Christmas Tag

~Christmas Tag~

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Usually paper, especially for family - more fun to open. We always have a huge wrapping party on Christmas Eve! But bags for the little chintzy gifts to co-workers and stuff if I'm in a hurry.

2. Real tree or artificial? Fake. That way I only have to spend the money once.

3. When do you put up the tree? It's turning into the Sunday after Thanksgiving, but it's not a set in stone tradition yet.

4. When do you take the tree down? Whenever I get around to it. I try not to go TOO late into January!

5. Do you like egg nog? yes. I can't drink much because it's so rich, but my husband has made himself sick (several times!) drinking too much at once.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? ??? Didn't have anything that really stands out from Christmas.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Probably my in laws. I'm never sure what they really would like, Mike is no help, and anything they really want they buy for themselves!

8. Easiest person to buy for? I think it's me! I always have a nice list of exactly what I want!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I have a little dinky Dollar Store one because I wanted at least something. I will eventually buy a nice one, but I don't know when.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Hmmm... since I don't really send either, I'm not sure! I love to get either, although I think I like the email ones a little better since I don't feel guilty about throwing them away. I think that they would be easier to send if I ever did decide to (and cheaper!), but there is also something nice about getting actual snail mail. Hmmm... it's a toss up.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Ornaments. I get about a billion nasty unmatching grody ones from students every year, and I like my pretty matching tree! But then I feel guilty for not using their gift. Sigh. What a vicious cycle.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually after Thanksgiving sometime. I don't have a huge list of people to buy for, so I really don't need to worry about it before that.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes. How do you think I get rid of the nasty ornaments?!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? maybe fudge? But I like a lot of the Christmas-time treats.

16. Lights on the tree? Yes, but I like them to be all white. I think it's prettier than colored.

17. Favorite Christmas Song? The First Noel, but many others are a close second.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I've gone home to Texas every single year of my life, but I guess next Christmas I'll have to figure out something different since there won't be a home there to go to! Not sure if we will stay or go after that... probably stay.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes, of course! Who can't?!

20. Angel on top of the tree or a star? Star, and it's a pretty one, too.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? It's snowy and dark and cold. Yuck. Give me spring any day!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? We have blue, silver, and red with our white lights. I think it's really nice!

24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Hmmm... not sure. We've always done ham sandwiches and potato salad, which is good, but I don't have a huge favorite or anything.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? a paper shredder, some new tennis shoes, and a robe.

26. Who do you tag? No one is obligated. Feel free if you want!

Why Mike is Superman

Here's what my sweet hubby did this weekend:

1. washed all the dishes
2. voluntarily vacuumed the whole house without being asked
3. gave the vacuum cleaner a haircut (I tend to shed some nice long hairs...)
4. vacuumed the floorboards, corners, and ceilings
5. cleaned the ceiling fans
6. went grocery shopping with me
7. cooked me breakfast AND lunch
8. remembered how I like my eggs without any reminder at all, even though we haven't eaten them in a long time
9. made the bed (this one is a BIG DEAL!)
10. let me sleep in

Isn't he amazing?!

Bored in a movie?!

I had a new experience in my teaching career the other day. We had just finished doing a novel study on Sarah, Plain and Tall. So, I thought I would be a nice teacher and get the movie for my kids to watch on Friday afternoon. Nice, right? What kid doesn't like watching a movie instead of learning? Yeah, well, the ones in my class don't! After only 30 minutes, they were all antsy and talkative, and when I asked if they wanted to turn it off and do something else, they all said yes! How strange is that?!

New Pajamas!

JC Penney had a huge sale yesterday, and my old pajama pants were kind of falling apart, plus they're kind of thin and better for summer than winter. So Mike helped me find the perfect new ones! They're cute, they're warm, and they were on sale! I have them on right now, and I am a happy woman!

Jimmy John's and Cold Stone

This weekend was our stake conference, so we drove to Ames twice. On Saturday night, we went to get dinner in between the priesthood and the adult session. Where did we eat? Well, our two favorite places in Ames, Jimmy John's and Cold Stone!

Jimmy John's might be a midwest thing since I had never heard of it before moving out here to Iowa, but let me tell you, they are the YUMMIEST sandwiches ever!!! Better than Subway, and I like Subway! Has anyone else ever eaten at one? If not, search it out. It's well worth it! (Which reminds me... I have leftovers in the fridge right now!)

And Cold Stone? What more can I say? You people that live 10 minutes from one, appreciate your good fortune!

So, where do YOU go to eat a treat? (Hey, and I didn't even mean to rhyme!)

First Snow

We had our first snow of the season today. I thought it was... well, okay, a little pretty. But ONLY because it didn't stick to the ground! One of my windshield wipers DID break when I tried to use it because it was frozen to the windshield! But I think Mike can fix it.
Sigh.
I'm trying to be positive about the long winter ahead...

Bathroom update...

If you missed my earlier bathroom post, go check it out. The great news is that when I came home the other day I saw this:

Notice the brand-new tile! Of course, it also meant that the toilet had to go somewhere, so here it is in our computer room!

We couldn't walk on the floor for a few days, but now everything is all put together and ready to use again. It is SO NICE to not have to trudge downstairs any time we need to use the bathroom! Hooray for our landlord! (And isn't it nice that he owns a flooring shop?!)