Christmas Countdown-Day 7

(Just a cute funny! Author anonymous.)

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes: I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always, MOM...!

Christmas Countdown-Day 6

Last night was the annual CentraCom holiday Christmas Party. Like last year, they held it at the Marriot Hotel in Provo. As usual they went all out!

It was a very fun night, with great food, plenty of awesome giveaways, and great guests!

We sat at the "fun" table and ended up laughing our heads off the whole night.

We got a picture on Eric's cell phone, so it really isn't that great.

Christmas Countdown-Day 5

Last night I got to go play Bunko with some friends in my ward, and here in town. I even won this really cute Santa Claus! It was pretty fun, and it is always nice to get to know new people!

And in honor of day 5 I decided to do this fun Christmas Tag!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

I love bags most of the time, but for some reason I love wrapping paper at Christmas! What is Christmas without wrapping paper?

2. Real tree or Artificial?

I love a real tree, but artificial just became so much easier, not to mention cheaper. However, next year we may start chopping our own!!!

3. When do you put up the tree?

I like to put it up December 1st, but that doesn't always happen. Usually it's just whenever we get around to it.

4. When do you take the tree down?

Sometimes the day after Christmas, sometimes we wait until New Years. It isn’t as fun when all the presents are gone. I do love the Christmas Lights on the tree in the evenings though.

5. Do you like eggnog?

Love it! Especially mixed with 7-up!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

I had lots of favorites, but I loved the year I got my “10 speed” bike! Oh, and a really loved a toy kitchen cupboard when I was a lot younger!!

7. Hardest person to buy for?

My dad and Eric's parents. . . If they want something, they go buy it!

8. Do you have a nativity scene?

Yes. With my kids as soon as Fisher Price came out with one, it was mine! It is a favorite to pull out every year. Someday I’ll have a nicer, fancier one. I absolutely love Precious Moments figurines. That set would be my favorite!

9. Mail or email Christmas cards?

I really try to mail them. I actually better get on that.

10. Favorite Christmas Movie?

Polar Express

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

I am thinking about it all year, so I pick things up all the time. We kick it into gear though with Eric’s Christmas Bonus.

12. Where is your favorite place to go Christmas shopping?

Well, there is a few! I love Target, Costco, Ebay, and this year my own Usborne Books store!!

13. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Crackers and Cheese Ball. Spritz cookies are another favorite!

14. Lights on the tree?

Yes, the past few years they have been clear, but this year we have both colored and clear.

15. Favorite Christmas song?

O Holy Night by Celine Dion

16. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

We have done both. Now that I have my own little family, I like to stay home for Christmas though. It makes Christmas morning perfect!

17. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?

Yes

18. Angel on the tree top or a star?

I guess an angel, Angel Moroni....still looking! :-)

19. Open the presents Christmas eve or Christmas day?

Christmas Morning

20. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

Crowded Stores, Parking Lots, and Long Lines (I deal with it though, it's all part of the season!)

21. Favorite ornament?

Precious Moments Holy Family.

22. Favorite for Christmas dinner?

I love Ham and Heavenly Potatoes!

23. What do you want for Christmas this year?

A portable DVD player for our van. Ours broke. Oh, and food storage!

24. Favorite Christmas Tradition?

Reading I Wonder When He Comes Again on Christmas Eve. I also enjoy our family Christmas party! I am still working to start more of my own!

25. Favorite Christmas present as an adult?

Eric and I had only been engaged for two weeks. On Christmas morning he gave me a brand new set of scriptures (my old set was from when I was 12, so I really needed new ones.). They already were engraved with Andrea McConahay on them. It was really cool!

I Tag: Anyone who wants to do this!

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Countdown-Day 4

When I was younger my best friend's mom would make these cookies to add to her "neighbor plates". They were one of my favorites, and still are my favorite Christmas Holiday cookie. Over the years I borrowed her recipe and cookie press several times just so I could also make these.
Once I got married, it didn't take me long to buy my own cookie press and start making my own. Although mine never get as far as the neighbors sometimes, because I eat them all. Ha Ha

Not really, but I do love them, so for Day 4 I thought I'd share. They are just the traditional spritz cookies from the old classic Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.

When I get some made for this year, I will post pics then. I can't make them while my kids are at school, or they will kill me! A cookie press is a pretty fun tool you know! :-)

Spritz Cookies

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups margarine or butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract (optional)

Stir together flour and baking powder in a separate bowl, set aside. In another bowl, beat margarine 30 seconds until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and almond, beat well.
Gradually add dry ingredients to beaten mixture, beating well. Do NOT chill.
Force dough through the cookie press onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate if desired.
Bake at 400* 7-8 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack. Makes approximately 60 cookies.

Christmas Countdown-Day 3

Last night was kind of a simple night. We popped some popcorn, and sat down to watch a movie as a family. My kids were a little concerned to watch Charlie Brown's Christmas when we missed watching Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving.

So, we watched Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving first, and then watched Charlie Brown's Christmas!

I didn't take a picture of the mess Cade made in the popcorn, but we did have a fun night, and enjoyed being together as a family!

I also decided that today I would add a playlist to my blog for the holidays! Christmas just isn't the same without the music, so I added my favorites!! There are way too many, but I got a few!

Enjoy!

Christmas Countdown-Day 2

Well, we did end up getting the tree up, but not without a few hitches! Our poor tree is several years old, and the lights don't seem to be working right anymore. There was an area that we could not get to come on, and we couldn't find that one bad bulb.

We decided to wrap some other lights around it that we had. They are the really big ones like from when I was a kid. When we first put them on, it looked like a real Charlie Brown Christmas tree except wider. I really liked the look!

We then let the kids put all the decorations on themselves, so you can see most of them ended up in the middle. We also have an angel Moroni for our tree topper which didn't happen to be in our Christmas stuff, so I'm not sure how long it will take me to find it in all our packed totes. We might have to break down and go buy a traditional star. :-(

On the brighter side, next Christmas we hope to be in our own house, with nothing left to unpack anywhere. Ha Ha

Happy Holidays!

Happy December!!!

I am so excited to be welcoming December here!! Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday, and I love the month of December!

While I love Thanksgiving as well, and enjoyed spending time with family, I really look forward to the next holiday. I love the lights, the smells, the music, the time with family, the parties, hopefully the snow, and the overall feeling. It is amazing!!!


I plan to post daily, kind of like a countdown advent calendar on my blog. (Hopefully I can keep up.) Tonight for family night we hope to put up the tree. I will try to post pics later!! :-)

I guess I should ask, How was everyone's Thanksgiving? We had Eric's parents, my parents, and my sister and her family to our house this year. It was nice to be together, and as usual we made too much food, and stuffed ourselves for a few days. Unfortunately, we had so much going on I forgot to break out the camera.

Eric and I also were able to go see Twilight on the Friday after Thanksgiving while Eric's parents were here. Thanks mom and dad for watching the kiddos! It wasn't the greatest movie I'd ever seen, but it was pretty good ( I am very critical of movies), but I do hope to see it again. (We had bought our tickets online, and got there 15 minutes early but it was still sold out. We had to sit on the 2nd row. Not my seat of choice. Ha Ha) Anyway, the next time around hopefully it will be at a better angle.

Heritage Makers!!!

I love this company! I was able to go to my first show from them last night, and I fell in love with their products!!!

I have been out of the loop of scrapbooking for a while now, and I have really wanted to get back into it. Well, this may be the kick in the butt that I need!!! I have been shown how to digital scrapbook a little, and it looks amazing, but a little overwhelming. And I do consider myself pretty computer literate, so I know if I took the time I would be able to figure it out!

But, with this company, you sign up as a member, and then everything is right there for you! You can make books, scrapbooks, calendars, posters, cards, etc. They are a little pricey, but they have plans that make it totally affordable! Plus, when you are done, you can purchase a completely finished hardbound book. They are beautiful, and a timeless treasure!!

A girl in my ward had a party, and the consultant also happens to be in my ward. She has an amazing collection that she has created for her family, and I would love to eventually have something like that. Here is her website:

http://www.justinsstory.com/

I know, I know, I could go on and on. I don't plan on joining, just because I did with Usborne. (However, that was one of the best decisions I ever made, and if anyone needs a part-time job that really isn't a job, I would highly recommend it. :-))

Anyway, I always seem to be the last one to hear about these cool things, so maybe many of you already know about them. I plan on having a party in January in Pleasant Grove for mainly my sisters, but I plan to invite others as well, so if I have intrigued you, let me know and I will make sure you get an invite!

I would love to hear anyone's thoughts or opinions on them. Have you used them before, or been to a party? Have you created any of your own books? Let's talk scrapbooking!!!! :-)