Silent Night

This was going to be our Christmas card picture but I could never get the clarity right for a picture to print. Yes, it is a real candle and yes, Elizabeth's hand is on top. It's the only way she would cooperate. I ended up with a great picture of the kids reading on of my favortie Christmas stories, The Crippled Lamb, in our bed instead.

Christmas Trivia

I've had this sitting in my email for several weeks now. Jane Anne posted this on her blog so I decided to join in the fun and post it myself. I hope you enjoy getting to know more about what I like about Christmas.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? For kids gifts I usually wrap everything it's more fun to open. If it's for an adult it depends on how big a gift we are talking about. I like wrapping paper because I think it's prettier too.
2. Real tree or Artificial? I love the smell of a real tree and miss it. We are using an artificial one but hope to change back to a real tree eventually.
3. When do you put up the tree? As close to after Thanksgiving as possible. Though I have been know to put it up before Thanksgiving as well.
4. When do you take the tree down? Within a week after New Year's Day.
5. Do you like eggnog? Sometimes.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? The one I remember the most is a Cabbage Patch Kid Pony that I named Snowball.
7. Hardest person to buy for? This year it was Elizabeth. Mainly because she has all the hand-me-downs from the other two kids. And because her birthday is 6 days before Christmas.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Gabriel and Abby
9. Do you have a nativity scene? I have several. I love them. This year I put one in my room and have out two more that the kids are allowed to play with.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I have always mailed Christmas cards. I think it's too much fun see all those cards in the mail box.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of one.
12. Favorite Christmas Movies? I love It's a Wonderful Life and The Original Cartoon version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
13. When do you start shopping? Before Thanksgiving I have been know to have finished all my shopping before Thanksgiving.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas Cookies
16. Lights on the tree? Lots of light, both colored and white.
17. Favorite Christmas song? That's a hard one. I love Christmas music. Three popped into my mind Lo How a Rose Ere Blooming, Silent Night, and Mary Did You Know.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I would prefer to stay at home for Christmas so we can establish our own traditions. But we are traveling for Christmas this year. Which will still be fun though a little more work.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Roudolph.
20. Angel on the tree top or star? We have an angel on the tree. though I grew up with a star.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Sometimes on on Christmas Eve, usually a pair of Pjs, then everything else Christmas Day.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Bad moods, crowds, and traffic.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have a little of everything. Though I am partial to snowmen.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Yorkshire Pudding and Roast
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To visit the Smokies while we are in Knoxville.

Tasty Tuesday

Last week I needed an appetizer for Bunco Night and for Matt's Pitch in at work. I wanted to make something festive and came across this recipe on Pillsbury.com. It's a new twist on an old favorite of mine. The kids even like to eat this and it has veggies on it!!

Thanks Tank Thursday

With so much going on lately I have barely sat down at my computer. In the past couple of weeks it's mainly been only long enough to check my email and reply to the important stuff. There are so many things to be thankful for right now....

1. Matt's Job: Cummins has been laying people off within the last couple of weeks. It has first started with giving out early retirement packages to those who are of retirement age. Those were handed out last week. Next week they will begin handing out lay-off/firings. It seems like Matt will miss this round despite the fact that he is a project manager and they are generally some of the first to go. So right now I am thankful that he has a job. On a side note it is very interesting all the different things wives have heard from their husbands about the layoffs. It seems like everyone has a different story.

2. BUNCO: Every month I am thankful for this simple, fun and relaxing evening. Last night I hosted. I had a friend come to just socialize with us who I haven't seen in a while. It was nice to get together with her. We also changed things up with a cookie swap. Which brings me to my next thankful thought.

3. Homebaked Goodies: I have been enjoying some wonderful homebaked goodies last night and today. The kids have really enjoyed them too.

4. My Children: I have such good children. I sometimes forget how good they really are but I was reminded last night with their behavior. Matt upexpectedly went to Nashville last night and I didn't have a babysitter. They played quietly in the basement, helped me, and then went to bed without much trouble. They never once left their rooms after lights out. I had several other moms asking how I did it.

5. Christmas Music: I love Christmas Music!! It brings me such joy. I enjoy both the traditional and some of the newer. Yesterday, I took the time to download several of my CDs to my i-Pod and now I have Christmas music in my car without all the CDs. And we were able to have festive music for last night too.

6. Knowing Matt will be home tonight.

7. Gift Jars: I am so thankful I discovered gift jars. We have been making gift jars for the kids teachers. The kids can help so it's something they helped to make.

8. The Girls' Christmas Program: The girl's had a great time with their Christmas program yesterday. Abby sang and did the motions beautifully. I was also thankful that Matt's meeting let out early and he was able to be there.

9. The Blessings Of Christ's Birth.

I hope you can and do take some time to be thankful.

Wordless Wednesday