Christmas Tag

1. Wrapping paper or gift bag? both - definitely wrapping paper for under the tree

2. Real tree or artificial? 1/2 and 1/2. traditional sparkly white lights on artificial tree in one corner and real, (cut up in Red Lodge Mountain (still waiting to tree hunt this year) in another part of the house

3. When do you put up your tree? Day after thanksgiving

4. When do you take down your tree? after New Years - maybe a week or so

5. Do you like eggnog? of course but I like mine 1/2 milk and 1/2 eggnog, Bruce straight up the creamier the better!

6. Favorite gift received as a child- A baby-a-live, great practice for the mommy to be. I was never given 3 at one time though.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes two - one I made when we were first married a ceramic cutesy one, and #2 my favorite one made of olive tree Bruce Mom picked it up from Jerusalem when she was over there. Probably my most favorite Christmas decoration.

8. Hardest person to buy for? In the past Grandpa Calvin (what do you get a person that has everything) but I think we finally have him pegged after 17 years:)

9. Easiest person to buy for? Bruce he just tells me what he wants.

10. Worst Christmas gift you've ever received? can't recall. That's what age does to you, everything gets better with age.

11. US Mail or email Christmas cards? i agree with my niece Amie, I love cards in the mail.. not old but old fashioned i guess.. i especially love when they have a photo in them. I love her idea of( money in the card)

12. Favorite Christmas movie? White Christmas, Holiday Inn, The Santa clause It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Kruger's Christmas, Santa Clause is coming to town we have to watch all of them every Christmas.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I am also thinking Christmas all year long as my niece Amie is but don't' buy until November as well.. I like to be done before the first week in December.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes.. a white elephant of Days of Our Lives 25 Anniversary Edition from my sister Stephanie Amie's is the best "grope on a rope--who would I give a grope on a rope to?Now thinking about it.. this was my worst Christmas present ever..soap in the shape of a hand.." I can't top that!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? our English toffee I'm sure the kids and i eat several pounds. My friend Marlayne's homemade fudge (many times I eat it all myself) and of course all the Christmas goodies everyone gives us.

16. Colored lights or white? only white sparkly ones for me.

17. Favorite Christmas songs? Carpenter's Christmas, Bing Crosby's It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. but sorry to say I just love all Christmas music, traditional, not the new artists sorry. and I'm sorry Elvis should not sing Christmas Carols.

18. Travel for Christmas or stay home? We always travel to Oregon usually the day after we love it up there. The roads are treacherous to go to Utah.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? of course

20. Angel or Star on top of tree? Star (a fun pioneer antique star)

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or Morning? Christmas pajama's Christmas Eve and of course all the rest the next morning which has begun at 2am before then we all went back to bed. fun and memorable one

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?Crowded stores

23. What I love most about Christmas? ditto Amie - Family and waking upand seeing the excitement of the kids Christmas morning..decorations, food, and well Everything!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS, warm holiday wishes:)

Our Weekend

The girls and I Christmas Shopped today.

Us after Christmas Shopping ALLLLLLL DAY. First shop the music store to get clarinets tuned. Then to Subway for lunch. Target for a few stocking stuffers. Then to Old Navy to pick up some clothes for Christmas (nothing is going to be a surprise this year). Then back to the music store to tune up Sidney's Saxophone and to pick up part of Bailey's gift (which will be a surprise, she wants a guitar). Bruce and Parker stayed home and order their gifts off the Internet. Pretty easy this year. Back home and the girls are enjoying yummy popcorn under the tree. A great productive (playing Santa) day.

All We Want For Christmas

I have been struggling with what to get the kids for Christmas. We keep it really simple in our home. So I have been thinking about this for the last several weeks looking in the stores, the adds, asking them for ideas ya-da, ya-da, ya-da and still have not come up with anything. The reason for the urgency is that I want to be done before December or at least next week. So struggling with "what to do" Bruce said that he asked the kids what they all wanted when he tucked them in tonight and they said:) the girls - clothes, and Parker two specific games. That is it. How simple is that. OK so how many times have I asked and they have him-ha-ed around and Dad asks and it is straight forward and to the point. Yeah! If only everything could be that easy. I'll have my shopping done, not by this week , but by next and can enjoy the season.

"While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads"

I am so thankful for Sunday afternoon naps. We have a Sunday tradition in our home - after church we have a one hour "quite time" where everyone goes to their room for one hour. You can take a nap, read, or what ever you wish but you must be in your room and you must be quiet. After one hour you can come out. My nap usually lasts a bit longer than just an hour but it is much welcomed sleep. I am just grateful for one day to rest from my daily cares.