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Monday, January 2, 2012

Christmas by the numbers: 2011

It has become a sort of tradition around this here blog to post Christmas By the Numbers.  The post is an attempt at a non-boring holiday recap that can be laughed at by my children once they are grown.

Regular readers will recall the when we do Christmas, we DO Christmas.  Months, weeks and days worth of Christmas.  It feels like it never ends and every year I wonder the same thing..."Why do I do this?"

Just when I become convinced that my mostly ungrateful children will soon expect a present from the waitress at the All-You-Can-Eat pancake buffet...it thankfully ends.


Number of Christmas celebrations: 6

Number of times I had to remind my kids to say Thanks: 534

Number of times I won BINGO: 5

It's starts at my Aunt's house.  The gathering used to be much larger, but most of my cousins don't come anymore.  It's still a fun time.  We have a pot luck and we play cheesy holiday games for cheesy holiday prizes, which is always a hoot.

Of course, my kids end up with LOTs of random things.

I must admit, the kids are actually starting to look forward to going and I really have nothing to complain about.

This year we also attended my husband's holiday work party.  It was at a local hotel conference room and they had build-a-bear show up there.  They also had brunch and free Santa pics. 


Number of times my kids whined: 67

Number of times my kids laughed: 154

Number of times my kids fought with each other: 6,457


My mom, her husband and my grandmother came to visit, bringing gifts on the 23rd.  They spent one night at the house.  We went to family church service.  My grandma was amazed by all the "new fangled gizmos"  What was the gizmo, you ask?  A glow stick.


Number of times my mom asked if her cookie making was annoying: 8

Number of times my grandma's childhood friend made me smile: 5

Number of chairs my mom bought for us: 2

Number of chairs in the boxes: 4


Number of pictures of me with my great-grandmother: 0

Number of pictures of my kids with their great-grandparents: more than 100





Mandatory Sad-Sock-Face pictures: 5

Time my kids got up Christmas Day: 4:55 a.m.

Time they started fighting: 5:43

Time I took my first nap: 7:30


After our very early Christmas morning celebration, the next day we headed three hours west to visit with more family.  The celebrations continued! 

We had Christmas dinner at my in laws house.  We were joined by our cousins. 

It is always fun when we get together.  Loud...but fun.  After dinner and clean up (no dishwasher) we opened presents.  Little G. was tickled with his Hex Bug Hive.  He got a lot of enjoyment out of that gift.

number of dishes I washed:  0

Number of dishes I put away in the wrong spot: 8

Number of times one of the kids cried: 5

Number of Advil I needed: 6


Best part of being at my dad's for our final Christmas of the season?  Shaking up dinner.  We decided to have Japanese for supper.  Nothing like a little California roll to ring in the season.

Number of Redneck wine glasses I got: 3

Number of laughs I got from those glasses: countless

Number of times my son complained about his learning laptop: 5
(He doesn't like presents that "make him learn") LOL

Number of days I waited once we returned to take down the tree: 1

Goodbye Christmas 2011.  You were very good to us, even though you did overstay your welcome.

6 random thoughts:

Moving with Mitchell said...

You always make me laugh, smile, think. What a wonderful post. What I'd like to know is how many times YOU whined. As for the sad-sock-face pictures, we miss our socks since Jerry's grandmother and mother have not been here to buy them for us every year. It's Hell having to buy them for ourselves. We still have at least 4 more days of Christmas here. The Day of the Kings (Epiphany) is the traditional gift exchange day in Spain. Talk about overstaying one's welcome!

Crystal said...

You always crack me up! seems like a LONg but good celebrations!

Becca said...

Sounds like y'all had a great time celebrating Christmas! LOVE those sock faces!

Kristie Maynard said...

Love your "by the numbers" posts. You always give me some smiles. Or Christmas was barely there this year. We did get together with my family before the chaos really hit and when we can get it together we will have our celebrations with others. Sounds like you had a great Christmas! Now back to the old grind, eh?

Pat said...

Wow! What a whirlwind holiday! Loud, fun, crazy!

Happy New Year!

Jenners said...

That is A LOT of Christmas!!! It was fun to read about yours and not have to actually live it. I need to get a "gizmo" : )

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kisatrtle
I'm a 41 year old (gasp) freelance writer, school cafeteria manager, wife and mother. I have three children and one anxious and overweight beagle. I use my blog to make others laugh, to share some cool crafts, to document my lunchlady adventures and to lament about the challenges faced by us all on the journey called life. Thanks for visiting. Please leave some crack...um...I meant some comments.
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