One of our Christmas traditions is the "Does Santa still work?" moment. Something like 40 years ago, my great-aunt Gertrude sent us a battery-powered Santa that rings a bell. Each year we put in new batteries and hold our breaths to see if he's still with us.

That's awesome!

I do so dearly hate winter.

I was doing okay this morning until the windchill FROZE MY SKULL during the last fifteen feet of walking to my work building.

And then there was a huge line for the coffee machine. I'm surprised anyone made it out of that break room alive.

Last night, I was sitting in my apartment with tights, sweatpants, a sweater, and a fleece on. And a blanket over my feet. But I was sitting next to an open window, so.

Those slippers do look toasty.

Until I started decorating the tree, my mother insisted on putting on every ornament that I or a sibling had ever made, no matter how misshapen or decrepit they were. There are still some ones that she makes me put on because they have sentimental value, but I've made to get rid of the cotton bat snowmen and the santa made from a toilet paper roll.

I am Sue's mother. Except my own always overrules me.

My mother still has and uses the yarn and mini-lifesaver roll ornament that my sister made in 2nd grade.

My sister is 45.

My mother still has the bell that my bro made when he was 3. He's 38 now. It's very cute, faded blue egg carton with a few pieces of glitter clinging tenaciously to the cardboard.

When we got married, DH's mom had saved EVERY SINGLE ornament he had ever made. Including a pantyhose egg with some glitter, hanging from a piece of yarn. Our first Christmas together, she asked us if we wanted all of these ornaments for our tree.

DH is decidedly NOT sentimental about such stuff and I had to do some mother in-law diplomacy and explain that they probably meant more to her and we'd hate to take those memories away from her.

So, these are the cutest twin shirts ever: [link]

jeeezus, kat! I already got the twins in my life an xmas present (family pass to Port Discovery kids museum!) but how can I resist getting those??? I'm going to have to though if anybody else on my list is going to get a christmas present.

When am I going to go get the pinata i've been tasked with getting for my sister-in-law's baby shower? During the planning it seemed like I'd have sooo much time but it turns out I really don't!

*sigh* We still have no heat. The house is 59 degrees, which is still tolerable. The fireplace is still going. The second furnace dude is trying one last part to see if it works.

I have another contractor coming around 11:30 or so but this sorta sucks ass. I can't take the kids anywhere as long as I have to be here for the service tech.

I've got them bundled up in their footie pj's, which are the warmest clothes they have.