Holiday Highlights

I like to make lists, and since my December updates have been lacking, here is a list of highlights for you. (I don't Twitter, so all my random thoughts wind up on my blog.) Also, we have forgone the official Christmas card (maybe next year) so if you've been sitting out by your mailbox waiting and waiting to hear from the Lundells, don't worry. We didn't leave you out. Strictly speaking, we left everyone out. Anyway, the list:

1. We chose a Christmas tree. Which is to say, Travis drove us to the hardware store and the girls and I stood huddled together shivering while Travis inspected each and every tree until he found The Perfect One. Seriously, if I were in charge of this job, I would show up, call to an employee that I want "the green one" and please lash it to the roof of my car, and hand him my credit card, all without getting out of the car. Okay not really - I DO enjoy the annual Picking of the Christmas Tree, but somehow every time it ends up being the coldest experience of my life.

2. We decorated said Christmas tree. When Brooklyn figured out how to put the ornaments on the branches, she giggled hysterically for probably half an hour. It was so cute we did what we always do and videotaped it.

3. All the ornaments have since migrated to the top of the Christmas tree. (They are running away from my children.) I would include a picture of this mildly humorous sight, but I can't and if you read on you will learn why.

4. Travis's traditional Christmas village

5. Why Kate loves Brooklyn: She believes that we had a second child exclusively for her own entertainment, specifically as a dress-up doll.
Why Brooklyn loves Kate: She believes everything Kate says or does is completely awesome. Even if it means Kate is making her look ridiculous.
6. I've put the girls to work (start 'em while they're young)

7. I {finally} took the girls out to "play in the snow!" Meaning, I carried them into the snow and put them down. It's not like they could move at all... And yes, the snow was up to Brooklyn's waist.

8. Toddlers + snowball fights... not so much. But at least they tried to make snowballs.
9. I also made them helped them make snow angels.

10. And here's where it gets interesting. I took the camera outside to take the obligatory pictures of my girls making the obligatory snow angels. Came indoors. Stripped off my coat. Put it in the washing machine. I think you know where I'm going with this. Because if YOU were about to make a snow angel, where would you put your camera?

That's right.

In your coat pocket.

*Sigh* Yes I am officially THAT idiot who put a digital camera in the washing machine. I blame the person whose idea it was to manufacture an extraordinarily small camera, and furthermore the husband I mean consumer whose idea it was to purchase one. Not my fault.

Okay fine it was totally my fault, although I didn't freak out at first. Because you see, I've washed many a cell phone and they turn out just fine. I have no idea what the difference really is. But after realizing that my camera will probably NOT be just fine, and that the warranty does not cover "improper, rough or careless treatment" (I'm assuming camera laundering falls under that category), and that there are NO internet cases of people who have put cameras in the washing machine EVER having had the camera make a full recovery (yes. It's true. I googled "digital camera in the washing machine"), THEN I started freaking out. Because even if it IS repairable, or even if it WILL "dry out" in 3-5 days, we are only 48 HOURS AWAY FROM CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!! As ever, I keep being reminded of my impeccable timing.

11. While putting groceries in my car this morning, I hit myself in the face with a wooden crate of clementines. It really hurt. Mostly my pride.

And I got a splinter. In my nose.

Sometimes I wonder if I'll even make it to Christmas...