Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men...

...except for Michael, that is.  We're all cursing him.

For those who have kept up with our blog, you may understand why.  Did you note the apparently juvenile post with nonsense words and photos?  That was Michael's contribution to the family cheer.  I usually proof blog posts before we publish them, and I was a little annoyed to see this post, apparently put together by James (who likes to mess with font colors, etc., and tends to type random letters -- which I delete), up on the blog.  Then I came across some words that apparently made sense & I started correcting the words to improve grammar.  At that point, Eleanor came over to find out what I was fussing about, and said, "Um, that's from Daddy."  And we were off!

To catch up those who don't know us as well, Michael's gift (if you can call it that) every year is to create puzzles to be solved, usually leading to the kids' "real" present.  One year, he strung a beautiful garland with green & red beads, plus crystal and lettered beads.  The kids were supposed to figure out that this was the starting point of their chase.  Yes -- morse code.  Understand, that if you don't start at the right end, it makes NO SENSE.  And later the letters were used for something else.  I've blocked it out...PTSD, I'm sure.

Anyway, the blog is some sort of encryption of something, who knows what.  We've been working for about 4 1/2 hours now, and aren't much farther ahead, with the exception of a few "aha!" moments which have led to answers like "Christmas."  Sigh.

As Florence said, though, it NOW feels like Christmas.  The gifts were great, but it's the frustration, the brain cudgeling that really lets us know that 'tis the season.

In the first flush of enthusiasm

The perpetrator -- isn't our tree cute?

Following up on a picture clue.  It didn't help.

Milling around aimlessly.  

Jim, however, is never aimless -- his camera is nearly always pointed somewhere.

Eleanor modeling the sleigh

Looking for hope by the door -- also pictured in Michael's post

Eleanor's not helping much at this point.

We now have three computers and an ipad to help out.

Ashley's translating red & green letters to morse code...here's hoping!

Love,

Alexandra