Christmas 2007

Wow Look we actually have a semi-decent family picture. I won't tell you how many tries we had before this one became a reality.

Maybe this will give you a clue in knowing what normal is around our home.

So, some of our more memorable festive memories of this Christmas holiday will include gushing blood and screaming girls. It wasn't really as bad as it sounded, but Princess knelt on a broken piece of glass that Mom forgot to clean up. So, Saturday morning Dad took her to the E.R. to get a couple of stitches. While there she was walking straight legged so that her knee wouldn't open up and start bleeding again. The nurses asked what she was doing and she replied that she was, 'walking like a robot.' They also learned her new name.

'I'm Talkyourheadoffer,' she introduced herself to one of the guys sewing her up. 'Yes, my mom says that I'll talk your head off.'

And she proceeded to do just about that for the entire time she was there. My husband said they ate it up and were all laughing the entire time. Once she has an audience the girl does not have an off button. It seems she wasn't there long enough to annoy anyone and they loved her so much she got a cute little stuffed bear to bring home. She didn't name it 'Stitches', like dad suggested but 'Dora.'

I personally was hoping for a record. First mom ever not to have kids get stitches. I made it 16 plus years without ever having a child need them. Not too bad, if I say so myself.

So anyway, back to Christmas...

In our home we have a tradition of new p.j's every Christmas Eve.

Here are the girls in their little cutsie, pink, flower, dancing, fairy princess pajamas.

Notice how thrilled they all are. And the boys...

Well, if Abner's burning red eyes don't match his hunk of burning love Pajama's then I don't know what does. At least these are better than the old fashioned pioneer fire-engine red long johns that mom got them last year. Maybe next year I'll go for the 'Christmas Story' bunny sleeper with footies.

Poor tortured boys.

As a family we usually have themed Christmas's. Last year was our pioneer Chirstmas, This year we revised an old favorite and had a Danish Christmas where the kids get to open their presents Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day.

But before any of that fun stuff they had to listen to another forever-an-Ashby family Christmas tradition of 'The Cremation of Sam McGee' by Robert W. Service.

Lea snuggles up to Dad as he reads this. Something about this poem makes your blood run cold.

Oh, and before you worry that we are just a little too weird for our own good, you'll be comforted to know that we didn't forget to also read the real Christmas Story.

Then we all hopped in the huge gas -guzzling tank of a vehicle we have and drove around looking at other people's amazing Christmas lights. And wouldn't you know it, Old Saint Nick came while we were out. Princess was really disappointed that she didn't get to see the Jolly Old Guy for herself.

Fast forward through lots of yelling, 'Mom, look at this. Look what Santa brought me.' and a huge old mess of wrapping paper... and you'll get to where mom lines all the kids up next to what they got for Christmas and takes a picture.

As you can see Abner really digs his new(non-extendable) light saber. It will go perfect in his future 'Soap Opera with Light Saber's movies that he's making.

After several hours of lots of fun and noise we all went to bed around 1 a.m. I think T-rev got back up at 4 a.m. because he just couldn't wait to keep playing with his Christmas presents. The rest of us nearly made it to 7:30 am.

You might wonder what Santa was thinking when he brought the Ashby's Rock Band.

Isn't their house loud enough without a full-noise, wanna-be rock band in the music room.

Here you'll see Evo-man, Lea, Abner, and drummer Dad rocking out to 'Dead or Alive.'

You'll have to reserve judgement on which one you would prefer until after you see and hear them in person.

And of course, here's our future head-banger Hope wanting to be a part of the party.

And what Christmas Day wouldn't be complete without the big Christmas dinner. I loved it! My awesome husband is the cook around our home and I'm the cleaner-upper.

We even really tried to stick with our Danish theme and have some traditional dishes.

The stewed Red Cabbage is one of my favorites but here you'll notice that Lea's not sure she wants to even try it.

I think that one of my favorite memories of this Christmas will definately be the snow.
For the first time in the over ten years that we've lived in Washington we got snow on Christmas day. White Christmas no longer a dream!

Whew, with all this excitement and lack of sleep I'll let you in on a secret. I can't stay awake. So I'll end this blog with a glimpse of what Abner caught me doing the other day - napping. I'm planning on doing a lot more of it in the next couple of days to catch up.

Merry Christmas!