Christmas with Dec

I'm trying to get some pictures from Christmas morning posted for the family and friends. Dec liked this toy when he got it and has had LOTS of fun building with it. Well, I should say that I have had lots of fun building the little ball depicted on the front every time Dec smashes it while having LOTS of fun playing with it.

Can in his new slippers

Mom asked me to edit her out, but I really wanted to show cute Can and his Lightning McQueen slippers.

Best lights in the neighborhood

Well, almost. We tied for first prize in the neighborhood lighting contest. I think the other guy has more lights, but lots of them are just prefab light sculptures. The crazy part is that I didn't even know we had a neighborhood lighting contest. Danae's holly bushes (to the left and right) were a great touch, but I think that the Dr. Seuss tree brought in the prize. If you saw my first pictures you'll note that the rope lights on the tree were added later. What a stroke of genius. The $25 home depot gift card paid for half of what I spent this year to upgrade to two stories worth of icicle lights.

Pictures with Santa

"Ooh, pwetty lights"

I put up the Christmas lights on Saturday. We've had a bit of a cold snap (well, cold for NC) and I worried that I had waited too long, but the weather was nice to me. This is the first year I have put lights on the second story, and can I tell you, I don't know how roofers do it. I was scared to death sitting up on that roof. I've been up on a one story house and didn't mind that at all, but I was more than a little nervous on Saturday. I thought for sure that the ladder was going to tip over when I was getting off of it, or that I was going to slide right off the shingles. The scary part is that I have to go back up to take them down in a couple of weeks. This can't be worth it. The things we do for our kids. "And for my next trick, I'm going to lie down in the middle of the road and see how many cars I can get to swerve around me." Well, OK. Its not all for the kids. There is something manly about facing down death by gravity to string up all those wires with lots of little glass-encased electrocution and fire hazards. And hearing Can's reaction made it all worthwhile. "Ooh, pwetty lights."

Christmas excitement mounts early at the Cheeve household

Much to my chagrin I didn't get the Christmas lights up this weekend while it was 70 degrees outside. I'm sure it will be cold and rainy next weekend when I finally find time to do it. My wife got some indoor decorations up at the end of last week and we will probably put up the fake Christmas tree tonight for our family home evening activity. The five year old, Dec, is really getting excited about Christmas. On Saturday he decided that he had better get some milk and cookies out for Santa. My wife tried to explain that it might be a bit early to do this, but he couldn't be dissuaded so she capitulated and helped him get the goodies together for the jolly old elf. When next I was aware of the scene nothing but crumbs and a few drops of milk remained. I began to wonder if perhaps the computer had ensorcelled me again such that I was held entranced by the ever flowing source of useless information right through December and the Christmas festivities. Dec informed me that he got tired of waiting and decided to let Sul have the cookies while he drank the milk himself. I’m quite sure that Santa was disappointed at not receiving these early treats, but I daresay that he will find another means of maintaining his less-than trim figure until the 25th rolls around.

Now where did I put that bowl of ice cream?