Mannheim Steamroller

A family tradition that has been passed on to the youngest generation. I must share with you that Molly's outfit came to her in a dream...we had a holiday party to attend yesterday afternoon and I let her wear it. Well the white leggings didn't make the final cut but the top, including the belly sticking out, was present along with a pair of red and green antlers. Oh the genes they runneth strong in my family.

Family Gift Exchange

Tonight we drew names for the family gift exchange. The kids got into it by dressing their parts. Molly came up with her own costumes. Molly picked Dave.

Colin is calling Aunt Kate on the banana phone to tell her he picked Papa Chuck.

"Aunt Kate" raided Colin's closet to pick Millard.

"Kristin" in from a swim picked Lex.

"Chris" picked Molly and "Honey" picked Kate.

"Millard" stopped jumping on the couch long enough to pick "Honey".

"Birdie" just in from the garden and fully accessorized picked Kristin

"Dave" picked Pam (although his eyes were closed so he didn't actually see it.)

"Lex" took time out from playing to pick Chris.

"Pam" picked Colin, windblown from her driving in her convertible to Disney.

"Papa Chuck" peered over his glasses to pick Ginny. Is he not happy about this? No, he was not happy with his shirt. It was a silly shirt but apparently he needed it to cover his belly, according to Colin.

Cyber Monday

I love that some underpaid marketing intern probably came up with this and now everybody is using the term like they've known about it for years. I'll admit it, I never heard about Cyber Monday until I saw it on Amazon. Ah, the power of marketing. Perceptions truly are reality. (To quote a former boss and PR legend.) If you make think people they can get a good deal they'll flock to the stores (Black Friday) or online. I fell victim to both. I went out on Black Friday and quickly realized it was so not my scene. I am a browser and that was no day for browsing. I then thought I'd try my hand at Cyber Monday, since I love online shopping for the very reason you can easily browse, price compare, read reviews, check out quickly, etc. Then this Cyber Monday nonsense started and every website I tried was sooooooooooooo slowwwwwww. I found some good deals on some things I totally didn't need to buy at americangirl.com and after 2.5 hours of trying to check out -- I was multi tasking, thank goodness -- they shut down the site with my wilderness outfits for doll and girl in my basket. Just like that, gone. Imagine, you are in Wal Mart then you all of a sudden you're on the pavement holding nothing. But I have to appreciate the power of marketing and the ability for a well coined phrase has to wreak havoc on the masses.

Kindness of Strangers

Last night I tried to get the fam to reflect on what they were thankful. Here's how the conversation went.

Me: "I think we should all share something we are thankful for."

Molly: "We already did that."

Colin: "Yeah, we already did that."

Molly: "Stop copying me. Okay, I'll do it."

Colin: "Okay, I'll do it."

Molly: "I'm thankful for the earth and my family and friends and the trees."

Colin: "I'm thankful for cheese."

Molly: "I said trees, not cheese."

Dave: "Yeast."

Me: "Yeast?"

Dave: "Yes, yeast. All of the good things require yeast...beer, bread, wine."

Colin: "I'm thankful for my cousins....chrisnhoney (aka Chris and Honey, aka Chris and Jen). I love my cousins.

So then my heart was melting so I never did get around to say anything.

But in case you are wondering, I am thankful for strangers. The woman who called me from Pittsburgh to let me know I accidently sent a card with a check in it to her house instead of my aunt's house. She was so concerned she wanted to send it back registered mail. What a wonderful woman. We spoke for 20 minutes on the phone. Her kindness made up for all of the rudeness I experienced on Black Friday. There is still kindness in this world.

Give Thanks

Why is it that we publically pause to give thanks so rarely? I've been struck by all of the Facebook posts of people stating for what they are thankful...some are heartfelt, some are funny, some just bizarre. It got me thinking that although I pause to give thanks for the major things in my life: husband, kids, family, health, roof over our heads and food on our table, I fail to recognize many of the things that touch my life daily. Thus, I am starting a new blog...that and the fact that I totally slacked on the other blog. My goal is to update you on the world of the CNY Atkinson family by sharing those things for which we are grateful

Today, we give thanks for Dave. Yes, that is a big thing and a given but it is his birthday so we need to give him his cred. I am thankful for his sense of humor, ability to get along with everyone and anyone, his knack for always rooting for the underdog (good thing we moved to Syracuse), his superior intelligence, his great hair and his jazz hands.

Happy Birthday, Davey!