tea:

I just went out to my car to get something, and it is so.damn.cold. Going out to dinner tonight no longer sounds like a fun idea.

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My nephew, Kyle, once wrote a story for school about a boy named Lyle who only got socks and underwear for Christmas because Santa had a terrible accident on the way to his house and all the computer games and new TVs were broken in the crash. The boy obviously had some anxieties about what his haul would be that year.

I never really remember believing in Santa, but I am the youngest child so my sisters probably clued me in early. When I told my parents I didn't believe we stopped getting presents from Santa. We still got them from Mrs. Claus and the elves, etc., but no Santa. Also, we get presents from celebrities and people in the news. We also get presents from people whose names hint to what's inside -- I think I've used this example before here, but when my Mother gave her sons-in-law silk boxer shorts those presents were from Muhammed Ali, Joe Fraiser, etc. My father makes up the best clues, but the most expensive presents are usually from the dog.

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it's been pouring rain here...I'm thrilled. I was thinking I'd have Christmas in shorts. Yucch. This poor planet tries so hard to put things right.

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Man, is the entire Southwest getting rain right now? I know San Diego and the desert had seemingly the same rain all of yesterday...

Well, and it's raining and threatening SNOWPOCALYPSE here, but that's a little more expected in the PNW.

Also, due to custody issues, she's only been with our family until noon, then her dad picks her up and gets her for the rest of the day. I have no idea how that will play out now that she's over 18.

I *still* play out the old custody agreement and I've been over 18 for a long time.

Of course it helps that it was all of us in agreement about how holidays would work and not a court decision. Although somewhere I have my actual custody paperwork, I should find out what the court said just to see.

Mostly it just means a lot of driving. Now flying and then a lot driving.

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I had custody stuff as well. Mom's family lives in OK so the only times we saw them was when we went up there, which wasn't that often after my parents split up.

Usually what happened was we spent Christmas Eve/Christmas morning with alternating parents and then go to Dad's extended family in the afternoon.

Then after we graduated from high school my brother was in the Marines, married, etc so a lot of times it was just me. So I'd run back in forth.

And on those occasions, as adults, when my brother and I are both in town we and my parents spend Xmas morning together, with Dad going over to Mom's or the other way. Of course my parents have never really stopped buying presents for each other, or rather it's that Dad never stopped and so mom gets him something because he got her something.

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Also, we get presents from celebrities and people in the news. We also get presents from people whose names hint to what's inside -- I think I've used this example before here, but when my Mother gave her sons-in-law silk boxer shorts those presents were from Muhammed Ali, Joe Fraiser, etc.

I'm totally doing that this year! How fun. We exchange lots of practical gifts, always underwear, and this should add some whimsy.

Today I bought paint to do the outdoor shutters, garage door, and front door. Then tonight I did my nails. Well, perhaps the nail polish will be a bit of a shield against the paint. The color is blue, and the paint guy put about 1/4 the amount of color in the primer to help a bit. The primer is now a lovely robin's egg blue.

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I've always done Christmas eve with my dad and Christmas day with my mom. When my parents first got divorced, dad would actually come to our house for Christmas day, but as I got older, then we moved to the splitting of the holiday.

Dad just called me today to invite me for Christmas eve "cause he didn't want to just assume".

He then asked CJ's clothing size, so I guess we know what he is getting for Christmas.

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This year it's going to be different for Mom, she's getting us 1 big present each and that's it, although for some reason I think she'll get a couple little things. So I know what I'm getting for Christmas. I need to talk to Dad and see if he's going to be doing the same thing.

my brother wont' be here so I'm not sure what's going to happen. Maybe I'll have my parents over here and do something. My place is more..nuetral ground.

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In recent years my parents give me whatever gift I buy for myself then hand them the receipt and Dad writes a check. Usually it gets wrapped and put under the tree. One year I just didnt bother to play the game and I got nothing. From anyone. Last year I made sure my niece knew I had an Amazon wish list so I got a few things off that.

I'm happy that what seems to be working out is that Kristin and I take a vacation after Christmas.

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Annabel and her cousin at Thanksgiving: [link]

Annabel on her trike: [link]

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