Kitchen Sink | Posted by Jannie on 22 December 2008 @ 5:51 PM
So far we’ve baked cookies, heated cider, decorated the tree, skated on ice, scampered along the Trail of Lights, sat on Santa’s lap, wrapped and sent presents, sent cards, plugged in the outdoor lights, which I keep in the trees year ’round, (only have to put them up again in 11 months anyway,) saw a wonderful church Christmas play, gave money, made a gingerbread house, attended her piano recital… yet, I still want to do more! Caroling on our block tonight or tomorrow night and Church on Christmas Eve, of course. But what else? Any more yule fest SUGGESTIONS?
On 22 December 2008 at 6:21 pm Glenn Buttkus said,
Hey Shay, guess who was the “first to comment”?
That’s OK, I just got lucky, enit?
Yuletide Suggestions
1. Hire a fake snow maker and cover your yard with the stuff, so that Kelly can sit up in her tree house drinking hot chocolate and feel the kiss of the season.
2. Get you plump neighbor into a S. Claus suit and rent a Reindeer, and have the jolly impostor stop by Christmas Eve to deliver presents; no sleigh, just bareback hanging onto antlers. There must be someone in Texas who raises and rents reindeer.
3. Decorate Kelly’s tree house with 5,000 twinkling lights, so that it will remind her of the Trail of Lights.
4. Make fudge loaded with real Texas pecans.
5. Make some Christmas punch, two kinds, one of kiddies, and one for the older kids, the parents and like that.
6. Put on a passion play for the neighborhood, with Kelly as a shepherd, her dolly as the baby Jesus, Jim as Joseph, and Ms. Funster as the “virgin Mary” who will end the show with a rollicking chorus of I NEED A MAN.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS: Glenn
who does not look like Bob Dylan but writes poetry anyway.
Glenn Buttkus’s last blog post..Traveling
On 22 December 2008 at 7:25 pm TheWeyrd1 said,
Well, I’m here in Austin until tomorrow. Then I go to Kerrville to pick up my mother and bring her back on Christmas Eve. My brother says the lines for the Trail of Light are too long. So I’m just checking blogs and reading Harry Potter…7th book. I guess I recommend reading tradition Christmas stories and discussing the pro’s and con’s…or something like that. My sister made homemade pizza and I bought a bottle of Bordeaux…so I’m a tad toasted now…heh. I also like Glenn’s ideas…so let me know how those work out…hee.
TheWeyrd1’s last blog post..Saturday and Sunday Surf – Driving the ACTUAL Highway(s)
On 22 December 2008 at 7:55 pm Renee said,
Jannie… it is SOOOO not Christmas without gathering the family round the tube to watch Scooby Doo’s Christmas special. I can hardly see how you call yourself a mother….
Renee’s last blog post..Dryad in Limbo Sculpture
On 22 December 2008 at 8:23 pm Patricia said,
I have been 2 days without the Internet…we are all sitting around reading books and eating stuff we made for Christmas….now how many Carols have you got memorized?
How about reading the BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER by Robinson? or making cards and sending them out by posting on your blog?
writing a song together?
working on the house remodel? My kids loved taking the sledge hammer to non-supporting walls and putting up the new sheet rock for their bedrooms?
knitting mittens for the poor who live in snowy places?
I just heard that Sarah Palin shot Rudolph and hung up his antler’s in the Governor’s mansion…
Now I need ideas for a sullen 22 year old? She is making us millions of cookies in her boredom…it’s just that she doesn’t eat them?
I’ve run out of ideas…hmmm keep laughing
Patricia’s last blog post..Oh Baby! You Light Up My Life
On 22 December 2008 at 9:17 pm Thomma Lyn said,
Congratulations on being written up as New Blog of the Week! That’s awesome.
Another Yule suggestion: make Oreo truffles. My sister-in-law made some for hubby and me, and man oh man are they delicious!
Thomma Lyn’s last blog post..Random Tidbits in the Life of TL and Happy Holidays!
On 22 December 2008 at 10:05 pm Talon said,
I wish I could think of some suggestions… It sounds like you’ve had some action packed days already. We always have to watch “One Magic Christmas” (great movie, gets me every time) and all the claymation oldies, but very goodies like “Rudolph” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, do a cookie baking session, wrap presents for parents who are swamped…and sledding. Have to go sledding (which I realize is out of the question for you)…and build a snowman (though the snow right now is ANYTHING but packing snow)…so I’m a wealth of useless advice, aren’t I? Oh, and a midnight walk on Christmas Eve in the hush and quiet. Even the dogs are sedate then, like they know it’s magic time. And an absolute must – reading “The Mummer’s Song” and “Twas the Night Before Christmas”…just the best way to head off to bed right before the reindeer fly.
Your bloggers are creative and you’re creative, so I have no doubts you’ll get some fabulously festive ideas!
Talon’s last blog post..Old Man Winter
On 22 December 2008 at 10:10 pm Abra said,
Hmmmmmm, I can’t think of anything except ice-skating? Yeah, Ice skating, hot chocolate with a candycane. That’s what I’ve got for you
On 22 December 2008 at 10:18 pm Davina said,
Hi Jannie. Have a PJ party and a pillow fight. Or paint some eggs. Yes, I know, that’s typically reserved for Easter, but why not make 8 little Christmas eggs… reindeer with antlers and a rolly polly Santa egg? Have a great Christmas whatever mischief you get into
Davina’s last blog post..A Positively Dysfunctional Christmas
On 22 December 2008 at 10:28 pm Lance said,
Might I suggest a sleigh ride in the snow…oh, wait…you don’t have snow, or temps way below freezing!! Santa will probably skip us this year, it’s just way too cold! You, on the other hand, will get all our presents (coal??)…
Have a very wonderful Christmas Jannie (and family) – you guys are having tons of fun, and that is way cool! You really do put the “fun” in Funster!
Lance’s last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
On 22 December 2008 at 11:09 pm Lisa said,
Oh, I LOVE Patricia’s suggestion of reading the Best Christmas Pageant Ever! I remember loving that story when I was kid!
I would also suggest hot chocolate… I like to make mine on the stove — a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa, a tablespoon of sugar, a little vanilla extract, a dash of salt, and a cup of milk… then I either add a few drops of peppermint extract or a cinnamon stick… whisk together, simmer until hot — and don’t forget the marshmallows!!
Lisa’s last blog post..I can’t wait for April…
On 22 December 2008 at 11:40 pm Matthew Dryden said,
Apple Cider, and a lot of it.
Matthew Dryden’s last blog post..Spilling My Guts to Writer Dad
On 23 December 2008 at 12:46 am teahouseblossom said,
Wow!! You are on fire.
All I can think of at this point, is that you should sit down, put your feet up, and have some (preferably heavily spiked) eggnog.
On 23 December 2008 at 2:34 am Michael Lee said,
I suggest re-interpreting Whams! Last Xmas in a series of amusing styles…may I suggest reggae?
Michael Lee’s last blog post..A contrary place that has it’s own face and smells of chips
On 23 December 2008 at 4:43 am Brett said,
Sounds like the perfect xmas
Brett’s last blog post..Sniff, sniff
On 23 December 2008 at 5:49 am Dr. Cason said,
We watch our trilogy-
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
A Christmas Story (Even more funny now that my husband is an Ophthalmologist and always saying “Stop that! You’re going to put out an eye!”
It’s a Wonderful Life (Can’t ever get tired of that!)
and we recently added-
Polar Express
Dr. Cason’s last blog post..Dear Diary- Tuesday December 23, 2008
On 23 December 2008 at 7:17 am Mama Zen said,
Have you sorted through the toys and gathered a donation for charity? Gotta make room for the Santa haul!
Mama Zen’s last blog post..And Then The Oracle Spoke
On 23 December 2008 at 7:39 am Jannie said,
Glenn: Kelly and Jim both laughed out loud when I read them your number 6. Fudge, how could I forget fudge!? Oh, I guess because I’ve never used a thermometer and it always comes out either in the consistency of spruce sap or a hockey puck. I believe a candy thermometer may enter the Fuster household today. 5000 lights on Kelly’s treehouse, I was thinking 7000 but I could settle for 5000.
Weyrd1: Next year either take the shuttle bus, which is actually kind of a fun experience, or park by Casa de Luz around 5:30 and have dinner either there or soemwhere along Barton Spgs, which will kill an hour, then bobs-yer-uncle, mosey on over to the Trail and you’ll have it made!
Renee: Hmmn, Scooby Doo’s Christmas Spsecial. I’ll do it for Kelly but that show drives me nuts.
Patricia: No internet for 2 days? I guess that is humanly possible, never considered it before. I prett-much know the words to every carol and Christmas hymn written after 1507, at least the first verse of each. Working on the house remodel – that’s a stellar idea, a little gift for Jim. I never did learn how to knit, maybe I could write a song about not being able to knit and the tribulations in my life because of it? And I just heard Al Gore is hiring Santa to fly his personal jet to take pressies to Tipper’s far-off relatives! A sullen 22-year-old, some kind of lessons for whatever she is really interested in? A nice young man with a chainsaw?
Thomma Lynn: I will Google an Oreo truffles recipe. And make them the same night I make the fudge.
Talon: “A wealth of useless advice,” love it! I will see about “One Magic Christmas.” I do have “Twas the Night Before Christmas” ready to go, and so beautifully illustrated. A midnight stroll? I’ll probably be asleep by 10:00, maybe a 9:30 Christmas Eve stroll?
Abra: There are a couple of ice skating rinks here in Austin, but the third -where we skated the other day is a real treat, they manufacture it each year on the top of the Whole Foods plaza downtown. It was about 75 out the other day and Kelly was soaked through and through from the puddle on top of the ice. But she loved it!
Davina: I think painting Christmas eggs is an awesome idea! Thanks. And I’ve forgotten about making devilled eggs, see how you triggered that?
Lance: I will gladly mail you the excess gifts! But something tells me Santa might just make it to Jungle Of Life-ville too.
Lisa: Oh, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER? Patricia did say that, didn’t she? Well, I’m not familiar with it so I better get me to it, pronto. I made hot chocolate the past two nights, half milk – half water with a Nestle’s pack – better than nothing? (But I do have all the above ingredients so maybe I’ll stun my family and have Kelly make it with me.)
Matthew: I have to go real easy on the apple cider because I can only drink it by downing 4 cups at one sitting and I end up with a migraine. Just can’t help myself.
Teahouseblossom: So I’m not a total failure as a mom?? Methinks White Russinas will be my Christmas beverage this year (with whole milk instead of the cream, to cut calories, but I will be sure to start drinking at 10:00 a.m. to get the full holiday effect. Haven’t had Kaluha and vodka in the house since last year.
Michael: Last Christmas, I gave you my heart. Last Christmas I gave you my rash. Last Christmas I gave you my socks…
Brett: Ya think? Oh, and 37th Street, we HAVE to go there. And it’s free! All the houses, or I’d say 93% of them put on ridiculously crazy-much super-freaky lights displays. Hmmn, what night to go? Hmmn, Christmas Night maybe.
Dr C: “Christmas Vacation” is one of my all-time favorite movies. Jim is not a Chevy Chase fan tho, so maybe “It’s A Wonderful Life” or “One Magic Christmas” will be better bets for us. Home Alone (1) is a great show too. And we have that on DVD here. Happy Holidays to you too!!
Now, just in time for Jannie’s breakfast — hot dogs and 4 cups of cider, umn, umn!
On 23 December 2008 at 7:39 am sheila said,
yes, make hot chocolate and relaxxxxxx. Good God, you’ve done a lot. Take a load off woman!
sheila’s last blog post..Early unwrapping
On 23 December 2008 at 7:52 am Jannie said,
Mama Z: That is a stellar idea, especially since I have recently turned Kelly’s “play room” into a music one. All the toys are now in black garbage bags, stuffed animals in boxes. Some I will save ’cause they so special, like the dollhouse and the Elmo music box. And some will go in a yardsale. But we gonna get a charity bag or box a-goin! That’ll be soooo much fun. And a great experience for Kelly, altho her entrepreneurial mind (she gets it from her dad,) has first thought of SELLING the stuff.
Sheila: On your recommendation, I will do just that!!
On 23 December 2008 at 8:18 am Dot said,
Oooo, can I come live at your house? And can we do all those things (again)? I haven’t heard anything said about stringing popcorn or making chains with colored paper.
Dot’s last blog post..How to Get Published, Part 2
On 23 December 2008 at 8:24 am wade said,
Do they have Christmas in Canada ? Maybe I’m thinking of the fourth of July.
On 23 December 2008 at 9:18 am Real Julie said,
Oh my god, I am wore out just thinking of all the things you have done!!! How bout’ make a snowman? Just kidding!
On 23 December 2008 at 10:14 am Glenn Buttkus said,
THE POLAR EXPRESS is a tremendous children’s book too. It started off that way, and the film came out of it. If Kelly has not seen it, then rent it, buy it, borrow it and watch it. Also the film PRANCER with Sam Elliott is a cool one missed by most. If you are in a bizarre mood watch NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS by director Tim Burton. MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, the original and the TV remake are fun too. Popcorn on a string, fudge, deviled eggs, deep fried turkey, spiked hot punch. Sounds like you are squared away Ms. Funster. Glad Jim and Kelly enjoyed #6; made me smile again too.
Glenn
Glenn Buttkus’s last blog post..Traveling
On 23 December 2008 at 2:02 pm Heff said,
Get liquored up on Egg Nogg !!!
Heff’s last blog post..HAPPY HOLIDAYS !
On 23 December 2008 at 2:30 pm nikkicrumpet said,
Yea…I suggest hot cocoa and a nap!!! And that is not a “I’m happy to meet you Mr. Claus” face lol
nikkicrumpet’s last blog post..DO YA WANT TO PEEK AT MY DRAWERS?
On 23 December 2008 at 2:41 pm Miladysa said,
Aww Bless!!!
Yeah… chill
Merry Christmas to YOU and Yours Jannie x
Miladysa’s last blog post..Catch Up
On 23 December 2008 at 4:03 pm Jo said,
I’m a bad mother. My boys were sick all last week so we’ve not done much festive at all. Made tree decorations, decorated the tree, tomorrow we bake mince pies…….She’s beautiful your daughter, beautiful.
Jo’s last blog post..Solace
On 23 December 2008 at 4:20 pm Cricket/Tammy said,
YOU….go take a long bubble bath. That is all that is lacking.
I did this last night. I shut the door and told the “house” to leave me alone. Well, of course you can invite your hubby into the room.
It was the best Christmas present ever. I need to make that a simple tradition for myself. 1 hour…all alone…in the bath! Ahhhh…imagine.
What a beautiful picture!
Cricket/Tammy’s last blog post..Change
On 23 December 2008 at 5:48 pm Cindy said,
Go check out the weirder side of Austin and look at the 37th street lights?
Cindy’s last blog post..Christmas Cheer
On 23 December 2008 at 9:57 pm debbie said,
I’m late and it looks like everyone has the suggestions covered. But how cool are you to still want more?
debbie’s last blog post..A family photo full of pride
On 23 December 2008 at 10:24 pm Mia said,
Two suggestions:
1) seasonal movie marathon. You do all the cartoons ones, young and old.
2) then do something like It’s a Wonderful Life while stringing popcorn for your tree?
Mia’s last blog post..A Letter From A Child With Autism
On 23 December 2008 at 11:27 pm Momisodes said,
Wow! You’ve been busy! I have to second the hot chocolate. It’s been so cold here, we’ve been sipping it for days
Momisodes’s last blog post..From Yours Truly
On 24 December 2008 at 1:01 am Carla said,
The only thing I can think of is a long hot bath, complete with wine and candles. At least thats whats on MY mind!
Carla’s last blog post..Green and Chic Blog | What is it?
On 24 December 2008 at 2:46 am Wesley said,
Sounds like you’ve got it covered!
Wesley’s last blog post..Reorganizing my sleep schedule.
On 24 December 2008 at 5:58 am Shay said,
Speaking as a mail lady, it makes the mind reel, the idea of wanting MORE Christmas!
Shay’s last blog post..Back Me Hard Against The Wall
On 24 December 2008 at 6:52 am Lynn said,
Just relax and breathe it in. Reading all these comments made my morning!
Lynn’s last blog post..Nollaig Chridheil!, God Jul! and Merry Christmas Y’all!
On 24 December 2008 at 7:54 am Jannie said,
Dot: Oh, are you supposed to pop the corn? No wonder it ws so hard to push the needle through.
Wade: In Canada it skips straight from Easter to Halloween.
Real Julie: Ya see, I’ve got a kid who wants to do, do, do and go, go, go. She’s been like that from day one. We did go caroling last night ot about 5 houses. she was so sweet.
Glenn: I believe we have the Polar Express somewhere and it is exceptional, yes. Last night we watched Home Alone 2 which had a too many bricks and steel pipes to the head for my liking. I see It’s A Wonderful Life is on tonight at 7:00. Prancer – is that where Sam Eliott plays a really tall guy wth a deep voice?
Heff: I’m liquored up now! 7:37 a.m. seemed like a great time to start.
NikkiC: This year they had Mrs. Claus screening the kids’ requests before they sat on Santa’s lap and anyone wanting a pet was told Santa couldn’t bring anymore because a cat pooped all over the sleigh last year. And when Mrs C. had to clean it up, it made her puke and she had to clean THAT up too. So Santa requests that pets come from the parents. (This is no word of lie, that’s what she told Kelly. My friend and I laughed our asses off over that.)
Miladysa: Blessing to you and yours too! Bet you’re having loads of fun over there.
Jo: as I said to Julie, mine keeps me hopping, feels life is passing her by if she doesn’t get to take it all in. (Seriously, when she was 4 she said she didn’t feel we were “living correctly.”) Sounds like you’re doing just fine with the celebrations.
Tammy: Now that’s an idea. I wish we’d gone for one size bigger on the bathtub, tho. With both of us in there it does get a little squeezy. But that’s the whole idea, right?
Cindy: Yes, I had forgotten about 37th St. when I posted this. And since we didn’t spin under the Big Tree in Zilker we can still do that and take a carriage ride there.
Debbie: See you responses to Julie and Jo.
Mia: And I”ll be sure to POP the corn this time!
I’ll have to answer the rest of these in a little while as Jim needs the computer!
On 24 December 2008 at 8:07 am Glenn Buttkus said,
Well, gosh, let’s not forget that the Funster 2nd Annual Bra Flinging snow fight will ensue today. That’s when you and a couple girlfriends load snow up in stray bras, and fling bra balls at each other. Oh, you don’t have enough snow for that, well drive north for two hours and take several extra bras. You can take a picnic with you, and a caravan of friends. Maybe this will be a New Year’s expedition, since Christmas is suddenly upon us.
Glenn
Glenn Buttkus’s last blog post..Snow, Snow
On 24 December 2008 at 12:19 pm Jannie said,
So, here I iz agin…
Momisodes: My jeans are getting a little tight, but I think I can handle maybe a cup or two more before New Years.
Carla: Wine and candles, yes and maybe some lemongrass soap. And Fructis bubbles. And my rubber ducky. And my Dora the Explorer snorkel.
W: Thanks for stopping by. Good to see you have your site all fixed up again.
Shay: Too bad I didn’t have all my pals in Michigan, I could send dozens and dozens of parcels to be delivered with the Shay touch. Do you skip up driveways as you spread your merriment?
Lynn: I think I may just read back over these comments myself and bask in the glory of my faithful frieds who are dear to me.
_
Glenn, my irreplaceable, incomparable Glenn: This January will actually mark the 31st annual Bra Flinging Fest. From Jannie, who does not look much like Leonard Cohen but manages to conjure up the odd song and poem. My latest poem is about my sofa, my buttocks and my stardard transmission Honda CRV.
On 24 December 2008 at 3:17 pm sheila said,
Just makin my rounds today….with a Merry Christmas Jannie!
sheila’s last blog post..Maybe we’ll get it right next year. On all fronts.
On 24 December 2008 at 9:34 pm Shay said,
Har har, people are always telling me they are going to mail bowling balls and anvils to people on my route lol.
Merry Christmas, Jannie, to and your family. may it be a wonderful day filled with joy and love.
–Your friend Shay
Shay’s last blog post..Winter Rose
On 25 December 2008 at 6:06 am J.D. Meier said,
I like to do a Christmas cartoon marathon … all the classics (Frosty, Rudolph, Santa, Mr. Magoo, Charlie Brown … the whole gang)
J.D. Meier’s last blog post..My Favorite Personal Development Books
On 25 December 2008 at 11:36 am Tammy said,
Hey Jannie
Sorry I have been MIA for the last few days. Holidays, hum bug! I traveled out of state to visit my family. Got back today, hooray the hoopla is over. Not a real holiday cheer……me.
Anyway, I read your comment there about the shack, I am going to write a blog on that book soon and share my thoughts about it. Did you read it?
By the way I don’t know how you are getting to my blog cuz, I can’t……….not by typing in the address. It pops up something weird. I have it pre-set to go straight to my blog, but i tried to type it in the other day and it would not let me in.
I am not very computer savvy at all, so I am not sure how to fix that, but you are finding me so no worries.
On 25 December 2008 at 6:41 pm amber said,
That is quite the slew of yule tide festivities…is there more?! I feel like I was a little scrooge-like this year.
amber’s last blog post..freezing cold run
On 26 December 2008 at 4:02 pm Jannie said,
Sheila: Thanks, that was a nice gesture. I got fat(ter,) just looking at your cookies, btw.
Shay: Whoa, bowling balls and anvils – those would cost a fortune to mail.
J.D. : There is something about Mr McGoos’s voice that stirs up wonderful memories deep in my soul. What is it about his voice??
Tammy: What?!!?? You can’t access your own blog? I have you in Favorites in Internet Explorer. You trying to access from there? I do notice your comments here are not linked to your complete URL, if that’s what you mean. You should put in the complete http://tpoetspen.blogspot.com/ where it says website. I’m about halfway done The Shack, would love to compare notes on it with you after I finish.
On 26 December 2008 at 4:05 pm Jannie said,
Amber: having kids sure brings out the holiday stuff, Jim and I did bare minimums before our Michievious Angel came along.