Survival Of The Sleep Deprived...

Yes... that would be me (and Julie) two of some of the most sleep deprived people on the planet yesterday that I would be talking about. Somehow we managed to stay awake through it all. I suppose that it had something to do with the fact that we were having it here at our house because in past years, if we were at someone else's house, one (or both) of us would be cheating in a bit of a nap. I won't bore you with the details of how little sleep that Julie and I got this past week but will say only this... sleeping last night, more a collapse really... but last nights total was more than the previous three nights combined. Add to that that I've been battling a cold/cough and it was amazing to me that I managed to survive at all... did I mention the shoveling of snow too? It was a rough week for sure, but I know that I wasn't the only one suffering a slow painful death.

All things considered, yesterday went off without a hitch. In spite of the fact that somehow Julie and I seemed to run out of hours to complete getting ready... I guess being wired on Mountain Dew only lasts so long. Translation... the house wasn't cleaned like we would've liked it to be... then again it never is. I realize that Christmas isn't about everything being picture perfect, it's about being with the ones you love... and if they can't make it, then it's about being with your family and friends... it's an added bonus if you happen to love them too.

Yesterday was a free form style day... some things are better that way, especially with six kids... nothing etched in stone as to what was going to be done when. It was just as well since my brain was a bit sluggish, though most would argue that's no different than any other day. There was no formal sitting down to eat... it was more of a day long grazing. My mom was supposed to bring a ham and some potato salad. She did not. Instead she brought ham, potato salad, polish sausage, sauerkraut, a coffee cake, cookies, and dessert... she was like a catering service... I likened her to Marie from "Everybody Loves Raymond".

Yesterday was also somewhat of all day long gift fest. After staying up to the wee hours attempting to finish up some things, we were awaken less than two hours after bedding down. So it was gifts from Santa and gifts from Mom and Dad and gifts from the kids and gifts from the grandmas, and gifts from the uncle, and gifts from the aunt... it was gifts, gifts, gifts. We managed to stretch it out for quite a while. We were holding off on the grand prize of gifts... a Nintendo Wii which was a collaboration among my mom (the base unit) Julie's mom (games, games and more games) my brother (a game, all the extra controllers and batteries, batteries, batteries) and Julie's sister (Mario Kart racing game and the extra steering wheels to go along with it). Julie and I provided the television, electricity and the salivating participants.

For (seemingly) obvious reasons, that (the Wii) was to be the last thing opened, and it was, because after that got opened, that was it... fade to black.

So another Christmas is in the books... hours of sleep that I'll never have known. So as we decry our sleep deprivation, we vow to not be so sleep deprived next year... which never works... and the feasting of leftovers that will be enjoyed for a day or two.

Oh yeah... about the tree... it got in and received a semi proper decorating... lights and a smattering of ornaments. The way things were going, it was good enough.

Time to close the book on Christmas '08.

Merry Christmas... (our 100th Post)

So on the eve of the eve of Christmas here is the 100th posting on this the main page here... I know... big deal. But in a way it is... isn't it? I realize that if one does the math and adds the archive totals for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008... it adds to 96. BUT, where I go to monitor things here, it is telling me that this post is the 100th... so I'm going to go with that... #100 it is!

Anyway, like I was saying... it is Christmas Eve Eve. We've had a decent amount of snow fall today, I don't know what the total was, but things had to be shoveled multiple times, and for me that translates to a decent amount. They're calling for 40 on Friday and 52 on Sunday... this on the heels of hovering around zero/sub-zero temps not but a day ago. With the amount of snow on the ground thus far this winter, we are all but assured a white Christmas... always an added nicety.

For the first time for as far back as I can remember (and lately that spans about a day) I will not be getting together with my mom's side of the family. Growing up it was always my mom's side on the Eve and my dad's side on the Day. For whatever reason, things didn't work out this year. Does this mean a change in tradition? Who can say? Only time will tell. While saddened... cuz the running joke on my mom's side of the family was always the only time we see each other is Christmas and funerals... this actually works to our advantage.

(Crap, I hope this doesn't mean only funerals now)

Traditions die off as new ones get implemented. It can be tough to witness and be part of the changing of the guard as the older generation ages, but at the same time, the younger generation is moving up the ladder as they tend to the youngest generation. Getting six kids out the door on the best of days (never mind the cold, the snow, the packages) in a quasi reasonable and timely fashion... which incidentally for us that can be up to 30 minutes late... getting all that to happen at once truly IS the Christmas miracle!

For the first time in my adult life (some might argue that I haven't attained the title of 'adult') I will be staying home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Don't feel sad, it's not like I will be alone or anything. I will have my family... all seven of 'em (don't freak, that includes Julie) will be here. Even then, we will not be alone on the Day as we will be having the grandmas over along with one auntie representing from one side and one uncle representing from the other... so for us, it will be an even fuller house. The only remaining hurdle... aside from the cleaning and yelling and the yelling and the cleaning... is the tree. Only in our house... hard as this might be for some to believe (or maybe not) the tree is still sitting outside... under glass... or in this case plastic. I draped some plastic over it too keep the snow and freezing rain off it.

Will it get in in time? If it does, will it get a proper decorating?

Stay tuned...

Dashing through the wind...

Through the mud and snow,

Over ruts and grass,

Be careful don't stub your...

toe (on the stumps)

Where are all the trees?

Why way over there?

C'mon everybody...

feel the wind everywhere!

Oh Christmas tree, Christmas tree, it's time to bring one home. Never mind feeling the wind right down to your bones.

So, today was the day that we finally got out and got our tree... albeit two plus weeks after we normally do... and not the "regular" place in Wisconsin either. We normally go the Friday right after Thanksgiving, but (one of) the reasons we didn't go was that Emmah was going to Florida. Another factor in our decision was the price of gas. We had decided early on while the gas prices were up that driving "up to Wisconsin" wasn't exactly in the budget. So the generous people who normally lend us their cabin up there lent it to someone else when they got wind that we weren't going to be making the trek this year. Then gas prices dropped... who knew? No matter though...

So after some deliberation and procrastination we opted for a place out in Ottawa. We also were going to take advantage of the "warm" 40 degree weather that was riding in on those south winds too. Knowing that it was going to be above freezing, I suggested that everyone "boot up" since any and all dirt was going to be mud... it was, but there was enough snow left out there that we really didn't have to step in any. So we arrive and I ask the kid working there to point us in the direction of the Frasier firs. He points to (and no exaggeration on this either) to a corner that (especially with the wind) seems like miles away. The reality of it was that it was in fact the furthest we could be from where we were standing and still be on the tree farm.

So we trek out there... all eight of us clomping and stomping and cursing that "warm south wind" that was blasting us in the face. In spite of my warnings at home that it was going to be windy, some people under dressed and were chilly. I must admit that even with what I had on, and I was layered up right, the wind was still cutting through all layers. It only took a few minutes for me to acclimate and warm up... not everyone was so lucky.

We typically look for something in the 10' neighborhood since the family room ceiling can accommodate it, but we knew going in that the trees here weren't going to be that tall. They did say that they had some that were 8'... if they did, they were well hidden. Anyhow, we trudge all the way out there only to find a smattering of trees... most of them not even taller than me. It looked like someone tilled the land and just tossed some pine cones and hoped for the best.

So after some quick looking and glancing, we find contestant #1. I then asked Julie... "how much are the trees here?" She wasn't sure. So I recommend that instead of us cutting this down and dragging it back up front only to find out that the tree was going to be something like 75 bucks let's find out first. Julie suggested that I go on ahead and check and she will bring up the rear with the wind blown children and get them back in the truck... and then Julie and I will plod on back out and cut the tree leaving Emmah to babysit.

One advantage naturally with trudging to a point with the wind in your face is that the return trip means that it's at your back. This is more like it! So on my way back, I spot a potential contestant #2. So I stop and decide to wait for everyone to make their way to where I was so I could ask for their opinion/approval.

So I'm standing there...

and standing there...

and standing there...

and standing there wondering what the heck happened to my family. So I trudged back only to find them doing a photo shoot in this little alcove of downed trees... the downed trees making a great natural wind block. Never mind that I'm standing there feeling like a mainsail catching all this wind while they're squirreled away in a cozy little wind block saying "cheese". We (all) eventually make our way to contestant #2 and make note of it mentally comparing it to #1.

So we to get back up front and make our way into the barn to inquire as to what methods they accepted as payment... that and right about the time we were looking at #2 Lyndsey announced, "I gotta go pee." At this time I would also like to mention that they also had pre-cut trees here (right at the front I might add) but we blew right by them making our way to the furthest corner. See we like the feeling of the "hunt"... and all the suffering that goes into a tree expedition. Nothing sez happy tree cutting more than hearing a chorus of "I'm cold", "I'm hungry", "My legs are getting tired", "I gotta pee", "Where are we eating", "Can we hurry up"... and so on.

It was noted that while inside the barn, they had prices listed on the wall. Hmmm... maybe we should've stopped in first before heading out into the "back forty". The u-cut were indeed $75... the pre-cut were only $45. So it ended up being like this... we could've paid 75 for a short sparse tree, or 45 for a nice (and tall... over 10') tree... from Michigan. It was an interesting experience made worse by the biting wind. I believe we did find a nice tree and at a better price than what we would've paid in Wisconsin. It (nicely) filled a need for us, but I don't know that we will be returning here next year for our tree... then again, one never knows.

Now to make room for it...

The 12 days of Christmas cost HOW much?

Just for fun, I thought I'd look into what the 12 Days of Christmas would cost someone if in fact they gave everything in that song to their true love. 2008 was the most expensive yet according one of the sites I came across.

It was broken down as follows...

So on the 1st Day of Christmas my true love gave to me... A Partridge in a Pear Tree

• One Partridge $20, One Pear Tree $200
  

2nd Day Of Christmas... Two Turtle Doves

• Two Turtle Doves $55
  

3rd Day Of Christmas... Three French Hens

• Three French Hens $30
  

4th Day Of Christmas... Four Calling Birds

• Four Calling Birds $60
  

5th Day Of Christmas... Five Golden Rings

• Five Golden Rings $350

6th Day Of Christmas... Six Geese A-Laying

• Six Geese A-Laying $240
  

7th Day Of Christmas... Seven Swans A-Swimming

• Seven Swans A-Swimming $5,600
  

8th Day Of Christmas... Eight Maids A-Milking

• Eight Maids A-Milking $52
  

9th Day Of Christmas... Nine Ladies Dancing

• Nine Ladies Dancing $4,759
  

10th Day Of Christmas... Ten Lords A-Leaping

• Ten Lords A-Leaping $4,414
  

11th Day Of Christmas... Eleven Pipers Piping

• Eleven Pipers Piping $2,285

12th Day Of Christmas... Twelve Drummers Drumming

• Twelve Drummers Drumming $2,475
  

So what is the total cost of it all?

Try $86,609 on fir size (<--- get it fir) Well that's what several of the sites had as a total. I suspect some of those sites acquired their information from one site in particular. So to derive at that cost you'd have to buy the partridge and the pear tree 12 times... once for every time mentioned in the song. The two turtle doves 11 times, the hens 10 and so on... all the way down to having to buy the drummers only once. That total (the $86,609) I believe has to reflect tax, because according to my calculations if added straight up they total a paltry $81,982.

Of course, you could just buy it all in one shot, that is to say buy each item mentioned only once. Then (presuming my math is right) it's only $20,540 and that doesn't include tax either. Quite the bargain wouldn't you say?

Either way, I can tell you all what you're NOT getting from me this year.

...in case any of you were wondering.

Not having to buy anyone everything mentioned in the 12 Days Of Christmas...

Priceless.