Christmas

We spent the weekend before Christmas at my dad's house in Fountain Green. We exchanged family gifts and had some great times goofing off and playing games. Lacy and Dusty brought down the Wii, and I think my dad wants one now so he can play golf in winter lol. Fun times.

Painting My Nails......

I felt like I should update my blog. But I don't have much of anything interesting to say. So, I'm going to post a picture of my pretty fingernails. They will not stay pretty very long. But, I've been inspired by my boss to try to keep them painted, even if I have to do it every freakin day lol. Hers are always so pretty. I'm so jealous of her long slender fingers, but hey, I'll work with what I have. She paints hers on a regular basis too. Maybe not every day, but close. They look a lot nicer, and it might actually keep me from biting them. We'll see how this works out.

Over the River and Through the Woods............

We're going to my dad's house today, aka Grandpa Stoker. That is sort of weird for me to say to my son. Because I remember Grandpa Stoker, and he wasn't my dad lol. He was a great grandpa. He used to always be in the living room when we came over and he would say, "Well, hello boys!". Then we'd say, "Grandpa, we're girls". And he'd say, "You're girdles? My my." or something like that. We'd go back and forth for a couple minutes, and he'd give us great big hugs. Wow, sometimes I really miss my dad's parents. They are both gone now. Grandpa died when I was only 11, and grandma sometime after I'd gotten married. I should have gone to see her more.
Anyway, back to my original thought..........We're traveling to my dad's house today for our annual family get together. Should be really fun. We always have fun with my family. Everyone will be there and I'm pretty excited. We're going to have a nice dinner, open presents, have a little nightcap, and maybe play some games. Then we'll drive home on Sunday morning.
We can't go down earlier because we have a Christmas party for my mom's side of the family at 3:00 this afternoon, which I'm also pretty psyched about. Maybe I'll see some cousins or aunts & uncles that I don't get to see very often.
Just wanted to update my blog since I haven't for a little bit. So busy this time of year, you know?

I {Heart} Your Blog Award

I was awarded the I {Heart} Your Blog award by my awesome friend Tiffany. Thanks Tiff! This is really cool for me since I just barely started blogging in August. I have to say, it is definately addictive. It is also an awesome way to keep your family and friends tuned in to what's going on in your life. I love reading other people's blogs. Even just surfing around blogs of people that I don't know. It can be a good way to meet people too.

Here are the rules: I get to {heart} seven other blogs that I love reading. If your blog makes my list, you get to post your award, thank the person who gave it to you (that's me!) and then choose seven other blogs that you feel deserve this awesome award.

And the awards go to...

lacy

loni

alicia

jacki

bethie

tracer (newbie)

kaylyn (also a newbie)

Have fun chicas--I love your blogs.

Today is my birthday!

Truthfully, I really don't mind having birthdays. I have an excellent hair colorist that keeps most of the evidence of my age well hidden lol. Seriously though, I really haven't ever minded my age. I'm only 33, but some people (like my son) might consider that old. I kind of feel like it is still just the beginning of my life.

Today I woke up early and went to work (so I could get off early). The girls at work were sweet. They gave me an assortment of scrapbooking cardstock that would have cost me $50 on sale! One of my good friends also gave me some Victoria's Secret lotion and body spray that I love. They bought me lunch at China Wok, and later we had chocolate cake.

When my sister, Kim, was here for Thanksgiving, she bought me the Making Memories embellishment center that I've been drooling over for months. Thanks sis!

After work I went shopping at the mall, bought a couple pairs of PJ's that I love, got some new earrings, took my wedding ring to be repaired (OMG--one of my diamonds fell out--another story for another day), and squoze in a Diet Coke on the way out.

I bought dinner on the way home (yes, I didn't have to cook). And, I was pleasantly surprised by 2 dozen mini roses and a birthday card when I got home. You have to know my hubby. He's never been very sentimental and we haven't exchanged gifts for almost anything up until the last couple of years.

Not bad eh? Have to do that again next year.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

I just love Christmas. I remember my mom enjoyed it so much when we were little, and I guess it must have rubbed off on me. I love the decorations, music, colors, smells, ........everything. Here are a couple of pics of things that help me get in the mood for Christmas:

My small little 4-foot tree. We have a 7.5 foot tree, but it is just really huge for our living room. This one is cute, easy to put up, decorate, and take down.
Close-up of my deco this year. I decided to do the red and gold thing. Last year I did the old-fashioned homeade thing. It was cute, but I've done a few years in a row.

This is the stocking I was brought home in. My birthday is Dec 9th. It's a sentimental reminder of my mom for me.

Santa candy dish

Candle centerpiece

Stockings--sorry no chimney

Shane's prize deer with our SF 49ers and Denver Broncos ornaments hanging from the antlers

My children lol

Tagged

8 Things
I've been tagged by my friend and Stampin' Up demonstrator, Loni Spendlove. Thanks friend!My answers are in no particular order of favorites, just as random as my mind wants to travel.
8 TV Shows I Watch (If I have time...sometimes that can be in scarce supply you know)
1. What Not to Wear
2. House Hunters
3. Sell This House
4. John & Kate plus 8
5.
6.
7.
8.
8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Olive Garden
2. Magleby's (have you had their chocolate cake--so good!
3. Bajio
4. Kneaders
5. Cafe Rio
6. Los Hermanos
7. Subway
8. Mi Ranchito

8 Favorite Singers/Bands
1. Reba
2. Nickelback
3. Beatles--mom's fault
4. Pretty much anything from the 80's
5. Really like a lot of 60's music, but don't know the names of the singers.
6. Madonna--the old stuff.
7. Rhianna
8. Cherish

8 books I have read (and recommend)
1. Harry Potter Series
2. Twilight Series
3. Anything by Mary Higgins Clark--I love a mystery
4. Anything by John Grisham
5. Flowers In the Attic--seriously? I know. But I love it.
6. Gone With the Wind
7. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak-really a good read
8. The Sunflower by Richard Paul Evans

8 things that happened yesterday
1. Got up on time--yay
2. Went to Victoria's Secret at lunch with work friends--that was a good break lol.
3. Lacy's Stampin Up Party--so fun
4. Laundry
5. Totally screwed up my Weight Watcher's points for this week--Pizza is actually the devil!
6. Bought some Christmas presents--only one person left (that I can think of right now).
7. Finished one more section in Hunter's Safety with Garrett (doing an online class).
8. Mailed off bills--boring!

8 things I am looking forward to
1. Christmas--can't help it. I just love it.
2. My birthday--going shopping for clothes (losing weight makes you a clothes horse lol)
3. Having all debts paid off (wonder if that's really ever going to happen?)
4. Finishing Shane's afghan that I've been working on for 7 years--I know how to procrastinate
5. Snow--really--where is it?
6. Reaching goal weight--hope that happens some day
7. Finishing my Christmas cards
8. Making time to work on my scrapbooks

8 things I wish for
1. Happiness for Garrett--he's my only baby
2. Unlimited patience--(sorry to steal your first 2 answers Loni, but they were good ones lol)
3. More time for everything. I remember when I just wanted to grow up. Now, I just want it all to slow down a little.
4. More time to be creative.
5. For Shane (hubby) to stop stressing about every little thing. He needs to learn how to chillax
6. A bigger house
7. A maid--selfish but true. I hate cleaning.
8. World Peace

8 people I am tagging
1. Alicia M
2. Tiffany S
3. Jacki C
4. Kalynn W
I'm out of people lol.