Christmas Fire Truck

My Christmas mood was just lighted.

The Christmas Fire Truck arrived tonight. Every year our local Fire Department spends six or seven nights driving all around our community spreading Christmas cheer. Last year the weather was too bad and they couldn't make it. The year before, we missed it some how. I was in dire need to see it this year! It's always a nice surprise. They drive down the streets blaring Christmas tunes and then we run to the street and are greeted with a decorated truck and candy canes.

The blessings and joys of living in a small town.

Damn tree.

I knew it was too good to be true. I was happily going along with my Christmas Cheer, enjoying the nature inside, watering the tree twice daily, admiring it's beauty and fragrance.....

Tonight I went to water it, and noticed some of the wrapping paper on the presents was damp. A quick check of the tree skirt validated my fears. The tree was leaking. We slid the massive thing over a few feet and found a wonderfully warped wooden floor. Yes. The wood floors that we refinished one year ago.

Oh well. The warped floor will go nicely with the dog urine stain and the floor boards next to the sink that expanded after an over night leaking problem. Isn't there a saying about how wrinkles show you've lived life? Well...warped floor boards prove you live in a home, not just a house.

The taste of Christmas.

To me, the taste of Christmas is Peppermint Bark melting in my mouth. After ten batches and five hours of work, I hope the teachers, bus drivers, neighbors and friends enjoy the candy as well.

NYC? Nah. Our living room.

I feel like we have a mini Rockefeller Christmas tree. I'd invite you over to see it, but no one can fit in the house.

Eat your heart out Clark Griswold.

Behold our family's Christmas tree. We got a little crazy at the U-cut Tree farm.

"Dad, isn't it a little big for our yard?"
"It isn't going in our yard Russ. It's going in our living room."

BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIE EVER....Christmas Vacation.

A little goes a long way.

1. Cayenne pepper
2. Perfume
3. Dog poop

I just came in from cleaning up dog poop and continued to smell the nastiness inside....sure enough a dime-sized piece was stuck to my shoe. Barely visible, yet potent as ever.

Neigh!

When the kids were little....around 4 and 2, we piled in the car to go look at Christmas lights. For some reason, each kid brought a stuffed horse. Every time the kids saw a pretty light display, they would Neigh! Neigh! extremely loudly and make their horses act crazy. For the past seven years, we've continued the neighing tradition. Brian and I do it far more often than the kids....our neighing is usually met with a "Ma-ohm" or a kick to our seat. It has to be a really amazing light display for the kids to neigh.

Last night I was driving a friend home and passed a brightly lit house. Yep. I started to Neigh and quickly caught myself and turned it into a throat clear.