Christmas Stocking Question

HI! Christmas Spirit here!

Kidding, kidding.

I received an email from a newbie tadpole that asked if I filled these little stockings for the kids everyday before Christmas what exactly did I put in their actual [big] stocking on Christmas Eve?

Awesome question!

And I am happy to report I don't stuff their stockings on Christmas Eve.

Now, before you boo me horribly [no booing at Christmas tadpoles!] allow me to explain.

The kids are responsible for this tradition. They fill eachothers' stocking. We take them shopping and they pick out what they think their sister or brother would like. Who knows better what a kid wants then their sibling? And Pooldad and I fill eachothers.

We have had some pretty awesome stockings in the past and it is always fun to see what they select. I know Pooldad and I wouldn't think of half the stuff these guys choose.

I would've posted a picture of our [personalized] actual stockings, but I am still living under the delusion that this blog is anonymous. Giggle.

Merry Christmas! Oh, and come around on Wednesday because Pooldad and I are having a holiday give a way! YAY!

We Fondue! Do You?

Oh yeah baby! What a wonderful, yummy Sunday night dinner!

We ate a concoction of Swiss and Gruyere with white wine and spices melted and served with crusty french bread for dipping and a caeser salad.

I have never made this for the family before [it is not cheap and I am] but I have been craving it. I was a bit leery that the kids wouldn't like it as it is very rich. I told them I would make them sandwiches to go with the salads if they didn't like it, but to please try a few bites. HA! They ate 3/4 of a large loaf of french bread themselves.

Those little fondue forks make great weapons when the bread bowl gets low I have to say. :)

Next up - Beef fondue [Wallene will be frying hot dogs] and then white chocolate. Mmmmm.

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. See you Monday!

Purty!

The beginning of our snow yesterday. This is taken from inside our home and those are the steps leading up to our home. Aren't the wreaths pretty? They were covered about 9 hours later in 7 inches of big, fat, fluffy snow. So Christmassy!

But, you see, we have a love/hate relationship with our local weather guy Doug Hill. We love to make fun of him because we hate his weather forecasts. For a few days and up until yesterday morning he kept saying we would be receiving about [no more than] 2 inches.

Needless to say we ended up with 7 inches. It is always this way. I don't mind the extra snow [in fact, bring it on!] - but we aren't the types to run to the store and freak out and buy out the stock of toilet paper, milk and eggs. We know that we will eventually get there [the next day] if we need something - but Doug is so bad at what he does that he completely screws it for people that need a real, true forecast.

Yep - 7 inches of snow is pretty darn neat - too bad it occured on a Saturday and no one gets to stay home from school or work with Skippy for a snow day.

We will wait. It will happen.

Annual Christmas Party

Pooldad's Annual Work Christmas Party was last night. Since I couldn't go I asked that he take Wallene in my place. What Pooldad neglected to mention was that the party was being held at Ruth's Chris. You know - the very expensive steak place? I didn't find out until he arrived home. I thought it was going to be a nice buffet at a hotel somewhere but? Nope. The guys [owners] did it up right. [As usual, these guys can throw a party!]
~
Fortunately everyone was lovely to Wallene [again, as usual - they are a great bunch of people] and she was well behaved and had a great time. She even brought me home a crab cake! Woot!
~

Dad and Wallene

Someone gave Wallene "earrings" :)

~

They had a great time. Pooldad said the service was wonderful, but the food left a bit to be desired. This surprised me because it IS Ruth's Chris, but my husband is not a man that complains about food. He isn't picky - so to have a disparaging comment on the steak is not to be taken lightly. He did say the salad [caesar] and dessert [berries and cream] were good, so that says something. But to mess up a steak at a steak house? Wow.

~

When we woke up this morning and checked the bank account we realized they had direct deposited his Christmas bonus check! YAY!

~

It is snowing and I am going Christmas shopping. I love this time of year.

~

Have a great weekend.

Dog? You are Seriously Messing Up My Christmas MoJo

Yep! It is this one. Spot the Dot. The Nazi. Dr. Demento.

Quickly becoming a big pain in the behind.

Here's why:

Every year the kids hang lil' 4" stockings on their bedroom door handles. Each night, for 24 nights, leading up to Christmas I place a small gift in them [lip gloss, bath products, hair rubbers, socks, etc.] to give them a bit of Christmas before the big day. Kind of a Secret Santa sort of thing.

The problem is that Spot sleeps in one of the girls' rooms each night. I never know where she ends up until I go to drop the trinkets in their stockings. The minute I walk to one of the doors and quietly go to stuff the stocking I hear a growl from behind the closed door. No matter how fast I do it the growl escalates to a bark and inevitably wakes up one of the kids.

Which results in yelling from inside of the room to shut the dog up and go back to sleep. I think she gets a smack or two to get her to hush. [I hate that the kids are woken up, but it is kind of funny to listen to. giggle...and the smack is administered on top of the ten pounds of duvet the dog is laying under.]

You would think if the dog has THIS kind of hearing she would also have the sense of smell to figure out that it is ME on the other side of the door. Right? And a little factoid about the dachshund breed? The have a greater sense of smell than most other breeds. They use it to hunt badgers.

But?
Apparently?
Not ours.

On the one hand I am glad she is so protective.
On the other?
Spot?
It is Momma.
Getoverit.

**Just a reminder....I am waiting over here. Help me keep my Mojo going! And big hugs to everyone who has already emailed me. They are in the mail! :)

Did You Know?

That when you suffer from insomnia and come downstairs at 2 am, with the heat set low for economic purposes, and all of your beloved are snuggled in their beds under down duvets, that when you put in your earbuds to listen music without disturbing the slumbering herd your ears will ....

.....FREEZE OFF?

GAH!

Those suckers are cold. Why didn't someone warn me of life's little footnote that plastic gets cold. Damn cold. And don't stick them in your ears Skippy without a little warm up rub up first.

Jeesh. [Perhaps I should put them with my space heater? ;) ]

Guess that is what I am here for Tadpoles. To take the pain for you and let you know what not to do. It is my mission. giggle.

Okay - I am waiting. Send me your address. Please?

You Know Who You Are...So Come On Give it Up

Hey Tadpoles. The Skippy Spirit of Christmas here and I am getting ready to gear up for Christmas card sending.

You know who you are - and you know I want to send you one....So if you are okay with it could you PLEASE email me your address so I can send you a heartfelt Christmas card - none of this internet stuff - a real piece of snail mail in your box - sure to include a snowman!

My email is skippyaveo @ gmail. com [lose the spaces and you are set!]

If you read - if you comment - if you lurk - I want to send a little piece of joy your way! Please send 'em - I will be forever grateful.

It is my lil' way of letting you know how much I appreciate you all.

PS - If I have had your address in the past please don't think I still have it [Yes Linda I still have yours :)] but my kids cleaned up for Thanksgiving and a lot has been misplaced. Resend - Be safe! Get a card from the Pond!!