Santa Was Too Kind

Jonathan turned 15 on the 23rd.


Twas the night before Christmas a day later and the tree was stuffed.


I opened some gifts,

Like...
a pretty pink iPod (video and radio...I love it)
a pretty camera strap
a sling style camera bag
a 50mm lens
cute boots
a pretty scarf and fingerless gloves to match
Glee 1 and 2
Ultimate Jackson 5 Collection
Apples 2 Apples
2 books
pretty house slippers
Skip Bo

The neighbors got pretty handmade gifts, especially since they are really the only people we buy for.

A homemade fruit basket with clementines, pears, apples and bananas, a container of peanuts, candy canes and soft peppermint, a snowman decoration, gingerbread men and a loaf of homemade banana nut bread.


And for the other set: pumpkin spice cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, decorated snowflake shaped sugar cookies, soft peppermints, a loaf of banana nut bread and a Christmas ornament.


Jon got lots of purposeful gifts, that was the theme this year. Everyone got what they wanted but none of the crappy fillers that nobody ever uses. This photo is of an airsoft bb gun for the record. I just love his face here.


Dad loved his socks and pictures and pjs and such.


And for the record, my mom has not actually scrapbooked a day in her life. But if the Cricut inspires her, so be it. She was clearly smitten.


It was simple and perfect. And after a stressful few days leading up to it, the holidays were exactly what I needed.

Obligatory

Santa brought me an early gift, a 50mm lens for my camera to photograph Christmas with. Can't wait to play around with it more tomorrow.

Tomorrow being the day my baby brother turns 15. I can't deal.

How to Feel Old While Christmas Shopping

Find out while Christmas shopping that they make toy laptops for little bitty kids.

Remember that when you were little bitty you received a toy typewriter for Christmas.

Realize that kids today have no clue what a typewriter is.

Find out aforementioned toy typewriter is hanging out in your attic.

Figure out that you're probably sitting on antiques at this point.

Almost 24, man. Yuck.

Finals Week

English final was this morning and I also turned in a paper. All on 3 hours of terrible sleep. Came home, ran errands, paid bills, mailed stuff, ate tacos and slept for a couple of hours. I'm putting together a study guide (this is my break time) for my Italian final which is at 8:30 PM tomorrow. I haven't had a night final since my freshman year. Brings back memories.

Thursday is my history map quiz and primary source session. And then I'm home free to bake Christmas cookies, wrap presents and watch all the cheesy Xmas flicks I can get my hands on.

Sometimes I sit around wondering what my life will be like without finals and homework and school in it. Then I think about going to grad school. And right about that point I shoot myself for even considering it.

*****

Last night I helped my mom find a deal on the last big ticket item she needed to buy for Christmas. It was for Jonathan, and while I wish I could share I can't be certain he isn't lurking about. I think she has a few more things to pick up but it's all stocking stuffer things I'm assuming. My Dad bought her a Cricut so I need to go pick up an extra cartridge or two for it at some point. And I'm sure he'll send me on a last minute run for something because he does that every year.

Our Dad is the hardest person to buy Christmas presents for. He just doesn't need a lot of stuff. And he likes getting goofy presents that normal people don't enjoy. Which means we picked up things like new thick socks, pajama pants and cologne. It's kind of hilarious.

But we did come up with an awesome present. On our last Sanibel trip he caught a big snook. We came home and I never printed pictures of it. All he's harped on for months is how he has no photographic proof of that fish.

So...I printed 70 shots of their various fishcapades on that trip and put them in a photo album. I also got some of them in 5x7 and 8x10 form and framed them.



Best Christmas ever? Probably. He's so easy.