The Maxwells were blessed this Christmas, as always

[ChickeyMonkey]

Are recliners really the only furniture in that family/living room?

It looks like there's one for everyone.

Notice how grandma is pushed to the back in the family photo, but everyone is surrounding grandpa. No mention of grandma. Nice. :roll:

For some reason it really pissed me off that one of the boys brought his freaking guitar to go caroling. Isn't that cheating? Aren't they supposed to use only their voices and harmonize? I don't know, they just seem so pretentious with their stupid music that's mediocre at best. "Truuust eeeend obey" my ass.

I actually like the skirts the girls are wearing, but they'd look better shortened to knee length or just above knee length. As to the frumpers, well, holy shit they are frumpalicious!

[contrary]

i had to marvel at all of those fabulous velour recliners, too.

i thought for a minute that sarah got a cute leather purse, but alas...it's the big-ass bible cover.

[fundiefan]

Well, when you spend hours a day having time with the lord, you have to be comfortable, don't you? If you're not, you might be distracted and not focusing 100% on the lord. With 8 people in the house full time, and the pretty regular presence of the married sons and their wives, you need a lot of comfortable seating. I can't imagine spending 2.5 hours crying with the lord while on the floor or a regular sofa.

[hoipolloi]

Well, when you spend hours a day having time with the lord, you have to be comfortable, don't you? If you're not, you might be distracted and not focusing 100% on the lord. With 8 people in the house full time, and the pretty regular presence of the married sons and their wives, you need a lot of comfortable seating. I can't imagine spending 2.5 hours crying with the lord while on the floor or a regular sofa.

Yes but in what passes for Steve's mind, doesn't the Lord like it better the more you suffer?

[fundiefan]

Yes but in what passes for Steve's mind, doesn't the Lord like it better the more you suffer?

But in Steve's mind, it's what works for him. He is, after all, the family idol and lord. He is the one who talks to the lord and tells the family what is decided. As long as he is comfortable, he can keep the family in prayer for multiple hours a day, thus keeping them from daring to actually think about anything.

[gardenvarietycitizen]

I have an iPhone (black one!) and was just thinking that in my case, the entire magic of the thing is keeping me connected with news from the other side of the planet. I'm the only person who uses it so it's got all the capabilities it came with - and even before thinking about apps and news subscriptions, it comes with a web browser on it so you can read whatever the heck you want, news sites, porn, whatever. It's got google! Hence, my wonder. How can Steve-O allow this?

Just now though I went searching and it turns out that you can remove all access to Safari (so no web for you) AND the iStore (so no downloading alternate browsers or news sources for you), if you're the first person to get to the phone, turn those things off and put in a pass number. So then any other users can't turn the features back on unless they know the secret number.

So NOW my only wondering is... who set that up with the number, Teri or Steve? :D

[contrary]

and why do you need an iphone to text your siblings?

[mnb357]

But in Steve's mind, it's what works for him. He is, after all, the family idol and lord. He is the one who talks to the lord and tells the family what is decided. As long as he is comfortable, he can keep the family in prayer for multiple hours a day, thus keeping them from daring to actually think about anything.[/uote]

Christ, you realize that's exactly what Jim Jones used to do in California?

[Guest Anonymous]

Teri wrote in one of the corners that IT equipment gets passed down to younger siblings when the older ones upgrade, but that the younger ones only get to use laptops etc offline. I would expect it is a similar thing with the phones; the younger girls probably get them for calls/texts and bible verses only, and are limited to calling each other within the family.

[MamaJunebug]

Can someone please break the little girls of the "scrunched up face" smile like Spinster Aunt Anna?? Also, break Spinster Aunt Anna of the scrunched up face smile as well. Maybe this would help her secure a hubby??

Sorry.... I flunked the Maxwell name and face matching game... I keep thinking Sarah is Reversal Anna.... Reversal Anna looks older than Sarah.

Edited because I am clearly a graduate of the SOTDRT

The scrunchy-face seems to come from Melanie, when you can find photos in which she is tickled about something.

FWIW.

[fundiefan]

But in Steve's mind, it's what works for him. He is, after all, the family idol and lord. He is the one who talks to the lord and tells the family what is decided. As long as he is comfortable, he can keep the family in prayer for multiple hours a day, thus keeping them from daring to actually think about anything.[/uote]

Christ, you realize that's exactly what Jim Jones used to do in California?

Yes, I've made that connection along with many others. The Maxwells are a cult, ruled by Steve. They're not big and they don't have a lot of members, but they are a cult none the less. When one person determines what do, when you do it, how you do it; what you have access to and what you don't; what you are allowed to read or hear or see; what time you get up in the morning, what you have for dinner, and what you do for Christmas....that says god complex, which often also means 'cult leader'.

[Daisy4]

In the comments section steve says that Teri made those matching frumpers a long time ago, I'm guessing when Mary was about Abby's size?

I wonder if Teri likes NR Anna more than Melanie since they share frumper love.

[Justme]

In the comments section steve says that Teri made those matching frumpers a long time ago, I'm guessing when Mary was about Abby's size?

I wonder if Teri likes NR Anna more than Melanie since they share frumpier love.

I thought he was referring to the black plaid skirts.

[Daisy4]

I thought he was referring to the black plaid skirts.

I don't think so, the commenter didn't even ask about the skirts:

lovely pictures! The red and black plaid skirts are striking, especially with the black sweaters. I don’t see Melanie in any of the pictures–praying she is well. Also, did someone make the dresses for Teri, Anna Marie, and Abby?

>>>>>>>>>>>

Nathan, Melanie and the girls were at her parent’s house that evening. I believe Teri made those years ago.

Steve

[fundiefan]

I don't think so, the commenter didn't even ask about the skirts:

lovely pictures! The red and black plaid skirts are striking, especially with the black sweaters. I don’t see Melanie in any of the pictures–praying she is well. Also, did someone make the dresses for Teri, Anna Marie, and Abby?

>>>>>>>>>>>

Nathan, Melanie and the girls were at her parent’s house that evening. I believe Teri made those years ago.

Steve

I hope the offspring that are currently in utero are both boys. The fewer people who have to wear frumpers, much less hand me down frumpers, the better. Plus, in Maxwell land, boys get to sort of have lives with jobs and making a living so they can buy a house in cash while girls are daddy's experiments in 'protection'. Sarah doesn't need to be 80 and living with her four, 50-something spinster nieces under Nathan's protection.

[ChickeyMonkey]

I have an iPhone (black one!) and was just thinking that in my case, the entire magic of the thing is keeping me connected with news from the other side of the planet. I'm the only person who uses it so it's got all the capabilities it came with - and even before thinking about apps and news subscriptions, it comes with a web browser on it so you can read whatever the heck you want, news sites, porn, whatever. It's got google! Hence, my wonder. How can Steve-O allow this?

Just now though I went searching and it turns out that you can remove all access to Safari (so no web for you) AND the iStore (so no downloading alternate browsers or news sources for you), if you're the first person to get to the phone, turn those things off and put in a pass number. So then any other users can't turn the features back on unless they know the secret number.

So NOW my only wondering is... who set that up with the number, Teri or Steve? :D

I thought the iphone (or maybe it's the ipad?) didn't support porn, but the Android did? That's what my husband said, anyway. :P

Doesn't really matter since we don't have either an iphone or a droid.

Why would you want to watch porn on such a small screen? I know they're bigger now, but I don't get wanting to watch *any* movie on a phone. I want to be able to see a bigger picture than is available on the phones.

[gardenvarietycitizen]

I thought the iphone (or maybe it's the ipad?) didn't support porn, but the Android did? That's what my husband said, anyway. :P

Doesn't really matter since we don't have either an iphone or a droid.

Why would you want to watch porn on such a small screen? I know they're bigger now, but I don't get wanting to watch *any* movie on a phone. I want to be able to see a bigger picture than is available on the phones.

There was some controversy about how the iStore people weren't okaying porn-aimed special apps.

But if you have a web browser and YouTube (both of which the iDevices have always had), you can find plenty of porn, there's never been any need for any apps :) There's blogs that are pretty much nothing but pics of naked people getting it on, one per entry, those are perfectly accessible even with a 3 inch screen! Plus there's Netflix.

...but yeah. News clips are fine on the phone, for movies (just regular movies!!! and TV shows though, I want to watch them on the iPad at least. Supposedly the attraction of porn on a phone is you can take it into the bathroom. I don't WANNA know...

Porn aside though, if you have that same web browser and YouTube you can stay fully informed of world news. Can't imagine Steve-O being okay with that, either.

[ChickeyMonkey]

There was some controversy about how the iStore people weren't okaying porn-aimed special apps.

But if you have a web browser and YouTube (both of which the iDevices have always had), you can find plenty of porn, there's never been any need for any apps :) There's blogs that are pretty much nothing but pics of naked people getting it on, one per entry, those are perfectly accessible even with a 3 inch screen! Plus there's Netflix.

...but yeah. News clips are fine on the phone, for movies (just regular movies!!! and TV shows though, I want to watch them on the iPad at least. Supposedly the attraction of porn on a phone is you can take it into the bathroom. I don't WANNA know...

Porn aside though, if you have that same web browser and YouTube you can stay fully informed of world news. Can't imagine Steve-O being okay with that, either.

Thanks, Garden. I don't use the internet on my phone or even text (too expensive and I don't have many people to text), so I know nothing about what's allowed and what isn't.

That makes sense about the, *ahem* portability of having porn on your phone. But really, that's just ew!

[Mommy22alyns]

The Maxwells are so blessed. They had extra family time for the holidays. I'm not sure how they could possibly get extra family time when they are with each other 24/7/365, but, whatever. They also gave practical gifts and shopped in teams and it was a blessing and, of course, special. Sarah got a new bible cover. I am sure it is exactly what she has always wanted, because what else could an almost thirty year old stay at home daughter possibly want or need?

And, Teri and NR Anna had matching frumpers! Assimilation is definitely complete for poor NR Anna. She is officially and fully a Maxwell. Saddest thing I've seen this holiday season, among all the fundies.

ETA: Because I just noticed that poor Abby has a matching frumper too. Three generations of frumpers. They must be so proud.

:lol: And I would DIE if I had to wear the same exact thing as MIL. Vomit, vomit. Poor NR Anna.

[ChickeyMonkey]

:lol: And I would DIE if I had to wear the same exact thing as MIL. Vomit, vomit. Poor NR Anna.

We have a new acronym for her: NRA! Which one is she, by the way? I get them all confused, except for Mary, she of the fucked up teeth and the unibrow (although, thankfully no more).

[Mommy22alyns]

We have a new acronym for her: NRA! Which one is she, by the way? I get them all confused, except for Mary, she of the fucked up teeth and the unibrow (although, thankfully no more).

NRA is the one in the front right of the last pic with her husband... which one is he? I can't tell the boys apart. RA has the gummy smile and Sarah is pretty.

[MamaJunebug]

We have a new acronym for her: NRA! Which one is she, by the way? I get them all confused, except for Mary, she of the fucked up teeth and the unibrow (although, thankfully no more).

Easy to cull NRA from the herd: She's got yellow-blonde hair (natural, apparently!) and more twinkling eyes, and she doesn't look like the rest of them, with their oval faces and lank, long hair. Oh, and also, she normally wears her hair braided and arranged on her head, rather than long. If you ever see a family photo on or since NRA & Chris's wedding, she's pretty easy to pick out, even beyond the bridal gown. ;)

[skankbiscuit]

NRA is the one in the front right of the last pic with her husband... which one is he? I can't tell the boys apart. RA has the gummy smile and Sarah is pretty.

Christopher, the 2nd oldest, is NRA's husband

[FloraDoraDolly]

In the comments section steve says that Teri made those matching frumpers a long time ago, I'm guessing when Mary was about Abby's size?

I wonder if Teri likes NR Anna more than Melanie since they share frumper love.

Have we ever seen Melanie in a frumper? Abby and Bethany don't usually wear them either, even though they're at the age where they look cute in such garments.

[Guest Anonymous]

When the girls last made matching frumper sets, Melanie wore a white shirt over hers, and put white cardigans over the little girls', for the photoshoot. Melanie is conservative but she has more taste than the others. I think she has more control too - it was noticeable that her family went to her parents from Christmas Eve this year, rather than waiting til Christmas Day, as usual. I hope Grandma Melanie's-mum hung stockings by the little girls' beds and told them all about Santa... :D

Steve has said a couple of times in the comments that the girls now buy clothes online rather than making them. He also said there would be no frumpershoot this year, but that they would be using a group shot from their travels for future publicity. Someone commented last year that the clothing policy seemed to have changed after they visited the Duggars, so I guess Steve decided a change of marketing would be in order, after seeing Jimboob's commercial success.

I think NRA is likely to be the remaining frumper queen in the Maxwell compound. She bought that pair of matching shirts for her and Christopher so she could cut hers up to make that unforgiveable matching collar and cuffs for one of her frumpers. The rest of the fabric is probably going to be ruffled onto a rompersuit for baby Max, when he arrives. :mrgreen: