Thursday, November 29, 2007

Holiday Tag!

Welcome to the Holiday edition of getting to know your friends.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love the idea of wrapping paper, but the practicality of gift bags.

2. Real tree or artificial? Pre-lit, 9-ft, artificial--when buying our home (March '06), one of my main priorities was finding a perfect spot for the tree!

3. When do you put up the tree? Preferably, the day after Thanksgiving, but if we can't for some reason, then I'll get it up as soon as I can after that.

4. When do you take the tree down? Hmmm ... last year, I think it saw the beginning of February

5. Do you like eggnog? never had it

6. What about Fruitcake? never had it either

7. Favorite gift received as a child? My Little Pony Castle

8. Do you have a nativity scene? no

9. Hardest person to buy for? John's siblings

10. Easiest person to buy for? my kids

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? "The Figgies" ;)

12. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail -- I may use Snapfish this year

13. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a toss up between Elf and Claymation Christmas

14. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually mid-December, but I'm proud to say that I already have a couple for this year!

15. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? who hasn't?

16. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? chocolate roll, apricot fried pies, custard, custard pie, cheese rolls, ChexMix ... no wonder I gain weight over the holidays!

17. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear, hands down.

18. Favorite Christmas song? Maybe Chestnuts, but I heard this song on the Special XMas station last year that was to the tune of Feliz Navidad, but the words were, "Police stopped my car." I'm still cracking up over that one.

19. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? usually travel, though we've had a few at home as well

20. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? of course

21. Angel on the tree top or a star? Cross

22. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Depends on which tribe: Curtis, Christmas Eve; Kell and Hodges, morning

23. What is the one present you want most this year? brown boots (and I think Mom's getting them for me!!)

24. Most annoying thing about this time of year? This is bad, but the bell ringers who stand right in front of the Wal-Mart doors so that you actually have to walk around them to enter

25. What I love most about Christmas? watching my kids receive as well as learning to give

This was so fun! I just stole it right off of Aunt Britney's blog. I won't tag anyone, but anyone can copy and paste like I did!

Happy Holidays!

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Thankful

We had an amazingly uneventful Thanksgiving Day.

When Mom went back home after our dinner theater (more on that in another post) the weekend before TG, she took Johnathan with her! Then we were going to come up to Searcy on Wednesday to pick him up and to do TG with John's family. Mom was going to drive back home with us TG afternoon to sing with us at the mall the next morning at 7am (more on that in yet another post)!

Well, Kalleigh developed this really yucky cough, so we got her in to see the doctor Wednesday am, the morning we were supposed to leave. The cough was bad enough to warrant a prescription and instructions for lots of rest, and to watch the cough should it turn into anything worse. Since we were afraid that driving round trip to Searcy and back in 36 hours would not exactly be restful, and to try and prevent the symptoms from getting worse and possibly being contagious, we made the decision to stay home and let Mom bring Johnathan home when she came down.

We missed being with family, and most of all Johnathan, but I still think it was the best decision. And we missed out on the big TG meal, since I was not about to run out and buy a turkey to cook for the three of us! We did not miss all of the calories, though. :)

However, we did successfully rest for the first time in a long time! ALL of us rested. On the actual Turkey Day, we stayed in our pajamas all day until it was time to rehearse that evening. John and I made a pumpkin pie together (which is gone by now, of course) and for our "big meal" I pulled out some turkey lunch meat, some slices of provolone cheese and cranked open the can of cranberry sauce that I was supposed to take to Searcy. We drank Dr. Pepper and Fresca and finished off with our really yummy pumpkin pie. Needless to say, we did not get a lot of fabulous TG pictures because I'm sure that's just what you wanted to see--us in our PJs doing nothing. The only thing that I should have taken a picture of was that pie, because since I was making it for no one but us, it turned out beautifully, of course.

I am more thankful for rest this year than any other year. It has slowly but surely climbed its way up the priority ladder a few more rungs.

Oh, and I have a new first cousin-once removed! Congrats Chad, Elizabeth (esp. Liz for doing all the work), Carter and Ashlyn on the birth of Curtis Michael!

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Friday, November 09, 2007

Encouraging words

I'm getting tired. Anxiety begins to creep up. Discouragement knocks on my door. And then a breath of fresh air. Renewed strength.

Where did that come from? I ask as I look around ... and then up.

Of course. My help comes from the Lord! The one who made everything!

He's not going to let me trip. His love protects me through the night--he doesn't need sleep. He protects me as well as all of his blessed children.

When judging eyes seem to burn a hole right through my heart, God holds up his hand and deflects those rays (the ultra-violent ones) and keeps me from getting sunburned.

He's going to protect my soul and keep it safe my whole life. He'll be with me everywhere I go.

Now and forever!

Adapted from Psalm 121

Monday, November 05, 2007

Extra belated pumpkin patch pics

A while back, Johnathan's class went to the pumpkin patch, as most preschools do. I had just forgotten to put these on the blog. I put them up on Facebook b/c it's SO much easier, faster, etc. Anyway, here they are!
"Cheese" grin on the hayride.
"Found one! See?"
Kalleigh even got in on the action.
"Hi, Momma!"

Saturday, November 03, 2007

Belated Halloween Pics

It's been a nice week. Not too much on the schedule. There were actually 3 nights this week when we have been home before 9pm! It's been great.

I've been doing a lot of cooking and cleaning ... finally! Yesterday, I made the most amazing pumpkin pie (or at least it smelled that way), but I made it as the dessert to go along with the rest of the meal I fixed for a friend who just had a baby. I confess to you that I did NOT want to give that pie away. Of course, I bought extra ingredients to make another one soon!

Here are just a couple of pics from Halloween/Trunk-or-Treat. I had several more pictures of Kalleigh than Johnathan because I took Kalleigh around while John took Johnathan around, and I had the camera. :)