It's Christmas at Our House

Yep. You read right. It's Christmas at our house today. Why, you ask?

Well, because:

1. We travel eight hours to go out of town every year because we are insane love our relatives, all 406 of them. That's a rough estimate only.

2. They won't come here.

3. Our family keeps growing has STOPPED growing but is large enough to merit help from a bonified moving company to transport all our crap belongings, and that's without transporting gifts for our own kids that they will rip open in .08 seconds and that we'll have to keep up with for the next 6 days before transporting them and a whole new menagerie of presents and sundry loot back home again.

*Sigh*

I dread the drive even though I am looking forward to spending time with our family who we don't get to see very often. But I just wish something were different. I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's that I wish our kids were more grateful. Maybe I wish we could stay home. I don't know. Maybe I just need a nap. Honestly? I just think that in the midst of all the chaos, we are losing sight of what Christmas is all about in the first place. I don't want Christmas to be about the latest, greatest whatchamacallit. I want it to be about family, creating memories, and most importantly this:

God's Divine Promise

It happened, oh, so long ago,
One cold and starry night,
A special child named Jesus
Was born to bring us light,
Great joy and understanding
And profound faith in Him--
The Savior God had promised
To cleanse away our sin.
He changed the world forever
With messages divine,
With hope for all believers
And love for all mankind.
His words are filled with promise
Of the glory yet to be
The day we enter Heaven
And find eternity.

Vi B. Chevalier

Ok. So now that we've been reminded what's important, I'll leave you with this.

I'd like to share with you a little buyer's remorse, if I may. My son received a game this morning that was on his list. Rated E-you know...for Everyone! Purchased by my husband. *smiling* I'll give you the short version. It's about these crazy rabbits. Yeah. "Raving Rabbids." One activity involves "anesthetizing" (I know--Big word for stupid game) crazed bunnies by hitting them with sausages until they fall asleep. Another called F@rt Wars, in which you race your opponent with a colored stream of gas shooting from your rear end. I know! Why, oh why? Did I mention my husband bought this game? Still another which calls itself "Chess" and instructs you to concentrate by holding the controller and nunchuck beside your head. That's it. That's how you win! Oh yeah, and there's "Timber!" where you move the controller back and forth in a sawing motion in an attempt to saw off the limb on which you are standing.

Yeah.

Do you feel dumber yet? I am normally completely impressed with the whole computer/gaming programming industry...programming of any kind really. These guys are so way smarter than I am. I struggle with basic HTML to be perfectly honest. That being said, whoever came up with this concept had to be either completely *shnockered* after a night at the frat house or smoking crack. I really do not see any alternatives here. I am not dissing programmers here, people. I'm talking concept. CONCEPT. Some poor schmo had to turn this idea into a real live game. God love him.

Oh, enough. Here are some pictures. I was really just wanting to say I'll be away for a while for the holiday and the move, and there will be plenty of junk great new material to read in January. Please check back then or keep coming back and reading the old stuff. Your choice. Leave me a comment so I'll know you are still out there.



Everyone's pile'o'stuff.



Everyone else's pile'o'stuff.



"I wish I had aaaa...PONY!"



"Yay! A cute picture frame!"



"Smile Rufus! What's that?"



The mama and the teething, feverish, grumpy, but very cute baby.


Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all ten of you who visit.

PS There's something new coming after the first of the year. Can't tell ya. No, I can't. You'll have to wait.