Getting to Know You... Christmas Edition :)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
I like both... it depends on the gift & the receiver, really!

2. Real tree or Artificial?
I love a real tree, but my allergies do not. It's artificial for us... we may try a real tree again someday though. :)

3. When do you put up the tree?
Usually a few weeks before Christmas.

4. When do you take the tree down?
A couple of days after Christmas--usually before New Years Day!

5. Do you like eggnog?
Yes. But I have never had homemade egg nog--only the non-alcoholic kind in a carton!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Oh boy. I will never forget the Christmas that my parents bought me a ring, and my dad wrapped in box inside of box inside of box... with all sorts of little fillers like rocks and cans of pineapple to throw me off! :p

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My mother-in-law.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My husband & my kids.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
I only have a Fisher Price Little People one. And only 'cause it's child-friendly. :)

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail! And we try to always include a family picture. :)

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Hmmm... I can't think of anything that was memorably awful. lol

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Elf, A Christmas Story

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Just before Thanksgiving. I try to spread it out a little so that it isn't as financially painful. :p

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Probably... but I can't think what it might have been.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Everything! I really love fudge, and Christmas is the only time I make it.

16. Lights on the tree?
Of course! Usually multi-colored ones.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
I like so many... Away In a Manger, Silent Night... I can't think of any others right now.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home?
Our parents & grandparents are within 20 miles, so that's our big holiday travel! :p

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeers?
Yes! Of course, it helps that I know the words to "Rudolph" ;-)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
We have both, but I always use the angel.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning. We sometimes let the kids open one gift each on Christmas Eve, just because the morning is hurried for us.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Impatient and pushy people (generally crowds of shoppers!) who seem to have lost their Christmas spirit!!

23. What theme or color are you using?
We like all colors, so we usually go multi-colored! Red, green, gold, etc.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Turkey & dressing, mashed potatoes & gravy, green bean casserole, corn, cinnamon applesauce, pumpkin pie.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Not sure... I just bought myself a new camera, so that may be my gift. We shall see what happens! I would love to have a new wedding ring to replace the one that was stolen about 3.5 yrs ago.

Swagbucks

I just found out about this... sounds like a great way to earn some money, easy peasy!

I first heard about it from a friend who e-mailed me a link to check it out, and then learned even more about it here: http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2008/11/swagbucks-earn-gift-cards-for-searching-online.html

Sounds great to me! If you would like to sign up, click the link below 'cause I'd love to refer you! :)
http://swagbucks.prodege.com/?cmd=sb-register&rb=245546

Have a great day!

The dry air has hit!

Well... get out the anti-static spray and the lotion because the dry air has hit at our house!

Between the girls and myself, we have three heads of long hair. We all have static. In the mornings, we're a mess! lol! We have all sorts of potions we've tried to tame our wild hair. We've rubbed fabric softener sheets in our hair and on our clothes, and that seems to help for a while. We have sprayed the stinky Static Guard, but everyone gags at the smell. We have used hairspray. We've used extra conditioner or leave-in conditioner. We tried the anti-static spray for hair that Avon put out last year, and that seemed to work well without being stinky! I'm so glad I bought a couple of extra bottles and stashed them away because I've yet to see it in the catalog this year!

We also have a lot of dry skin. I worry about Jenna because this time of year seems to be when her eczema rears its ugly head. So far I've only seen one spot, so I'm praying it will not return with the vengeance as it did last year. I'm prepared with the Nioxin shampoo and scalp treatment just in case it decides to creep onto her head like it has before. And I have my Renew lotion (from Melaleuca) ready to slather on as well...

Speaking of lotion, Jenna decided to lotion herself up tonight after she took her bath. When she went to bed, she was pretty slick... I really hope she doesn't slide out of the bed. lol!

Yesterday was interesting

Yesterday we went to church with my mother-in-law. I had never been to her church, so it was interesting to see how different it is than what I'm used to. I am a member and regularly attend a Pentecostal church, and hers is a Church of Christ. There is a lot of difference, and it was interesting to see what different people refer to as worship. It all seemed very methodical to me. Carefully planned-out. I'm used to a place where the Spirit is allowed to lead. It was just different.

After church, we went over to my husband's grandparents' house for dinner. When we got there, Mike's mom told him that she went on a date the night before. He did not take the news well at all. In fact, he practically flipped out.

Mike and I have talked about the possibility of her seeing someone else, but I don't think it prepared him at all to hear those words from his mom. I was glad though that he and I had talked about it because I felt like I was able to tell her about those conversations while Mike went outside to cool off.

He says it is not the fact that she wants a companion, but rather who the person was that she went out with. Honestly, I don't know that anyone will ever be "good enough" for his mom in his eyes. She made it very clear that she has no intention of trying to replace his dad--that nobody could ever fill those shoes.

His dad has been gone three years this month. And yesterday was his birthday--he would have been 57 (and MIL actually said that today was probably not the best day to have told dh about her date, but that she did not want him to hear it from someone else). But instead of celebrating an earthly birthday, he now celebrates every day with Jesus! I think sometimes it's hard to rejoice in that fact because we miss a person so much.

I was surprised at how much emotion the news brought out in myself. I am blessed to still have both of my parents living, but it made me think about how I would feel.

I can understand not wanting to be alone, needing a companion and a helper. I pray that my mother-in-law will find someone who makes her very happy and takes good care of her. I think she deserves it. She has been through more than one person should have to go through.