Ready or not, here it comes!

So apparently I am not cool enough to be tagged by Em Day but I am going to do her tag anyway. Now that Thanksgiving is over and it's time to officially start getting ready for Christmas I really need to try to get into the Christmas spirit.
Sunday, November 16, 2008

Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy to your blog and change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then tag whomever you choose.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I always wrap my Christmas presents. I love to wrap(thanks to Elliotts Pharmacy), I love finding the perfect paper and doing big bows.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial, I think real ones stink are are way too messy.
3. When do you put up the tree? Whenever Grant feels the urge to carry it upstairs. Usually right after Thanksgiving. Last year Grant had to put up the tree and decorate it by himself because I couldn't get off the couch (I was pregnant with Macie).
4. When do you take the tree down? After New Years. I put it off because I hate doing it.
5. Do you like Egg Nog? I love it! I can't hardly wait for the stores to get it every year. Then as soon as one of me or my sister spot it we call everyone and tell them. As a kid we grew up eating homemade Egg Nog shakes as a huge treat around the holidays. It's one of my favorites.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably dolls. I was way into them as a little girl and always got one every year for Christmas. I can't wait for Santa to bring Macie her first baby this year.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Grant's parents.. They want it...they buy it.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My kids. Collin gets excited about any little dumb thing and Macie doesn't have a clue yet so she gets what I buy.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, we must be reminded of the reason for the season.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I usually mail them the day before Christmas. I am going to try to be on the ball this year.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Two words: Gloosie/Ceramics
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas Vacation all the way!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually Black Friday.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No, knowing me I would give it back to the person that gave it to me in the first place.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Probably my mom's Lemon Bread.
16. Lights on the tree? White. Not to offend anyone but I think the colored ones look a little weird.
17. Favorite Christmas song? A Christmas to Remember by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Pardon.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We stay at home on Christmas Eve and then go to my moms Christmas Day.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Who can't?
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I have this way cute rusty star.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? On Christmas Eve we always open pajamas and then the rest on Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Crazy traffic and long store lines.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have all these cute metal cut out ornaments that look old and rusty. Hard to explain but really are super cute.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? My mom's yummy ham and cheesey potatoes.
25. Favorite family Christmas tradition? All growing up we would go to my Grandma B.'s house
for a huge breakfast with the whole Braithwaite clan. I really miss that!

I tag my sisters and anyone else who wants to.

So Thankful!

Nicki tagged me a few days ago to list 27 things I am grateful for. Now that Thanksgiving is over I am finally getting around to doing it. Oh well, at least it was only yesterday. I still want to take a minute to recognize all of my many blessings.
1. Grant
2. Collin & Macie
3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
4. My amazing mom
5. My sissies
6. Family
7. My house, even though some say I live in the hood.
8. The phone, (to talk to my mom and sisters a million times a day).
9. My car
10. My yard
11. Primary (My calling)
12. Contact lenses
13. My bed
14. Grant's business
15. Music
16. Friends
17. Disposable diapers
18. The Computer and Internet
19. TV and Tivo
20. Chocolate
21. Weekends because Grant's home.
22. Pajamas
23. Toothpaste
24. Plastic mattress covers (for 3 year olds)
25. Frozen food
26. Washer and Dryer
27. Diesel

I am not going to tag anyone because I think it may be a little late.

New tricks!

So I am a little behind on posting these days. I can't seem to find much free time. I never got around to posting Halloween pictures and on October 24th Macie turned 4 months old. I took some cute pictures of her on that day with Mindy's camera because of course mine was dead as always, and "SOMEBODY" won't email them to me. But I'm not naming any names. Anyway, these are some other recent pictures of Macie I have taken doing some things she does now.

She smiles super big...especially at her mom.

When I prop her up in the corner of the couch she will lean forward so she is sitting up.

She can sit in her Bumbo really well.

She can wear her baseball hat.
(Not really but Collin thinks it is so great that he puts his hat on her all the time)

Funny or Weird?

I have always considered Collin to be a pretty funny kid. He says really funny things and is always making us laugh. However, after he came out of his bedroom last night wearing pajama bottoms, a polo top, goggles, flip flops, a hat and one glove, and requesting that I take his picture like that... I realized that I think weird may be a little better way to describe him. What a kid! Also, I have been waiting for the day he could dress himself thinking how nice that would be for me. I have quickly come to realize that this is not such a great thing after all and now wish that he could not. I believe yesterday alone he wore about four different outfits, three pairs of pajamas, and eight pair of socks.