It was like being backstage at a Rick Springfield concert.

So, have I succeeded in building anticipation, or are you all just annoyed that you had to wait so long to see the most coveted gift of the evening?

Either way, I assure you it was worth the wait.

Before I reveal the treasure I want everyone to know that Edge thought of this all by himself. Oh how I wish I could take the credit.

Ready?

The gift to give and/or receive in 2008-

Amazing isn't it? That is a picture of Jon when he was 17, at the peak of his mustache years.

Berlin could not believe her good luck.

Then, as if things weren't perfect enough already, she took some friends back stage and Jon was gracious enough to AUTOGRAPH the shirt for her!!! Can you believe it? It says "To my #1 fan". I swear, she is soo lucky!!

I bet she could get a bundle for that thing on E-bay.

Someday we will see Berlin's children on the Antiques Roadshow with this picture and the shirt (which will of course still be in pristine condition) and those appraisers will be stunned by the one of a kind treasure they are beholding. I hope she knows that this beats getting a bowling ball any day!

Christmas Eve

We made a few changes to our family celebration this year.  The most controversial was "Gingerbreadgate 08".  Thinking that no one would mind if we frosted sugar cookies instead of making gingerbread houses, Misty and I held a cloak and dagger meeting and planned the switch.  There was almost a riot when the sugar fiends found out there wouldn't be the usual frenzy of sugar and candy and frosting and sprinkles this time. Luckily we were able to buy them off with candy canes and move forward with Christmas.  It was touch and go for a while. Thank goodness for those missing 18 1/2 minutes of our taped conversations. They weren't able to pin anything on either one of us.

Here are Berlin, Jaidyn, and Cedric.

Isn't he adorable?

Misty, Tiffany, and Grandma Bellows.

The obligitory holiday photo of Misty and me. 

After dinner it was time to settle in and remember just why we had all gathered together at this time of year. I am of course talking about love and sentiment.  Because we are nothing if not a family devoted to seriousness and tradition.  Love.  Compassion.  Tenderness.  That's what we're all about.  ---Why are you laughing?

The second thing we switched this year was the gift exhange.  The governing body (Misty and I) decided that it would be fun to have a crazy white elephant exhange.  We may have messed up with the gingerbread thing, but we completely made up for it here. 

At first glance it looks like an innocent pile of gifts.  HA!

There were handmade gifts like these tin can stilts.

A fruitcake.  We tried and tried but could not pry it out of her hands.  Apparently she's always wanted one. Who knew?

Some people try to be so swanky with their big Italian words.

It wasn't a leg lamp.  But close.

Ah, yes.  The classic white elephant mix CD.

Can you see how excited he is to add this to his growing collection of zebra statues?

This might look like a sharp stick to you, but you'd be mistaken.

That's right, it's a Sister Poker.  From the Home Shopping Network.

Tiffany was thrilled (really) to recieve this scarf crocheted from the world's ugliest yarn ever.

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.  Jase ended up with a nice bowling ball.  I bet he went right home and tore up the rest of his wish list.

There is one more gift.  The most coveted of the evening.  It deserves a post of it's own so I will be back later with the final installment of our glorious Christmas Eve festivities.

Merry Christmas!!

Soon I will post the report of our Christmas Eve gift exchange which is sure to spark both sympathy and envy( as well as many other very real and important emotions, no doubt), but first, a series of pictures I am calling-

“You can’t scare us with your stinking Naughty List!”

Enjoy.

Here we have, well, mischief doesn’t seem strong enough does it?

Yes, that's right, a very cold bag lady and her rock star friend who did not want to be photographed.

Lesson #38: If you don’t let Aunt Sue/mom take your picture, you will end up on the Naughty List. Hope you girls enjoyed that coal.

Naughtiness in the works, you can count on it.

Here is Haley, intently listening to the advice she ASKED for.

Yep, naughty.

Naughty for sure.

Jase apparently didn't get the memo about lesson #38.

Lesson #63: Don’t leave anything on Aunt Sue’s camera that you are not prepared to have displayed in public.

I'll be back soon with part two of "The Best Aunt in the whole wide world documents the best Christmas Eve EVER"

Hey Jessica!!!!!!!!!!

How to be our BEST FRIENDS IN THE WHOLE WORLD

When he dropped off our mail yesterday our mailman said to me “One of your packages is from Switzerland.” He sounded a little more awed than I would expect a mail carrier to be. I mean really, he delivers mail all day everyday through the rain and sleet and what have you (well, here it’s mostly blistering heat with no A/C, but you know what I mean) you’d think it would take more than international postmarks to impress him. Anyway, all that is not the point.

The point is, when we opened the Swiss package, from our BEST FRIENDS IN THE WHOLE WORLD we found this inside-

That’s right, Swiss Chocolate and gingerbread cookies dipped in Swiss Chocolate

And best of all, a marzipan pig.

Thanks best friends in the whole wide world. We miss you guys!!

May I have your attention please for a public service announcment

When they say "Best Donuts in Town" they are NOT kidding.

I ate this whole box by myself.

Okay, half of it. But I if those darn kids would've left me alone I'm certain I could have eaten the entire box.

Picking up where we left off.

When you joined us last we had just finished our delightful Thanksgiving dinner.  The next morning some of us rose before the crack of dawn to do a little Black Friday shopping.  You are not going to believe it, but this picture was taken at 4:45 AM. 

You aren't going to believe this either, but those glasses were buy one get one free. It was really someone's lucky day.  (and I think that someone is the owner of Tilly's)

The next pictures are of Ivy in her new and very shiny Christmas dress.  I don't think you can tell but the sweater is sparkly too.  A Christmas miracle if ever there was one.

Edge is STILL wearing the glasses. 

What you are about to see may look to the untrained eye like a plastic bottle shoved in the back wheel of a scooter, let me assure you it is no such thing.  It is in fact a Motor, the sound of which allows the rider to scoot at a much faster rate than those without a "motor".  Now you know. 

They are a little pricey, so I wouldn't advise investing in one unless you ride your scooter an awful lot.

Look how fast he is going!!

Here we have Ivy about to brave the elements to deliver treats to our neighbors.  Notice how cold she looks.  Don't worry we didn't let her tromp out in the cold barefoot. 

She wore flip flops.

If I am not mistaken our home was almost taken over by a vicious band of freaky lego "things".   That is the only explanation for there being 22 pictures of the attack on the camera.  Fortunately we have apparently been spared domination by plastic aliens, because Eli assures me that they are gone for good, and so far I have not been a victim of that classic lego booby trap where you step on a lego in the middle of the night and cannot walk normally for several days so I am taking his word for it.

Ivy has made several videos lately but because I am aware you don't actually have to be "in motion" to get motion sickness I have decided not to post them here.  You're welcome.