Christmas Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Wrapping Paper all the way - at least at Christmas time. For Birthdays I also go for the quick and recycled gift bag but there is something special about picking out Christmas paper. I also just enjoy wrapping each gift and then adding dressings to make them even nicer. In my own way this is part of the present I give.

2. Real tree or artificial?

Real and only real. The fresh scent of pine, the hunt, the climbing under it to water it every day, and the trail of pine needles left behind, I never want to give up any of that. We also now have the best tree stand ever which makes the tree even easier.

3. When do you put up the tree?

Typically 2 weeks before Christmas, any earlier and we would have to kick it out before New Year's due to the increasing fire hazard.

4. When do you take the tree down?

The first weekend after New Year's.

5. Do you like eggnog?

No Thank you!!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

I'm not sure if it was a Christmas gift but I was given a ride on horse that was made out of juice cans. The cans were covered in a soft brown fur and there was a rubber horse head on the front of it. I was afraid of lightening and I remember sitting on that horse hugging his head for protection. Kind of humorous considering his body was metal. I loved that poor thing to death, I think eventually his fur fell apart from me dragging it around the house.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?

Absolutely, with many guests to the party made lovingly by my aunt.

8. Hardest person to buy for?

The teenage boys in the family - it seems all they want is money. Well they must be planning on buying something with the money, I wish they would let me know what it is so I could buy it instead of giving them cash.

9. Easiest person to buy for?

My Sweet Pea. Thanks to TV she wants just about everything in any commercial or any sale circular. I also like to buy toys that I find fun so I can play with something I like too.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

I can't think of any...every Christmas gift, even if it ends up in my closet was given to me by someone special and I always appreciate the effort. Have I received bad gifts (or useless ones), of course, but I just joke about it with hubby and forget it. I guess I just haven't been lucky enough yet to receive something so horrible that it is memorable.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Christmas cards need to be mailed - how else can people like me tape them to our doors and windows? Plus this is the only time of year I look forward to a full mailbox.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

Serious movie - It's a Wonderful Life; Funny Movie - A Christmas Story; Cartoon Show - The Grinch (this is also my cell phone ring tone this time of year)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Typically the first week in December. I do look throughout the year for ideal presents but I use lists in December.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Absolutely - I admit it. If I received 2 of the same thing (and I'm not good at returning items to stores anyway), or something I know I just won't use but someone else will love, I will pass it on.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Hmmm , toss up between Turkey and Toll house cookies.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?

Colored - I think they are more festive. White is very pretty but I just feel they are too stark and glaring for me. Also all of the other lights in the house are white year-round, color makes it special for Christmas.

17. Favorite Christmas song?

I can't pick just one...I have too many good memories of a lot of songs. I love to hear the Little Drummer boy and after Sweet Pea's Christmas program the other night I think Mary Did you Know? is especially wonderful.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

I would love to stay home but we travel close to home. First to MIL for presents and lunch then off to my family for dinner and more presents.

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

Of course, what mother of a 5 year old can't?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

Angel. Our angel is currently a fire hazard and we still won't give her up. When we were married we searched numerous stores for a pretty angel with a plesant face. About a month after we bought her I saw she was recalled. Oops - too bad, I'm not giving her back. We've had her 10 years now and not one single fire.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

Both. We have a tradition of opening gifts from each other in my family on Christmas eve and from "Santa" on Christmas day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?

It is so depressing after the decorations come down. We need more holidays after Christmas and Valentines day just doesn't count in my book.

23. What I most love about Christmas.

As cliched as it sounds - giving people special things and all the preparation that goes into it. I try every year to surprise someone with something unique and special.

The voice of an angel

I wasn't sure what to call this post. It was a toss up between "The next American Idol winner" or "The voice of an angel". Considering the response elicited by this sweet voice, I had to go with angel.
Last night was Sweet Pea's Christmas recital at school. We had the traditional yelling of songs from K, 1st, and 2nd grades along with a few mumbled songs from 3rd and 4th. There was also a very nice violin solo from a 6th grade boy and several songs on the chimes and recorders. The most outstanding part of the evening was when a small un-assuming little 5th grade girl walked up on stage to sing her solo.
This small girl had the only solo of the night. Her song was "Mary did you know?" and when she started to sing the entire room broke out in tears. The depth and beauty of her voice was amazing and the feeling she brought to that song was incredible. If you could have seen her and then heard this voice you wouldn't believe it came from her. Every person in the room was weeping as she sang of the wonders Jesus would do in his life. I even saw teenagers, who I'm sure were forced to be there, crying as she sang. When she was finished she gave a quick tiny "Thank you" and ducked off the stage. We all immediately stood and clapped as loudly as possible and this sweet girl burst into tears in her Principal's arms. She was so nervous to sing and she did a wonderful job.
I can only imagine where the years will take her and I am feel blessed just to have heard her this one time. I hope God continues to bless her and that her voice continues to touch people the way she did last night.

A Holiday House Tour

I am a few days late but as Christmas approaches and my "To do" list never seems to shrink, I figure better late then not at all. I saw that BooMama was giving a holiday house tour and I thought it would be fun to at least get a few pictures posted of our own happy home. So please come inside and enjoy the view.

Here is a picture of a wreath I recently made to replace our 6 year old smashed beyond recognition wreath. I have to admit I made it because I was inspired by a friend's sister who made the most beautiful wreath ever. Prior to this I had the 6 year old smashed wreath on our front door.


Once you come inside the door you will find this happy couple waiting to greet you. They are one of my favorite decorations and, like all the other ceramics in my house, were made by my great aunt. To give you an idea of their size they stand about 2.5 feet tall.



Now as you look up from these smiling faces you will see this .... (notice the same ribbon here as on the wreath above). Now proceed down the hall into our family room and take a look at the mantel. The Santa's are again hand painted by my wonderful Aunt.
If you glance over to the right you will see this beautiful arrangement. I couldn't get all of the pieces in the picture but let me just tell you, we have a rockin' party. We have the basic Wise men, camels, animals etc but we also have music (drummer boy and flute player), people offering food, and a whole flock of sheep and multiple shepherds. Again all done in hand painted ceramics, my Aunt is a blessing to all of us.
If you turn around now you will see our Christmas tree. We put it up 2 weeks ago after performing our traditional hunt for the perfect tree. I love the way the branches go all the way to the floor. I think we did a great job this year. Our decorations are just a mix of everything we have collected or had given to us, nothing themed or fancy here.
Since our mantle has Santa, our stockings are hung here in the breakfast area. (There are 4 because the cat gets one too).and in our dining room we have 8 little reindeer waiting for Santa to get back in the sleigh (again made by my Aunt - notice a theme here?). And last but not least, I got this from Current when we moved in the house and I still think it is so cute. We have many more decorations but I just wanted to highlight a few things. If anyone wants to stop over for some holiday cheer - give me a ring!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Snowy lights..

Ok, remember the FallY'all giveaway? Well I am finally posting pictures of the candles I painted for that giveaway. I actually made them two weeks after the giveaway ended. But it seems there was a bit of a delay since I had to actually get to a store to buy the candles first. Then after I painted them I had to figure out how I was going to ship them. When I suggested I would make these it never occurred to me that I needed a transportation vessel to get them to their new owners. I looked all around my house for two suitable containers and I found nothing. I kept delaying hoping that something would turn up and it did. I recently took a trip to Walmart to buy tape to replace the numerous rolls of tape used by Sweetpea in her decorating efforts and there they were in the tape aisle, an entire collection of boxes for sale. Now I don't think I have ever purchased a cardboard box since I am the hoarding type but I shelled out the 77 cents a piece for some sturdy new boxes. I finally had some way of transporting these candles from PA to WA and IL. After boxing these babies up I sent them on their way and it only took me an additional 2 days to get to the post office before they closed.

If you want to take a peek at what was in the boxes here is a picture...

Hopefully the winners will enjoy them. I am not an artist by any means but I think these are cute and I like making them. I have 9 made so far and now I have to finish the rest of my painted presents before Christmas (no more snowmen though - I also do some Christmas trees, moose, and Santa Clauses for variety).

I hope all of your Christmas projects are going well too!