(Copied from my BFF's blog, except with my answers instead of hers.)
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? Soon after Thanksgiving. This year we had the tree up on Dec. 1, but didn't get it decorated until Dec. 8th!
5. Do you like egg nog? nope. I like diet coke!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? hmmm.......Glo-Worm, Fisher Price Record Player, Earphones with built in radio (and a long antenna)
7. Do you have a nativity scene? no
8. Hardest person to buy for? All men! Their stuff is too expensive!
9. Easiest person to buy for? Jacob!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail (Yea!!! Me and Ryan are on the card this year!)
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A gift set of Mary Kay stuff that someone regifted and it had been wrapped in tin foil (but the person didn't bother rewrapping it! How thoughtful.)
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation ("Hit it Russ............Fa La La La Laaa La La La La"
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Middle of December............FOR REAL!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Of course! Would you like some Mary Kay?
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Granny's Pigs-in-the-blankets and her sausage balls, all the yummy cookies (PTA has cookies in the lounge every other day until Christmas), spinach artichoke dip.......sigh
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? both
17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night and Jingle Bell Rock (Jacob's fav, too!)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We love to be home, and we love to be in Michigan with the Julys
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Let's see.............Rudolph, Prancer, Donner, uh, hmmm, er.....................
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Red Bow
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? both; at my mom's on Christmas Eve and at home on Christmas Day
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Materialism
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Traditional bright reds and greens; I love my Wicked Witch of the East Ornament
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? This year it will be Fajitas and the Works!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To see Jacob's joy and excitement..................and a Nikon D80 or equivalent!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Eating Tips for the Holidays........
Ryan's mom sent me these great Holiday eating tips that I wanted share. I opened the e-mail tonight just before leaving for my Weight Watchers meeting and thought they couldn't be more appropriate! I hope they help you as much as I know they are going to help me.
Manda
Eating Tips for the Holidays
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can and quickly. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an 'eggnog-aholic' or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it! Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think.
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand-alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple, pumpkin and mincemeat - have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert -- Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips: Start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
Manda
Eating Tips for the Holidays
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can and quickly. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an 'eggnog-aholic' or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it! Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think.
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand-alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple, pumpkin and mincemeat - have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert -- Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips: Start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
Remember:
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO-HOO what a ride!"
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Today's Top 10 List
- Singing with Jacob in the car......."Je-sus, Je-sus, Jesus in the morning, Jesus at the noon-time. Je-sus, Je-sus, Jesus when the sun goes down.
- Going to Christmas on the Square to see Grammy, Chelsey, Aunt Amey, and Nana.
- Shopping around the craft booths with Mom, Jacob, and Chelsey.
- Watching Jacob ride the "train" (a small tractor with huge barrels turned on their sides as the cars) with a HUGE grin on his face.
- Hearing Jacob say, "Mommy, Daddy, and Jesus take care of me."
- Hearing about Ryan's trip to Impact Church of Christ in Houston. The Bay Area youth groups made 500 sack lunches to pass out to the men and women who are homeless near downtown and they also prayed with them.
- Getting a knock on the door and finding two neighbor children there with a box of cookies they wanted to give us with a Christmas card.
- Watching Jacob push his new rolling stick penguin around the house that I bought for him at the craft booth.
- Going to the Christmas parade with Ryan and Jacob.
- Getting the Christmas tree out of the attic. Jacob asking, "Where's my ornaments that go on the tree?"
Monday, November 26, 2007
Toddler Wisdom
On the way to school this morning..........
Toddler: Mom, where is Jesus?
Me: He is in heaven with God.
Toddler: Where is God?
Me: He is in heaven, too.
Toddler: I want to go to heaven!
Amen!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
No title comes to mind???
Okay, I know I am the worlds worst blogger........but, hey, its MY blog and I'll blog if I want to!
No, really, I have just had so much on my mind. Work has been a challenge lately....I think I bit off a little more than I can chew there: dept. chair, textbook adoption committee rep, curriculum writer, CEIC committee member, and teach all of my classes. I only signed up for one of these posts...........the rest just happened to me! Anyway, stress continued to build, so I talked (and cried a little:() to my principal and assist. principal (2 great ladies), and they took one of the jobs off of my list and it was a great relief. Really, I just want to teach my students and spend time focusing on things directly related to them...........but that is not always possible in public ed. Not to mention, my first and most important job........Ryan's wife and Jacob's mommy........I really pray that one day I will be able to stay at home and be a professional homemaker!
Also, as you know, Ryan has applied and been accepted to Harding's school of preaching. We have a major move and life change in our near future. We will be leaving our church, my bestest friend (Uh huh, Kevin!) Laura, my wonderful work friends, and hardest of all, our families. Pray for us! I am most nervous about moving Jacob to a less (in my opinion) diverse part of the country.
The last week has been a great time off from school to be with Ryan and Jacob. We spent a lot of time at HOME! We spent Thanksgiving at my mom's house and went for a short visit to Ryan's mom's house. On Friday, we took Jacob to the Sesame Street exhibit at a museum in Houston. See Ryan's blog for the details.......... and today, we went to worship, had a great bible class and sermon, went to lunch with Laura's family........I love her girls! Jacob and I went grocery shopping while Ryan worked on tonight's sermon. As I write, I am stewing a chicken for chicken-n-dumplings and homemade granola bars are baking! YUM!
One thing I'd like to share........I have been compelled lately to seek comfort when I am struggling from the Bible (wow! what a great idea!). Yes, I study the Bible, but lately, it is when I am having a hard time that I just HAVE to end my day in the WORD. Last night, I was reading in Mark (I think) about people coming to Jesus and him healing them. I always struggle reading the events in the gospels and making application to my life.........but last night I was, like, OH! I get it! Jesus heals sick people when they come to him. I am "sick" and he heals me, too, when I come to him! Don't know why I am sharing with you (whoever "you" are reading this).....I don't normally share my private thoughts with just anyone......but, I just wanted to share. Jesus is the great healer and he comforts and heals us of our struggles when we come to him and obey his word. There.....thats it.
Manda
No, really, I have just had so much on my mind. Work has been a challenge lately....I think I bit off a little more than I can chew there: dept. chair, textbook adoption committee rep, curriculum writer, CEIC committee member, and teach all of my classes. I only signed up for one of these posts...........the rest just happened to me! Anyway, stress continued to build, so I talked (and cried a little:() to my principal and assist. principal (2 great ladies), and they took one of the jobs off of my list and it was a great relief. Really, I just want to teach my students and spend time focusing on things directly related to them...........but that is not always possible in public ed. Not to mention, my first and most important job........Ryan's wife and Jacob's mommy........I really pray that one day I will be able to stay at home and be a professional homemaker!
Also, as you know, Ryan has applied and been accepted to Harding's school of preaching. We have a major move and life change in our near future. We will be leaving our church, my bestest friend (Uh huh, Kevin!) Laura, my wonderful work friends, and hardest of all, our families. Pray for us! I am most nervous about moving Jacob to a less (in my opinion) diverse part of the country.
The last week has been a great time off from school to be with Ryan and Jacob. We spent a lot of time at HOME! We spent Thanksgiving at my mom's house and went for a short visit to Ryan's mom's house. On Friday, we took Jacob to the Sesame Street exhibit at a museum in Houston. See Ryan's blog for the details.......... and today, we went to worship, had a great bible class and sermon, went to lunch with Laura's family........I love her girls! Jacob and I went grocery shopping while Ryan worked on tonight's sermon. As I write, I am stewing a chicken for chicken-n-dumplings and homemade granola bars are baking! YUM!
One thing I'd like to share........I have been compelled lately to seek comfort when I am struggling from the Bible (wow! what a great idea!). Yes, I study the Bible, but lately, it is when I am having a hard time that I just HAVE to end my day in the WORD. Last night, I was reading in Mark (I think) about people coming to Jesus and him healing them. I always struggle reading the events in the gospels and making application to my life.........but last night I was, like, OH! I get it! Jesus heals sick people when they come to him. I am "sick" and he heals me, too, when I come to him! Don't know why I am sharing with you (whoever "you" are reading this).....I don't normally share my private thoughts with just anyone......but, I just wanted to share. Jesus is the great healer and he comforts and heals us of our struggles when we come to him and obey his word. There.....thats it.
Manda
Monday, November 19, 2007
Bloggin for money
Ryan must have gone crazy. He is now blogging for money. You should go check out his new blog.
http://lifeslittlecommentary.blogspot.com/
http://lifeslittlecommentary.blogspot.com/
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