Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Holy Day!

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T'was the Night Before Christmas...

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Friday, December 21, 2007

Been Tagged Awhile

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy this entire post and paste it into your own post. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then tag someone else!

I tag Nico, Michelle, and anyone else that actually reads me and hasn't been tagged yet!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, but those bags are oh so easy!


2. Real or artificial tree? With the whole pre-lit thing going on I have to say artificial, plus it pains me when I think of all the trees that we cut down every year to sell and then dispose of. Just doesn't seem right to me.

3. When do you put up the tree? weekend after thanksgiving. Like to start the season of Christmas as soon as possible

4. When do you take the tree down? I'd keep it up through the season of epiphany if hubs would let me, but it usually comes down a weekend around the first of the year.

5. Do you like eggnog? I used to LOVE it, but this year I'm pregnant and it just sounds repulsive.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I have trouble remembering my favorite (this should tell us about something about what we are stressing ourselves out to buy for our kids). I honestly remember just loving the festivities surrounding Christmas! But I do remember to particular gifts. I got a Cabbage patch premie, and mine was of a different ethnicity I think cause maybe that's all they had left, but I thought that made it even more special...even more mine. And I remember the year I discovered that santa wasn't real I got a purple scooter. Saw the box in the parents room and then remember hearing them trying to put it together Christmas eve at my grandmother's house while we were supposed to be sleeping. (none of us were).


7. Do you have a nativity scene? 2 actually, thanks to my SIL! we have a ceramic one that we bought years ago (at least two heads have been glued back on), and now Shelby gave us an adorable small one made of wood that M loves and we will most likely put it on Jesus' b-day cake this year. P.S. when I was in college I had one entirely out of paper (just like paper dolls with the little stands and everything) that I got at the Dollar Tree for $1. That thing was awesome!


8. Hardest person to buy for? In-laws on all parts. We don't really do lists so we know that in general gift cards are the way to go, but we have a tight budget, so I always feel like it's not enough. I can make an actual gift seem more valuable in many ways cause of the time and effort put into them, can't do that with a gift card.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? generally any type of underwear would have fallen into this category, only now that I'm older, I will buy underwear with my Christmas gift cards.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, if I actually send any. I rarely find time to do this.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I have snuggled up and watched two recently. My utmost fave, "The Family Man" with Nicholas Cage and Tea Leoni! What a movie! Makes you remember the things that really matter.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? All year! seriously, but I didn't do enough of it this year cause I was still scroungin this last week even.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? heck yeah! Especially if it's a really good one that you happen to have two of.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mom's dressing and chocolate pie

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear/white

17. Favorite Christmas song? Love Christmas Songs! Carols are Silent Night and Away in a Manger. Still cry when I hear O Holy Night on the radio! What a worshipful song about Jesus' birth! Then I love any Christmas songs in New Orleans Style something about it. Love Harry Connick Jr's Frosty and Lois Armstrong's Christmas Time in New Orleans.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? used to travel alot. Now we try to stay home and enjoy it as our own family.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen, AND Rudolph

20. What's on the tree top? A rusty star that has lights in it.


21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? One on Christmas Eve. The rest on Christmas morning AFTER we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and blow out the candles on the cake (and while we are eating cake for breakfast of course)


22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? I have a list: People refusing to be jolly about Christmas-- It is the best time of year ever; TRAFFIC and trying to shop; People being rude

23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? No, though eventually I'd love to have more than one tree so some could have themes. We pick up similar ornaments whenever we travel to different places. We have lots of those on our tree.

24. What do/did you leave for Santa? Cookies and milk.

25. What were any traditions you had growing up? Any that you do as an adult now? I always loved the Carols by Candlelight service growing up, but it was tricky to work any family time in at Christmas as Dad was usually involved with the music. So, Mom started the tradition of fondue. And that is Christmas eve dinner! It is fun and takes awhile, so it forced us all to interact for more than 30 min. at a time. I love that tradition so much I have carried it on. This is the first year we have done it. J, M, and I all sat down to fondue tonight. Steak, Chicken, bread and apples for the cheese fondue, fresh strawberries and pineapples, graham crackers, apples, and marshmallows for the chocolate fondue. My intention was to also serve baked potatoes, but completely forgot those in the prep of all that and the Birthday Cake for Jesus. Oh well. It was great. M didn't enjoy it like J and I did, but then she is an impatient 2 year old. Still she had a great time.





The only other is to actually through a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas morning and have cake with breakfast. Wait till you see it! It was at least as fun making it as it's going to be eating it tomorrow. We were going to do streamers everywhere, but I'm too tired at this point. Oh well. Maybe before we do the blowing out the candles on the cake and singing we'll read the Christmas story! Yep. I think so.

A Wise Quote

This is a quote I borrow from a gal who also borrowed it...AND YET I find it stunningly appropriate for life right now. I am not battling terminal cancer like my friend, but none the less am battling something else (aren't we all). I would have liked to remind myself of this quote almost daily during Katrina, but I never knew. Now, at a time when I watch my family go through what I can only describe as a far more painful, "man-made", personally inflicted by people that were supposed to love, disaster...I find these words comforting. In this season of joy and celebration, please remember to see those around you. Not everyone is in a season of celebration in their lives. Some people may need more than a $4 gift wrapped in a bag with sparkles and tissue paper. If nothing else give Christ this year. Be the reminder yourself. Be Christ for others.

Octavius Winslow… “During the process that God is providentially dealing with His people, there is often much that seems to ruffle the surface of the soul, disturbing its repose with a wave here, a billow there, a swelling yonder. His providential dealings are sometimes so inexplicable, painful, and dark, that for a moment the child of God is, as it were, unbalanced. He begins to think that all these circumstances and events are about to militate against his best interests, while that is transpiring, the feeling of perfect satisfaction. But let him calmly wait and trustfully hope until God Himself interprets…gives him light on what is now so shaded, perfects the thing concerning him, and then,…he will say, ‘Lord, it is enough; I am perfectly satisfied with all your dealings with me. I thought the stroke severe, I felt that burden crushing; I trembled as I entered into that cloud; my unbelieving heart murmured; but now, my God, my Father, in clearer light I…exclaim, ‘It is enough; I shall be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness.’ The full, the perfect satisfaction is reserved when we enter glory, and look back on all the past and see how wise, how loving, how holy, was the whole arrangement of God’s gracious and providential dealings with us.”

Sunday, December 16, 2007

6 years!


Happy Anniversary Baby...I got you on my mind! Well, it hasn't been the most enchanting anniversary ever, but I'm more glad than ever to be married to my man! It's hard to believe when I look at these pictures how long it seems that we've been married and yet in the scheme of life it's been no time at all. I hope it is sooooo much longer. I can't imagine life with out him. I love living it with him and I'm thankful to God for placing us together for this journey.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Savvy Surprise!

Today was girls day out. Me, Mom, and M are out and about and have no agenda. We think we might like to stop by lots of the Goodwill's in the area and we know we have to stop by a Wal-mart. When we come to the first Goodwill, M doesn't want to go in, till she discovers she will most likely get something out of the deal. And what is the first thing she went for might you ask? A lovely pair of pink and colorful rainboots in her size! Stride Rite no less! A mere $2 (which Nani foot the bill for). I ventured to the maternity section cause if you are avid readers you'll remember that in our last yard sale my hubs mistakenly sold the entire tub of maternity clothes that I had set aside for a friend. And he only sold the whole tub for $2! Not 2 weeks later we heard the surprising news that we were pregnant again and unexpected!

A very giving friend over at itsamomthing let me borrow two tubs full of maternity clothes which will be fantastic come summer! A good bit of them are for summer time and they are in XL which will be a while till I can wear them. I'm still wearing my regular clothes sort of. Truthfully, I may have gained 2-3 pounds at the most (even though I'm starving and eat all the time), but most of the pants I still wear are low rise and that help. However, I noticed that the waist on at least one or two pair are seeming a little more restraining these days and thus I realize it won't be long now till I'll need another option.

My fave thing last pregnancy was my fave jeans and this red shirt. I went to Goodwill looking for a fave pair of jeans. Lo and behold I found 2 pair and a khaki pair in L which will be perfect as I get even bigger! I also found several shirts that I really liked and they were longsleeves. I'm picky about styles, so I was thrilled to find quality and style. Thank you lovely post preggers lady who gave your clothes to Goodwill! On top of that many of them were 1/2 price today!

Then...we tried the Goodwill on Haywood down by Laurens Rd. As we rounded the corner we saw that the sign said Goodwill Clearance Center! This should be good I say to my mom. Then we open the doors and our eyes got as big as the bins that were filled with items all over the store for the one price of 99 cents a pound! Mom and I only looked in the toys and books bins! And we were there for 2 hours AND M was perfectly happy! There were toys coming out of her ears to keep her thoroughly entertained! I found up to day NICE brand name toys of all kinds. Leap Start, Vtech, Li'l people, Fisher Price...So many NICE toys, but I couldn't take them all! Still.

Here is a pic and list of what I did come away with: Many will be gifts for others. Some are toys we've wanted for a while, but refuse to pay even close to full price for. Some are for potty training rewards. AND all of them cost $14 total. (That was the pounds remember). Except books. Books are 10 cents per pound, which I spent 20 cents.

6--Children's books (one dora, peter rabbit, The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton, Pat the Bunny...)

1 Dipsy Teletubbie (he talks when you squeeze him- 6 different things)
1 La-La Teletubbie fingerpuppet still in package (stocking stuffer)
2 sand scrapers (realized I didn't have any this week as it was 80 degrees)
3 pink mega blocks (M always asks for the pink ones)
6 1/2 cups of play doh (a new fave of M's)
1 parents magazine ball pounder and hammer
1 Playskool Airtivity Ball popper w/2 balls
2 small and 1 lg play doh molder thing(s)
1 blue/white push on nite lite
1 blue/white light up wand
pedicure set (flip flops, brush, cuticle press, file)
electric nail dryer
silver sparkles nail polish (gift)
crystal drop necklace
dress up purple tiara
dress up aqua irridescent purse
dress up perfume sprayer
dress up necklace
dress up compact (magical sounds)
dress up mirror
Little People's Eddie (and Freddie)
1 Sprinkler sprayer for summer fun
1 old school Care Bear (even if this doesn't come out well after washing...it only cost like 10 cents)
1 American Idol noise maker clapper
6 Ponies
1 My Li'l Pony lunch box
1 Talking Dora swimming pool and Dora figurine
1 leather coin purse
1 Homer Simpson doll (which I actually had a dream about last night that I bought one at Sears for J's stocking stuffer!)

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Ever Feel Like This!

M has been like this in recent days past...Thankfully we are at least temporarily out of this stage! Couldn't help but pass it along for those who are there.