Feeling Productive!

Well, my head has magically been able to get back on my head and is no longer chopped off feeling.

In fact, I've been able to get SO much accomplished this weekend, and I think part of it is because of making lists:

1. I was able to run multiple errands around town, all while toting two VERY energetic toddlers (who were incredibly well-behaved: Seth would ask, "Where are we going next?" after each errand) while waddling at a pregnant snail's pace. We all earned Sonic Drive-In after that since it was on the way home!
2. I was able to help with Bountiful Baskets at a new site in town, which felt like I was back in cut-off chicken head mode for awhile, but I later learned that those picking up were impressed with how smooth it went. Go figure.
3. I sewed (yeah, that's right) some pillows for Eliza's room.
4. I got our mountain o' laundry folded.
5. I taught my church lesson on Sunday without any major mishaps and only cried a little when talking about God's Creations when I got to my children (pregnancy hormones, sheesh!)
6. Had dinner with multiple cop families with was SO fun until they thought it would be funny to see how riled up I get with a stupid high-pitched grenade app on multiple cell phones within minutes of each other (again, with the pregnancy, only my hearing is extremely acute for high-pitched sounds, which when told to a bunch of cop buddies...yeah, glad I could be the center of entertainment for a bit!)
7. Tied a quilt for Eliza's princess room with my amazing 82-year old grandma and it's adorable (pictures soon!). Grandma even did a giddy happy clap dance as we tied the last ties. Adorable.
8. THE SUN HAS BEEN SHINING AND THERE'S NO WIND!!!!!!
9. My drops of sunshine and other early spring flowers have been bursting up all over my front yard, and it makes me smile every time I go outside.
10. The kids have been napping after playing hard in my grandparent's back yard.
11. Yesterday's dishes are done and the kitchen is relatively clean.
12. I've been able to already get dinner going while taking a break on the computer.

I could go on and on, but I highly recommend list making. Nothing beats that crossed off feeling! Well, leaving the front door open while listening to the sounds of spring outside is right up there too.

What a great Monday!

Christmas List, Part II

Okey, dokey! Here's the second portion of my Christmas List:

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Christmas gifts are always on my mind whenever I go shopping because I'm all for the good deals, so I don't really know how to answer this one! It's usually not until the latter part of fall that I feel that I've analyzed most of the deals and have decided to finally purchase items, though.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Almost every year. Isn't that what white elephant gifts are all about?!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? OK, I REALLY love good food and I have been blessed with multi-generational excellent cooks through the years, so I have to break it down according to meals:

• Breakfast: Swedish tea ring (family tradition, and it just doesn't seem like Christmas morning without it) with a quiche


• Lunch: honey-glazed ham with scalloped or sr. cream potatoes (and everything else for the big feast)


• Snacking/Appetizers: my 3-ingredient cheeseball with crackers, eggnog, wassail, homemade hot cocoa, sweet chex mix


• Dinner: Depending on with whom and if it's Christmas Eve or Christmas day, but I love having sub sandwiches of left-over meats and cheeses with cider

16. Lights on the tree? Uh, how is it a Christmas tree otherwise?! I'd never do real candles even though I love the nostalgic charm (but can you say fire hazard!) and I think white lights are the prettiest because they remind me of stars. Especially if they're twinkly.

17. Favorite Christmas song? All of them! OK, maybe not, but I LOVE Handel's Messiah, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, pretty much anything by Trans-Siberian Orchestra (my baby brother went to their concert the day before Thanksgiving with 2nd row seats. I hate him a little for that, but he thoroughly enjoyed himself so I won't dwell), the kiddy Christmas songs from elementary school, etc...

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Growing up we would spend every other year in northern California with my grandparents, but now that I have my own family (and both sides are so close) we stay home and then travel to the different homes at different parts of the day.

19.Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Of course!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? This year it's an angel that my mom made decades ago and needed its wooden wings glued back on. Every year my tree topper (or lack therof) is different, and not necessarily out of choice.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? It use to be one on Christmas Eve, but Chris never did that so that tradition kind of fizzled out.

22.Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The crazies. I love the music, but it can get over-played, especially if it's "live" in the grocery store and extremely loud in a karaoke kind of way. I also think it's WAY over-commercialized, and feel sad that the focus has been so taken away from Christ's birth as well as the spirit of giving and spending time with family.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

24. Favorite thing for Christmas dinner? See #15's lunch and dinner answer (depending on what one would call "dinner" while others could call it "lunch" or "supper."

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? My two front teeth! Just kidding. I love pampering gifts and also really need a new cell phone (NEVER order a cell phone off of e-bay!). I also feel that having a full "me-day" is a fantastic gift, especially if it was for a full 24 hours!

Now it's your turn. Go ahead and fill out your own answers and post on your blog!

Christmas List, Part I

Yet again my fellow police wife and blogging buddy Stephanie has helped give me a topic idea, this time one fitting for the season!

Half of the 25 Days of Christmas list for you:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both! I actually REALLY like to wrap presents but sometimes gift bags are so stinkin' cute that they need to be used as well....as long as they're securely tied with ribbon otherwise it's a free for all for the kiddies!
   
2. Real tree or Artificial? Last year:Real
   
   
   
   This Year: Pre-lit Artificial:
   



When do you put up the tree? I would prefer to put it up the day after Thanksgiving while all the crazies are doing Black Friday shopping, but sometimes I'm one of those crazies and other times it doesn't fit in our schedule to put the tree up until the first part of December.

When do you take the tree down? When it's a real tree, it's usually sometime in January when I stop watering it and get tired of sweeping up all its needles. Artificial...I know of people that leave their's up all-year-round and decorate it according to the holiday, which I always thought was an adorable idea, but highly doubt it would fly with the hubby.

Do you like eggnog? Uh, yes! I usually know my limit on the creamy goodness, though, which is more than I can say for my lactose-intolerant husband who LOVES the stuff!


Favorite gift received as a child? Gee, that's a hard one! I remember how excited I was to get my caboodle with make-up in it because it meant I was coming of age. I actually had (and used) that make-up case until just a few years ago!
Hardest person to buy for? It varies each year according to my creativity, but it's usually Chris's Mom.
Easiest person to buy for? Definitely Chris, though I usually don't approve of what I know he'd love (like computer games). It's actually pretty easy for both the kids as well, but I'm always on the search for a good deal on something that sometimes the "easy" part no longer exists.
Do you have a nativity scene?

Willowtree, which was first given to Chris and I as a wedding present from some of my aunts. My mom's been adding to it. I really want to get the Fisher Price Nativity for the kids so they have one they can actually play with and remember the true focus of the season.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Uhhh....

11. Worst Christmas gift you've ever received? Yeah, like I'd really admit to it here! Let's just say when it's obvious it's a re-gifted item because someone else's name was on it...

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Where to start?! I guess that I have classic favorites that are a must to see during the holidays:

Recently made movie about the timeless event that I feel stay very true to the bible.



Jimmy's one of my most favorite actors of all time.





Brilliant music and choreography!
I get teary-eyed just thinking about the scene where the veterans sing to the general at the end of the show in his cabin.


One I'll never have to buy since it's always on Christmas Eve for 24 hours on TBS


Actually a favorite to watch anytime of the year since it journeys with the family through the seasons!


This last one is due to Christmases we would spend with my maternal grandparents in California. My Grandma always loved watching this movie Christmas Day because the boy is so positive and it ends on Christmas Day, while Chris tolerates it due to the fact that Alec Guinness (Obi-won) is in it.


I just can't get enough of Christmas movies in general, and am always raiding the public library for Christmas cartoons and shows for the kids (but really for me to watch). Sometimes I just like having the sounds on in the background as I'm making dinner or puttering around the house straightening up because they bring an audible sense of Christmas in the air!

Stay tuned for more "Days of Christmas" List!