Christmas Tag

When do you start listening to Christmas music?
It used to be not until about the 20th of December but I've become less Scrooge-like the past few years and can handle them starting around the first of December. But never after the 25th~!!
When do you put up your Christmas tree?
This year around the 8th or 9th? Usually mid December. Except when Emily was my roommate, then it was late Novemberish.
Favorite Christmas movie?
Elf and Home Alone. But if I had to name just one..........Elf.
Favorite Christmas song?
Has always been "Baby its Cold Outside" but that's more of a 'winter' song and not so much a Christmas song. My favorite Christmas song is Silent Night. Right now is Christmas music is wonderful time in my head so they're kind of all my favorite right now. I really really wish I could find a copy of "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"!!! I really need that one!
Favorite Christmas tradition?
Reading Christmas stories to Spencer Christmas Eve by Christmas tree Light with Hot Chocolate. (on Doug's years it happens a few days early.) I also have always loved setting up the Nativity set, as a little girl at my parents house and still now in mine.
Favorite Christmas book?
"Red Ranger Came Calling" by Berkeley Breathed. Seriously wonderful book, if you haven't read it you must go find it. Now. Go. Hurry. Don't miss out on it another minute!
Oh and 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' is good too!
Fun Christmas memory?
As a mom there are so many! The year Spencer, Doug and I did Christmas in Evanston when Spencer was I think 4. Spencer was worried that our apartment didn't have a chimney and so he dumped a whole bag of carrots outside the back door so the reindeer would be sure to stop at our house. That same year Spencer got a note from Santa because one of his gifts had fallen off the sliegh and Santa was going to mail it to him later. Spencer was so excited to check the mail (every 20 minutes) for the next week! He loved getting a letter from Santa! (that was one of the years Spencer was a Godzilla fan and the toys were being sent from Japan (ebay)).


If you were one of Santa's reindeer, which one would you be?
I think this question is just too lame to answer. Seriously.
I tag anyone who wants to do this.....

Our date

We went on a date! John's idea, a day in Jackson. I loved it! I don't know how many times I said, "This reminds me of Mary Lynn!"
Most of the fun was just walking around taking manymany goofy pictures. Really. Many. I'm only posting a tiny fraction. Good day. We even ate at Taco Bell! (exciting for us since there is not one nearby our house).
When it got dark the Christmas lights were so beautiful and walking in them was so nice! All the shops were decorated for Christmas and most were offering cookies and cider to cold shoppers.
It was so nice to get away for a day! We were going to go to a movie but we were having too much fun walking around. So for our whole fun fun date we only spent money on gas and Taco Bell dinner! We are thrifty! :)

winter winter go away

Winter is too long, why isn't fall just a bit longer? I am accepting snow and winter better this year than some years.......but.......
I'm freezing and tired of winter already! I know, I'm whining. It could be much worse, I keep hearing that winters now are nothing compared to 50 years ago. If I hear one more time that I have no reason to complain about winter because it was worse 10, 20, 50, years ago...........!! Sheesh! I am still not fond of winter, even if winter now is oh so mild in contrast with decades ago!
This is a picture of our favorite tree in one of my favorite towns during my favorite season. And my favorite boy sitting under it. Fall of 2005.

We will rock you!

American Idol, the ps2 game, is something we play often at our house. None of us ever really watched the show but we Love the game! We've learned that Emily really is a talented rock star. John and I get points for our enthusiasm and unique style while Em actually gets points for talent and skill. She has become quite the tool in unlocking all sorts of treasures in our video game!
John is going to be not so thrilled that I posted this! Enjoy!

My first crush-no--my first love

.... hands down was Almanzo Wilder. First on T.V. (played by Dean Butler) then later in the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
The summer I was 4 years old I wore a "laura dress" all summer, had 2 braids and preferred to answer to 'Laura'. I was so going to marry Almanzo someday. They say you never get over your first love and I'm here to say that is true on many levels!
Secretly all these years I've still been in love with him. Almanzo is the epitome of the nice guy, hard worker, high integrity, sweet guy I've always wanted to be with.
Well, this week I had to admit to my husband that as totally in love with him I am I am also always going to love Almanzo.
The past week, on DVD, we have been watching season 6 of Little House on the Prairie and it has stirred wonderful emotions for me.

A few years after falling for Almanzo, when I discovered Anne of Green Gables, I had a similar experience with Gilbert Blythe from Lucy Maude Montgomery's books (and the show). But that was a tiny little crush compared to my ever burning love for Mr. Almanzo Wilder.

If you've seen John lately you probably assume he's going for the Dean Butler as Almanzo Wilder hair do. It is a coincidence. Or maybe its the hair I'm attracted to! haha.
I need to go to my parent's house and look through my old books, its time to reconnect with my inner Laura.

The parade of lights

The annual parade of lights was last week. We went and braved the snow, Skunk got pockets full of candy and we had dinner with Grandma and Grandpa. It was a cold fun night, it was nice to get out and do something after being sick for days!
The Maverick truck picture is one I had to take just for Emily!