Christmas 2013

This year I have been pretty much a grinch for the Christmas season.  It probably doesn't help that I was sick two days before Thanksgiving.  We haven't put up a big tree in our house since 2007.  Usually I get out some Christmas decorations and put them on the mantle and stereo and call it good.

 A friend of mine was giving me a hard time for being a grinch and not decorating so when I was cleaning up some stuff, I found this ornament and put it on the mantle and declared the house decorated.

The kids have ornament trees in their rooms so they can display all their ornaments collected from Christmases past.

Nate          Scott
Meredith


One day my friend asked me to stop by because she had something to give me.  She had threatened to buy me a tree.  And sure enough, the something was a tree.  It was small and pretty and claimed a spot on the mantle.









This past Monday, I took the boys to basketball practice.  Upon my return I found a live tree on the dinner table.  My loving husband (who is not really a Christmas guy), made me a Charlie Brown tree.  And the only ornament on it is the Grinch stealing the Christmas tree.  He says it was the first ornament he came to in the ornament box.












Today, I decided I would clean up the fireplace area so I could bring down the presents.  After dusting, I decided to put up one string of lights. While looking for the lights, I found a small tree made for us years ago by Barb Grady.  So it too has joined the collection of trees on the fireplace.

Now our Christmas decorating is complete.  The presents are ready for opening tomorrow.  Yes, that is all of the presents.  Each child gets three things to open.  And Dennis and I do not give each other presents.

Merry Christmas to all!

Two favs from facebook.

I AM A HANDFUL - unfortunately most women WON'T re-post this. I'm strong willed, independent, a bit outspoken, and I tell it like it is. I make mistakes, I am sometimes out of control and at times hard to handle but I love and give with all my heart. If you can't handle me at my worst then you sure don't deserve me at my best. If you are a HANDFUL, re-post!

Copy this and paste it in your status if you know someone, or have heard of someone who knows someone. If you don't know anyone, or even if you've heard of someone who doesn't know anyone, then do still copy this. It's important to spread the message. Oh and the hearts ♥ ♥ ♥ ... don't forget the hearts! ♥ ♥ ♥

Facebook Peer Pressure

So once again, I have caved to facebook peer pressure.

Pay it Forward 2011: I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. They must in turn post this and send something they make to the first 5 people who comment on their status. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011.

I figure I better post it here so I remember who my lucky 5 are.

It's November again. My facebook friends have started the annual "Thankful challenge"

It's November! Every day this month until Thanksgiving, think of one thing that you are thankful for and post it under your status. "Today I am
thankful for..." Now if you think you can do it, repost this message as
your status to invite others to take the challenge, then post what YOU are thankful for today."

11/1/10 Today I am thankful for friends that remind me that I should be able to come up with at least 30 things to be thankful for.
11/2/10 Today I am thankful for my co-workers who are also my friends through thick and thin.
11/3/10 Today I am thankful that the election and all its robocalls and incessant commercials are over. Time to read the results and see who won.
11/4/10 Today I am thankful that the bus stops at the end of our driveway every school day to take my darling children off to school. And that they bring them home at the end of the day...
11/6/10 Today I am thankful for coaches who share their love of sports with our kids. (First volleyball pre-season tournament games! Yes, multiple. We play at 11 and again at 8)
Friday I was thankful for a quiet dinner with my husband and daughter thanks to grandma who keeps kids overnight.
11/7/10 Today I am thankful for a husband who cooks and family that likes to come for dinner. (not too much in the way of leftovers!)
11/8/10 Today I am thankful that Russell finally made it here to properly vent our bathroom vents through the roof.
11/10/10Today I am thankful that I am not an accountant! Being a programmer working on accounting problems is bad enough.
Yesterday I was thankful for a day to myself.
11/11/10 Today I am thankful for everyone who has served for our country
11/12/10 Today I am thankful that it is Friday. Busy volleyball weekend ahead. Go JAGS!
11/13/10 Today I am thankful for the ability to get up and go even when I don't feel like it. My eyes and ears work as do the legs and arms so I'll be driving Miss Meredith to her volleyball tournament game and cheering on the JAGS!
11/14/10 Today I am thankful that I live in a country where we are free to belong to the religion of our own choosing.
11/15/10 Today I am thankful that my boss is letting me alter my work schedule this week. After slogging through today's work, I'm going to need two days off! (well, off if you count
substitute teaching as being off!)
11/16/10 Today I am thankful for second graders who behave when they have a substitute teacher. It may my day so much easier! (Wonder if I'll say the same about 6th graders tomorrow?)
11/17/10 Today I am thankful for yesterday's rain since it changed the relative humidity and frustrated the sixth grade boys who were trying to create a static charge.
11/19/10Today I am thankful that it is Friday. Looking forward to a great night out tomorrow. Yesterday I was thankful that the boys were good while we were shoe shopping in Kmart. We managed to finish all our errands while Meredith was at Volleyball practice.
11/20/10Today I am thankful for school bus drivers who work on Saturday nights to drive partying adults to the Rusty Ball!
11/21/10 Today I am thankful for quiet days with no athletic events. It's been a lovely day to have almost nothing to do.
11/22/10 Today I am thankful for a very short work week. Just two very long work days then 5 fun-filled days with the family!
11/23/10 Today I am thankful for Metabolism Man. He does a wonderful job of keeping me warm every night.
11/24/10 Today I am thankful that Dennis did the driving through the rain/sleet and the kids were fairly well-behaved on the way.
11/26/10Today I am thankful that everyone has had a good time in Chicago despite a few tantrums.
11/27/10Today I am thankful to be headed home. We've had a good time. Yesterday I was thankful for the hotel pool which wore down the kids.
11/29/10Today I am thankful that I didn't think about work the whole time we were gone on Thanksgiving holiday (work is driving me crazy today!). Yesterday I was thankful that Meredith plays on a volleyball team where the players always encourage each other and the coach encourages their best play and makes sure that everyone g...ets an equal chance to play (can't say the same for some of the other teams I saw playing).

Facebook status fun

Facebook status updates decoded.

1/10 "I kicked my cell phone sliding down a hill b/c that's how I roll."

(My favorite from one of my friends:"I did the Macarena with a pickle under your bed because I'm sexy and I do what I want.")

> Pick the month you were born:
> January-------I kicked
> February------I loved
> March--------I karate chopped
> April----------I licked
> May----------I jumped on
> June----------I smelled
> July-----------I did the Macarena With
> August--------I had lunch with
> September----I danced with
> October-------I sang to
> November-----I yelled at
> December-----I ran over
>
> Pick the day (number) you were born on:
> 1-------a birdbath
> 2-------a monster
> 3-------a phone
> 4-------a fork
> 5-------a snowman
> 6-------a gangster
> 7-------my mobile phone
> 8-------my dog
> 9-------my best friends' boyfriend
> 10-------my neighbor
> 11-------my science teacher
> 12-------a banana
> 13-------a fireman
> 14-------a stuffed animal
> 15-------a goat
> 16-------a pickle
> 17-------your mom
> 18-------a spoon
> 19------ - a smurf
> 20-------a baseball bat
> 21-------an assassin
> 22-------Bruce Lee
> 23-------a noodle
> 24-------a squirrel
> 25-------a football player
> 26-------my sister
> 27-------my brother
> 28-------an iPod
> 29-------a surfer
> 30-------a homeless guy
> 31-------a camel
>
> What is the last number of the year you were born:
> 1--------- In my car
> 2 --------- On your car
> 3 ----------- In a hole
> 4 ----------- Under your bed
> 5 ----------- Riding a Motorcycle
> 6 --------- sliding down a hill
> 7 --------- in an elevator
> 8---------- at the dinner table
> 9 -------- In line at the bank
> 0 -------- in your bathroom
>
> Pick the color of sweater you are wearing:
> White---------because I am cool like that
> Black---------because that's how I roll
> Pink-----------because I'm NOT crazy.
> Red-----------because the voices told me to.
> Blue-----------because I'm sexy and I do what I want
> Green---------because I think I need some serious help.
> Purple---------because I'm AWESOME!
> Gray----------because Big Bird said to and he's my leader.
> Yellow--------because someone offered me 1,000,000 RMB
> Orange--------because my family thinks I'm stupid anyway.
> Brown---------because I can.
> Other----------because I'm an assassin!
> None----------because I can't control myself!

1/10 "on top"
hair style

1/7 "white"
bra color

Facebook "Thankful" challenge

This started out as a challenge on Facebook so I've decided to keep my list here to see how long I can really keep going.

The challenge::Let's see how many people can do this. Every day this month, until Thanksgiving, think of one thing that you are thankful for and post it as your status. "Today I am thankful for...." The longer you do it, the harder it gets! Now if you think you can do it then repost this message as your status to invite others to take the challenge, then post what YOU are thankful for today.

11/11/09 Today I am thankful that so many men and women have served and continue to serve our country and keep us safe.
11/12/09 Today I am thankful that I have a husband who loves me (25 years and going strong - 7 years of dating and 18 married!)
11/13/09 Today I am thankful that I have three healthy kids who can drive me crazy! (as they sit watching cartoons instead of getting ready for school)
11/14/09 Today I am thankful to have two strong legs to carry my fat backside around town walking even when my calves are still sore from Wednesday's workout and the sun was barely up. (thanks for keeping me company Amy)
11/15/09 Today I am thankful that technology was on my side (our internet connection was up!) so Dennis could work from home at 5am and I could go walking with the moms at 7am.
11/16/09 Today I am thankful to be able to see. (even if my contact are driving me nuts!)
11/17/09 Today I am thankful that Sarah keeps on pushing us in fitness class.
11/18/09 Today I am thankful I have a job.
11/19/09 Today I am thankful that I do not work in the same office with my boss!
11/20/09 Today I am thankful that I have FB friends to make me laugh (now that I finally have internet access again!)
11/21/09 Today I am thankful for grandparents who like to have grandchildren sleep over and fellow SJB moms who are willing to provide rides home from volleyball (and everything else)
11/22/09 Today I am thankful that Meredith has friends to console her after the volleyball loss.
11/23/09 Today I am thankful that my kids were reasonably well behaved despite having to wait almost an hour to get their picture taken for the new church directory.
11/24/09 Today I am thankful that only 3 of the 6 kids at my house live here all the time. The other three are nieces just hanging out. Welcome to Thanksgiving Break!
11/25/09 Today I am thankful that my house was still in one piece (messy though it is!) when I returned from fitness class. The six kids managed to maintain a peaceful co-existence while I was gone.

They're all in school....

It's seems like just yesterday, I was trying to figure out how to deal with twin newborns and a 3 year old. And now, they are all in elementary school.

Scott & Nate are enjoying kindergarten with Mrs. Anneken on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (all day!). Tuesday and Thursday they get to hang out with mom (while she tries to work).

Meredith is having fun in 3rd grade with Miss Walter and Mrs Dean (for math).

Interested in what's going on at their school? Check out www.sjbharrison.org