Christmas with the Bretts
| by Paula Brett |
Well, it’s Christmas Day, the waiting is over…. Santa and his reindeer have been and gone, leaving half a mince pie and a few crumbs of chewed carrot behind them. 
To say that I’m totally exhausted by it all, is putting it mildly. Thing 1 and Thing 2 decided that 5.30 this morning was a suitable time to wake mum and dad (and probably the rest of the street) and now our sitting room resembles the aftermath of an explosion in a paper factory. Both Things are ultra-hyper on chocolate!
Thing 2 is bouncing around the house headbanging to Pink on his new iPod, yelling tunelessly “na na na na nana na I wanna start a fight“. I am sure he must have it on at full volume, cos I can barely hear the TV over that deeply annoying fizzing, tinny sound coming from the headphones.
Thing 1 is making in-roads into his £10 airtime that came with his new mobile `phone, by send text messages to everyone he knows. His thumbs are made of steel and they’re flying – are kids born with the ability to text at the speed of light? And why does that bleeping “you’ve received a text message” sound every 2 minutes make you want to drop the `phone in a bucket of water?
My husband is in the kitchen, cooking a ridiculously large turkey (I suspect he’s trying to keep out of the way); Shark Tale is on the TV, and I’m seriously contemplating pouring myself a sneaky vodka, even though it’s only 3.30 in the afternoon!
I’m proud to tell you that today I’ve been a Guitar Hero, found out that I’m not so Wii Fit, shot basketballs at a net in the freezing cold and played Pro Evolution Soccer on the Playstation.
After all that, I’ve realised I’m still in my PJs, so I’m off to take a hot bath and relaaaaaaax.
But before I do, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a happy and joyous Christmas. I do hope you are all having as wonderful a time with your families as I am. And for all those that can’t be with their families this Christmas, I sincerely hope you’re reunited with them very soon.
Happy Christmas!
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22 Responses to “Christmas with the Bretts”
By Mark McWilliams
on Dec 25, 2008 | | Reply
And a very Merry Christmas to you anf your family! From the sounds of it, Thing 1 and Thing 2 seem to be enjoying their presents!
Boy do I wish I was that age again! LOL
Sounds like you’re having a fun day too, except from the early morning call! Considering you probably didn’t sleep much, after you got things sorted.
Enjoy the Turkey, ours was very nice!
Thanks
Mark
Mark McWilliams’s last blog post..A Very Merry Christmas To You All!
By Paula Brett
on Dec 25, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
You got that right, by the time I’d finished wrapping and stuff I felt like I’d just crawled into bed when they were waking us up again, tch.
It was lovely to see their faces, though. I don’t buy them loads of things during the year, just birthdays and Xmas, so they were delighted.
Did you get all you asked Santa for?
I’m looking forward to my Christmas dinner, I can smell it cooking, mmmmmm
By Mark McWilliams
on Dec 25, 2008 | | Reply
To be honest, I didn’t really ask for much! Although I got some cash, clothes, and plenty of DVDs along with numerous amounts of chocolate! (Half of which I don’t like anyway!)
Santa did drop off a couple of small things though!
I don’t think I’ll need anything else to eat for a couple of days, I ate that much Turkey! But then as I had to cut it, I made sure I gave myself plenty. Yay!
Thanks
Mark
Mark McWilliams’s last blog post..A Very Merry Christmas To You All!
By John Reed
on Dec 26, 2008 | | Reply
Hi Paula,
Merry Christmas – well, it’s already Boxing Day now as it’s taken me hours to restore my PC after I installed an HP Upgrade last night that “broke” my registry.
We still had a great day here in York, Jean’s sister and our Niece came over from Bolton and the Turkey this year is a big juicy fantabulous feast!!!
I actually got a new mobile from Santa as Jean decided long ago that my old scraped “clockwork” model with enough memory for 2 messages and absolutely zero mod cons was just too embarrassing to be seen out with!! I haven’t worked out how to use this Samsung yet, it’s only cheap but now I suddenly HAVE to get into MP3 and Photos, and learn to recognise a less strident ring tone – I think I’ll miss every call as I can’t turn the volume up enough!! (I’m rather deaf!)
It’s been a good family day, and our 3 grandchildren will all be here at once tomorrow so that will be even more fun!!
Good to be back on line, and yours is the first Blog I’ve looked at in a week, been so busy selling candles in the shop!!!
Merry Whatsits
John
By Pat Graham
on Dec 26, 2008 | | Reply
Merry Christmas to you, Paula. It sounds like you survived the worst of it and didn’t have to cook the dinner.
I had an authentic Oklahoma Christmas dinner that was too good to elaborate on or I will open the refrigerator and start munching on Carol’s country cooking again.
Carol’s son was here for the day and a couple of friends were invited for dinner to help us eat the mounds of food.
Tomorrow, another friend is stopping by and we are going to eat leftovers and play my favorite game, Pente. I’ve got some scratch-off tickets for the winners of the several matches we will undoubtedly play, so I am billing it as the $777 Pente Game. That’s the amount possible to win if you get all the symbols right.
So far, the only thing I can find odd about Oklahoma is the lack of real mountains, or any mountains at all, I suspect. Not used to flat land and such a big sky.
Stay warm…Pat
Pat Graham’s last blog post..Christmas Gifts from Our House to Yours
By Gary Simpson
on Dec 26, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Hi Paula,
Just thought I’d poke my nose in and say hi. Hi!
Your description above is so similar to the Christmases we USED to have 10 years ago. But the kids grow up. They marry. They travel. They have interests of their own. In short, they nick off and do their own thing – LOL!
So Paula, CHERISH these years for they certainly will NOT last. I speak from experience.
Anyway, my dear, I have put my (free) “Time in Motion” ACTION Planner up over at Gary-Land and over 50 people have already snaffled it in just 3 days. And… (ahem, cough)… I have had many rave reviews on its application to what we are doing in Blog-Land-500.
Also, I’d be interested to know what you think about my – well, I guess I could only call it a RANT – post on some BLACK and GREY-GRAY hat stuff that is happening around the place. I don’t like it at all and, since so many other people are complaining about it, I took it upon myself to make my own personal stance well known on the warlockery and witchery of BLACK HAT vampire (v v) marketing “techniques.”
Feel free to tear yourself away from all the mirth and merriment at Brett-Land and see what I have been doing in between gorging myself on food and drink on Christmas and Boxing Day (which is already in the late afternoon over here in Oz).
Too-ra-loo.
Gazz-Man from Gazz-Land
http://motivationselfesteem.com/talk
PS: I saw the date of your post above – tragic Paula… just tragic. LOL!
Gary Simpson’s last blog post..Black Hat, Grey Hat and White Hat Blogging – Blog Rules for Gazza-Land – Read ‘em or Weep!
By Vince Andrews
on Dec 26, 2008 | | Reply
Hi, Paula
So pleased that you have survived xmas day and that both things were happy with their presents.
My mad day will be tomorrow as we are having xmas day then. My grandchildren are coming to open their presents. Yesterday was very peaceful for my wife Chris and myself.
My wife and i did exchange our presents and i got a really funny surprise one. It was a chocolate Xmas tree, inscribed with the words happy Easter. This has been a running joke with my family for i do not know how long, as i am continuously saying “Well! It will soon be Easter” througout the year..
I hope that you and your family have a lovely festive season…
Vince
By Paula Brett
on Dec 26, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Hi John
Sheesh, sorry to hear about your `puter problems — what a nightmare.
I’ve got one of those new G1 phones and that’s my main gripe with it — the ring tone is rubbish — I can barely hear it — think I’ll need to look into things and do something about it.
I hope you have a lovely day today with your grandchildren and thanks so much for taking time out to drop by
Take care
By Paula Brett
on Dec 26, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Pat, I’m relieved to hear that you made it safely to Oklahoma and I’m glad that Carol is taking good care of you. You sound like you’re settling in very nicely, mountains or no mountains.
My feet are toasty, still got the fluffy sox you sent me – Mmmmmmm
Speak soon and enjoy the rest of your Xmas
By Paula Brett
on Dec 26, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Hi Gary
Yes, I agree, I know I need to make the most of enjoying the boys, especially at Xmas.
I wasn’t actually complaining but just affectionately joshing. I realise how lucky I am and, indeed, how lucky my boys are.
I was watching a TV programme yesterday morning where TV celebrities visited sick children in a hospital in Liverpool and I have to admit I had a little weep – many of those children have never known a Christmas in their own home and a few will sadly not see another Xmas. It certainly brings it home how lucky most of us are.
I will pop over to your blog and have a bit of a rummage and let you know what I think.
Take care and speak soon
By Paula Brett
on Dec 26, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Vince, how lovely to see you back in action again. You’ve been missed
I hope you have a wonderful day with your grandchildren today and just think……….. it’ll soon be Easter – ka boom tish
By Pat Graham
on Dec 26, 2008 | | Reply
I have a pair of those fluffy socks on right now. I gave a pair to Carol, her sister and one of her other roommates for Christmas. The place is loaded with sparkly feet. Everyone put them on when they unwrapped them and everyone commented immediately on how warm their feet were.
I just sent you some eye candy to give you a glimpse into what the Western US looks like in some of the remote mountain tops.
I hope you recovered from the Christmas Day excitement and strange noises coming from your son’s new toys. Now that Josh has a cell phone are you going to be monitoring the chick calls you have been dreading? He is gorgeous and a definite chick magnet. I’m already laughing at the thought of it.
Did you have some Spotted Dick with your holiday dinner? I am still laughing at the pictures the mere mention of it put in both Jacquie’s mind and mine last Christmas.
Get some rest, my friend, and stay warm.
Pat Graham’s last blog post..Christmas Gifts from Our House to Yours
By Paula Brett
on Dec 26, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Hmmm, I’m jealous now, Pat, my ones, aren’t sparkly
Got the pics, thanks – how amazing are they?
Yes, he’s already chatting to girls on MSN, grrrr. He is pretty handsome, isn’t he, even if I do say so myself :0
Nope, no Spotted Dick this year, a bit more traditional, Mince Pies!
By Pat Graham
on Dec 26, 2008 | | Reply
I have already scheduled a trip to the town near us that has the socks and you will be getting a new sparkly pair for your feet. I decided to do this before I found out you were jealous.
I would have already been there, but we are expecting a guest in a couple of hours and I have to make a chocolate banana cream pie. Probably will get there tomorrow.
Don’t bother saying, “Oh no, you don’t have to do that” or some other disclaimer. I like the
idea of your feet being sparkly and warm and I know a subtle hint when I read one. O:-)
That’s what friends are for, Short Diva. If you have a particular color you like, now would
be a good time to tell me.
I told Carol about Josh and his cell phone and the girls you are going to have to beat off with
a stick and, being the mother of a son, she said you are fighting a losing battle.
Pat
Pat Graham’s last blog post..Christmas Gifts from Our House to Yours
By Gary Simpson
on Dec 26, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Hi Paula,
Yep. I know you were doing the tongue-in-cheek thing.
Your comments about the kids in hospital is well founded. These poor little tiger cubs didn’t ask for what they got and neither did their parents. It is a sobering thought. Thanks for saying it. It makes us all count our various blessings.
Roll on new year – Happy New Year!
Gary SIMPSON
http://motivationselfesteem.com/talk
Gary Simpson’s last blog post..Black Hat, Grey Hat and White Hat Blogging – Blog Rules for Gazza-Land – Read ‘em or Weep!
By Robin Pike
on Dec 29, 2008 | | Reply
Hi Paula:
Happy Holidays!!! It definitely sounds like you deserved that hot bath… did you really take it??? LOL
Your blog is very impressive and has great content! Keep up the great work!! I love your style of writing.
2009 is gonna be great!!!
Robin
Robin Pike’s last blog post..PROBLEM SOLVED!!! Thank You!!! Another Road Block I NEED HELP WITH!!! Yes, Im failing forward FAST
By Paula Brett
on Dec 30, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Yep, Robin, I really did take it — I needed it, I can tell you. I was able to take just 5 mins away from the chaos — just 5 mins before they started banging on the door… muuuuuuum
Thanks for taking the time to comment and for your kind words about the blog. Hope you’ll visit again soon
Take care
By Peter Crossman
on Dec 31, 2008 | | Reply
Good Grief Paula!
I was exausted just reading the post ;o)
I managed to get dressed….and…erm… Well, thats about it really.
Go WonderWoman!
Have a great ’09
Peter Crossman’s last blog post..Taking Stock for 2009
By Paula Brett
on Dec 31, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
LOL, Pete. How nice to see you — where’ve you been hiding?
Glad you had a slobby Xmas and I wish you a very happy and prosperous 2009 too
Take care
By Petra Weiss
on Jan 4, 2009 | | Reply
Hi Paula,
Happy New Year! I just stumbled upon this entry of yours and I absolutely love it! Your writing style is great. Will Digg the story, and subscribe to your RSS feed! Have a great 2009.
Petra
Petra Weiss’s last blog post..John Thornhill’s Personal Coaching Program – Sales Page Creation
By Paula Brett
on Jan 4, 2009 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Aw, thanks, Petra, that’s very kind – welcome to my world, lol
Px
By Joan Hughes
on Jan 11, 2009 | | Reply
Merry Christmas, Paula!
I just saw your post.
You have quite a blog here and offer great value.
The graphics for Thing 1 and Thing 2 are adorable!
All the best,
Joan Hughes
Joan Hughes’s last blog post..Bonus module on video marketing