Christmas #3

On Christmas day we went to my parents house for lunch & presents!  Rhonda brought a couple of her dogs.  They were dressed as Santa.  Can you say ridiculous?!

I saw some animal shaped hats on the backs of the dining room chairs where Butterfly & Rhonda sit.  I just figured that they had some silly animal shaped hats.  I mean-the chick dresses her dogs up as Santa for crying out loud.

But...B-rad & I had animals on our chairs too.  Mom got us all one for Christmas!

We thought we looked too cute & wanted to take a picture.  Mom even got herself a wolf.  She was cooler than us because hers has long ears with pockets.  Butterfly tried to set the camera...

Second attempt...

Third time was a charm...

Dad doesn't wrap gifts.  He keeps them in the bags he bought them in & just starts randomly handing them out...whenever HE is ready... doesn't matter what the rest of us are doing.

B-rad got an electric toothbrush from mom.  Doesn't he look happy?  I'll tell you why in a second...

Here was my pile of loot!

One of Rhonda's dogs likes to open presents.

We got mom a Kindle fire.  This thing is seriously cool.  If you are thinking about getting a tablet & don't want to fork over the cash for an iPad... you need to research this.  It's small, you can surf the web, & download books & magazines.  One bad thing is that it doesn't have a camera, but it's small & the color on it is amazing.

Mom has us send her Amazon wish lists so she knows what to buy for us.  She said she never thought in a million years I would want something to cook with.  It's not like I really wanted it, but I needed the programmable one so it would shut off before we get home.  I made potato soup in my regular one once & the potatoes were mush when I got home.

B-rad wasn't real good with sending mom his wish list.  I kept telling him, "You're a moron.  Mom is BEGGING to buy you stuff & you won't take the time to send her a list!"  (I'm all about the tough love, remember?!)  Of course, I had no issue with telling her things I thought she should get him.  I told her the toothbrush because he threw a fit when I bought me one without buying him one.  (UHM, my dentist told me to buy myself one... I wouldn't have done it if it wasn't for that...)  I wanted some new luggage (mom got my set before I was even married.  It is made from heavy materials (& now they have all those restrictions on luggage weight) & it's starting to fall apart.  The set I wanted was like beige with black flowers & while B-rad doesn't really care if he has to carry flowery suitcases, I thought he'd like to have something manly & just for him.  Butterfly has a duffel bag/suitcase looking thing he took to Hawaii & I thought that would be right up B-rad's alley.

We got Rhonda a little 31 bag full of goodies.  A water bottle kanteen with her name on it, some jewelry, a scarf & a clip thingie for her ipod cord.  I didn't get a pic of Butterfly opening his gifts, but we got him an Under Armour toboggan & Under Armour gloves (because he's a nut job & runs & exercises outside - even in winter!!!) and a clip thingie for his ipod cord.

This was one of my favorite gifts from Mom.  A new blingy cell phone case.  It's loud, it's obnoxious, it's flowery AND it's purple.  It practically screams my name...

My first irresponsible purchase...

I tell ya, you stalkers had sooo many good ideas of what to do with my bonus money.  I LOVE that you played along!  The biggest response was for clothes, shoes & jewelry.  I'm pretty much set in the jewelry department, & I'm not really a 'clothes & shoe' gal.  (Sorry Denise!)  HOWEVER.... I am going to look at the UGG boots AND some shoes called Dansko's.  Apparently they're handmade & they conform to your feet & are uber comfortable.  I'll have to check that out...

I have kicked around so many things I might like to get.  B-rad mentioned a front loader washer & dryer because the washer & dryer I have now is the old school style & we've had it since we got married.  I really do want some new ones, but don't know if I wanna blow my money on something I have to do household chores with.  Bleh.

Like I said before, B-rad had NO problem coming up with several things to put on the list!  He said I should get a new computer because my laptop is a few years old & the top is broken but I said I don't need one!  I watched some videos on the Mac computers over the long weekend.  And...oh.my.word.  They are awesome... but pricey! (Ginmommy your dad would be so proud, right?!  If I got one, would he adopt me & let me sit in on the infamous family photo 'round the table?  I would LOVE that!)  I don't know if I wanna blow THAT much on one of those just yet...

I knew what I wanted my first purchase to be.  Something I love.  Something I'm too cheap to buy.  Something that I got for Christmas that gave me the extra itch.

Without further delay...

Please, PLEASE be jealous... 

Yes, I know I just got a real, live Coach bag for Christmas, but I can't carry that everyday.  It's an over the shoulder bag so I can take that when I go on trips & stuff.   I got something I can carry everyday AND my iPad fits in it.  (That's my new requirement for purses-my iPad has to fit!)

I went to the Coach outlet in Edinburgh.  Alicia had told me they give you a 30% off coupon when you walk in the door & I like coupons.   While I was shopping around, I kept saying, "Do I really wanna spend $xxx.xx on this purse?!"  (Old habits die hard....)  Then I found the matching wallet & had to carry it around forever to decide if I wanted to pay for it!  Sheesh!

So there you have it - shocker, huh?  Jaime Mac bought a purse.  I know, I know booooooring.  I promise I will try to do better next time!

Christmas #3 is coming

Yea, yea, I still need to post about Christmas #3....  & I will.... just as soon as I can.

Here's the deal - I do a lot of blogging during my down time at work.  And this past week I've had absolutely NO down time at work.  And if someone would've bothered to ask exactly what I DO at work, you would understand - but sadly...you did not.  (I'm not bitter...)

SO, I will work on my Christmas post when I'm able (maybe over the long weekend?!) AND I have made my first 'irresponsible' purchase.  You.stalkers.are.gonna.die.when.you.see.  I LOVED all your comments about what I should buy!  Ya'll are SO fun!!!!

The other McAfee's dinner par-tay

Daniel & Alicia have a fancy pants dinner party around Christmas.  We made the cut a few years ago & snagged an invite.  This year when Alicia sent out the evite - there was a twist:

Ugly Sweaters.  Wha?

We all know I hate playing dress up.  I have no creativity.  But I knew just where to find some ugly sweaters...

The pic below is circa 1981.  It shows dad, Butterfly, mom & cutsie little me in a family pic.  Of course, Butterfly & my clothes are hideous...but look at my parents sweaters.  Ugly?  I think so...

 So I asked mom if she had any ugly sweaters we could borrow.  (Knowing full well the answer was going to be 'yes'.)  I specifically asked for the above sweaters.  I knew she'd have them in a box in the basement or attic.  I just know my mom.  And she totally came through!  When she gave them to me I was uber excited.  And then I had to hear from mom AND dad, "Those aren't ugly.  Those are very nice sweaters."   Really?  They're almost as old as me...

And here we are circa 2011 rocking out the thick, itchy, ugly sweaters.  I'm still the cutsie little gal on the right...some things never change...

 Daniel was cutting up one of the 12 (!) roasts Alicia made.  I love the 'muscle shirt' style vest. 

 Janelle & Denise were having a tough time mixing the salad.  Do you see a pattern here about food?  Look at that bowl of salad.  Alicia had so.much.food! 

 She changed it up a bit & this year instead of one big long table...

 she had 2 extra tables on the other side of the basement.  I can only assume that these tables were for the trouble makers...because we were assigned to the table in the corner with the Ellnors.

 We each had a family ornament to take home.  The troublemakers tried to figure out if these were edible.  Doesn't it look good enough to eat?  By the way...totallly not edible...

 Daniel was so kind as to have Christmas music playing/blaring in the background.  Sigh...

 I tried to plug my ears but he wanted me to enjoy the music & he even sang along...

 The boys...

Next it was time for the boys to take OUR picture.  This was quite the scene.  Guys just don't appreciate the art of taking pictures.  They were paying more attention to themselves than us.  You can see Daniel yelling at us here.  I'm not sure why?  WE weren't the problem...

He finally got his act together & even had 2 cameras...

   I'm a little disappointed I didn't get some closer pics of these sweaters.  There were some ugly ones for sure...

  Like I said, those 1981 sweaters were hot & itchy.  After the group pic B-rad was ready to get that thing off!  Daniel was glad to help.  (See what I have to put up with?!)

 Most of the couples there were also teachers with Alicia & I think all of them but me have kids.  I am not a teacher nor do I have kids so I kinda don't have anything to add.  So I stand politely & listen to conversations... about kids... & school.  Denise looked over & laughed at me because she said she could tell what the conversation was about 'just by the generic smile on my face.'   I said, "yea, I have a fake laugh too...I haven't had to break that out yet..."

After dinner (& a few drinks) we were ready for dessert.  Alicia had a great idea, 'just bring the whole pie over with a bunch of spoons.  That way we don't have to cut it.'  Genius!

Thanks again, other McAfee's, for having us & for dinner & drinks.  Always a fun time!

I'm going to be irresponsible & I want you to help...

So you know how I'm uber cheap & I like to save money while Princess spends it like it's going out of style?  Well, I get a bonus check each year from my work.  (Which you stalkers have no clue about since no one asked during the question & answer segment.  Hmph.)

Normally, I take it all & throw it directly into the savings account.  Period.  But THIS year.... I wanna blow half of it.  I don't know why - I just do.  And I'm not talking a couple of hundred dollars - I'm talking a nice pile of benjamins here.

Since I don't normally blow a nice pile of benjamins (not that any of you do either...), I need help!  I wanna know what I should buy!  Not because I NEED it, but because I just WANT it!  Feel free to live vicariously through me & comment away.  

B-rad already has list started (for himself - NOT me!) so you need to act fast before he spends it all!!!!

Christmas #2

If you remember, last year I did several posts on all the Christmases we attend.  This year is no different, people.  I'll be countin' them down.

Sunday we went to Brian & Lora's to do Christmas with them.  Erin, Eric & the girls were making the rounds this weekend for Christmas with all their families here so we just invited ourselves along too.

Lora made breakfast for the army.  This is what the boys did while we made breakfast.  Yes, I helped.  

The biscuits didn't just jump into the oven by themselves...

 It was my turn to pass out our gifts.  I gave the camera to B-rad & he started snapping pics of me.  I said, "You don't have to take only pictures of me!"  To which he replied, "then you get mad at me because 'there aren't any pics of you!'''.  Here I am with MY pointy boss lady finger telling Eric he's gotta go sit by Erin because our gift was for them to share.  

We got them a tablet.  Eric travels sometimes for work & I got them one with a camera so he can skype or whatever with the girls when he's gone.

 Brian got a blue tooth...

 And Lora got gloves...that you can text with.  Genius...

 We also got her a jacket. When she opened it she said, "Oh, a running jacket!"  I said, "you gotta look at the front!"  

 I'm having a harder & harder time finding things for the older nephews.  All the stuff they want is pretty pricey...  B-rad actually picked out Brady's gift & I think he did a good job!  It's a radio for his truck...that he can't legally drive until 2013.  Details schmetails...

 Derik got cologne.  Lora said he liked the red Polo.  I'm not up on the teenage boy cologne scene so when I went to Dillard's & said, "I would like some Polo red, please" they looked at me like I was speaking Japanese.  After a moment they said, "The number two?"  I said, "UHM...I don't know.  I just know it's red."  They drug me through the labyrinth of aisles & bring me to the Polo counter.  And there was a bottle with a huge 2 on it...& it was red.  Those assholes...

 Ah, my little man Cole.  The easiest kid to buy for (besides the great nieces).  He's 9 so he still likes toys.  Easy breezy!  Lora said he was into the K'nex.  Yes, I had to Google K'nex to find out what that was & how to spell it.  Sigh.  

 This ferris wheel is over 2' tall.  He was really excited about putting it together.  He asked me to help after everything was done.  I told him, "Sorry buddy.  That's not my thing.  I'm not patient enough!"  He's already told me next he wants the roller coaster.  I told him maybe Santa will bring it?!

 We got the girls each a little bath set & Madelyn needed pajamas so we got her some of those.  Payton got a mini etch a sketch.  We also got them each a backpack/suitcase with their favorite characters on them.   I was hoping they could use them to pack their clothes when they travel...

 So much for Eric sharing the tablet with Erin.  He was excited because 'next year I can sit in the living room with my electronic device like all the other guys'.  How true...

 My turn to get gifts next!  Eric & fam gave us (actually B-rad) some homemade candies (yum!) & me a candle.  Purple of course...  Lora got me a Coach bag cross body thingie.  UHM, yea...a real live Coach bag!!  And it's purple... When I opened it everyone was chatting & talking & when I let out a screech only dogs could hear everyone stopped & turned to look at me.  

 Then I had another gift!  A matching Coach wristlet!  I asked Lora if Brian knew about any of this?!  He's even cheaper than me!!!

Payton with her Minnie Mouse backpack.  They were stuffing all their gifts into them before they left for home.  No room for clothes!  Eh, gifts are better anyway!

'Tis the Season...

The blog off topic this installment is Christmas cards.  To send or not to send?  

Currently I do not send out Christmas cards.  I just don't see the point.  I send you a card, you send me a card.    There are no personal messages in these cards.  They are just signed & cranked out.  Very impersonal.    (This is NOT to be confused with my stance on Thank you notes...)  I used to send cards every year & I stopped the last couple of years.  They're expensive & postage is ridiculous.  

I've noticed the last few years that I don't receive as many cards either.  I attribute this to one of two reasons:

#1-I don't get a card from them because I don't send them one.

#2-They are cheap like me & don't send cards anymore...

With all that being said, I really enjoy getting the Christmas cards with pictures on them!  I love putting them on my fridge & looking at the one from last year to watch as the family grows or grows up.  Fun stuff!

Maybe I should do a picture card of me, B-rad & whatever pets we have hanging around at the time?!