"it's not going to be a big christmas...."

but it sure was a quotable one. following are bits and pieces of dialogue and snapshots of moments heard and seen throughout the last week at the south road homestead.

eric (imitating the monotone Rite-Aid checkout woman): "you would like to try blistex? only $1.99."

*i wonder if that will work* what seth and joanna were thinking as they stood idly by, watching griffin preparing to see if his suctioned tipped nerf arrows would stick to maddox's glasses. after being fired from two inches away.

aaron: "really? you guys were just going to watch?" *aaron breaking up the above mentioned experiment before arrow was launched.*

reese in gray skinny jeans.

cameron, in a tiny fit of anger: "you're not invited to by birthday party!" *note: he was born in may*

maddox in harry potter glasses.

rachel: "...and then the nurse hit the gag reflex and all this stuff came up...." (eric and seth's face turn an ashen color)

mom: "we agreed on no presents!"
dad: "it's not from me! look! austin. and gretchen."
joanna: "wasn't that wrapping paper used on a present we opened last night."
dad (feigning innocence): "i have no idea what you are referring to."

seth (coming up with his own song lyrics): "dear diary, dear diary!!"

tony randall: "THE HIDDEN DOOR!?!"

joanna and rachel: "that was number four." (counting the number of times mom referenced a certain someone to settle down)

all of the baby jesus' in the house wrapped in red poinsettia leaves.

elizabeth: "natalie woke me up at 4 a.m., saying she heard the reindeer bells and couldn't go back to sleep."

mom: "everybody only gets one roll."
eric: "uh oh. roll rations have begun."

ella and natalie both eating four rolls.

avery responding to both her given name and the nickname of "newblett".

barb: "so, is this a christmas movie?"
jenn: "no. i don't think so."
joanna: "we just watch it a lot."
*film referenced: pillow talk*

seth holding the stolen bread above his head christmas morning and yelling in triumph.

griffin shooting dad in the backside with the nerf gun. also shooting the doors, the floor, various backsides and feet of aunts and uncles, and once trying it on his own face.

merry birthday - card from the astorian randalls to mom.

joanna: "happy birthday mom! what is it? 68?"
mom (with a withering look at her beloved 9th child): "I'm 67!!"
*pause*
joanna: "yeah, but remember that one year we all thought grandma was 93 and she was really only 92?!"

random guy at the century theatre: "i love that it's a wonderful life. have you seen that? amazing piece of work. what kills me every time is how much jimmy stewart is sweating and it's snowing. snowing!! those are potato flakes coming down. potato!" *note: see seth or rachel for pitch perfect imitation/reenactment*


merry christmas.


p.s. overheard in the composing of this blog:

dad: "i don't know what you're talking about."
mom: "that's because you weren't listening."

mom: "i smell popcorn!"

dad (in reference to a romance fiction on the couch): "rachel, can i read this book? the pages seem pretty steamy."
rachel: "it's FINE."

mom: "is it too early to go to bed?"


and to all a good night.