Why did I decide to write about the 12 days of Christmas?  It’s been so long since I’ve started that I’ve forgotten the point.  I think it should only go to 11.

I lost the game.

So, because I am bored and have had enough of the 12 days of Christmas, here is something totally random.  I took some shots of the kids while they were sledding using the continuous shoot mode on the camera.  It’s not a video, just takes lots of pictures if I hold the button down.  I took the pictures and made an animated GIF. 

Magoo and the marching band are now in Florida.  It’s like 75 and sunny there and she’s at the Animal Kingdom. 

I am displeased with her existence.

Somehow, given my exemplary math, today – Christmas Day – is the 9th day of Christmas.  Go figure.

Today has been as good as it possibly gets.  It’s 11:45 at night on Christmas day.  I’m a little busy here watching Bud play some sort of new XBOX 360 game with dudes who look a bit like walruses, or is that walrusi?  And, I’m watching Magoo simultaneously read a new book and text on her phone… she is very good at multi-tasking.  And, I’m waiting for SweetGuy to get home from an unexpected trip to take AUBS! and her friend home… not an easy task given that none of our cars can move on our ice sheet of a driveway.  (Thank you run-on and fragmented sentences.  I love not being graded on papers anymore for the rest of my life!)

So, the day started in such an amazing way for me.  Bud is 20 and Magoo is 17.  In the 20 years that we’ve hung up stockings, including my own, I’ve never received anything in my stocking.  Today was different. 

The excitement and surprise gripped me.

Magoo, first one to rise this morning, let it be known that we ALL had something in our stockings.

Had SweetGuy stuck something romantic in there?

Had Bud thought enough in advance to include a present for his Mom?

Bud and Magoo grabbed their stockings and retrieved their traditional candy, magazine, and Silly String.  SweetGuy garnered some curiously refreshing Altoids courtesy of me.

But, what was in my stocking?  I grabbed it, yet still it felt like nothing.  Magoo insisted I had something in there.  I reached in and groped around til I discovered this amazingly sweet, thoughtful gem, courtesy of my one and only daughter:

Turns out one of the dogs left a present outside her bedroom.  As the first one up Christmas day, Magoo discovered the gift.  She cleaned it up and left me this special handwritten-on-a-napkin gift in my stocking.

As good as it gets.

… my true love gave to me Eight Techie Toys.  OK, I am completely spoiled.  And, I love my electronic toys way too much.  When SweetGuy and I go to purchase just about anything, whether it’s a dryer or a camera or a cup of coffee… the more buttons and lights the better.  So, here is my list of my favorite toys, which I COULD live without, but I sure don’t want to.  In no special order:

• Laptop with aircard — I love my little laptop.  It’s practically been my only connection to home when I’m sitting in a hotel room or airport.  And, best of all it has built in cellular technology that allows me to connect to the Internet from anywhere… the car, the hospital, or my backyard.  It rocks.  At this moment, I’m sitting in a Starbucks in St. Louis (yes, a Starbucks again!) and using my aircard.  And, oh, by the way, it is absolutely pouring rain outside right now, and is 32 degrees.  Can I pleeeease move to Hawaii?
• DVR/Tivo — I suppose this might be the one I could live without the easiest, but I’m still infatuated with it.  SweetGuy and I don’t watch much TV other than sports, but I really like to Tivo shows and watch them while I’m on the treadmill.  Biggest Loser is an excellent motivator while I’m treadmilling it.
• Cell phone with navigator — this GPS navigator puts me at ease whenever I’m on the road.  And it’s quite adept at finding the nearest Starbucks.  Who knew!
• The Wii!!  — I can walk away from the Wii.  I can stop any time. 
• iPod — I love to load this thing up with audiobooks when I’m on the road.  I’ve fallen asleep listened to many an audiobook in airplanes/airports.
• My little alarm clock WITH temperature readout — Hey, this one doesn’t cost more than $15!  I love to know the temperature wherever I’m at.  I don’t know why.  I’m weird. 
• Mac — we’ve got PCs and they do the trick for most things, but when I want to make a movie, nothing beats the Mac.  I used to beat my head against the wall trying to edit movies on the PC.  The Mac and iMovie are definitely my friend.
• Nikon D80 — SweetGuy was incredibly generous in getting us this fabulous camera.  I’ve barely learned how to use it, but it’s not from lack of trying.  I have a rotten long term memory, and this amazing machine allows me to capture memories that will be able to stay with me forever.  And just for the heck of it (and to slow down Grace’s loading of this page) here’s a picture that has nothing to do with this post.  SweetGuy and I were driving away from youth group the other night.  I had my camera with me.  We drove past these ice covered trees, and as soon as we did, SweetGuy said “Do you want to take a picture of that, I’ll back up if you do.”  He is so accommodating to my new picture taking obsession.  Another thing to love him for. 

Doesn’t this tree look like an ice sculpture?

 Did I miss anything?

I gotta say again, one HUGE aspect of my life that is wonderful is the presence of young people.  It’s probably pretty obvious that I think kind of highly of Bud and Magoo.  And, I suppose it’s fairly clear that there are a few friends of the kids, as well as some nieces and nephews I think are rather incredible.  In addition, spending time with such great kids in youth group and at dodgeball convinces me the next generation is gonna be outstanding.  Here are just a few tidbits from only the past few days of how cool these young people are:

Youth group:

This young man above received these light-up antlers from me in a hilarious white elephant gift exchange.  Do you know he must have thanked me a half dozen times for bringing these antlers?  Thanked me.  With sincerity.  Awesome.

We played charades:

And Red-light Green-light.  Adults should learn how to play with laughs and abandon like these guys do.  No joke.  We need to learn to have fun like this:

Christmas in Wisconsin.

Six young people who do things like clean and cook and philosophize and build igloos and cuddle puppies and kiss their grandma and give thoughtful gifts and laugh and laugh and laugh:

I could go on about this SO much more.  These young people are simple exemplary.  They are unselfish, thoughtful, and know what’s important.  Their presence in the life of me and SweetGuy causes laughs and smiles and more importantly, deep knowledge of their endless impressiveness.  They are W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L.

I’m a new AUNT!

Puppy Aunt, that is.  SingingSally’s family has a new Christmas puppy.  Her name is Saje and she is the very cutest being that ever existed.  See for yourself:

Oh, the eyes.

And the adorable little puppy tongue and puppy teeth.

Going from sixty to zero in 2.4 seconds.

An inborn ability to be the very pinnacle of cuteness 24/7.

Having Saje around felt about the same as back in the day when we had new babies.  They were the center of attention and everyone wanted to hold them.  Same way with Saje.  The pup was in some one’s arms the entire weekend.  We had to wrestle her away from Bud. 

She is as sweet and perfect as can be.  And, as an Aunt, I get to spoil her and send her home.  It’s been a great Christmas present for all of us!

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It’s been a great couple of days here.  Lots to blog about… that’s good, right? 

But, for now, I’d like to say that my wonderful for this day is cousins.  I feel so very blessed that my kids have cousins they are incredibly close to.  Cousins are just the best of what a sibling is. 

I’m thankful to have lots (28ish?) of cousins myself.  Today is the birthday of the cousin I consider my psuedo Mom/sister/best friend.  Happy Birthday Jean, I love you.

Thundersnow.  Isn’t that the coolest term ever?  I think there should be a sports team named the Thundersnow.  We had thundersnow last night, and lots and lots of rain.  And rain, when it falls, and the surface temperature is below freezing, well, it freezes.  Which produces ice.  There’s your earth science lesson for the day.  You’re welcome.

Snow day for us all! 

I took a few pictures this morning.  It’s pretty amazing.  Have a look HERE.