Saw this on cousin Jaron's blog and thought, Hey, why not??
So enjoy my take on Christmas traditions! Hope you are enjoying the season as much as you can... Christmas is only 4 days away!!!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper! I use gift bags pretty much all through the rest of the year but when Christmas comes around, it's all about the wrapping paper! 2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. Less work, looks great, and you have one guaranteed every year! If you want that pine scent just use a candle or something. 3. When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving. Maybe the first week of December? 4. When do you take the tree down? First week of January. There is only a week left of December after Christmas so I say enjoy it while you still can! 5. Do you like eggnog? You mean do I like to drink raw eggs? No. No I do not. 6. Favorite gift received as a child? Oh man, this is a toughie. Santa was always good to me. There are 2 I remember being extra excited about. We got tickets to the Phantom of the Opera when I was like 10 and my Minnie Mouse vanity set when I was about 8. 7. Hardest person to buy for? Everyone. I struggle sometimes with this. I think about it too much and then try to be all thoughtful. I'm probably the hardest person for people to buy for! 8. Easiest person to buy for? Whoever gives me a list. 9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes! My mom gave me her ceramic nativity scene she painted in 1983? 1985? Anyway, it's beautiful and has all these pieces. I can't wait to live in a house where I can put the whole thing on display! 10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. Who doesn't like to get something in the mail other than bills? 11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? No such thing. Unless you count white elephant gifts. Than this year I received Stalking Santa. Couldn't even watch 10 minutes worth. D.U.M.B. 12. Favorite Christmas movie? Hmmm, this is a toughie. Santa Claus the movie is a classic family favorite. Home Alone, Elf, Christmas Vacation, and Muppets Christmas Carol are all top favorites too.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever I know who I have to buy for. Or when I receive someone's list.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope. 15.Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?My mom makes these yummy treats every year. They're ooey and gooey and get eaten really fast cause they're so good!
16. Lights on the tree? I didn't know there was such a thing as NOT having lights on the tree.
17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night. But 'N Sync Christmas is a close second.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I love being home for the holidays. But Christmas is all about being with family and friends. So if they're traveling, I'm traveling with them.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Um, yeah. Since I could sing Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer. 20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star. But our tree has neither right now. All the stars are ugly this year. 21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Usually pajamas are Christmas Eve but Santa doesn't come until then so the rest are Christmas morning. So fun to hang out in your pj's! 22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People are EVERYWHERE!!! So traffic is bad. And then I get impatient. 23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Our ornament theme is my favorite. Fez and I both have received an ornament every Christmas since we were babies. So our tree is full of them! So many memories. And now we get to make our own. 24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Cheesy potatoes. Rolls. And a yummy dessert. 25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Back to the presents thing?? I really do have a hard time with this. I actually just wish to spend as much time with family and friends as I can. And to go sledding at least once.
I got to thinking about ALL the things I still have to do. Shopping, cleaning, wrapping, cooking, scheduling, work projects, planning, sleeping, eating, etc., etc...
My mind goes like 100 miles an hour each day. (which sometimes is bad because i don't know where to start and so nothing gets done)
I'm sure you all know how that is. Not enough time in the day.
But then I came across this. I don't know how I did, but I did. And I am grateful.
Yes I got choked up and yes I felt kind of dumb doing so. But I am grateful still.
I love this time of year. Not only for all the fun of presents and lights and snow. But for why we truly celebrate.
I love this quote by President Thomas S. Monson... "The Spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul... "to catch the real meaning of the "Spirit of Christmas," one needs only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the "Spirit of Christ".
Among all the hustle and bustle and stresses that come along with this time of year I hope you remember the Reason for the Season as I have again.
When a song has a 'cover' it means that another artist has redone it. Either fairly close or not at all.
I actually am a fan of most covers. Iron and Wine did a GREAT cover of Postal Service "Such Great Heights". Alien Ant Farm was not as successful with Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal".
On my way to work this morning I heard a cover for a song that should never be covered.
I'm sure you all have heard of Adam Sandler's "The Hanukkah Song"? Classic.
I'm sure you all have heard of Neil Diamond's "The Hanukkah Song"...
Huh? Neil Diamond covers "The Hanukkah Song"???
Yes. Yes he does. And it is weird. Awkward. Not right.
Really Neil? I am quite a fan of yours, but this was a bad move. Let's stick with your classics like "America" and "Sweet Caroline".
If you are at all curious as to what this sounds like I have included a video for you pleasure.
I know I probably should have done this yesterday but I think it's completely ok to celebrate at least one week before and one week after. So this counts.
I was bummed I had to work but it turned out great anyway. We went to Carl's Jr. for lunch. So yummy. He had his last day of class and his teacher gave them all credit on the test because it was his birthday. What a nice teacher.
I was rapidly finishing up a book I had initially intended to give him before we got married, ran out of time, forgot about it, then finally finished it up. (better late then never!)
When we got home from class we ran to Arby's (another so yummy) then opened presents! We played Blokus with our good friends Jenny and Jared a while ago and had a good time. We don't have many 2 player games so it was perfect! Here is the book I made. It's called "WHY?" and has little reasons why I love him. (awe.....) I think it turned out pretty good. He has also received sunshades for his truck, an external hard drive, a monopod for his camera, The Dark Knight and X-Men Wolverine, both in Blu-ray.
What an awesome birthday!!! (By the way his second week isn't up until next Thursday so you still have time.)
If you don't know what this is it's a play centered around Christ's birth and resurrection.
And it's amazing.
One of my dearest friends plays Mary and she was phenomenal. The spirit was so strong and I was fighting back tears the whole time. I get choked up just thinking about it.
I was able to see dear friends I hardly ever see. I love catching up and having it be like you've never been apart.
This has caused me to reflect on my life and how so very blessed I am. Now, I won't go into too much detail cause I won't be able to stop if I do.
But let me just say I feel so lucky:
To have the husband I do. He puts up with my quirkiness and emotional times and still lives life, laughs with me, and loves me.
To have the family I do. We have grown up dancing together, sharing embarrassing moments and laughing non-stop. To be welcomed and loved into my new family unconditionally.
To have the friends I do. They are basically my family too. I am who I am today because of all the many wonderful people I have had the privilege of calling friends through the years.
To have the job that I do. Some days I struggle to make it through, but to think of the poor clients living in those countries that have nothing and with just a tiny bit of hope and financial support, they make a life for them and their children. Microcredit is truly a blessing for all.
I have to stop writing there, but my heart is completely full today. I know this is not my 'normal' kind of blog post, but I needed to share how blessed I truly am. Thank you for your examples in helping to shape the person that I am today.
I read the Twilight series. Liked the books. A lot really. Even found myself caught up a little in the fantasies of having a vampire boyfriend. In reality, I would probably be FREAKED out. But luckily, it's not reality.
I saw Twilight. I liked it. Wasn't bad, but not really my favorite either. I had a hard time getting past Edward and Bella's acting. They are the main characters, which makes this difficult, but I half expected it.
I saw New Moon. I did like it. Had a great time hanging with the girls. It's been a while since I've read the book so it was a great reminder of what happens. Still not believing Bella or Edward. But Jacob? I am becoming quite a fan.
P.S. For all you Twilight/New Moon fanatics and haters alike, this is pretty hilarious...
Distractions. They are EVERYWHERE. For those that don't know me, let me tell you this:
I am VERY easily distracted. VERY.
Like right now. I'm at work and was doing so good on getting the annual report going (I've never even seen one in my life) and the boss wants to go to lunch. SWEET. Free lunch.
We get back and I have every intention on getting back to work on this report.
Picture an eight year old curious little boy with nothing to do one evening.
He comes upon a tin can that will fit various small objects, puts them in the can and proclaims it a time capsule!
He then proceeds to get a shovel, walk out to the backyard, find the perfect spot and starts digging.
Once the hole is to liking, he places the time capsule inside and covers it back up.
Wanting to be sure he remembers where the time capsule is located, he places a rock on top as a marker so that he will be able to dig it up in years to come...
Come back to about a month or so ago.Yes. This little boy was Fez. And pictured above is the rock marking where his prized time capsule is placed. He remembered it one day and decided to dig it up.
So, he starts digging... and digging... and digs some more... Hmmm. No luck.
A couple weeks later, round 2!
So, he starts digging....
and digging... and digs some more...(by now we've dug up about half the backyard, knee deep and found nothing but slabs of rock concrete and roots) Where in the backyard is that time capsule???
Seeing the lights at Temple Square
Advent calendar!
One of our nativities.
Our first gingerbread house.
Our first Christmas tree!
