Of Christmas cards and the such

Just wishing you a Merry Christmas with this year's Christmas card.

::Un-distorted Christmas card #1::

Except for the actual Christmas card that got delivered to friends and families mailboxes all across the few states that we have friends and family in, was a bit more, well…elongated. Cone head-ish, if you wish.  The picture got slightly squished and distorted during the printing process.

I picked it up from the photo lab, took one look at it and laughed.  Lovely.  It looked awful.

I came home and created a new Christmas card because that would just be ridiculous to send out such a picture and call it Christmas Greetings.

::Christmas card #2::

And then I got busy celebrating Christmas and never got Christmas card #2 sent off to be printed. 

Days passed.

The Christmas card needed mailed. And Christmas card #2 still needed sent to the printer, printed, picked-up & paid for.

I got lazy. Took one final look at distorted Christmas card #1 and decided that in reality the distorted Christmas card wrapped-up 2009 quite perfectly. And maybe I should count my blessings. At least the card wasn't PAINTED ORANGE or slowly MOLDING.

Plus, we looked tall and slender. Spencer TALL? Me SLENDER! Maybe this was actually a Christmas miracle. And with that I stuck the distorted pictures in the envelope, sealed it with a sign of unbelief and sent them on their merry way.

Aren't you glad I did?

Because really…nothing says Merry Christmas like a distorted family photo.

Well, nothing except a cheesy rhyming Christmas letter that would make the hair on the Grinch's neck stand on end.

And because I love you my dear bloggers…our Christmas letter:

******

Oh look! It’s a Christmas letter from our little family of four.

And I’m trying to keep it short, so I can get it out the door.

Spencer is still working as an Electrical Engineer.

And in his free time he’s operating his home construction gear.

We’ve remodeled our kitchen, bathrooms, and exterior too.

We’ve redone flooring & painted walls, but there’s always more to do.

Kim stays at home, hangs with the kids and does those dang dishes.

And to be honest, she loves it! It’s just as she wishes.

In her “free” time…YEAH RIGHT! She writes on the blog.

It’s her way of remembering the “good ole days” before they become a fog.

Brynlee’s 3 1/2 and goes to pre-school, you see.

She loves crafts, bike rides, and playing with her Daddy.

She can write her own name and is getting oh SO big.

With a blink of an eye she’ll be driving her own rig.

Jace is fifteen months and our little bundle of joy.

His sisters quite fond of him and thinks he’s her big toy.

Jace is a tease that loves foot massages, eating, and squawking.

And at 14 months he FINALLY started walking.

For more of our families happenings in a format that doesn’t rhyme.

Visit our families’ blog, “Our Life Unedited”, online.

The address is www dot spenceandkim dot blogspot dot com.

It’s all about our little family. Written by me; the mom.

We are all doing well, couldn’t be better.

And we hope that you’re the same as you read this letter.

In closing I have one more thing to say.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah & Happy Holiday!

With Love,

Spencer, Kimberlee, Brynlee & Jace

12 Days of Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:

Twelve Christmas Presents***
Eleven Decorated Ornaments

Ten Arcade Tokens

Nine Sugar Cookies

Eight {million} Christmas Movies

Seven Roasted Marshmallows

Six Kinds of Candy

Five Christmas Parties
Four People Sledding

Three Santa Visits

Two Naked Drummers

and Christmas Wishes from our fam-ly!

***Spencer did the twelve days of Christmas for the kids and me this year. I didn't know he was going to do the twelve days of Christmas. Which means he did all the shopping, wrapping & delivery of Christmas presents on his own. We got a little gift from the so-called "Christmas Elves" for twelve days. The kids LOVED it!

My BFF: Marie

This is my baby sister.

Marie.

Sometimes we call her Marieski.

Or Rie.

She will be eight in January.

Which means there are 19 ½ years between her and I.

Marie has 4 sisters, 1 brother, 4 brother-in-laws, 4 nieces & 2 nephews.

There's 17 months between Aunt Marie and her oldest niece.

She's the BEST AUNT EVER!

She's everybody's favorite.

And Marie loves her nieces and nephews.

Most kids her age tire of the younger kids.

But not Aunt Marie.

She's patient and loving.

And helpful.

She's such a cool Aunt.

Marie's a smarty-pants.

She started walking when she was eight months old.

And she knew ALL the lyrics to Travelin' Solider by the Dixie Chicks before most kids can say "mama" & "dada".

Katie taught her.

She would sing the entire song.

Without error.

For years Marie was our entertainment.

At all the family parties we would gather on the couch and watch little Marie.

She'd sing.

And dance.

And turn somersaults.

And we would laugh.

And clap.

So she'd sing louder.

And dance bigger.

She's such a blessing to our family.

My mom always says, "What would we do without Marie!"

And I'm not sure.

Our family needs Marie.

We wouldn't be complete without her.

Marie "twists-ties".

Meaning she rubs the yarn on a tied quilt between her fingers and her thumb.

She's done it since she was a baby.

It gives her comfort.

It's her little quirk.

Marie is delightful.

She's adorable.

She's witty.

She's my mom's best pal.

Those two are like two peas in a pod.

Sometimes when Marie talks I hear my mom.

They use the same words and phrases.

Marie and mom listen to books on tape together.

They read blogs together.

And they visit the grandkids together.

Marie has a good voice.

For a school talent show she decided she wanted to sing a song.

Dad got it on camera.

It made me cry.

It was perfection.

She's also taking dance classes and piano lessons.

Marie has blonde hair, blue eyes and a splash of freckles.

She has a funny sense-of-humor and a loving heart.

She's a ball of energy.

And the perfect surprise.

Our family wouldn't be complete without our Marieski!

I'm so glad she's my little sister.

When I grow up, I want to be as cute as Marie.

Marie in one word...

Special.

I love you Rie.

Thanks for being you!

**Edited to add: Um, Marie has three brother-in-laws, not four!  I did the math two times but it looks like I forgot to "carry the one".  Or maybe I forgot the "outside" in the "FOIL".  Either way, I did the math wrong. :) 

*****

And that officially wraps up "My BFF" segment.

Told you I have the BEST siblings EVER.

Merry Christmas to my BFF's.

Love you so much.

Your proud sister,

Kimee

My BFF: Katie

This is my little sister.

Kathryn Elaine.

For thirteen years Katie was the baby of our family.

I nicknamed her "Squirt" and drug her around like she was my baby doll.

She was my little buddy.

I was so proud of her.

Every morning I would do her hair.

She had carrot orange hair.

Really, CARROT orange.

Sometimes I would braid it around her head into a crown.

Or twist it real tight into an "Oksana Baiul" bun.

Katie's a homebody.

Mom used to have to bribe her with money so she would go to school.

Sometimes it still didn't work.

Katie's most comfortable with the familiar.

Big crowds overwhelm her.

As do new situations.

She's far more timid than any of my other siblings!

Katie keeps us grounded.

She's pleasantly reserved.

And confidential.

She doesn't like to be the center of attention.

Or the center of conversation.

Katie is also very accepting of others.

She doesn't judge.

And, I seldom hear her speak ill of anyone.

Katie's going to school to be an English teacher.

English is her strong suit.

She loves to read.

And she can write a term paper in one night.

Sometimes Katie will send me a text that says,

Check your blog. It should say "their" instead of "there"!

Katie always smells good.

And she's fashionable.

And beautiful.

She can make cut-off sweat pants and a baseball cap look good.

Whenever Brynlee accessorizes with a necklace or a head band she says,

"Do I look beautiful like Aunt Katie?"

Katie lived with us for three summers in a row.

She's one of us.

We refer to the guest bedroom upstairs as "Kate's room".

I don't clean-up my house before she comes over.

Or feel like I have to make a fancy meal.

Or any meal.

If she's hungry she helps herself.

She comes over at least once a week for TV night.

We watch "our" shows: American Idol & The Biggest Loser.

Katie gets to be in charge of the remote for "The Biggest Loser".

And I'm in charge for "American Idol".

Katie fast-forwards any part of the show that she thinks is boring.

Drives me nuts!

Kate's the only person that's ever babysat my kids.

My kids love their Aunt Katie.

Katie's loving.

Intelligent.

Bashful.

Yet, charming.

I'm so glad she's my little sister.

When I grow up, I want to be as fashionable as Katie.

Katie in one word...

Adorable.

I love you Katie.

Thanks for being you!