shelby has insisted on wearing ALL of the necklaces. All at the same time.


And, to put us in our best light with most of the worst carefully edited out, here is our annual Christmas letter for you download, if you'd like. And yes, I know it's long, but since I haven't gotten around to scrapbooking yet, this is pretty much my only documentation of the year and it's mostly for me! CLICK HERE to download the Christmas letter PDF file.

Now, it's time for one of my FAVORITE Christmas traditions - watching Christmas Vacation (I'm simply not a It's a Wonderful Life-type of person, sorry!) for the 9 millionth time - yippee!!

Happy holidays, and cheers to traditions, good and bad! *clink*