Our oldest son and daughter-in-law gave us interesting gifts for Christmas.


Our youngest son was greatly disappointed when our DIL said, “That’s not what’s really in the box.”

I didn’t know that prank boxes are a thing, but I’m here for it!π€£
Our oldest son and daughter-in-law gave us interesting gifts for Christmas.


Our youngest son was greatly disappointed when our DIL said, “That’s not what’s really in the box.”

I didn’t know that prank boxes are a thing, but I’m here for it!π€£

We never have a white Christmas, but usually it’s at least cool. Mother Nature decided prank us this year and Christmas day was almost 80 degrees.π So much for my new Christmas sweatshirt! I had to compromise and wear a long-sleeved tee.

Oh, and next Tuesday the high is projected to be 47 degrees. Winter in the south is never dull!

Merry Christmas to you and yours from me and Kenn.



Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year for the cats. Boxes, bags, and gifts galore!

The day after Thanksgiving, the Christmas shirts come out. Kenn gave me this one for my birthday. I love my Christmas possum!

Who needs a star on the tree when you have a Bear?

I don’t know why we have this creepy thing in one of the labs at work.
If you have embraced technology at all, you probably have oodles of apps on your smart phone. I do, though, admittedly, there are only a handful that I use on a regular basis. Did you know that there’s an app that can help answer the ever popular (and sometimes dreaded) question “What do you want for Christmas?” Giftster to the rescue!

We were introduced to Giftster several years ago by our youngest son’s (now ex) girlfriend. I think we were all a little leery but decided to give it a try. Now, many years later, we’re still using it. (One of my daughter-in-law’s lists is even named “I concede. This was a good idea.”) Giftster allows you to create a group and then invite members; each member can then create multiple lists. This app has allowed us to stop the annual tradition of “harassing” everyone about what they’d like; it’s easy to just stop and add an item to your list whenever you think about it. When someone purchases a gift, they can mark the item so that others know it is taken. And, no worries, Giftster does not tell the list maker which gifts have been purchased so they can still be surprised on the Big Day whether it be Christmas or another gift giving occasion.
Of course, some are still resistant to the app. The only two members of our group who are inactive? Our sons.πFor the most part, our oldest son is fairly easy to buy for, the youngest not so much; once the youngest out-grew dinosaurs and Transformers knowing what to get him has been… difficult. I have to give our daughter-in-law props – not only does she maintain her own list but she also created and maintains lists for their three kids.π Thanks to Giftster (and those who maintain their lists, LOL) I’m almost finished with my Christmas shopping. Stocking stuffers are the only thing left and that is my favorite type of shopping.
What are your favorite/most used apps?
I. Love. Christmas. It is by far my favorite holiday. While I detest shopping for myself, I love shopping for the perfect gifts/stocking stuffers for my family members. That said, I am not mentally prepared to be bombarded with Christmas decorations as soon as I enter a store. (I’m looking at you, Walmart.) Where’s the Halloween? Where’s the Thanksgiving? *squints* Oh, yeah. They’re wedged into that corner over there. (Insert biggest of eye rolls)

And don’t even get me started on Christmas music. Once again, I love Christmas music. My Christmas CDs come out the day after Thanksgiving. Christmas music in October just makes me angry, LOL. At least I’ve managed to avoid the cinnamon brooms that come out this time of year; they give me a terrible headache.
Even though I’m anti-Christmas-decorations-in-October, there’s a part of me that’s starting to get a little panicky about the fact that I haven’t started shopping for stocking stuffers yet. I’ve even got two new family members to shop for. (Note to self: buy Christmas stockings for the twins.) True, the twins will only be 10.5 months old at Christmas so they won’t care, but it matters to me!
What’s your biggest holiday pet peeve?