Dinner with Michelle and Will

Mich and Will after dinner.

Aren't they cute?

I finally got to meet Will. Michelle has been dating him since July and just last night, I got to meet him. We were supposed to meet halfway between St. Augustine (where Michelle lives) and Sorrento (where we live). So, we decided on Daytona Beach at Longhorn Steakhouse. 7:00 p.m. was the time we decided on. Meaning of course that we would have to leave here no later than 6 to be there on time. Well, Chris was on the phone with clients until 6:45 so were were 45 minutes late. Luckily, they were very sweet and agreed to wait for us. The whole hour drive Chris was making phone calls while I drove like a mad woman. But... we did make it and had a GREAT time!

Afternoon and hair

Mom came over today for lunch. She brought Kerstyn a Strawberry Shortcake sleeping bag that was mine when I was her age. It has to be around 25 years old. I'm not sure I want her to even touch it. But, thanks mom, for bringing it. She also brought Aislinn a Boyd's bear that is almost as big as Aislinn is. Too cute!

We had lunch at Chili's and despite Aislinn's attempts to mess it up, we still had a good time. She always leaves too soon and I miss her as soon as she pulls out of the driveway. :(

At 4, I had a hair appointment with Allison to cover up all of my gray. It's getting so bad with gray that she didn't even charge me and told me that she needed me to come back next week for her to do the color again. She's getting afraid that I will need permanent color as opposed to semi-permanent. But, the permanent color is much harder on my hair and for the first time in a long time, my hair is getting close to being almost healthy. Don't you think I am too young to have so much gray hair? I sure do.

Back to it

Yesterday the kids went back to school after having Friday and Monday off. We enjoyed our trip to Tallahassee even though I had a TERRIBLE meltdown on Sunday. You know, the kind that you wish you could forget, but are sure you NEVER will. Anyway, so sorry to Chris' family for having to endure that.

So on to better news. We have hit the ground running with going back to school and doing homework. I have gone to the gym both yesterday and today. Tonight entails getting Kerstyn to her Activity Days/Faith in God activity and Brennan to Boy Scouts. (It sounds so weird to say Boy Scouts instead of Cub Scouts.) Tomorrow I work in the office from 9 until noon and then Brennan and Kerstyn go back for piano lessons.

Hey, here's a question for you. We're 'thinking' about getting a dog. We have been 'thinking' about it for years. So, we're 'thinking' again. What do YOU think?

Not fair!

Please check Janet's Blog to see what is so unfair! I would LOVE to meet and interact with Mitt Romney! Not to mention the fact that I would love my children to be face to face with the next President of the United States! GO MITT!

And yes, to answer Janet's question about if it is 'obvious' that they are members. I believe that if our family was there interacting with him he would of asked us the same thing. I do think that we tend to 'know' each other. Do you?

By the way, we just got in from Tallahassee. We went up Friday and came back today. It was nice to see family and friends in our old ward. We need to try to go back more than once a year though.

Piano lessons

Brennan and Kerstyn started piano lessons tonight with Bobbyn Lowder. She is an excellent teacher and the kids are really excited to be taking lessons. We'll see how long their excitement lasts. However, piano lessons, unlike playing baseball, will be something that we continue. I don't mean that all of the kids have to be virtuosos, but they all need to know how to play the piano. We'll see...

Two days in a row

I just can't believe it!

I took this standing on the lanai. That is the kiddie pool with an umbrella hole and a pipe where you can do a fountain. Everything looks so different with the mounds of dirt gone. We've had those mounds for so long that I didn't remember how it looked flat.

I took this standing at corner of the lanai. You can see the swim out area and the bench under the hot tub. There will be a waterfall from the hot tub to the pool. Out from the swim out will be the slide.

This is the hot tub. In the upper center of the picture is where there will be glass blocks and the waterfall.

I now have to pick tile. I thought it would be easy since I knew that I wanted blue. But, of course there are too many to choose from and I don't have any idea how it will look when it is all done. Its like picking carpet from a 1/2 in. piece and having it in your whole house.

Pool update

Finally, something to blog about!!!

Spraying the concrete. Isn't that neat?

Finishing up. I'm glad that I didn't have to try to get out of there!

It took 3 concrete trucks and around 6 people a total of 8 hours to complete the job. But... Can you feel the love? I feel good... I think that I might even attempt cartwheels. What do you think?

Happy 11th birthday Brennan!

Brennan showing how old he is.

Posing before church.

We had a fun day together as a family. I think that Brennan had Happy Birthday sung to him around 10 times! He seemed to like that. We also enjoyed birthday cake along with a nice Sunday at church. Happy Birthday Brennan!

Shopping

I got to go shopping today all by myself! I left around 10:30 this morning and headed to Kohl's in Sanford. I had a really good time there buying 2 pairs of shoes and 3 outfits!

After Kohl's I went to Sam's and got a few things. I really wanted to get Brennan a birthday cake there, but they didn't have any made that I thought we would all enjoy.

Following my trip to Sanford, I headed to Chris's office to do a little work and order some invitations for a sleepover that we are having for Kerstyn on February 1 and 2 while the boys are at the Father and Son camp out. I hope they turn out as cute as they look on the computer.

Then, off to Publix for a birthday cake and some chicken tenders. I got Brennan an ice cream and regular cake. The ice cream is Cookies and Cream, (my favorite) Brennan's too, I hope and marble cake. I think we had the same cake last year, so hopefully he still likes it.

Overall, I had a relaxing day, all by myself while my wonderful husband took care of the kids. Yipee!!

No concrete

Monday at 8:30 a.m. they will be doing the concrete for the pool. Or so they promise...

I sure hope so. :( It was supposed to be done today, but of course, something happened and they couldn't. I mean it, our pool process has sure had more than its fair share of set-backs and problems!

Stargirl

I just finished reading Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and I just loved it! It was a simple read, of course it should be for me since it is a Children's lit choice, but anyway, it was really good.

The story is about kids in high school and a girl that was previously home schooled shows up and is different. Different in every sense of the word. Well, if you remember high school, you know how well different does. It is a neat journey through high-schoolers minds and a well written novel. I highly recommend it.

Last meeting as a Cub Scout

Tonight is Brennan's last meeting as a Cub Scout. On Sunday, he will turn 11 and be a Boy Scout. I can't believe that I will have an 11 year old!

My favorite day of the week.

I have a favorite day of the week! (Besides Sunday, of course) It is Tuesday! Are you wondering why Tuesday is my second favorite day of the week? The answer is simple, Maria comes on Tuesday to clean the house. She leaves, and it looks great!

I love having clean sheets on my bed, but I really do NOT like to change the sheets. I guess that it's not one set that I don't like changing, but when you have to change 6 different beds, it gets quite tiring. But never fear, Maria is here!

I really do enjoy vacuuming, but I don't like to dust. I don't mind cleaning the bathrooms, but it is usually time intensive, and I don't seem to have as much time as I would like to be able to do those sorts of things.

So, you remember my post about having my house cleaned for Christmas. I will love this present all year long! YEA!!!

What a nice day!

Today, being the first Sunday of the new year, we got to go to church from 10 - 1 for the first time. We will have that schedule all of 2008. Wow, is all that I can say! What a difference that time makes when it comes to being able to have more of an opportunity to do visiting teaching, and quality time with the family. I do have to admit that I really liked not having to rush around in the morning on Sunday, which is how it was when we attended in the afternoon, but now we have to 'hustle'. But, I now feel like I can go do my visiting teaching, visit primary children, friends, or family on TOP of getting to go to church.


So, I was blessed with getting to visit with Debbie today. I have been her visiting teacher for years. She is my friend, was my co-worker for 2 years, Kerstyn's second grade teacher and my sister in the gospel. I always leave our conversations feeling uplifted and understood. That is a blessing in itself.

This picture was taken when Debbie was doing the classroom awards in May of 2007. I was there since Kerstyn was in her classroom. Doesn't she look cute? :)

Pool update?

Did you find yourself asking why you haven't seen pictures showing the progress of the swimming pool? Well, there there hasn't been any progress, that's why! It still looks like the picture that I took of it today. However, Cliff assures me that we will have concrete by the end of the week and then the pool will move along a LOT faster after this. Let's sure pray for that!

Glad to be back home

Aren't they cute?

We all went to the gym this morning and then to Cici's for lunch. I have had a great time with the children over the break. I am sad that on Monday, we will go back to school. It is nice to all be together. For the most part, I think the kids like it too. :)

Happy New Year!

We came home from Ft. Benning today. It took most of the day in the car, but the kids did great and the parents even did okay. For those of you that currently have small children, or those of you that remember, you know EXACTLY what I mean about surviving long road trips with small children.

I am looking forward to 2008. I have great hopes that it will be another prosperous year for the Shipley family. Heavenly Father has been so good to us. For that, I am deeply thankful.

I think this is great!

The kids had a blast with the doors to enter the hospital. They laughed and laughed. I just had to take some pictures of it. It reminds me of the escalator experience last year. Kids are so good at pointing out the simple things in life.

I didn't even really realize that today was New Year's Eve. I was just having a great time being with family. I fell asleep even before midnight. I must be getting old...

What a cutie!

Jarom Nichols

I was totally digging this new baby. As you can see, Aislinn was too.

We all crammed ourselves into the hospital room, so we HAD to take a picture of it. :)

We went to church this morning in Columbus and then headed off to the hospital to meet Jarom. We arrived in Columbus last night around 10, but I was too tired to to go to the hospital.

What a blessing of a healthy mom and baby!

Off to Ft. Benning

We loaded up the van this afternoon and headed to see the newest addition! We are excited to meet Jarom Dane Nichols who entered this world around 5:25 a.m. today at 9 lbs. 1 oz.
Congratulations Holly and Dane.

Work, then party

I worked in the office this afternoon thanks to Melissa for babysitting for me. After the workday, Chris and I headed over to the Garrett's for a little get together. We had a good time. What made it even better was that right before 10, Holly called to say that her water had broken and that she was on her way to the hospital. Exciting...

Michelle and CJ

Michelle and CJ playing with us outside.

We were trying to convince CJ to have his picture taken. He did not want ANYTHING to do with it.

Mich and CJ came over for a visit today. We had fun playing and getting to visit. I can't wait to see her again!

How many people do you have as one of your best friends since you were nine years old? Not many, for me anyway, and I do treasure my relationship with her.

Bye Mam :(

Kenney's mom died today surrounded by her children. She had a great Christmas day with her 4 children and her grandchildren and then passed away today after a nap. Mam, as she was called by her grandchildren, was a great lady with a beautiful spirit. I can't wait to see her again.

Christmas galore

Yoo-Ma and Papa and the kids. Our kids think that they hung the moon!

Here is Chris opening his presents. He got some more work clothes. If he only know how many trips I made to the closet to make sure I was getting the right shirts. I pondered and pondered over the pants that I was getting and the hardest decision was the socks! Hard to believe, but true. Chris is PICKY about his socks.
Love you honey!

More Christmas

My Christmas present from Chris. I got a 46 inch LCD HDTV. Are you jealous?

This is our old television that is now in our room with a new stand that Chris also got for me. Nice, huh?

It looks as though I might survive.

This has been a fun day. The kids are happy, we have enough food for several days, and we have been able to enjoy each other. Merry Christmas, family and friends!

Merry Christmas!

The picture after Santa came.

Beginning to open presents. We got to sleep in until 7:30! Can you believe it? That makes a HAPPY mama!

Tickled!

Hard at work making the Christmas day feast. Or something like that...

A hard day at play, makes a sleepy Aislinn.

The kids have had a blast. I am going to have to do another post so I can show you my Christmas present. Also, make sure to look to Wednesday, December 20 to see Greyson in his Christmas play.

Mom and Dad are here!

Mom and Dad in front of our tree.

The girls.

Kerstyn and Yoo-Ma

Mom and her one daughter.

The boys completing one of my Christmas presents.

We had such a great visit with my parents tonight. Come back Mom and Dad, as fast as you can!

Christmas Eve

My parents are on their way. I am looking forward to some time with them.

Chris is on his way home from shopping. I have NO idea what he has done. I hope he has been "good".

This morning I took all of the kids to Target with me and we saw quite a few people that we knew. The Garret's, Julie Haught, Kristi Hopkins, Linda Fleming, Addie Donovan and her kids and probably more that I'm not recalling right now. It was not too bad of a visit since I didn't have too much to buy there and it was nice to see familiar smiling faces.

We stopped by Debbie's to give her a little gift because:
First and most importantly, she is my friend, and
Second, I am her visiting teacher.
Debbie, I hope that you don't have to throw it away. It is very hard to buy for you because you don't like junk food. Good for you, bad for me...
Then we were off to Tricia Desourdy's for the same reason. She wasn't there, so I hope that she finds her gift on her door step.

Hiding out

Last night I just needed a little time "off". So, I went into my room and locked the door. I got all of my supplies out and sat on the closet floor. Are you wondering what I was doing on the floor in my closet? Well, one of the things that I was doing was wrapping Christmas presents. I did it for about an hour and a half and came out with a better attitude. It's amazing what a little alone time and some service can do for you!

Comany is coming

Ryck and Alyssa are on their way to stay the day and spend the night tonight. We just can't wait!

I went to Target this morning to finish with the stocking stuffers and some other items I just couldn't live without!

Now, I need to get back in that kitchen and resume cooking and baking.

Mom and Dad are coming Christmas Eve. Hopefully Ryan will be with them too.

Work Christmas Party

I worked this morning at the office and then we closed it at noon to have the annual Office Christmas party. Chris, Nancy and I finally left around 1:15 and stopped by the post office before we headed to Mary's. The food was great and the company even better!

It was nice to get together as an office socially and enjoy each other's company.

The office will not open again until Wednesday, December 26. I am looking forward to having Chris home with us. It is truly a blessing.

Greyson in his Christmas play

Aislinn has to pose with her 'star' brother after the performance.

What a cutie!

Greyson was in his annual Christmas play at St. Edward's Pre-School. He was a shepherd this year and had a line he and a few other boys had to say. It was a great play and he looked adorable!

Watch out!

I have been baking and have plans to do more baking and cooking. Something MUST be wrong.

Today Kerstyn and I made Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies. It is a Pampered Chef recipe and it is really tasty. I also made some brownies, just ones out of the box, but I made them!

Tomorrow, after my dreaded dentist appointment, I hope to make some more goodies. Maybe a couple of Chess Pies and some Spinach Artichoke Dip. I know that they don't sound good together, but you don't eat them together, so never fear!

As long as I can read a recipe, and follow it, they turn out great.

The chess pie tradition comes from my maternal grandmother. I am not sure how far before that, but I am at least sure of her. There was never a Thanksgiving or Christmas without them. I think that it is a 'southern thing'. The pie is mainly sugar with a few eggs, evaporated milk, a tad of cornmeal, and maybe something else but tastes great with Cool Whip. Did I peak your interest?

Watch out Martha Stewart!

I just like this time of year (usually).

Here is the decorated tree. The kids did a great job helping me get the ornaments on.

It's quiet time. So, Greyson is in his room 'doing his thing'.

The front doors.

I just love being able to enjoy the Christmas season. I have to admit though, that I am just probably today, starting to really enjoy it. I have been worried/stressed about gifts, etc. But, I am done, I think, and now I can just really enjoy this wonderful season.
Things I like about Christmas time: (in no particular order)
I feel friendlier and try to serve others more.
I get to see Christmas lights and feel the excitement with the kids.
We get to focus on Christ's birth and share that message a little easier with others.
It's okay to gain a few pounds, even slightly expected!
The kids are home and we hopefully don't have to rush around as much.
We visit and focus on family.
Need I say more?

Cold front

This is the kiddie pool area where you can see that the ground has caved in and the dirt washing away.

This is/was the deep end of the pool. We just this morning could see the drains again since it was holding about a foot of water.

See the nice water ways on the way down to the deep end? They aren't supposed to be there!

Hot tub caving in.

WHAT A MESS!

I was very glad to hear the rain all night. However, when we woke up this morning, this is what we found!
On a nice note, I am glad to have the colder weather! It just doesn't seem right to be sweating profusely while hanging up Christmas lights. There won't be any sweating around here at least for the next few days.

Christmas Party and preparation

Our Christmas tree without any of the ornaments. You should see it now, with all of the great stuff Chris, Lauklan and Greyson got for it!

Chris and I went to Mike and Tricia's Christmas Party tonight. We had a really nice time there visiting with friends and eating GREAT food.

Earlier in the day, Chris played horseshoes with several of the men in the neighborhood. They have formed this horseshoe group and they get together once a month to play. Chris says that he is no good, but I just hope he has a good time and can forget about work for a little while.

While Chris was off playing horseshoes, I was busy putting the LED icicle lights on the roof around the front door. Why, you ask, am I just putting them on the eaves around the front door? Because, they are 17 bucks a string and we needed 4 strings just to do the front door area! So, I will buy more and more as we go, but since the 'regular' icicle lights are just around 7 or 8 bucks for a box, you can see that they are much more affordable. However, when Chris, aka. Tim Allen, saw the LED lights, we HAD to have them, the others just simply wouldn't do!

Funny note about the lights. Chris put them up earlier in the morning while I was out doing returns at the stores and Kerstyn was at a birthday party. I knew that he was working on the lights, and I was glad. However, when I got home, they weren't up. They were just laying on the ground near the entry. Odd? So, I asked him what was going on and he said that he put them up but when he attached the extension cord, they all came down! You know how they come down so easy, just a little pull and they all just came right down. So, I was perplexed. I hung them last year, and they didn't do that! I just told him not to worry, thanks for trying. But, I just couldn't help myself. I hung them again and got them to stay up. He didn't take some of the weight off the extension cord by hanging it on the eaves too. He just attached it, but the weight pulled them right down. :)

I did it, AGAIN!

I locked the keys in the van, again.
You can also see my other post about this happening the first time.
But... Aislinn was strapped in her car seat this time! It was a little more urgent to get into the van, since she was in there, and even though it is December, it was around 83 degrees outside. No telling what it was in the van.

I had washed my van and was vacuuming it out. While I was vacuuming, Aislinn was walking all around inside it. When I was finished, I put her in her seat and shut the door. Well, the doors were locked! I guess that she had pushed the button to lock the doors while I was vacuuming ever so feverishly and I didn't notice that she had done it.

So, I ran over to the car wash employees and pleaded for help. They came to the rescue!

They had my doors open in record time, around 2 minutes! Thank you Superwash Express employees for bailing out ditso mom!

House cleaning

I have decided that my Christmas present will be my house being cleaned by someone other than me. So... I set off asking and calling people that supposedly clean houses for a living.

I had it cleaned today by a cleaning company. It's better, don't get me wrong, but shouldn't THEY know how to clean better than I do? For example, I had to ask them to open up the microwave and clean inside it. Secondly, the bathroom sink in the boys bathroom was not totally clean AND the tub was not wiped all around the rim! Now that I am writing this, I want to go check behind the toilets. Maybe I shouldn't though, I just might get more upset. :(

Maybe I am just too picky to be pleased and I should either accept what they do, or just do it myself.

Frustrating.

Pet peeve

It really bothers me to get poor service at a restaurant. Don't you think that they are there to serve you, therefore they should not be bothered when you ask them for something? It just boggles my mind!

Christmas decorations

I might have the lights up by Christmas Eve. Also, NO, I was not kidding when I said in my Christmas meme that I started Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve. I haven't gotten anything for the kids. I have only ordered Chris's presents.

I need to get going.

The tree does look great though. Chris, Lauklan and Greyson went to Target yesterday and bought the cutest ornaments. Then came home and decorated the tree. It was a lot of fun.

Running in circles

I feel like a hamster on a wheel. Going 20 mph but getting nowhere!

Tonight was the ward Christmas Party AND the Dave Lowe Christmas Party. We needed and wanted to attend both of them. However, you know how it is when you try to do too much at once. Neither one seems to go too well.
First mistake was that I did not feed the kids before the ward party. Even though I knew that it was not "dinner", I knew there was food, and I thought we would eat first. However, we weren't eating until after all of the rotations through the Christmas story. So, Aislinn and Greyson were trying to eat all of the Hershey's kisses and peppermint candies! Chris ended up leaving with them and going to Burger King while I stayed with the older three and participated in the Primary portion of the show. It all worked out okay, but not as I had planned in my mind. Know what I mean?

Then, we left the ward party early to make it to the work party only an hour late. On the way, Chris was over it all and had a bad attitude to put it lightly. However, after we got Melissa home with all the kids a little after 8 and headed to the party, just the two of us, I told him to get his work face on. He did, and we ended up having a nice time.

I wonder when, if ever, I will learn not to over-extend myself.

It's tonight

I am so excited to go over to the Carter's house to serve dinner to the High Council and the Stake Presidency. Debbie asked me for the first time last year and I had such a good time I told her that if she didn't ask me again my feelings would be hurt. So, because she is a good friend, she asked me again. I know that it could sound odd that I am looking forward to serving dinner tonight, but I am. The company is wonderful and the atmosphere is fun. Ashlea and Mary both did it last year and are doing it again with me tonight.

On another topic - I am VERY upset with Chem-Dry. I had an appointment scheduled this morning at 8 to have the carpets cleaned. They called at 8 and said that they were running late. Well, I couldn't wait around for them because I had to get the kids to school, so I rescheduled. However, I got upset because I was actually looking forward to having them cleaned and I called back to see if they could still come because Chris said he would wait for them for me. They were not very friendly to me and said that they already sent them somewhere else because I ONLY gave them 5 additional minutes. RUDE! I just told them to take me off the schedule and the mean woman replied, "10-4" and hung up. I cried. Silly, I know, but I was really upset.

Once again, Chris saved the day and scheduled someone else to come tomorrow. I am happy again.

I'm odd, aren't I?

The inflatable snowman

I don't know what Aislinn will do once Christmas is over and the inflatable Snowman and Santa get put away. She loves those things and even talks to the snowman. It is so sweet. It is wonderful to see the kids' eyes light up with Christmas talk, lights, etc.
It is great to have them bring back the magic in this time of year as far as the excitement is concerned. I haven't done much shopping, and I am not doing much this year because of the pool, but we are all still enjoying the sweet spirit that Christmas brings.

I'm such a dork!

I was getting all of my stuff ready to go in the gym this morning and I shut the van door. Just as it was about closed, I realized that my keys were still inside it! See what happens when I wear different shorts! I am such a creature of habit. I had on my longer exercise pants this morning since it was nice and cool and sure enough, they don't have pockets so I decided to put my keys in the diaper backpack. Well, I didn't take the backpack into the gym and my keys remained safely tucked inside the backpack, INSIDE the van.
I knew immediately that it was going to be, "One of those days". It is. Help...
I have already spilled a Danimals on my carpet and for those of you who know how I am about my carpet, you know that I am FREAKING out. :(

Parenting class

Today during the third hour of church, we were in a 'parenting class' taught by President Carter. I was glad to be invited into the class, because it consists of the parents of the 12 - 18 year olds, but the Bishop asked Chris and I to attend because we had one coming up soon. I responded with a thank you, because I can use all the help parenting that I can get!

We discussed ONE topic today. It was the first of 12 key issues that President Carter plans to talk with us about during the next several weeks. The first topic was that parenting is not easy! That, I do know without a doubt! I don't know how many times since I have become a parent, and a whole lot more since our children are getting older, that I have said, "This parenting thing isn't for wimps"!

Also mentioned was something that I have said a lot in the last 3 years, since I have been Primary President. It was said how important it is to be valiant in your service in Primary. It was mentioned how the children are so eager and malleable in those years and how we need good teachers and leaders for them. I must say again how I love serving the children. They are so sweet, their testimonies so strong, their faith so pure! I do know that my life is blessed by the opportunity to serve the children, my own children and the Eustis ward children. I know that Heavenly Father lifts me up and guides my counselors and me to do what He wants done.

Okay, back to the original topic. Needless to say, the class was wonderful today and Chris and I both commented that we look forward to the ones coming up.

Christmas

Tricia had gotten this in an e-mail and put it on her blog. So, here are my answers this year... By the way, I got a new tree today and I absolutely love it! I'll take some pictures of it and post them later. (It's not special except for the fact that it's pre-lit and big!)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial

3. When do you put up the tree? As soon as I can after Thanksgiving. That would be today 12/1, this year.

4. When do you take the tree down? The first weekend after Christmas or around the first of the year.

5. Do you like eggnog? Not really. I'll drink it if it's there sometimes, but I don't miss it if I don't have it. Make sense?

6. Favorite gift received as a child ? Remote controlled car.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? No. Sad, isn't it?

8. Hardest person to buy for? Chris

9. Easiest person to buy for? Mom and Dad. They just want a family pictures. Done.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, to me it is way more personal.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Is there such a thing? NO!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? When I was a child I love to watch all of the ones that came on network television. Frosty, Rudolph, etc. As an adult, I still love all of them, but The Christmas Shoes gets added to that list. Oh, Polar Express, too.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? The day before?

14. Ever recycled a Christmas present? Not a nice question!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Dressing

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear.

17. Favorite Christmas song ? Mary did you know?

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home to open presents Christmas morning. We used to travel before all of the kids came along, but now, it's way too much fun to see all the excitement Christmas morning.

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

20. Angel on the tree top or a star ? We rotate each year.

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

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People pushing you to donate. We donate all year.

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? The ones the kids do at school or at church.

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? My pool! However, I am afraid that it's going to be late.