Holiday card roundup '05

[Note: Edited on 12/30/05 to increase number of twins: 2; number of cards that were hand delivered: 1; number of cards that were attached to a plate of cookies: 1.]

Okay, folks, Christmas Holiday is over. It's now time to remove all Christmas Holiday cards from your home. That's right. Walk over to that decorative wall board you made out of red felt, batting, and old buttons; or that nifty card holder you fashioned out of some old velvet ribbon and an ordinary household stapler; or that fancy cheater's card holder you bought at the Hallmark store; and start recycling.

But before you do, let's review what the postman brought us this year:

Holiday Cards: Give and Ye Shall Receive

Number of cards mailed: 97
Number of cards received: 37

Number of cards that contained a Holiday photo: 23
Number of cards that did not contain a Holiday photo: 14

Number of cards that contained a Holiday newsletter: 2
Number of cards that were attached to a plate of cookies: 1

Number of cards that made me scramble to get another card in the mail: 1
Number of cards that were hand delivered: 1


Number of cards from Realtors or Mortgage Brokers: 2

Number of cards from exes (husbands, wives, girlfriends, and/or boyfriends): 1

Number of cards from people we do not know: 1

Number of cards that contained a link to the person's website: 1

Number of cards that announced a pregnancy: 1 (We got one last year, too!)
Number of cards that wished us a Merry Christmas 2006: 1 (Same person who announced her pregnancy. Her error is understandable.)

Number of cards that came with a present: 3
Number of cards that came with a check: 1 (To some relatives, you're never too old for a Christmas check. Thank you, Aunt Barb!)
Number of cards that came with a homeade Holiday CD featuring songs by The Aqua Velvets and Nina Hagen: 1

Number of photos that featured kids with coordinating outfits: 2
Number of photos that featured kids with matching outfits: 3

Number of photos that featured entire families with coordinating outfits: 3
Number of photos that featured entire families with matching outfits: 0

Number of photos that featured twins: 2

Number of photos in which a kid looks extremely unhappy: 1
Number of photos that featured kids cuter than my own: 0

Number of photos in which the people actually look cold: 3
Number of photos in which a dog looks cold: 1

Number of photos that featured people on a beach: 2

Number of photos with dogs: 6
Number of photos with dogs dressed as reindeer: 1
Number of photos with dogs wearing Holiday bandanas: 2
Number of photos with dogs wearing Holiday sweaters: 1

Number of photos that featured a grandma wearing a Rudolph nose: 1 (Hi, Jewel!)