Where Will The Bird Choose to Roost?

I can't quite recall how the chicken came to be, but I think either Karen or Joseph introduced this little hen into the family last Christmas. Whatever it's origin, he keeps showing up unexpectedly. Someone (Joseph maybe?) assisted the little birdie in traveling to Atlanta. It took Marie three days to spot our feathered friend perched on her bookcase. Thanksgiving means turkey, so it was safe for the chicken to fly the Brumbauch coop and land at Romayne's for a quick stop and then on to Karen's. Needless to say, dirty Santa brings out the hen in all of us (cluck, cluck)--Uncle Frank, after many gifts slipping through his fingers, found his prize. Alan, Linda, Stephanie, & Sarah, unsuspecting participants in the poultry pass, had a big surprise waiting for them in the backseat of their car Christmas night (or should we say the morning of the 26th?). You should have heard those Tuttle girls squeal. Funny!! Instead of taking the bird home, they seemed to have forgotten the little beast next to our mailbox down by the road. Hmmm.... Well after pondering the fate of the creature (fried, soup, sandwich, enchiladas, etc) I couldn't bear to end her life. I've decided that...

Into this box she must stow
Time will tell where she will go.
If she should end up on your stoop
Please welcome her into your family's coop.
When you feel the time is right
You may pass her on with great delight.

PS Could we please give this poor bird a name?

What A Wonderful Christmas!

It was a great Christmas spent with family and friends. Gifts aside, my favorite memories have to be singing karaoke (Martha--you and I rocked on Fergalicious) and playing dirty santa.

Scott and the boys are concerned because I am proudly displaying the animal print purse lamp I "stole" playing dirty santa. For some reason they keep unplugging it. I've posted a picture of it above so you can tell me if it's a keeper or not.

Jacob and Mark stole the show with the self portraits they entered in the dirty santa game. I shouldn't say they stole the show, since Joseph actually did steal his entry. Shame on you Joseph.

Thank you all for such a Merry Christmas!

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas

Wow...I can't belive the ridicule. I've been out Christmas shopping, baking, working, and cleaning for you people. I have the dishpan hands, bank account, and rearend to prove it. :) It's almost Christmas and I think I'm finally ready. I put my Christmas cards in the mail today. Whew...better late than never. Just in case yours doesn't make it before Christmas...have a great Christmas!

Four thousand pictures later these were two acceptable ones to use for Christmas cards. If you think getting your kids to be still, look at the camera and smile is difficult, then try adding your family pet to the mix. Always up for the challenge, we gave it our best shot. We could get the animals in the picture but they wouldn't look at the camera. Scott would call their names to get them to look but instead of looking they would come to him. Very entertaining.