Merry Christmas ODC

Merry Christmas ODC, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
The Group Our Daily Challenge 2 has brought to me more Joy than I could have asked for over the years. Now that it has merged with the original group, I know it will bring me even more for many years to come.

PS. Don't expect sappy stuff all the time. I'm going back to cranky and dorky tomorrow.

View under a candles light.

for
Our Daily Challenge: Signed, Sealed, Delivered ... I'm yours! (sorry, couldn't resist)

How To Make A Nutcracker Cry

How To Make A Nutcracker Cry, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Tell him your nuts are bigger.

PS. this only works on the small nutcrackers. I tried it on a large nutcracker and ... well ... he got a similar shot of me rolling on the ground crying.

View rolling on the ground crying

for
Macro Monday: Utensils (nutcrackers are utensils too you know, they're not just pretty and blond)

It's CHRISTMAS! #Flickr12Days

It's CHRISTMAS! #Flickr12Days, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
When I was a child, every Christmas morning my two younger sisters and I would wake up in the middle of the night. It was the same every year. I would wake up and tip toe to my bedroom door to peek out, then make a quick u-turn in to my sisters' room. They would be awake already, both sitting on one or the others bed, giggling quietly to themselves. I would speed across the room and leap onto the bed bouncing them both to the ground. We would sit there quietly laughing, asking each for the millionth time, "Do you think they're up yet?" Eventually our minds would wonder to what lay down the hall and to the left, under the huge Christmas tree that we knew was lit so Santa could find it easily. It was now 2:00 am


As we softly guessed about the great gifts Santa might have brought, my middle sister's eyes would grow wide, not with wonder, but with the realization she was about to be sick. She'd jump off the bed, one hand holding her nightgown above her knees so she could run and the other hand slapped tightly across her mouth, she'd fly off to the bathroom with her robe flapping in the wind behind her. My youngest sister and I, abandoned on the bed, would look at each other first in shock, then in realization. IT'S CHRISTMAS! It was now 2:30am


Our parents, having gone through this ritual for years, dragged themselves out of bed at hearing the commotion. Mom went to the bathroom to calm my middle sister down and Dad went to the bedroom where my other sister and I were dancing on the bed caroling, IT'S CHRISTMAS! They'd calm the three of us down and tuck us back in to bed with promises that Christmas would soon be here. It was now 3:00 am.


It wasn't long before I was back up and around the corner to my sisters' room again where we quietly giggled and asked each other, "Do you think they're up yet?" for the billionth time. Our parents hearing the commotion and looking more like zombies then elves would drag themselves out of bed, come in to the room and announce that yes, Santa had been here. We would run out and sit in our perspective spots by the tree and its mounds of gifts while mom and dad would find spots in the back to sit and watch. It was now 4:00 am.


With the gift giving done and a good breakfast ate, the three of us would sit in the middle of the carnage of wrapping paper, ribbons and toys we created and start a day long play fest while Mom laid on the couch snoring and Dad slept on the recliner with his head tilted back and a little stream of drool sneaking out of the corner of his mouth. It was 6:00 am.


For a long time, I had forgotten about those wonderful if not weird Christmas mornings until one year I was reminded of them in a not so subtle way.


It was Christmas Eve and we were tired from visiting all the relatives from both sides of the family all day. We arrived home weary and ready for bed. I turned on the lights to the Christmas tree so Santa could find it easily in the dark, then headed for bed.


I was awakened by the sound of rustling coming from the living room, a quiet, hushed rustling but enough to wake me. I began to toss and turn. A muffled sound escaped the pillow next to me, "what's the matter?" I replied with my suspicions that the cats are playing among the gifts under the tree and I'm told not to worry about it and go back to sleep. It's now 2:00 am.


I'm again awakened a short time later by a hacking sound. I roll out of bed and grab my robe. The pillow next to me mumbles again, "What's wrong now?" I replied with my suspicions of a cat having a hairball under the Christmas tree. I stumble into the living room and find the hacking cat. I calm him down and drag him and his brother to the foot of the bed and lay them down. It's now 2:30 am.


A half hour later, I feel the cats restless at the end of the bed. I hear them jump down to the floor, knowing there headed back out to the tree. Tiny rustling keeps me up, I toss and turn. It's now 3:00 am.


Finally, without warning, all sounds cease. I relax and begin the search for the slumber I long for.


CHOO-CHOO!!!

We both fly out of the bed holding are chest as the extremely loud train sound came crashing in from the living room. Somehow, the cats found the tiny little "on" button to the train that encircled the tree. I threw down the covers I dragged with me when I jumped up in my terror, put on my robe, and exclaimed, "Get up, It's Christmas dammit!" It's now 4:00 am.


We dragged ourselves out to the living room looking more like zombies than elves and found the cats sitting in front of the tree watching the train go around in circles.


We opened our presents and the cats played in the carnage of wrapping paper and empty boxes while we ate our breakfast of frozen waffles. As I sat myself down in the armchair I heard a muffled sound come from the couch, "I'm beat" followed soon by the sound of rolling thunder. It was the last thing I heard as I felt my eye lids become heavy and shut and a little drool slide from the corner of my mouth. It was 6:00 am.

for
Sliders Sunday
HSS

It's CHRISTMAS! #Flickr12Days

It's CHRISTMAS! #Flickr12Days, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
When I was a child, every Christmas morning my two younger sisters and I would wake up in the middle of the night. It was the same every year. I would wake up and tip toe to my bedroom door to peek out, then make a quick u-turn in to my sisters' room. They would be awake already, both sitting on one or the others bed, giggling quietly to themselves. I would speed across the room and leap onto the bed bouncing them both to the ground. We would sit there quietly laughing, asking each for the millionth time, "Do you think they're up yet?" Eventually our minds would wonder to what lay down the hall and to the left, under the huge Christmas tree that we knew was lit so Santa could find it easily. It was now 2:00 am


As we softly guessed about the great gifts Santa might have brought, my middle sister's eyes would grow wide, not with wonder, but with the realization she was about to be sick. She'd jump off the bed, one hand holding her nightgown above her knees so she could run and the other hand slapped tightly across her mouth, she'd fly off to the bathroom with her robe flapping in the wind behind her. My youngest sister and I, abandoned on the bed, would look at each other first in shock, then in realization. IT'S CHRISTMAS! It was now 2:30am


Our parents, having gone through this ritual for years, dragged themselves out of bed at hearing the commotion. Mom went to the bathroom to calm my middle sister down and Dad went to the bedroom where my other sister and I were dancing on the bed caroling, IT'S CHRISTMAS! They'd calm the three of us down and tuck us back in to bed with promises that Christmas would soon be here. It was now 3:00 am.


It wasn't long before I was back up and around the corner to my sisters' room again where we quietly giggled and asked each other, "Do you think they're up yet?" for the billionth time. Our parents hearing the commotion and looking more like zombies then elves would drag themselves out of bed, come in to the room and announce that yes, Santa had been here. We would run out and sit in our perspective spots by the tree and its mounds of gifts while mom and dad would find spots in the back to sit and watch. It was now 4:00 am.


With the gift giving done and a good breakfast ate, the three of us would sit in the middle of the carnage of wrapping paper, ribbons and toys we created and start a day long play fest while Mom laid on the couch snoring and Dad slept on the recliner with his head tilted back and a little stream of drool sneaking out of the corner of his mouth. It was 6:00 am.


For a long time, I had forgotten about those wonderful if not weird Christmas mornings until one year I was reminded of them in a not so subtle way.


It was Christmas Eve and we were tired from visiting all the relatives from both sides of the family all day. We arrived home weary and ready for bed. I turned on the lights to the Christmas tree so Santa could find it easily in the dark, then headed for bed.


I was awakened by the sound of rustling coming from the living room, a quiet, hushed rustling but enough to wake me. I began to toss and turn. A muffled sound escaped the pillow next to me, "what's the matter?" I replied with my suspicions that the cats are playing among the gifts under the tree and I'm told not to worry about it and go back to sleep. It's now 2:00 am.


I'm again awakened a short time later by a hacking sound. I roll out of bed and grab my robe. The pillow next to me mumbles again, "What's wrong now?" I replied with my suspicions of a cat having a hairball under the Christmas tree. I stumble into the living room and find the hacking cat. I calm him down and drag him and his brother to the foot of the bed and lay them down. It's now 2:30 am.


A half hour later, I feel the cats restless at the end of the bed. I hear them jump down to the floor, knowing there headed back out to the tree. Tiny rustling keeps me up, I toss and turn. It's now 3:00 am.


Finally, without warning, all sounds cease. I relax and begin the search for the slumber I long for.


CHOO-CHOO!!!

We both fly out of the bed holding are chest as the extremely loud train sound came crashing in from the living room. Somehow, the cats found the tiny little "on" button to the train that encircled the tree. I threw down the covers I dragged with me when I jumped up in my terror, put on my robe, and exclaimed, "Get up, It's Christmas dammit!" It's now 4:00 am.


We dragged ourselves out to the living room looking more like zombies than elves and found the cats sitting in front of the tree watching the train go around in circles.


We opened our presents and the cats played in the carnage of wrapping paper and empty boxes while we ate our breakfast of frozen waffles. As I sat myself down in the armchair I heard a muffled sound come from the couch, "I'm beat" followed soon by the sound of rolling thunder. It was the last thing I heard as I felt my eye lids become heavy and shut and a little drool slide from the corner of my mouth. It was 6:00 am.

for
Sliders Sunday
HSS

And His Cheeks Are All A Glow #Flickr12Days

And His Cheeks Are All A Glow #Flickr12Days, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Did you know if you put a candle in Santa's head, it makes his cheeks glow!

Warning: Please don't try this at home if you have recently had a large Mexican meal. You want to make his cheeks glow, not blow him up.

View with a big Flaming Santa

for
Cliche Saturday
HCS

Santa's Big Fat Head #Flickr12Days

Santa's Big Fat Head #Flickr12Days, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Santa's head has gotten so big, his hat keeps springing off. He has to stop the sleigh every five minutes to go back and retrieve it. At this rate, he'll never make it to my house in time for Christmas. Don't worry Santa, I'll save Christmas! Someone go get me some nails and a hammer, we have a hat to secure!

View while securing Santa Claus' Hat so he can make it to your house in time

for
Our Daily Challenge: Large And Red
(apparently Rudolph's Nose burnt out and I already photographed Santa's Big Butt so this is what I had to go with)

Christmas

Christmas, a set on Flickr.