I hope that you decided to click on this one because of the incredibly clever alliteration that I used in the title above. I heard once that this helps make things more memorable. Just ask Chubby Checker or Tiny Tim - they know.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at my house. Around this time of year, our family welcomes a host of colorful and happy Christmas playthings from their storage place in the attic, where they have patiently waited for the previous eleven months. I wanted to take a minute to share some of them with you, my loyal reader/subscriber:
I start with this one from my wife's childhood. It is a Santa Claus that plays "Jingle Bells" while skiing UPHILL into the chimney after you pull him down the slope with the string attached. How clever is that? I guess Santa has to defy all laws of physics, and this is no exception.
This is a newer, "junior" version that we found at some point. In this case, it plays "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" while he orbits the small house below, although he never actually gets there. Suspicious? Highly so. My only wish is that it would play the Bruce Springsteen version of this song instead of the instrumental.
This snowman has a tree with 25 ornaments (one for every day of December including Christmas). A voice that sounds a lot like the original "Frosty the Snowman" from the classic movie on TV each year (Jackie Vernon) says, "Each day, place an ornament on the tree to find out how many days are left until Christmas." Then there is a magic wand sound (perhaps a glockenspiel), and he says, "Wow! It's almost time for that special day. There are just ____ days left until Christmas." or something similar. This is a lot of fun for the kids, although sometimes they sit and do every day in sequence, in order to speed up the space-time continuum and make Christmas day come today.
I know these frogs came from Dillard's (after my mannequin days there) because they are one of the few items we own which are still stored in the original box. Through the mystery of infrared technology, they communicate with each other as they croak an energetic medley in two-part harmony, including portions of "Silver Bells", "Jingle Bells", and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".
My wife reminded that I was highly excited about buying these frogs back in 1999 or 2000, when my son was but a toddler. I didn't remember this (big surprise), but she was giving me credit for a good idea since all three of our children have loved the Christmas frogs and the older ones ask for them by name now.
Last and perhaps least, we have the dancing Santa Homer Simpson (see below). We obtained this beauty at Kohl's when my mom was in town one year. Although it seems like something that would grow old quickly, it makes us laugh every Christmas now. He sways his hips, Elvis-style, and sings a good number of tunes along with several sayings. My favorites are "Jingle Bells" and "Deck the Halls". Here are the lyrics as performed by Homer:
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the day
Oh, what fun it is to ride singing polly wolly doodle all the day.
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the day
Oh, what fun it is to ride to Santa Claus to-day.
And for "Deck the Halls":
Deck the halls with Buddy Holly
Fa la la la la la la la la
Tis the season something jolly
Fa la la la la la la la la
We are heavy with our jackets
Fa la la La la la La la la
Sing like crazy - make a racket
(manically) FA LA LA LA LA LALALALALA!
Thanks for joining me on this magical tour of our special Christmas friends. I hope to share more terrific Christmas posts over the next month or so.
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Jason,
We had to terminate a Satanic Frosty the Snowman a few years ago. It would sing the old "Snow Meiser" song from the animated Christmas classic. Sounds great, right? Well is was ... until it ran low on batteries. Then it started to sound like some otherworldly entity that would not rest until it had consumed your soul. The transformation was so startling and disconcerting that we threw it away. Okay, that's not entirely accurate. I chopped off its head, and buried the head and body separately.
What?
Jason,
Great idea for a post. I decorated over Thanksgiving as one of my sons was here then, but won't be for Christmas. The favorite traditional piece we have (but we're on our second one. I don't think they know that though) is a peanut M&M's dispenser that you push a button and the M&M's wind their way down a circular shoot. My kids love it and now my granddaughter does too. We went through a giant bag of peanut M&M's in a few short days. Isn't Christmas fun?
Actually, I clicked on it so I could copy Alliteration into my browser for a definition....
But, I digress... ANY post with a Homer Santa is worthy of a click
LISA - I may take some photos of our home once we have it fully decorated, which is probably not until the coming weekend sometime. Thanks for reading and commenting, as always.
Jason,
This is funny. Today I went to one of my listings to take "new" pictures. When I listed the house it was close to Halloween, so I called her and said that I would like to update the pictures...now it is a scene out of Christmas in Disney World! Every time I took another step inside the house another animated object would sing a new song...dance, blow up, whatever...Then I walked towards her bedroom and the door mat started to sing to me...I had her laughing her butt off...I must have jumped 30 times...I guess I'll be taking more pictures in January...unless I can sell it for her first...keeping the photo's fresh!
Jason, such a cute post. Love your ornaments and sentiments. When my children were at home, I decorated for days on end. Now I don't spend as much time, but have TONS of Christmas decorations. Every year I have to get those decorations that are 1/2 off........my daughter will inherit lots of decorations. Love them!!!
KATERINA - Glad you liked this post, and the unique items I have displayed here. I trust and hope that you and your family (with the new addition) will have a terrific Christmas yourselves.
LISA - It is funny that you mentioned that. We got rid of our old artificial tree last year, too. We bought a new one Saturday. Have a good one. We should talk again sometime soon.
PAUL - From my rather extensive research (i.e. your comment above), I know for a fact that this is the only way to properly dispose of such an entity as this. Satanic Frosty don't play in my house!
FRAN - That sounds like a blast for the kids. Christmas is great fun. As for me, I could probably work my way through a giant bag of peanut M & M's in a few minutes if left to my own devices. Thanks for your comments. By the way, I subscribed to your blog tonight. I had seen you more frequently on mine, and yours looks to have some interesting stuff.
Jason
I am glad you have fun with this and have found something to temporarily remove you from your everyday thoughts.
Jason,
Homer is the best out of everything, and just like pulling out Christmas Items, We love to watch the old Rudolph, and Charlie Brown Christmas movies. There is something about the holidays that just makes me smile.
Take Care,
My only wish is that it would play the Bruce Springsteen version of this song instead of the instrumental.
Jason,
Thanks for the holiday tour! That Springsteen version has to be one of the best "get you in the holiday mood" songs there is. One of my all-time favorites. I get some pretty weird looks from other drivers when I hear that song in the car!
Jason, as always, very fun post, very enjoyable read! We also have certain decorations we look forward to bringing out each year, and this is such a fun time for all of us!
Brian Wilson, Zolve.com
Jason,
Great post. I personally think you made a good choice with the frogs! What are their names?
Jason - Oh the idea of dragging all the Christmas decor out is overwhelming for me!!! Arrrrrrrrrrrrgh. Good for you, I guess when the kids get older it makes it a big task. I do love Christmas though, still one of my favorite holidays!! Merry Christmas, thanks for sharing your trinkets. If I get mine out I might do the same in your honor!!
SANDI - I agree. Our kids have a few items that they eagerly anticipate seeing each year.
STEVE - Our house will not become a full-on wonderland until this weekend. I love that day!
TOM BURRIS - I hope you found the definition you needed. I agree - Homer Santa should be enough to draw a big crowd.
KAREN - Your story made me laugh (I also shared it with my wife). Good one! Glad to hear that you got some new photos in the process.
ELAINE - You have become one of my favorite commenters lately. Thanks for the alliterative remarks.
TERI - Thanks for your comments. Glad you liked this one. Also, thanks for subscribing to my blog!
ROBERTA - Thanks for your comments! I agree - Homer is a little bit scary looking in this case.
GARY - Thanks, buddy. I hope you're doing well. I appreciate you stopping by to comment.
KAY - I am trying to soak up every moment of this season. Thanks for your comments, as always.
TOM WEISS - I also like to watch those movies each year. Have a great December!
DAVID - I also sing along every time I hear that one. I think hearing jingle bells along with Clarence Clemons on saxophone puts me in the holiday spirit very quickly.
JENNIFER - Are you beside yourself in fear, anger, or happiness? They were all willing subjects.
TOM PLANT - Good one. I am not feeling creative enough to do an all "C" sentence, but I like yours.
BRIAN - Thanks! I appreciate your comments, as always. When are you going to join AR?
LINDA - It's funny. They don't actually have names yet. My six-year old daughter is the best one at giving names in our house. Maybe that should be a task of hers this year.
???? - I can understand where you are coming from. I would love to see your post on this subject, but I don't know who wrote this comment. Thanks for stopping by.
Jason, how can you tell I'm subscribing to your blog? I can't figure that one out on mine?
TERI - Go to "Statistics" from the "My Home" page (down low on the left hand side), then look for the tab marked Subscribers. You will see everyone who subscribes there.
Thanks Jason.....found it. Thank you for subscribing to me. I'll try and make my posts worthwhile. :-)
OK fine, you had fun pulling everything out of storage....which drives me NUTS!
I'm the only person I know that has a four car garage, that between every holiday and special event's special storage container, and my wife's SUV can barely pull his car into the garage....but I digress on that one for now, as my wife looks over my shoulder...ouch....I just got smacked....
but seriously, the decorating is half the fun! This year the girls wanted little christmas trees AND lights in their rooms in addition to decorating the whole house.....
ahhhh....part of the Christmas season!!! I just love it!
Jason,
I, too, have many ornaments and decorations saved from childhood and brought out only at Christmas. I take them out of the box, hold them and remember. That's the best---so many wonderful memories.
BILL - I wouldn't call it "fun", actually. More "necesssary". I have a three-car garage with no vehicles in it. No, I am not kidding. I hope you have a great Christmas season, buddy!
CYNTHIA - That is a nice feeling, isn't it? I have some ornaments from when I was a baby that my mom still uses. Thanks for your comments!
JASON: I like the title, but I would have gone with the following....
Silly Santa skiing, Suspicious Santa circling, Snowman sequencing, Spadefoots sitting, Simpson Singing
Yes, I had to go on Google to find a frog that began with "S." It's actually a toad, but close enough.
ADAM - That was my first choice, but I had to dumb it down a bit - I didn't figure most people would know what a spadefoot was.
RUTH - Thanks for your comments! I can understand wanting to start on your birthday. Glad you like the frogs. Me, too!