Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Christmas Holidays 2011

Well, I'm super behind on posting so I think I'll just do the most massive blog post ever.  It'll mostly be pictures.  These first ones are when we decorated the tree.









The same night, I gave all my nieces their presents, since all but one would be out of town on Christmas.  I made them all t-shirt scarves . . . for more on that, here's a post about it on my crafty blog.



My siblings and siblings-in-law also did our annual $1 Dirrty Santa exchange.  We all bring one $1 present per person.  Ethan usually wins, by pulling out raccoon urine or something else crazy (yes, raccoon urine).  I FINALLY won!  I gave a douching kit.  Yup.  That just happened.  My brothers admired my brashness.  It was a proud moment.  Then Annie, my 10 year old niece was like, "What's douche?"  Nathan told her, "It's for cleaning your crotch."  I then took a moment to do a PSA of sorts explaining that really, douching is bad for you and can give you infections and you shouldn't do it.  Something to remember, girls!  Ah, an Evans Family Christmas . . . 


Not only did I win best gift, I also scored with this awesome mustache kit!  We had some fun with that.





This really isn't holiday related, just cute Charlie stuff.  He decided one night that he wanted to set up a "movie feeter" (movie theater) for his animals.  He set them up on the stairs and watched a pretend movie.





I still have yet to figure out what the monkeys did to deserve the neck-breaking front row . . .









Then comes Christmas Eve.  It's a complicated day for me.  I look forward to it yet dread it at the same time.  Why do I dread it?  Two words: Nativity.  Play.  I'm not sure who invented this Spanish Inquisition-worthy form of torture but I absolutely loathe it.  As kids, my dad would read the Christmas story out of Luke and we would act it out.  I always thought it was lame and humiliating.  The only reason I did it was because we would always get to open one present early afterwards.  I haven't been in one for a long, long time.  But now, there are grandkids which means a resurrections of this cruel tradition.  And much like my sister did to us, my oldest niece takes charge and enjoys it.  Every time it rolls around I get super cranky because I don't want to force my kid to partake in something that clearly traumatized me as a child.  My family at least has picked up on this and always tells me, "We're about to do the Nativity.  You don't have to come if you don't want."  We asked Charlie if he wanted to do it and he said yes.  Until Morgan began dressing him up as a shepherd.  He was having none of that.  He just sat and watched the one woman show.  Attaboy.



Christmas morning!  We had to wake Charlie up early since we had church at 10:50 . . . we needed enough time to open presents, do our formal breakfast, get ready for church, etc.  An aside: I told Charlie a few days ahead of time that we had to go to church on Sunday.  He gave me a LOOK and said, "You're making that up."  I only wish, Charlie.  We still managed to have a good day but it was LONG!






 Charlie in his bow tie I made for him.  : )




New Year's Eve.  On a Saturday night.  When I had to be at church early for an interview.  Not a fan.  Neither was Charlie, really.





But, I got called to be YW Secretary and I'm very excited.  I really love the YW in our branch . . . they are way sweeter than I was at that age!  I've never worked in YW so it's an adventure.  So far I'm loving it!

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