An International Christmas

So, Christmas has again come and gone at our house. (and by "our" I mean "my parents" seeing as how I'm still delightfully unattached with no children. This Christmas was quite a deal better than last year considering that on this date last year my mom was getting out of the hospital from nearly dying. So although I'm not really the spiritual type I'm counting my blessings, number one being my mother.
Anyway, moving on from the sad stuff.....I thought I might share a bit of this christmas with you all and wish you a merry one yourselves. My sister and brother in law were able to come home this year which is always a nice thing seeing as how they live in England, and it's quite the cost and hike to get here. As with every christmas since I can remember we woke up to stockings and presents have to wait till AFTER breakfast. Yes I still get a stocking and if you think that's weird you can suck it. In my stocking this year, Santa brought me something totally goofy and FUN................A kit to make balloon animals. Of course this begs the question did I make any good balloon animals? no. I did however attempt at some fun balloon hats/crowns and one balloon watch for my dad who REFUSED a hat. I've attached a picture of one of my experiments. (I have cropped out my brother in law picking his nose)



After we were all equipped with the proper head gear to begin christmas presents (except me, I made the hats I didn't have to wear it!) we made our way to the living room to begin our present therapy. I must say I made out like a bandit and that's not to say that material things are all that important to me, but like usual I have lots of people around me that listen to what I say and know what I like. That's right kids, I SCORED on Gnomes this year. BOOYAH~! After presents were over and my grandparent's had arrived it was time for a family game of (but of course) Monopoly. This is the family game and a holiday wouldn't be quite right without a game dragging on for hours and hours (in fact it's STILL going as I type this) This however was no ordinary Monopoly game. Seeing as how my brother in law is british (it's ok we love him anyway) and my sister and he live overseas, they brought us a "Hull" version of Monopoly.
Note: Hull is the town in Northern England where my brother in law grew up. I've actually been there for my sister's wedding and it's quite gorgeous)

I have posted some pictures so you may see some of the differences:


You'll note it's the "Hull Edition" and that's not the New York skyline above MONOPOLY.


Looks like Boardwalk? Yes. BUT NO! It's the Kingston Communications Stadium.

This property looks just about normal until you focus on the fact that all of the rent is in Pounds not Dollars......

I suppose I could continue on forever about all of the shenanigans that ensued with my little corner of the universe (that I'm not going to lie, i find pretty entertaining and affectionate. I'm a lucky girl) but, it's about time to wrap it up. I will leave you all with one little image, me and pretty much my state of joy all day on christmas....