The Best Christmas Ever

Christmas has come, and gone in what seemed like a flash, and since then, I've been to various other Christmas parties, and I've been busy using all my great stuff.

Wanna know what I got? Of course you do!
Well, I'll spare some of the minor gifts, to save you- and me- some time. Let' start with the one you all have been wondering about.
The iPod Touch.
Ah, that thing is a beauty. It can do basically everything; surf the internet, play games, tell time- it even has features to let you purchase, and download apps, and songs straight from iTunes, without the use of a computer!
Yep, it's got everything- except a phone (unlike the iPhone.)

Then, there's the Nintendo DSi. You've probably heard of the Nintendo DS. Well, the DSi is basically an upgraded version of the DS. It can also surf the internet, as well as take pictures (using a built-in digital camera), download games via Wi-Fi connection, and lots of other nifty things. I should also mention this is the third version of the DS. I originally had just the first version (I call it the "Dinosaur", because of it's bulky size, and it's age), and my brothers had the DS Lite. Now, we all three have DSi's.

As you can see, I'm pretty excited about those gifts. I also got some books, other various video games (for Wii, and DS), a cool calendar (in which I can play darts on every month, using magnetic darts that came with it), and, of course, clothes.

If you got anything cool for Christmas (or Hanukkah. Or Kwanzaa.), and would like to share about it, feel free to leave a comment!

Anyway, It was basically the best Christmas ever, because of the DSi, and iTouch. The two following days, we went to parties with my grandmother's side of the family, and with my Uncle John. Today we had our annual Pajama Day, and just stayed home, and used all our stuff. (Except for the part when I had to go over to my cousin's house to help her with her new iTouch. *Sigh*, an awesome person's work is never done.)

Well, Merry (Late) Christmas to all of you. Hope it was merry-merry.

Yours in awesomeness,
~Ry.

I'm pretty excited about those gifts, as you can tell. I also got some books, other video games (for the Wii, and DS)

Better Not Pout.....

Better not cry! `Cause the fat man's coming tonight! Ahh, Christmas Eve. Lot's of people always look forward to Christmas Day, rather than the night before, but that's different for me. (... Kind of.) Christmas Eve is one of my favorite days because it's the only day where I voluntarily go to church. The past few years I've been in the annual Christmas Pageant at church (I've been Joseph once, and a Narrator all the other years. I've heard I'm pretty good at that narrating thing.), and since I'm not in it this year (neither are Jack and Mike), it'll be nice to see other kids doing it. (we'll see if this year's narrator can show me up. Good luck to them, they'll need it.)

Anyway, after that, my grandparents, and Aunt Patti all head back to our house to have some dinner, exchange gifts with Patti, and have some of mom's world famous Crabbies (crab cakes).

Then, when everyone leaves, we'll hang our stockings, and say our prayers, `cause Santa Clause comes tonight.
It doesn't sound like much, but it's kind of a big deal for us. It's been a tradition of ours for as long as I can remember, and with Gramma's condition, (I'd rather not say what that is right now, for the sake of her not wanting the whole world knowing) and all, it's one of the few things that hasn't changed about Christmas this year.

Another thing I'd like to pay attention to tonight is Cooper. Last year, on Christmas day, we got him a bone to keep him occupied while we opened presents in the morning. He ended up eating through the thing in five minutes, and it was a fairly big bone! He hasn't had one in a while, so I'm curious to see how fast he get's through the one we're going to give him tonight, when everyone comes over.

I should also mention that we're going to have a picture-perfect, "white" Christmas! It started snowing again this morning, only to add to the snow left over from Sunday (which was still a good two to three inches).

Anyway, just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas, seeing as I probably won't be doing any blogging tomorrow, if you know what I mean.

HO HO HO!

Yours in awesomeness,
~Ry.

Three More "Shopping Days"

Well, the title says it all. Three more days until the best day out of all 365 days in a year. (Really, there's not too much of a difference between Christmas, and birthdays, but people seem to prefer Christmas. Maybe it's the whole Christmas tree shindig.) I am happy to say that I've gotten all my shopping done... well, most of it was done by my parents. Heck, all of it was done by my parents. I just chose what I wanted to get for my little brothers, and then I went shopping for mom with dad, and I didn't have much say in what to get either, because we already had a list planned out. And, of course, I paid for nothing. Lucky me!

Don't get me wrong, I'm a pretty giving guy. (Or, at least I like to think that) I just never seem to have the money to spend graciously on other people. (Maybe I should stop blowing it all on video games, and crap I don't need.)

Anyway, Christmas has always been my favorite day of the year, along with the many people I mentioned above. I love getting together with my aunt Patti, and grandparents on Christmas Eve, and waking up at five o` clock every morning, agonizing at the gift-filled stocking laid just outside my door, watching the clock until it reads 7:00, and then running into my mom's room, with my brothers, and opening our stockings on our parents' bed, and then running downstairs to see what's been left under the tree by "Santa", and then going up to Gramma's house, and opening more presents, and having a steady-dieted breakfast of sugar-filled pastries, such as danishes, and muffins (are muffins even considered pastries?), and heading home to use all our new stuff.
Did I get everything?
Oh, almost forgot- every year, the day after Christmas (Dec. 26), we have our family holiday, "Pajama Day", in which we stay in our pajamas all day, and use our new stuff. Unfortunately, this day will be delayed this year due to another Christmas party we must attend, along with Pa's side of the family. But, at least we'll get more presents. (I know what you're thinking; "Hey, what happened to 'I'm a pretty giving guy'?" Don't blame me, you know you like getting presents too.)
Oh yeah, did I mention it snowed here?
A lot?
Yeah, we've got about two, or three feet of snow here, and that's why the party was delayed. Looks like it's gonna be a "white Christmas".

Another thing about Christmas; we no longer have any Santa-believers in this household. Jack and Mike were told the truth last month, and it's kind of sad that there's no one left here to spread the "magic" with. Well, there are my little cousins, Nick, Noah, Ava, and Mia, but, you know what I mean.
I still remember the night I was told about Santa. I was the same age as my brothers, nine. I think it was in early December, and I saw a few commercials with "Santa" in them while watching TV with Mom, and I asked-

"Mom?"
"What?"
"Is Santa real?"
"What do you think?"
I didn't know how to answer. I guess I was beginning to catch on. I mean, the whole "flying-reindeer" thing, and "getting-to-every-house-in-the-world" shenanigans was beginning to sound a little too great to be true. I was almost ten, after all.
Later that night, Mom came in to tuck me into bed, and told me the truth. I don't remember the whole conversation, but I do remember crying. I felt as if someone dear to me had just died. I'd believed in Santa with all my heart, and now he's been ripped away from my imagination.
Of course, I eventually got over it. I enjoyed keeping Santa alive in my little brothers' imaginations, and even almost let the truth slip through my lips. It was a couple years ago, and I had gotten something I really wanted from "Santa", and I yelled-
"Thanks, Mom!"
She gave me a look, and said, "I didn't get that for you!"
I blushed, and said, "Oh, yeah, I forgot."
I guess we're both pretty good actors, because Jack and Mike didn't seem to mind my sudden outburst.

So, now you know a little more about what Christmas means to me. I'd love to hear what your favorite parts of Christmas are! Leave a comment!

So, hope you're having a great Christmas season (or a great Hanukkah... or Kwanzaa. Speaking of which, did you know Jewish people get eight times the presents during Hanukkah? Well, technically. The holiday lasts eight freaking days!)

Yours in awesomeness,
~Ry.

The Simpsons

Just a little video I'd like to share with you guys, found it quite amusing!

DOH!





Yours in awesomeness,
~Ry.

Where I've Been: A Month in Review

Holy Snowballs, Batman! It's been a while!

As you can see, I haven't been updating the blog as much as I'd like. I'm sorry if I let anyone down, but let me try to make it up to you in this post.

Let's see... I "disappeared" a little bit before Thanksgiving. As far as that holiday went, it was great! It started as always; waking up to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, on TV, and a little while later it was off to Gramma's house!

There, we sat, talked, walked around awkwardly, and watched football. I had brought our Wii system with us, so I set that up, and we played some video games.
I should also add that I had some of the best apple pie I'd ever eaten in my life!

So, the weeks after that were pretty boring... lots of Christmas shopping, homework, school, and stuff like that. Let's skip to the latest chapter in our story, shall we?

Yesterday, we had our first Christmas party, with my Gramma's side of the family. It took place at some golf club, and we were served an excellent lunch, and were told odd, childrens' stories by some lady I've never met. I think Nick and Noah enjoyed that more than I did.
I also got to show my Uncle's girlfriend, Moe, a couple card tricks. I probably should have told you this a while ago, but I'm something of a magician. I have a little over thirty, or forty card tricks in my arsenal, and I also enjoy performing street magic, and a bit of prop magic. I usually bring a deck of cards wherever I go, so I got to show Moe some of my best tricks. I'll try to get some videos of them soon, to show you guys.
Anyway, she was blown away by my magic, and Pa, who had seen some of my stuff before, loved the reaction I got out of Moe.

Of course, we got a few presents from some relatives. My first gift of Christmas this year was a "Bop-It" game, from Uncle Denis, and that turned out to be quite addicting. I also got a gift card to GameStop from Nana.
We were planning on having another party today, but that got canceled because of the blizzard that hit us late last night.

I awoke this morning, and looked out my bedroom window to see how much snow had fallen so far. That question was answered when I saw that my entire window was covered in snow!
When I went downstairs, I looked outside, and there was about a foot of snow, and it was still falling! I went to let Cooper outside to go to the bathroom, and had to push the door a couple times to open it, and push the snow that had been barricading it away.
As a kid, I was delighted to see all this snow. That quickly changed when I later spent about an hour and a half outside, shoveling the driveway with my dad.
Which brings us to where I am now, typing to you guys. With Christmas only five days away, I'll be telling you guys about all my great gifts in no time! Hope you all are having a great Holiday season, and have fun shoveling!

Yours in awesomeness,
~Ry.