Today was a busy day getting the house all decorated for Christmas. This morning I finally traipsed up into the attic and got out all the boxes of Christmas stuff so we could get the house looking a little more festive then it has been. It’s rather embarrassing to admit but until just the other day there was still a rogue pumpkin decoration sitting on the table, but not anymore, it’s Christmas in here now.

In the afternoon we also went out and picked out our tree as well so no only is it starting to look like Christmas in here it’s starting to smell like Christmas. We just have to let the branches fall and tomorrow night we can decorate it.

Last night we were invited to a family Christmas party where there was a white elephant gift exchange. We brought a really fantastic white elephant gift but apparently everyone else missed the memo on “white elephant” so we were a little embarrassed by our crap offering. (I should have taken a picture of it since it was a classic so close you eyes and try and picture this. Well ok keep them open them until you’ve read this. Picture a mannequin hand including the wrist and about half of the forearm and where the forearm ended was the base so it could sit on the table. On the palm of the hand which was facing up was glued a plastic rose. You could even see the dolop of glue holding the rose in place. On the base was a switch and when turned on the rose would light up and it would play a cheesy rendition of Lady in Red or some such song. )

Anyway getting back to the gift exchange each of the kids had a number and when it was their turn they could either pick a gift from the pile or they could steal a gift from someone who already had one. Kids were opening Christmas ornaments and M&M; candy dispensers and when it was Alex’s turn to pick a gift he opted to take one from one of the other kids, a dancing, Bermuda short wearing, saxophone playing Santa Clause. Kind of the Bill Clinton kind of Santa. (This was the only other gift that even came close to the white elephant definition in my opinion.)

So as we were leaving Alex was all excited about his new Santa he says,

“It’s really exciting to steal gifts.” Doh…

“But that’s not the Christmas Spirit Son”

“Yeah, but it’s still fun.”

So we now own a dancing Santa and I hope the people that ended up with the rose hand aren’t too upset.