Hooray for Garbage Day!

I forgot to take out the garbage cans last week.  I never forget to do it which is evidence of my frazzled state of mind.  That's the short story.  Here's where it gets good. . .
We've had lots going on.  The night of the missed garbage day we had friends over for a festive night of gingerbread house building.  The kids decorated cookies while the adults slaved away on their gingerbread creations.  There was a lot of people, a lot of chaos, and we produced a lot of trash.  This started to stress me out.  Only six more days to go until the garbage man would come again.
The next day we let the boys make their own gingerbread houses because we had so much candy and crackers left over.  More mess.
Tuesday night Randy hosted a Christmas party for the teenagers who go to our church.  They made food, did a Yankee swap {New England talk for white elephant gift exchange} and played the game we call "The Newspaper Ball".  {It's simple and fun.  Randy wrapped up small gifts, candy, junk, etc. in a huge ball of newspaper and tape.  As soon as someone rolls doubles on the dice, they get to rip into the ball wearing oven mitts.  Anything they can free from the ball is theirs.  It is hilarious and kind of violent.  We love it!}  It also produced three bags of garbage!
The next morning the boys were talking about their excitement that Christmas was only eight days away.  "Big deal!"  I said.  "The garbage man comes in 2 days and I can't wait!"  Marcus looked at me with a raised eyebrow and told me I was crazy.
Today, blessed garbage day has finally arrived.  I took all three heavily loaded cans out to the street, then waited for my neighbors to leave for work so I could stuff their cans full of my bags of trash.  My plan worked and we are now free of all garbage!  Yes, I sound a little crazy.  But you would too after living in Seattle where you're fined if your trash can is too full for the lid to close all the way.

Now please resume your Christmas celebrations.  I will do the same.

The New England lighthouse is the winner! 

Yes, they added a wreath to the front door

Day 2 of Gingerbread Mania

Teenagers!

The Newspaper Ball