Happy New Year! It is such a beautiful summer’s day here in Mobtown that I thought I would post some photographs taken in the dead of winter, two weeks ago when we celebrated Christmas. Yes, I’m calling it that instead of Secular Winter Holiday because I lost a skirmish in the War on Christmas and ended up getting a tree—actually my first Christmas tree as an adult—which we decorated with Rob’s and Rindy’s family ornaments. This photo is the least blurry of the ones I took on Christmas morning.

Somewhere, Martha Stewart is cackling with glee, for we also made traditional Christmas gingerbread persons, seen here shortly after disembarking from their spaceship.

Rob and I also lavished our daughter with festive presents, such as the Pink Bunny With Five Heads That Grabs Her Face and the Decomposing Pig’s Femur That Made Her Vomit In The Alley (both by Milton Bradley).

Lastly, as a belated Christmas gift to a world that did not seem to appreciate me as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Demon, here is exclusive footage of a certain Ms. Goblin Foo Uvula (new name: Sparkles Snodgrass, Maytag Repairman) taken just about six years ago. The cat is her estranged sister, Monster Foo Foo. (Hey, Mom, click on the arrow to play the video!)

Tomorrow: Photos of The Most Fabulous Birthday Present Ever®.