More Christmas!

I'm back with another 2 on Tuesdays, linking up with Andrea. It's basically the only thing I write about these days. But have no fear! My awesome uncle sent his annual Lowe's gift card with his Christmas card (it has evolved from a check to the gift card since we bought our house). I made a pit stop on my way home from work today to get lumber for my laundry dresser. I'm off this coming Friday morning, all day next Friday, and the whole week after Christmas. Minus an eye doctor appointment, I'll have plenty of time for my closet re-boot and maybe even tackle the pesky "toilet room."

Enough babble. On to the topic: What are your two favorite Christmas songs? What is your favorite Christmas movie?

I freaking LOVE Christmas. The presents, the sparkle, the magic that just seems to be in the air. I adore wrapping presents (which Husband loves since he thinks he's terrible at it). I created my own playlist of music to listen to as I wrap. Out of my general Christmas/Holiday Smart Playlist, I have these as my "Top Christmas", in no particular order:

Winter Song: Sara Barellies and Ingrid Michaelson

Christmas in Dixie: Alabama

Breath of Heaven: Amy Grant (one of my youth directors growing up sang this one Sunday during worship and I was instantly in love)

The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't be Late): The Chipmunks (when I was little, instead of "Me I want a hula-hoop," I sang "Me I want yahoo, yahoo!" Like Yahoo! Christmas is coming!)

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

Christmas Song: Dave Matthews Band (Really top favorite)

Carol of the Bells (the singing version, not just instruments)

Mary, Did You Know?

Angels We Have Heard on High (the sheet music had me mesmerized every year at my church's Christmas Eve service)

I'm Gettin' Nothin' for Christmas

Christmas movies are a little easier to narrow down. Of course, there's the perennial TV specials: Rudolph, Frosty, Grinch, and Charlie Brown. Husband and I DVRed them all this year and watched them one night by the fire. And of course dissected just how much suspension of disbelief one needs for those movies--anyone else notice how totally racist and sexist Santa and Donner are?

However, when push comes to shove, Christmas just isn't Christmas without:

(All images courtesy of Google search)

Christmas Vacation

A Christmas Story (TBS marathon style)

Elf

P.S. PSA: Don't Google search "Elf." Only the first hew hits are the movie. The rest are just scary.

Another 2 on Tuesday - Christmas Traditions

I had fun linking up to Andrea for her 2 on Tuesday. The topic this week is another fun one: What are your Christmas Traditions?

Since it's just the two of us (well, three counting the puppy dog), we haven't really built in many traditions. We alternate years spending Christmas with our families. This year it's my family's turn, so we'll travel down after Husband get off Friday.

Growing up, we always went to the Christmas Eve communion service at church and would go to an open house gathering at a close family friend (who also happens to be the church's secretary. Since my parents have moved, I'm not sure what the plan will be. Sometimes we do church, sometimes not. Either way there will be puppy chow and A Christmas Story. We open all gifts Christmas morning (none of that Christmas Eve crap. Not even one), beginning with stockings and moving on to the tree. As I've gotten older, all of that happens after a first cup of coffee, of course.

Christmas 2009? I think. Husband caffinating

Besides puppy chow, and a Christmas story, my favorite family tradition is waking up my sister. She's always been a late sleeper. When I was little, I'd wake her up by creeping in her room and getting REEEEEEEAL close to her face and just stare.

As I mentioned, my husband and I don't have too many traditions that are all our own. We continue my family's tradition of putting up a live tree (not a candle in the world compares to the smell of real fir).

The one tradition that is all ours is pretty special. Like most traditions, I'm not sure how or when it really started, but when we were still dating, my husband decided to take me out to a fancy dinner. Like break out the Spanx and keep your elbows off the table nice. We've been slowly eating our way around the nicer restaurants in town, having frequented Jonathan's at Gratz Park (less than impressed for the cost, but good), Nagasaki Inn (hibachi grill), Malone's (also our engagement dinner locale), and most recently Dudley's. This year we're planning on trying Merrick Inn. The goal is to go somewhere a) we've never been and b) we wouldn't normally go if we were eating out.

The Hubs and I before Nagasaki Christmas dinner

It's tough scheduling dinner with all of the other commitments we have during the season, but we also usually make it a priority.

Our other tradition hasn't always been an annual event. There's a house in town known as "the Christmas House." Every town has one, I'm sure. In fact, ask anyone in town, you'll probably get addresses of multiple "Christmas houses." Well, apparently not everyone knows about this one:

Me at Christmas House

They do Christmas up HUGE. We went twice, then the owner had medical problems and wasn't able to do as much the third. Then the owner moved, but still did his display at a local country club. Nice, but eh. Not the same. Well then Husband showed me this article from the paper. It's back and I have high expectations. We'll probably go out riding one evening, with Mister and check it all out.

2 on Tuesday

Today I'm linking up to Andrea's 2 on Tuesday. She wants to know "What's on your Christmas wish list? What do you hope to receive from Santa?"

My wants are pretty nerdy this year. Some organizing things, mostly for the kitchen (kind of tired of an avalanche of pans when I'm trying to start cooking) and a few other house things.

I would really like this comforter for our room. Our current one is from Husband's apartment and is pretty gross. I'd also like one for the guest room, which currently has a duvet cover and blanket, but no actual comforter.

I know this picture is small, but TOMS website didn't like me copying the picture. Anyway, these shoes are really growing on me. I didn't really like them at first, but the more I see people wear them, the more I like them. Especially since I started learning more about the company. For every pair of shoes you buy, they send a pair to a child in need. The problems associated with not having something so basic as a pair of shoes are crazy.

Finally, I have a couple of books on my wish list (my personal wish list. I keep a separate one for books I want for a classroom). This one is about the author's struggle with dyslexia.

To Tide You Over

Expect a little longer of a post later since I've got a small project going on (involving 4 walls and a whole lot of paint!). We've been busy decorating the house (with an almost firmed up list of what to buy with our $8K tax refund....which is in addition to our usual $1K+ refund (intrest-free government loan is a post in and of itself; I won't get into that now), so I'll have lots of projects to finally get up here. However, tax time is still painfully far away. Luckily something great has happened in the past week (other than talking Husband into painting the bedroom). In case you've been living in a hole with no contact with the outside world, a) why in the world are you reading this, b) Christmas came and went! So begins the requisite Christmas post:This year was my parents' turn to have us for Christmas. We rotate the actual day between our two families, finding a weekend sometime in December to celebrate with the other family. We were very fortunate this rotation came around this year, with Christmas falling on a Friday. This allowed Husband the maximum time off without actually taking time off...which he wouldn't have gotten anyway since his boss already had the week off. Anyway, my grandmother and sister each flew in as well, so my parents had a house full! The cats were super excited. Even Oliver (the latest kitty addition) came around and was sociable...until someone got up and came towards him. Then he took off like a flash. We ate way too much, watched a lot of Christmas movies, napped, and wandered around Opryland Hotel (we actually tried going to the mall, but the lines to get IN to the PARKING LOT were ridiculous, so we went with Plan B). We're home for a few days and then it's off to N'awlins for the Sugar Bowl (Go Bearcats!).

Our Christmas tree

Our Christmas card display

My parents' tree
Husband: "It's like Christmas came and threw up in the floor."

It's Charlie's bath time

Mom, Grandma, and Sister in the aftermath

What are They Thinking?

While browsing around the internets this morning, I came across this little beauty of a story. Short version: 50 million Roman and roll-up shades are being recalled because kids are getting tangled in the cords. Now, I'm all about child safety and all that junk, but at some point should one teach their kids NOT TO PUT THINGS AROUND THEIR NECKS? Isn't that, like, taught in "Being a 2 year old 101?" And we wonder why children today can't do anything for themselves.

I also found this while browsing around for Christmas stuff last night. I know when I think Christmas, the first Bible story that comes to mind is Noah and the ark. Complete with animals wearing Santa hats and a elephant with a clown nose (?). And we wonder why children today are screwed up in general. Fun tidbit on the ark Christmas inflatable: a house on our way to church has it. We were coming home one time and this yard has about a zillion of the inflatables anyway, but a new one caught my eye. Someone took a trip to Lowe's. And not to get paint, a grill cover, and mat for the back door.

Best Christmas EVERRRRRRR!!!

We had a great first Christmas weekend. Nice visit with Husband's family. Mawmaw cooked a great dinner (as always). No real gift exchange as money is tight all around. Totally OK with us; obviously that's not what Christmas is about anyway. We enjoyed eating and watching UK basketball trounce Indiana and what is left of the college football season (tear :( ).

Tonight is the real story though. Husband gave me a Christmas present early. The greatest gift ever. He gave me permission to paint our bedroom!!!! Since I definitely won't be working in another week for 2 weeks, I've got some time. I've certainly got the will. Help me sell him on this:

It's actually the same color, just two different finishes (one flat, one semi-gloss). I think it will look very sophisticated. He's not sold on it. If you see him or talk to him, tell him it's a great idea and will look sharp, especially against these beauties:

These are an early Christmas present from my parents. They're actually from Wal-Mart's Canopy furniture line and I love them! Everyone on The Nest raves about the line, so I figured we'd try something small. I had to assemble them, but they're SOLID wood. You'd never believe they came from Wal-Mart. We're planning on finishing out our bedroom with things from that same line (and some new bedding from Bed, Bath, and Beyond).

The Week in Review...for the Last Time

Monday: Sub at CCCS Finish laundry

Tuesday: Sub Pick up my prescription at Wally-World
Pick up Husband's prescriptions at Rite Aid

Wednesday: Sub Pack for Maysville Leave for Maysville

Thursday: Eats lots of turkey, mashed potatoes, etc. and hopefully mac and cheese! Nap :)

Friday: Return home Talk Husband into helping catch up cleaning

Yeah, you read right. This whole scheduling thing just doesn't jive with me. I know I'm disappointing all...maybe 1 of you, but if you're that heart-broken, I can direct you to some blogs that are way better than me. But way to go out on a high note, right?!?!

We had a pretty great Turkey Day. We hung around the house the whole time, ate a lot, watched a lot of football (and cried over results...OK not me--no for real!, but Husband was totally heart-broken last night), and slept. We generally avoided any shopping center this weekend. Husband has this week off, so we're going to venture out during the day. You know, when other people go to those...what are they called...oh yeah, JOBS (suckers). We've got a Lowe's gift card from credit card rewards points that will go towards some random stuff and either blinds for the breakfast nook or shelving for the garage. I'm really hopeful Lowe's has the blinds I want (i.e. size I need) in stock. They're a great deal for the size we need. We're also in need of a new grill cover (our old one's drawstring broke and it flew away in a storm), a few more strings of Christmas lights, and maybe an outside Christmas decoration or two, plus a few householdy things. Maybe I can hold out a few more weeks and we'll end up with some Lowe's gift cards and we can get those things on sale. But probably not. I'm not so good at the waiting thing.

These are the days...

This weekend has been the one that the holiday season was made for. As has become our tradition, we got dressed up and went out to dinner at nicer restaurants we don't typically eat at. This year, we decided to try out the Nagasaki Inn. We ate at the hibachi grill, which is always exciting (fire!). If you're in the Lexington, KY or Evansville, IN areas, check it out! Afterwards, we went looking at Christmas lights before heading home.
Us before dinner



Today, Adam checked the weather as we laid in bed before church. At 9:00 AM, we had already reached the high for today at 20-some odd degrees. The temperature would start falling before hitting a low of 7. Yes, 7. As in 7-ones. As in a single digit, an odd number between 6 and 8, 7. BRRRRR! After church, Adam cooked a pot of chili and I built a fire. Whenever we buy a house, one of the requirements is quickly becoming "has a fireplace." Other than that, we've been fairly lazy, save for a few chores like ironing (which I should have done last week when I did laundry). I'm looking forward to the 2 weeks of sleeping in, watching movies, and playing Wii Fit. Adam is looking forward to everyone being back from their vacations!

Mom and "Death" during Franklin's "Dickens of a Christmas"


"Father Christmas" and "Charles Dickens" with my dad, me, and Adam

Charlie and Barbara in their Christmas outfits

Christmas Questions

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real. Nothing beats the smell. Plus, we got a good one this year that hasn't shed yet.
3. When do you put up the tree? varies. We usually get it the first weekend in December and put it up the following week.
4. When do you take the tree down? whenever there are more needles on the ground than on the tree!
5. Do you like eggnog? I don't know that I've ever had it.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? a dollhouse
7. Hardest person to buy for? Dad and Adam
8. Easiest person to buy for? Mom. If all else fails, add to her several collections
9. Do you have a nativity scene? I will after Tuesday's craft night!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. Who e-mails Christmas Cards?
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? at the time, clothes
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A CHRISTMAS STORY!!!!!!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? whenever I see something I really think the other person will like, be it in July, January, or December
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? probably
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Puppy Chow
16. Lights on the tree? Yes.
17. Favorite Christmas song? I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We typically travel to one of our homes
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I grew up with an angel, but we have a star
21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Morning. The end.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Traffic/crowds of people
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? hand-crafted
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? ham and...anything I don't have to cook
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Peace on Earth...or a Wii Fit