Twas the second day of the year . . .

. . . and Mommy is just now recovering from ringing in the New Year in Las Vegas.  I will say that I'm not sure what was more shocking - seeing Elmo smoking behind one of the hotels as we drove up, or being greeted by the 46 degree weather when we opened the car door.  I had no idea that the casinos have made a deal with the devil so that in the summer you are melting and in the winter you turn into a popsicle, thereby ensuring that you are always indoors!

Rather than share resolutions that we all know I am going to break within 15 minutes, and before we get too far into 2013, here are my 2012 holiday lessons - at the very end are the 11th and 12th days of Christmas Shenanigans - need to include those so I can find them next year.  :-)  

1) Make sure that you always check your children's clothing BEFORE they go to school, particularly when they will be performing in front of the ENTIRE school, and especially if they have a tendency to hide from you that they are wearing a bra.

I wrote the "Dear Mrs. Dugdale" note to myself on this one.  I just can't imagine what that poor teacher was thinking when the Id took off her jacket just before the winter holiday performance.  Yes, I swear she was wearing a jacket that hid the fact that she was wearing a SUMMER DRESS for the WINTER CONCERT!!!  Mother of the year, right here.

2) When you host a cookie party, under no circumstances is it necessary to ask EVERYONE to bring sprinkles.  I now have so many f*&%ing sprinkles that I could make cookies every day in the New Year and still have sprinkles left over!  Next year, I'm going out on a limb, and I'm going to supply all the sprinkles myself!

3) If you have a gluten intolerance, you should never, ever, ever, use Cup 4 CupFlour to make your favorite Mexican Wedding cake cookies gluten free.  For if you do, you will find that on January 2nd you will split your jeans because you ate so d@mn many of those cookies.  Not kidding, this morning I bent over and completely split my jeans.  Next year, I'm going to pretend that flour doesn't exist because I'm telling you, that stuff is amazing.

4) When you have two Elfs on a Shelf, and they "magically" move from one place to another each night, you might want to remind them to make sure that when the girl elf's skirt comes off, she needs to put it back on rather than giving it to her "boy elf" companion.  Imagine our surprise one morning when the children informed us that our Frank elf had on our Holly elf's clothes!  Ooooops.

Two years ago Grandpa put a Holly leaf on Holly so we'd always know which was the girl elf and which was the boy elf.  Hopefully next year they keep their clothes on!

5) If you are hung over and in Vegas for New Years, under no circumstances should you turn on the TV to watch the Rose Parade with Alison Sweeney as the emcee.  That girl must have had at least 10 of those 5 Hour Energy drinks.  I thought she might actually jump through the TV and do some cartwheels she was so excited to host that show.  

I know that this is going back in time, which is a huge blogging no no, but because mommy was too exhausted on Dec. 23^rd and 24^th to finish out the 12 days shenanigans on the blog, here are the last two days:

Day 11

Grandparents version

. . . 11 Pipers Piping

Those eleven pipers piping, what beautiful music they make,


To Scotland, a vacation we would love to take. 
 

Instead we have provided for you, pictures of us

Playing Daddy's Fife, which could be dangerous!

This is just a few of the 11 photos of all of us playing the fife that we sent.  We got a little desperate.

Friends’ version

Those eleven pipers piping what beautiful music they make,

To Scotland a vacation we would love to take. 

But instead we have provided for you
Pipe cleaners, so a craft project you can do.

We simply can't believe this game is almost through.

We've had a jolly time bringing these gifts to you. 

With only one more night, don't you wish you knew,

Just exactly who we are and why we're doing this for you?

Day 12

Grandparents version

. . . 12 ear drums.

Christmas Eve has arrived, and on this our last night, 


One dozen drummers would be a grand sight.


But the noise of their drums would hurt your head,


So we send to you 12 ear drums instead.

As we go to sleep on this magical night,
We're reminded of memories and being tucked in tight.
Off we go to read, what a wonderful sight,
Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

Friends version

Christmas Eve has arrived, and on this our last night, 

One dozen drummers would be a grand sight.

But the noise of their drums would hurt your head,

So light a candle and eat canes that we bring you instead.

We wish you a joyous Noel,

and our names we guess we should tell. 

From our house to yours it’s been a wonderful trip,
And the Dugdales do wish you fun with St. Nick!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

You can't really see it, but the bucket these are in is a drum.

And finally, before we all move full force into 2013, one more reminder not to let the families in Connecticut slip too far from our minds.  Since that tragic day there have been many more killed by gun violence and while we move forward with plans for a wonderful 2013, it doesn't hurt to take a moment to appreciate the blessings we have been given and remember those for whom this will be an extremely difficult year.  

Today the girls made their snowflakes to be sent to the Connecticut PTSA.  There's still time if you'd like to as well before January 12th - details are here.

We also made notes on the Girl Scout Trefoil symbol.  If you are or were ever a girl scout, this is a great project too.  Here is the information.  Scroll down the Facebook page to see the Trefoil symbol.