Christmas Tag

Betony started and Jessica followed...so here goes mine!

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your family and friends.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper stretches the surprise a little longer!
2. Artificial or real tree? I prefer Real - they smell so yummy
3. When do you put up a tree? I try for after Thansgiving - haven't done it yet though
4. When do you take it down? Whenever I want
5. Do you like eggnog? SUPER YUMMY!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? 10-speed bike & leg warmers (that went to my thighs!)
7. Hardest person to buy for? My Husband... hahahahahahahahaha If only I knew who he was it would make things SO much easier! ;D
8. Easiest person to buy for? Maddy
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Just a tiny one from the dollar store that I bought when I came home from my mission - I love it!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I like to mail cards but dunno what will happen this year
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hasn't happened...
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street, Frosty the Snowman
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? October-December
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can think of
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas time? Grams' tradition: Fish & Perogies (you can either boil or saute them) on Christmas Eve. I also love Honey Baked Ham and Pecan Pie
16. Lights on the tree? White lights only
17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night & It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both can be wonderful
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Of course!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I have a Star
21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Presents? Are there presents for me?
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The commercialization and shopping frenzy
23. Favorite Ornament theme or color? I love and collect Snowmen
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? A MAN

I Tag: Everyone!

Thansgiving

Whew, what an event! Thanksgiving this year was supposed to be a small (only me, Janet, Jessica and family) affair. It turned out anything BUT...of course it was wonderful. Mom and Papa were on a short cruise that docked in the morning so they were both able to join us later for dinner.

Kris and Christina decided to join us as well. Aaron was going to be in town after all, and Janet had an out-of-town friend visiting. We had dinner this year at Jessica's and she is so talented that she turned "not enough room at the table" into just enough! Aren't her decorations pretty?! Look for the pretty leaves on the tables.

Janet, Jessica, and I prepared the Thanksgiving meal this year (Christina made a yummy green bean casserole too!). Janet took care of the turkey and stuffing, Jessica got the cranberry sauce, made the rolls, a pumpkin pie and a chocolate-raspberry angel cake that really was super scrumpdiliumptious! I made the sweet potato casserole with yummy sticky-gooey marshmallows on top - they were almost completely gone by the time they made it down to my end of the table! I also made a new recipe this year - stuffed zucchini - aka zucchini boats. They were a big hit and super yummy if I do say so myself. I beleive this recipe will be a keeper.

I spent the day at Jessica's cooking and spending time with the kids. I got some really cute pictures of Maddy and Ruthie. Maddy was excited to be holding Ruthie...for about 3 minutes and then she was done! "Can you take Ruthie please? I'm done now" LOL She is a rip!

Big sister loves baby sister!

Baby Ruthie is such a doll baby...perhaps not at 3 AM when she's screaming to be held or fed or changed... but nonetheless...!

So after scrumptious food and dessert, we had some good times just hanging out together and enjoying the family time. I'm really thankful for the amazing family I have. I wish my whole family could live here so that we could have all us siblings and the kids together.

Later we had a Parcheesi battle - Janet came after me so out went Ms Nice and in came Ms I Shall Crush You. I won of course! taa-haa :-D

I really enjoyed having Joel and his family here for Kris & Christina's wedding. I'm thankful that they stayed at my house and for the chance I had to spend time with my nephews Josh & Blake and sweet baby girl niece Juliana. I cherish the smiles and cuddling seesions I had with Jules and the hugs I got from Blakers. I'm thankful for the conversations I had with Josh - he loves sharks! Who knew? I do now! I also really enjoyed the time spent with Joel and Andrea, especially the girls night out for Twilight!

I'm so thankful that I can realize and appreciate the great blessings in my life.