Home around the holidays

So once again, Christmas is upon us here at the Smith home.... although this year is a little different.

After 2 years of NIGHTMARE remodeling stories, we're in our own home, sleeping under our own covers, eating off washable dishes and decorating our first EVER real Christmas tree! Allergies have prevented the pine-scented majesties from gracing our home in years past, but thanks to a little pharmaceutical product called "Zyrtec", our holidays are relatively sneeze-free so far this year! The 12-foot Noble Fir is poised graciously in the dining room awaiting its 40 pound covering of lights and ornaments... could we be more excited? Probably not, it finally smells like Christmas in our home! (the cinnamon and peppermint candles do help a little)

The kids are anxiously awaiting the chance to wrap gifts and put them under the new tree - funny how they love to give gifts at this age when they don't spend any money.... a few more years and a couple jobs should fix that! "Mom, Max would love a ....... could you buy it for him from me?" "Dad, I want to give Sidney a ...... when you're at the store could you get one - mom'll wrap it for me and I'll give it to her." My favorite... "hey, Randy, I bought myself a ..... act like you picked it out when I act surprised to open it, ok?" What's happened to Christmas! schneikies.

The only ones who seem to truly appreciate the simplicity that is Christmas are the dogs. They look at you as if to say "a stale carrot biscuit..... for me?.... oh, you shouldn't have.... can I have another? No, that's ok, just scratch my belly and I'm good." That would be cool coming from the kids, wouldn't it? "Hey mom, all I want this year is a belly-rub. No, really, I don't want a Wii afterall, just scratch my back and I'm good." whatever.

We're hosting a Christmas party for Randy's office crew... no massive corporate holiday party this year. Its happily refreshing - just the team and their families. Noone has to dress up, no butt-kissing the execs and then dragging your drunk spouse off before they say something that might be remembered in a bad way. No rock, scissors, paper for the designated driver - this year we both get to have coctails! That'll be weird. I just hope everyone likes dogs... and cats... and geckos... and crickets.

I saw a car window sign that said something very satisfying... I'll end with it to illustrate my feelings on this season.... I make no apologies for the reason for the season!

My family says "MERRY CHRISTMAS"!

(Oh, and Gregoire is not MY Governor)