Christmas and Things That Go Boom!

I debated a long time about what words in my blog title were supposed to be capitalized or not. But I didn't debate long enough to actually research it. I've been working on grad school applications A LOT lately (which is why I am so behind on blogging) and I think I have exhausted the part of me that cares to edit anything else.... so I do appologize if it bothers anyone!


This year for Christmas my family spent it in Houston at my brother and sister-in-law's house. First, we went to church. I'd say we got an "A" for actually being at church. But as far as hearing church, since we were in the foyer with a bunch of screaming kids, not so much. I hope God thinks it's the thought that counts!



Next, per my sister-in-law's family tradition, we all got together at her brother's house and had a delicious snack plate dinner. Somewhere in the middle of dinner it started raining and then became a full on thunderstorm.

Nothing makes me feel the true spirit of Christmas like the sound of thunder and lightening, and the thought of Santa arriving soaking wet with some stinky scared stiff raindeer...



After we got home and got the kids to bed my brother and I started the feat of building Elle's bicycle. I don't know if you will ever build a bicycle in your future, but if so, I suggest you try not to. And if you just HAVE to, build it in advance. I know a bicycle looks like just a couple of screws and bolts, but it's not. Don't let it fool you!



My favorite part was putting the actual pedals on the bike. It reminded me of college when Chelsea brought home a "build it yourself" dresser, that I for some reason decided to help her build. It had these little plastic pieces that you were to "gently tap" into place, according to the directions. So we tried that, it didn't work. So we tried a less gentler tap, didn't work. So we tried a medium tap, no luck. This went on for a while until I literally gave it the hardest hammer I could possibly give.... and then it went in. Go figure.


But these pedals you were just supposed to turn by hand onto the bike. I got mine on right away. My brother, not so much. So I tried turning it, no luck. We solicited Jennifer (my sister-in-law)'s help, still no luck. So my brother got frustrated and said his daughter would get a functional bike for Christmas and got the hammer, but it still didn't go in! We were then in panic mode when my brother said, "let me try something, this is the left pedal right? Maybe the idiots who made this bike want you to turn the left pedal to the left?"




Sure enough, that's what they wanted you to do. Throw the whole, "righty tighty, lefty loosey" thing out the window. It's a left pedal, turn it to the left. That makes perfect sense (in backwards land).


But the stress of building the bicycle was worth it when you see this face:



The girls left cookies, milk and a note for Santa. Their cat, Harley, decided she wanted in on the attention. Or maybe for Christmas she wanted to be taken away like Buddy the Elf... guess we will never know.



Speaking of the cat needing attention. The girls got walking doggies for Christmas. Look who's trying to make the statement that they already have a walking, talking REAL pet.



Seriously, she got in there on her own accord.


But the girls loved their gifts, and we all had fun enjoying their excitement!




And the last thing I will leave you with is the girls singing Katy Perry's "Fireworks" song. Especially Grey LOVES this song. She sang it all day everyday. She'd get her mom's iPod touch and can even find and turn the song on by herself! But I made several videos of them singing this song, but I managed to narrow it down to putting just two on here. The first was Grey singing by herself with the guitar. I didn't get this on video, but she would walk around the house yelling, "Y'ALL READY TO ROCK???" It was too cute!






This next one is both of them singing Fireworks. Due to the cord not being long enough on the mic, she made her mom not only hold the keyboard but play it as well. I've got to say, it's some mighty fine keyboard playing if I do say so myself... haha!





And in case you were wondering, yes, I am STILL finding myself singing "Fireworks" in my head at the strangest times. So annoying...