Category Archives: Christmas

It’s Christmas, 1980’s Oklahoma style.

My favorite Christmas decorations are nativity scenes. The stores are loaded with them. All sorts of styles to choose from.

We have several in our house. Sweetie does a great job with them.

This one below is special to me. It is not the fanciest one we have.

I got it in 1986 right after I moved to Oklahoma City from Dallas. In those days before the internet and Amazon.com you ordered novelty merchandise out of catalogs. Remember all the catalogs from those days? Lands End, and Eddie Bauer were just the beginning. Anyway my secretary, whom I’ll call Frances, was the catalog queen in the office. She’d find something cool and several people would order it. Anyway she found this nativity scene and several of us in the office ordered one. I don’t know why I did, I was single and didn’t decorate for Christmas but I liked it.

A subsequent summer Frances drowned after falling off a sailboat during a midnight cruise on Lake Hefner with her new boyfriend. She wasn’t wearing a life jacket and didn’t know how to swim. It being at night the guy couldn’t see her and a sailboat is not the most maneuverable thing around. They didn’t find her body until the sun came up the subsequent morning.

It was a real mess. She had left her long time boyfriend of many years a few weeks before. But he was still the beneficiary of her life insurance, 401K, all that stuff. It was a real heart breaker. He got it all and he kept it all and I dealt with both him and her family through the whole process. It was a sad and stressful time, for a long time, for everybody who knew her.

We were kind of a tight knit little group and the loss and chaos afterward hit us hard. This was in the midst of the mid 1980’s oil bust that knocked all of Oklahoma for a loop. It seemed that things were never going to get better but eventually of course they did.

Christmas is many things to many people and to me a big part of it is remembering Christmases past especially people who are gone. I always think of Frances at Christmas and how things often don’t turn out the way we plan and that life is fragile. I also learned that people are resilient and although they may never forget something somehow they get through it.

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21 NIV)

And of course I learned that you need to keep your beneficiaries current on your life insurance, 401K’s, and such to help out the people you leave behind because you really don’t know when something is going to happen to you.

I’m linking up with That’s Baloney today for her perfect pairing day.

Hey it’s Christmas

It’s Christmastime at the Yogi’s. We got the tree down and put it up. It’s all prewired which is wonderful. As long as it works. Sweetie and SuperPizzaBoy are in charge of decorating the tree except for the most important ornament.

It goes up first. For some years now I’ve wanted it to be at the top of the tree. Lots of people put stars at the top. In fact I put it up there and down it goes. Sweetie has a very nice angel that goes on top instead of the star.

Sweetie’s angel is very nice but what do you think of my angels? You can tell that they like stars. They got them all over their outfits. I bet they would vote to put the star on top of the tree.

Actually, you know how women team up. I think they would vote with Sweetie.

Sweetie has lots of ornaments that remind of Christmas’s past. This is SuperPizzaBoy way back when.

Now look at him!

We also have an ornament with Sweetie’s Dad, “Boompa.” This will be the fifth Christmas without him. We all miss him very much. Nobody loved Christmas more than Boompa.

Sweetie loves snowmen. We have lots of them, especially in sets of three. Its kind of a symbol of our family.

Except, the littlest snowman is going to be bigger than the other two here anytime.

Anyways, its Christmas and you know the rule. As far as I’m concerned though, I wish the person holding the sign would read it herself. Just saying.

Not everybody is so happy about Christmas as we are.

I hope that everybody has a great Christmas!

Philbrook Museum Festival of the Trees

Tuesday I met Sweetie and world’s best MIL, Nana at the Philbrook Museum here in Tulsa to check out their Festival of Trees. Also it is Nana’s birthday! This is from last year, darn me I don’t have a picture of them together since then. Take it from me, they both get better looking ever year.

The Festival of the Trees is all about Christmas. So of course they had a Santa.

And all sorts of trees made by local individuals, classes, and other groups. You can buy these works of art.

If I had a cabin in the woods, I would want this tree for that. It needs a little color though. I’m thinking some red strands of some sorts.

This was my favorite tree. I loved it.

Nana liked this one. Of course she is decorating for a tropical Christmas this year.

This is what she has in her living room. You should see what her tree is.

I liked this frame full of balls.

This I found plain disturbing. I’m going to have nightmares.

I think this is the Blair Witch Project tree. That is also very disturbing.

I don’t find this disturbing at all.

They had gingerbread houses also. I loved this little red school house. I reserve the right to repost for Ruby Tuesday, anybody mind?

This was the most joyous house. I love how they glued the kids faces to each of the cookies. Or maybe, maybe that might be a little disturbing also. What do you think?

A “Cars” themed post. Love it, love it, love it. Second best movie ever made.

And for you Christmas lovers from the People’s Republic of Kansas. A special “OZ” gingerbread house. I love the ruby slippers underneath the house.

And Hogwarts, I love Harry Potter. Those movies are all tied for about 6th on the alltime best movie list.

And this was my favorite gingerbread house of all. I like how it is at an angle and whopperjawed and all that. Whopperjawed is an Oklahoma technical term. I have a lot of readers from Canada and Great Britain who need some translation sometimes.

Anyway, we looked around and then I had to leave. Helping America solve her energy problems and all that you know.

Today’s Flowers – Poinsettia

Sweetie wanted to get some poinsettias for some friends and family members so we headed out to A New Leaf in the Tulsa suburb of Broken Arrow. It is a not for profit organization that provides, among other things, job training services for individuals with disabilities, and they had Poinsettias in all sorts of colors and patterns.

There is no such thing as popping in and out of a greenhouse for Sweetie. She is the gardener’s gardener.

I think she wanted one of each. We finally picked a few out. Is there anything better than flowers for Christmas? (Or any other occasion?)

Today’s Flowers

Did you know, according to TLC

Poinsettia’a are not toxic.

They are originally from Mexico.

They were introduced to the United States by Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first US ambassador to Mexico.

Apollo 8 Christmas Eve Message from Lunar Orbit

I know it’s not Christmas Eve but I came across this video this morning of the crew of Apollo 8 in 1968 reading a little bit of Genesis and sending a Christmas Eve message to us earthlings. Apollo 8 was in lunar orbit at the time. It was one of preparatory flights for Apollo 11 which landed on the moon.

For other pairings of verse and photographs (or video) check out That’s Baloney.

Christmas 2010

We started our Christmas celebration last night. Northeast Oklahoma had a big snow and ice storm last year and many churches, including ours, cancelled their Christmas Eve services. Bummer. So we were ready. I love the candlelight service.

Santa always treats us very well. In addition to being our exemplary selves during the year SuperPizzaBoy always makes sure that Santa gets egg nog and some gingerbread men cookies to eat. Santa appreciates it. Delivering toys to a gazillion homes in just one night is a little tiring.

World’s greatest MIL, Nana, scored a nice pot with a cat face. Ginger, our dachsund mix mutt kind of likes it also.

SPB and I both got Legos. His was some sort of Star Wars type thing. Mine was a model of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.

810 pieces or so!

SPB moved in some of his Star Wars guys in a “Mashup” of Frank Lloyd Wright and George Lucas. Talk about a fusion of egos between those two dudes.

Sweetie cooked us up a great dinner and we really enjoyed Christmas.

I hope that you had a great Christmas also.

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve

It’s Christmas Eve folks. The day before the Big Day.

Christmas is one messed up holiday. I’m not saying that I don’t like it. I do, much of it anyway. You have the celebration of the birth of Christ. That’s the big deal, the real big deal. It is what gives meaning to Christmas to me. Of course, from what I understand Jesus wasn’t actually born on Christmas, nor were the Wise men there the night of his birth. But who cares? I am not being sarcastic. I think that it is good to celebrate his birth and why not do it in December? Its the beginning of winter, lets have a party!

Of course to kids, it is when they get presents from their parents, grandparents, and Santa Claus. I mean who doesn’t like getting presents? Who doesn’t like giving presents, especially to kids.

The food. The food at Christmas is wonderful. Especially the candy and baked goods.

These are Sweetie’s cake balls.

She and SuperPizzaBoy are championship gingerbread men bakers. I think the best thing at Christmas is making memories. I hope SPB never forgets baking with his Mom.

I guess what gets me about Christmas is that it has a long buildup, at least a month. Then you have Christmas. All the gifts are exchanged, the meal is eaten, and then it’s done. And I’m there going: Hey what about God on earth, and good will to men, and that mysterious “Spirit of Christmas” stuff? But everybody else is worried about returning that ugly sweater that cousin Sue got them, Bowl Games, taking the tree and lights down, and figuring out what to do New Year’s eve.

I have a little trouble with the abrupt transition, so I’ll leave my lights up a little longer than you. I’ll use my Christmas coffee mugs all year round. Plus I’ll be telling you Merry Christmas the whole 12 days of Christmas. Sorry if that annoys you. My favorite time of the year is the interlude between Christmas and New Years. It is very relaxed and slower paced. A time for hanging with the family, going to movies, visiting friends and just chilling.

In the meantime, Christmas is tomorrow. Don’t mind me, I hope that everybody is having their own favorite Christmas. So Merry Christmas Everybody.

Favorite Ornament

Mrs. Bundy of the Real Housewives of Oklahoma wants to know about our favorite ornaments. In our house Sweetie takes care of the Christmas tree ornaments and does a darn good job it also. All the ornaments have a story behind them and she places them just so. She even allows by Dallas Cowboys star to be on the tree, at a place of here choosing of course.

I decided recently to make my own ornament. You didn’t know that I was a crafty guy did you? I made it from a kit.

Here is the pieces before assembly.

Of course anybody who has had a boy around the house any of the last twenty years immediately recognizes this as Legos. Can anybody guess what it is?

Here is an interim step.

And the final

Sweetie loves snowmen. She tolerated mine in amongst her other snowmen. We didn’t put it on the tree though, even though it is made to do that. You know what happens to Legos when they drop.

Do you have a favorite ornament. Tell us about it and link up with RHOK.

Cowboy Christmas Decorations

Sweetie tells me that this is last time she will let me put the star on the tree.

Secret Santa Snuggie Update

I got my Secret Santa gift box Wednesday. Look at all the stuff I got.

I got some candy Christmas lights, candy pistachio nuts, a mouse that dances and sings, and a nice Christmas plate. I also got a nice Christmas coffee cup. I use my Christmas coffee cups year round. I mean I have a cup that says “JOY”, now I have one that says “PEACE.” Do you know a better way to start the day? I’d like to know what it is if you do. Especially if its legal.

Now all that would be great. That would be wonderful, but did you notice that I got my very own Snuggie?! I bet you are jealous. Its not just any old Snuggie, its the latest model with a pocket to put the remote control into. Except I never get the remote at our house. But when I go geocaching that is where I am going to put my GPS receiver.

You know Snuggies are not just for watching television and geocaching. Did you know that. For example they are great for running. Don’t believe me, look!

Have you ever seen a more stylish or warm runner? I didn’t think so. Jealous? You should be? I can’t help it that you don’t have as nice a Secret Santa as I do.

Snuggies are also good for drinking beer in your jammies. See.

The life huh, a Snuggie, Dogs, and Fat Tire beer.

Who is my Secret Santa? Why, it is the the lovely, talented Georgie with two hearts over at Decisionally Challenged. Pay her a visit, check her out, she’s HOT!

Thank you very much Georgie!!! I love everything especially my new Snuggie. Everybody else. Maybe you will get Georgie next year? Or maybe you will get me, my source of fartless popcorn is well stocked.

YogisDen.us

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