halfwhiteboy

What a sad expression for a sweater so festive, don't you think? But wait, because...

It's already a tradition in our department to hold our Kris Kringle (Monito-Monita, Secret Santa, exchange gift, whatever you may call it) on a separate day from our Christmas party. Because we're more than forty, the whole process of guessing one's monito or "baby" and handing out gifts takes too much time away from the program already. We've also started following a theme even if we only do it at the office. Last year I wore a Christmas sweater --replete with tiny sleigh bells--in line with a preppy dress code. This time around it was something Christmassy .

And 2016 has begun! Before the clock struck midnight, though, we managed to squeeze in a little family portrait for New Year's . We were all complete--me and Kwittiegirl in our ugly but cute Christmas sweaters , and our four cats Kwittie Boy, Foreman, Thordis, and Little Boy. We haven't done this in a really long time and our last attempt two years ago was a total disaster. It was already difficult doing a Halloween family portrait back when we only had two cats--how much more with four! They've got claws for chrissakes! Getting that usable photo above took quite the effort. First I had to set the camera up since I'll be using the timer. Next Kwittiegirl had to position herself with two cats in the frame before I start the timer, grab the remaining two cats, and get ourselves in the frame. And then of course we had to control all four of them for a good couple of minutes. Here are some outtakes (or should I say bloopers?) from our little amateur shoot:

Sorry for cropping you out, ladies. But what's with all the ladies behind me anyway? Well, someone had this idea to hold a group photo the day before our department Christmas party--and that we had to wear preppy clothes. So out with all the plaid, sweaters, and what-have-you did we! Me, on the other hand...