Christmas

We got a late start on Christmas this year. Grace didn't wake up until 8 so we headed down stairs when she got up.

I don't think I'll ever understand it, because they certainly didn't get it from me, but my kids LOVE stuffed animals. Their brand of choice being Ty Pluffy. I always put one at the top of their stockings and this year it was mice since Collin has been on a Redwall kick.

I, myself like a loaded stocking, and so do the kids. Grace loved the new brush (?).

And Collin loved his feta stuffed green olives.

I think we have this same pose of Collin with a box of legos every year! Grace gave him a set too, so she got a hug. It's so fun buying gifts for kids when they get so excited over them and are so appreciative of what they get.

Jon was a very good boy this year so he got a Nerf gun from Santa.

Waiting to open our Christmas Crackers before our dinner.

The Nerf gun squad.

Hanging out the rest of the day . . . the usual picture of Collin building his Lego set.

And trying out my new camera on our little cutie . . .

Christmas Eve Traditions

A couple of years ago I had a little lightbulb go off and decided to have a "very Danish Christmas" Eve dinner, and it has become tradish. I have a lot of Danish blood in me and Jon should have been born in a Scandinavian country as much as he loves the food. We have Frikadeller (meat patties), Rod Khrol (sweet and sour red cabbage), potatoes etc.

The Bybees have a tradition of having a White Elephant game on Christmas Eve. BUT they do it with food treats, which I think makes it even better.

Jon volunteered (I think) to be in charge of the gifts this year so in keeping with the Scandinavian theme, he stocked up at IKEA. Juice, sweets and other goodies. Yum.

I grew up having Ris Ala Mande on Christmas Eve and after Christmas dinner. It is a traditional Danish rice pudding dessert. But we make it, as my little sister described the other day, with "whipped cream . . . with some rice in it." There is a blanched almond hidden in there and the person who gets the almond wins a prize. If you get the almond, you are suppose to hide it until it is all gone and then you guess who has it. It tastes great, but mentally, I have a hard time eating it because I usually am stuffed when we start and the more you take, the more chance you have of getting the almond. So I always felt SO gross after AND I never got the almond (Yes, I admit I have issues).

Like I said, I grew up having this twice a year. So, I figure I have had it at LEAST 50 times, which is a conservative estimate. And I am still 0 for 50. I have never in my life gotten the almond. The last 3 years, I have even had a 1 in 4 chance of getting it. This year Midge had the luck and was so surprised when she got it after the 3rd bite that she started jumping up and down. I went to the Polish store up the road the other day and got some goodies, so we had a Polish prize for a Danish tradition.

When I was growing up we spent Christmas Eve at Ree's house (my Grandma, but watch out if you called her Grandma to her face!), and every year she made all the grandkids pillowcases and inside was a new nightgown she had made that we could wear to bed on Christmas Eve. In Jons family they woke up to new pajamas at the foot of their beds. We combined the traditions so the kids open their "jaminas" on Christmas Eve. I think this might be Graces favorite part. She is a jamina junkie.

Cutie Patooties!!!

We end the day by settling down with our White Elephant treats to watch The Nativity Story. Lot's more pictures to come!

Priceless?

This is the view that greeted me yesterday morning. It reminded me of the Master Card commercials:

1 box of photography lights: $200

1 roll of packing tape: $3.25

2 Sharpie markers: $4.89

Days spent making the Stair Car: 16 and counting

Level of tailbone pain from riding it downstairs: pretty high

Memories: Priceless

Now, I'm thinking I might be more into the "priceless" part if this was a one-time occurence, but as most of you that have been to our house know, these piles of priceless memories are a DAILY part of life here at Fort Bybee. Just once I'd love the living room to stay clean for more than 1/2 a day. On another note:

It's been so long since we saw a movie in a theater that I don't even remember what the last one was. But we went this weekend and saw:

Fantastic Mr. Fox

George Clooney can do quirky so well. But I wish the movie had just been quirky! I was reminded of mine (my?) and J0n's first official date. We went to see Nightmare Before Christmas. Jon was so excited to see it. We arrived 45 minutes early (little did I know that was never going to stop) and the people watching was great. In fact, that was the best part of the movie. I was freaked out by it. In fact, I couldn't even put up a big picture of it here because they all freak me out.

Again, little did I realize how many bizarre movies etc. I would see in my life as the future Mrs. Jon Bybee (and the kids, of course, love them too!). Grace had her first sleep-over this weekend so we asked Collin what he wanted to do and he said go get a hamburger at Five Guys and then go see Avatar. I remember my uncle saying that he and my aunt have a date night with each of their kids one at a time once a month and how they have seen the dumbest movies, done things they didn't want to and eat at restaurants they didn't want to but they did what their child wanted. That was one of those times.

I guess what I'm saying is, that I've done a lot of things I wouldn't have, seen a lot I wouldn't have chosen and eaten at places I never would have by being married to Jon and having the kids that we do. But I guess that also means that he has broadened my horizens and given me experiences I never would have had. And will never forget. So, my Bybee clan definitely makes my life interesting. . . and I guess that is priceless!!

Costco Plug

What do you when your glasses break at midnight, the Saturday before Christmas? When you are married to Jon, he pulls out his phone and starts making calls. He found out that Lens Crafters makes glasses in an hour but I had found a cute pair of frames at Costco, where I have gotten the last few pairs of glasses. But glasses in an HOUR!?! Wow! So, today we got to put all the Monday duties (including addressing Christmas cards that Jon finally finished this weekend, so they will be even later!) on hold and drive all over. First to buy the frames at Costco. Then over to the mall. I would rather do just about anything than go to a mall any time of the year, but I avoid it completely from November to February, and I had to go to the MALL today! ARGH! I got my eye exam (thank you Dr. Truong. All 4 foot 9 of you!) then headed over to Lens Crafters and even though I was at the COUNTER, the worker helped all the people behind me get going then came to me. I said I had frames and just need the lenses. She gave me about 10 options and my brain turned to mush. I knew I wanted the thin ones and that limited me to five. The cheapest of which was $325. I said fine and then she said "Oh, well with your prescription we can't make it here, so we have to send it out." That was the whole point of going to LC. I said (loudly) "Fine! I am just going back to Costco!" And I did. Their thin, polycarb. lenses were . . . guess! . . . $100!! I still can't get over the price difference. I will not be tempted to stray again.

Tis the Season: Part Two

Here are a bunch more pictures of what we've been up to lately. We put the Christmas tree up while the dishes were drying from our Thanksgiving dinner. That is one of the good things of having a "fakey". I do miss the pine smell though.

We've also been spending a lot of time at this store for various train items. When you walk in, it's like stepping into the 1950's. The owner is the cutest little man that you want to go get a hug from. And he knows his train lore.

I keep thinking the train set is done so I'll take a picture only to have Jon come home with another bag of tracks to add etc. But this is still my favorite part of the scene. Jon has spent dozens of hours planning, sketching, modeling this area. The only part of this he bought as is are the trees and cabin. The lake, banks and rocks are all mixed, poured, dried and painted. The kids liked doing it for about 15 min. and then it wasn't as much fun watching them dry.

Jon assembled the cabin but then painted the windows and roof and made paths etc. I think he wanted to recreate a Lake Tahoe scene and I think he succeeded. I told him I want to come summer here!!

We did our annual Gingerbread house. We even seem to have a hard time with the pre-cut, come-in-a-box ones!! At least the kids have fun!

We've done 3 advents so far. Okay, the kids and I have done 3 advents and Jon has had 3 Sunday afternoon naps. :)

The kids were in a little skit at our GOCO party. Collin was the narrator. . .

And Grace was one of the sheep. The cutest one of the herd.

It must be the Christmas season because our treat corner is growing bigger every day with the yums of the season. And one of the pictures I found on my camera of a Mother and Baby pickle that were stuck together.

The complete (maybe) train. Collin looks like he gets hypnotized when he drives it.

Tis the Season: Part One

So, as you know, we had snow last Friday. See the flakes? We have too many trees in our yard for the snow to get on much of our lawn and house. (That's a hibiscus plant getting snowed on.)

Grace loved the snow. Collin loved the snow. They went out and played in it. I loved it. Jon loved the snow. Houston doesn't know what to do when snow comes, so it completely shuts down and Jon got to come home for a snow day. I had to take a lady I visit teach to get a mammogram and when I got home, they were all working on the electric train. It had to have a pond, right?

I thought that was a perfect Snow Day activity. Once Jon gets started, it's hard for him to stop!

Grace liked the snow. Collin liked the snow. I liked the snow. Jon liked the snow. The yard did not like the snow. All our tropical plants withered away . . .

My beautiful Plumeria felt betrayed. (I am so sorry I didn't cover you!!) And our banana plant that looking even worse than before! The dying brown color is all over our yard. Both of our dads have huge, lovely yards and huge green thumbs, so they are probably glad they can't see it in person!

On another note, after a couple of months of being without my recycling bin, I finally got not one new one, but TWO! I am so protective of them, they are like our new twins!

One more random: I've been spending a LOT of time lately in the Post Office shipping orders. Good for business, not for my mentality. Collins' either I guess because he said this after standing in line for about 1/2 an hour, "Working at the Post Office has got to be the most BORING job. Ever!" Somehow I don't see him working at a PO!! I'll leave you with a quote a stranger said at the PO as he was leaving, "Y'all have a God filled day". (I love southerners!)

W.O.W. No commentary needed . . .

Houston, We have SNOW!!!

"Rare Snow Flurries Falling Across Houston"

"Snow Flurries A Novelty Downtown"

"The flurries that began Friday morning mark the earliest recorded snowfall in the city's history" (All from Houston Chronicle)

It must be because we moved here. The Bybees welcome your thanks for bringing you snow, a "rare novelty" TWO years in a row. We accept food gifts and large bills.