Gishmas 2011

The Cast:

Me: Sarah, 27, stressed.

Joey: DH, 26, *loves family togetherness

Doc: Min Pin, 2.5, chunky

Chloe: Min Pin, 1, brand new

Mom Davis: Not putting her age on the internet!, Nurturing mother

Dad Davis: Not putting his age out there either!, Friend of all dogs

Laura Davis: 21 today! Happy birthday!

Dakota Davis: 10, Neurotic

Peyton: 25 (?), Amazing chef

*sarcasm

-----------------------

Christmas Eve:

0730: Sarah and Diane (MIL) head up to Gambrills, MD to pick up Chloe.

0900: Joey goes to work and Sarah gets home and realizes 2 Min Pins is twice as much work (duh)

1000: Sarah takes Chloe to the vet.

1100: Peyton shows up at the Gish house.

11:15: Sarah gets home with Chloe (who is fine!)

12:00: Joey gets home from work and cracks a beer with Peyton

12:30: Sarah's family arrives!

CRAZINESS ENSUES!!!!!!!!!!!

Kidding, kidding.  We had a wonderful Christmas.  We had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner on Christmas eve before my family and I headed to church and the boys stayed home to make sure Chloe was ok and not alone on her first night.  Joey's family stopped by as well and we exchanged gifts with them before going to sleep so Santa could come!

Christmas morning we woke up and had delicious brunch and coffee.... I have a good story about the coffee for later...and opened our presents.  I had alot of help but I managed to serve dinner only 45 minutes behind schedule!!  We had a full on Christmas dinner including ham, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, salad, cranberry sauce, rolls and probably other stuff I forgot.  And we had delicious pumpkin pie, apple cake, and Christmas cookies for dessert!! (and more coffee!)

We were given such generous gifts as SEVERAL Lowe's gift cards, a new grill, a new microwave that goes over the range, and a Keurig! OMG!

Here are a few pictures from Gishmas 2011.  Enjoy!

Santa has been here!

Min Pin stocking time!

Peyton and one of his gifts...

Dad holding down the dogs

Peyton made the ham

Time to eat!

YUM!

Offering their help

Poooooor Doc

Christmas morning scene

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

~SG

Family Photo Fails

Well, it's Christmas and you know what that means.... time to take our annual family photo!  This year we got a little more fancy and decided to use parts of our new house as our backdrop.  I am not going to share the photo we actually used for the card, but I would LOVE to share the bloopers. Windy weather and a small dog with a big 'tude don't really make for easy photo shoots...

So, without further ado........here are a few of my favorite fails:

Clearly I was the only one that was ready...

Dammit Doc!

Doc is barking at the neighbors...

Once the cards come and I get them mailed out to everybody I'll post it on here. Just don't expect that to happen before New Years.....

~SG

Oh Gishmas Tree.... Oh Gishmas Tree...

Why must there always be a saga behind everything we attempt to do?!

Wednesday last week it was pouring rain. All day.  And windy. I’m talking hurricane force winds.  Ok maybe not- but we could feel it moving the Suburban at a stoplight, so it was REALLY windy out.  So of course Joey picks this day to decide we need to go out and get our first Christmas tree.  After work we headed to Lowes, in the pouring rain, and got soaked running through the freezing cold wind to the indoor/outdoor tree area.  Um… it’s covered with a canvas.  With holes. That leak.  All of the trees were soaking wet.  Thank GOODNESS Lowes was out of Christmas tree stands, because he actually wanted to buy a soaking wet tree!! Seriously!!

Joey was off work on Thursday, so I went to work and midway through the day, received this picture on my phone!

It’s a little off center, but it’s standing! I was proud.

Friday night we finally got around to a little family decorating time.  Joey worked late, so I cranked the Christmas tunes, poured a glass of wine (or 2…) and cooked a little chicken casserole with some mashed potatoes for dinner. (I know. I deserve a medal.)  After we ate, we started untangling the strands of lights and unwrapping the numerous Christmas ornaments we’ve each collected over the years. 

After only one incident of Doc helping himself to a little teddy bear ornament and dragging it under the sofa to it’s death, we got the ornaments on the tree and I think it doesn’t look half bad!
 

Doc.... "Helping"

The first ornament we hung ceremoniously together...

Working hard!

After we finished with the tree, I decided it was time to clean up the room a little bit.  The “living room” or “library” is so neglected, that it doesn’t even have an official name yet.  No furniture, no nothing.  So we finished hanging the curtains, put down a throw rug (that is too small), and hung a picture.  There! Much better.  



I hope you enjoy our Gishmas tree!

~SG 

Invasion of the Nutcracker Army

Last weekend, we had some unexpected visitors.  38 of them.

Yes. This is my husband's entire Nutcracker collection.  It started in 1992 and as you can see, has grown exponentially since then.  I guess Joey's Mom decided since we have our own house now, WE can figure out what to do with them this year.

Q. What the h-e-double-toothpicks does one do with 38 Nutcrackers?

A.  See the below pictures:

On the media cabinet. (Why yes! That IS Cinderella's castle!)

On top of the kitchen cabinets

On top of the OTHER kitchen cabinets

On the square box thingy

Side table that's completely hidden by the loveseat that I hope soon to replace with a recliner...

Downstairs powder room. (Bonus-we have pictures on the walls!)


AND NOW.... The "Piece de Resistance" ( and the project we spent all weekend on...)

Ladies and Gentlemen, feast your eyes on first, the fireplace

BEFORE
(and if you pay attention, you will know how much I hated it)

And now, after a long weekend of painting, shopping, painting, and Nutcracker-organizing......

AFTER



HOORAY!!!



I'm so glad we spent the time to re-do the fireplace... otherwise there would have been nowhere for those last 5 Nutcrackers to go!  Phew!

~SG