The Christmas Meme

Well, since everyone has done this meme, I may as well do it too. So, here goes.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, I love to wrap presents with frilly bows and such. I only use bags when items can't be wrapped.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial because my dear sweet husband is terribly allergic to cedar, I won't even mention what happened the last time we had a real tree.
3. When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving, around the first Sunday in Advent
4. When do you take the tree down? not until after Epiphany
5. Do you like eggnog? love it!
6. Favorite gift as a child? My Barbie town house, unfortunately it was that Christmas that I realized there was no Santa.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Art's parents
8. Easiest person to buy for? Art, because I've got him all figured out!
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, but I have no idea where it is.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? not sure
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I love Christmas movies, so it's hard to pick one. But I'll go with "It's a Wonderful Life" that movie makes me cry. I don't even have to see the whole movie, just that last line "every time a bell rings an angel gets it's wings" and it's boohoohoo! I also love "A Smoky Mountain Christmas" with Dolly Parton and Elf with Will Ferrell.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I try to start sometime in October.
14. I’m not sure why, but there isn’t a #14.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My christmas candies that my aunt makes for me every year.
16. Lights on the tree? Absolutely! And I don't have to mess with it anymore cuz our tree is pre-lit! YAY!
17. Favorite Christmas song? This is another one where I can't choose just one. So as far as hymns go, I have to say "In the Bleak Midwinter". And for popular songs, I'd say "Do they Know it's Christmas"
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? nah... cuz there's only one that really matters.... the most famous reindeer of all.... RUDOLPH!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A star. I used to have an angel, but I switched to a star because it reminds me of the Magi coming to the Christ child.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? When I was little, it was always on Christmas Day. My in-laws are Christmas Eve kind of people, so we're opening on both.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? that we fill up the time and make ourselves so busy that we don't take time enough to consider the true meaning and reason for this season.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I don't have a favorite because I change my colors/decorations each year. this year it's purple, last year was black. I'm thinking next year might be more traditional with red... but who knows?
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? time alone with my husband!


Tag... you're it!

Fa la la la la

Okay, it's time for some Christmas music and you all know how much I love.Love.LOVE. Christmas music. I'm gonna share two songs with you this time. One of them puts a smile on my face and I feel oh so happy when I hear it. The other makes me think of my husband and well, "other" things. ;)

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas Gayla Peevey




All I Want for Christmas is You Mariah Carey

This Year's Christmas Tree

Okay for all my christmas tree fans out there, here are pictures of my/our tree this year. As you may remember, last year's decorations were black and silver. Well, this year, I went purple. It took me a long time to decide and I vacillated between several color combinations, but once I saw these, I decided it had to be purple. And don't you know, while I had to search last year for black ornaments, they are all over the place this year. I suppose it's like my teenage daughter said, "Mom, you're just ahead of the trends." Well, if someone has to be a trend setter, I suppose it may as well be me!


So, without further ado...

Tell me where you been so long....

First, let me say I appreciate all my friends checking in on me to see if I'm still around. I'm here. I visit your blogs, but blogging just isn't as important to me as it used to be. As opposed to my wonderful husband, I just don't have a lot to say. He's much more intelluctual and has lots of wonderful ideas to share with the world where I need to be with other people in person. That's not to say that I haven't enjoyed my time here, but it's not as fulfilling to me. Basically, I need a "crowd", I need to be the center of attention. I admit it, I'm a "ham". I need to have one on one interaction with instant gratification, and let's face it, that's not something one can receive from the internet.

Combine that with the fact that since the last time I posted, I've been on two vacations, suffered through a summer with 3 pregnant women in my office, lost two tellers, thus leaving myself and one other, being promoted and having to juggle all the tasks assigned with it in addition to everything I was already doing. Not to mention that my oldest child started high school this year (OMG!) and my other having had issues being diagnosed with ADD, and well, I suppose I've been a little busy.

So, I love and thank all my friends, and please know I'm still around. I try to get by all your sites at least one a week just to see what's going on with all of you. I may still pop in and out here from time to time, but nowhere near as "regular" as I used to be. So until I see you again, be good to yourself and each other!

Blog-vacation

Wow.. it's been a while since I've done any blogging. I've had some comments wondering if I'm taking a break like my husband is, and well, apparantly I am. It wasn't really intentional, but we've been soo busy with all our "construction" projects around the house, and my back went out again and I was down almost two weeks, mix those in with our upcoming beach vacation, and church camp, and you can see we've been some busy folks around here. That being said, I wish you all a pleasant summer and hopefully I'll be back to regular blogging after things around here settle down.

Take care, y'all!

Temporarirly Insane!

I feel like I should apply for Law School. I've been helping our daughter with a school project. Shelby's Social Studies class participates in something called a simulation. She's done different "Sims" for different projects, this time it's a mock trial. Shelby was selected as the lead defense attorney (wonder why? Cuz she likes to argue, just like her Daddy ;)) and her client allegedly stabbed his father. As she/we gathered all the evidence from the witnesses, i.e. other classmates, we started talking and decided that since her client had been abused by his father, the only defense she could pursue and possibly win would be an insanity defense. So, we've spent hours wikipediaing forensic psychiatry, child abuse, trial procedures, and criminal law. She knows this case inside and out, she's fully prepared. She and her co-counsel decided that they should project a professional appearance and have even coordinated their clothing, makeup, and hair. They've even gone so far as to borrow an old briefcase of mine to use for all their materials. Shelby has done an excellent job. I might've messed up when I told her I'd be pissed if she didn't win. She thought I meant I'd be pissed at her, I reassured her that I wouldn't be mad at her, but at the stupid people on the jury. Maybe that was wrong of me, but I can't help it, I'm a wee bit competitive. Well, She's done all she can and has worked really hard, I'm sure she'll make a good grade, as usual.

EDIT: Shelby lost her case because those idiots in her class were too stupid to comprehend the insanity defense. That and because the judge in the case was buddies with the prosecutor. Typical, well at least she got an acutal portrait of our justice system!

Great News!

I have great news! My brother has become a grandfather, again. So, yes, that means I'm a great aunt, again! This time we have a baby girl. My great niece, Kileigh Marie was born early this morning at 12:03am. weighing 6lbs, 10oz and 20" long. Kileigh was diagnosed in-utero with a kidney disorder and she may have to have surgery later, but there's nothing life threatening at this time. Praise God for this tiny miracle.