Who Doesn't Love...

...a package on your doorstep this time of year? Thank you grammy and papa (mom and dad) for our Christmas package!

This is the first year for a loooong time that I can remember not being able to be with my family for Christmas. We've gotten spoiled the last several years with getting to see both sides. We are going to visit Brian's family in Ohio this year, so my parents and sister are going to come out in January and we will do Christmas then. But, mom and dad couldn't help but to send a few gifts early ~ and we are greatful. Here are some pictures of Sadie checkin' out the goods! Love you guys!

The Goods

(minus on small box that Sadie already got her hands on and the mini m&m's that i didn't want Sadie seeing before lunch)

Trying to get Sadie to look at me!!! Grrr. What part of "look at momma" doesn't she understand?

Sneaky little thing.

She's outta there! I guess she got tired of me telling her to sit down, but not open anything. I'd get bored with that too!

Tagged

So I have been tagged - thank you Casey and Mandi. We've been sick with the stomach flu around here, so no time for blogging. Anyway, here it goes...

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate? Eggnog? Definitely Hot Chocolate!!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wraps 'em

3. Colored light on house/tree or white? White lights on the tree. Haven't started the house thing. After almost 10 years of marriage, don't think we're gonna.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope

5. When do you put your decorations up? Whenever we get home from visiting family at Thanksgiving, usually the first weekend in December.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? potato casserole and sweet potato casserole and rolls (does that count as a dish?) As you can tell, I love my carbs.

7 . Favorite holiday memory as a child? Waking up REALLY early with my sister every Christmas and going in to check out our stockings before anybody else was up.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't remember...

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes. When we're with my family. When we're with Brian's family, we open ALL of the presents on Christmas Eve.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? White lights, red and gold ribbon, red, green, and gold ornaments and any ornaments given to us.

11. Snow. Love it or dread it? If I don't have to go out and drive in it, it can be fun. But I really don't miss it at all.

12. Can you ice skate? not really.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? There have been so many - my engagement ring, tennis bracelet, (a girl loves her diamonds), my camera and video camera!!!

14. What is the most important thing about the holidays for you? Being with family and friends and really remembering why we celebrate Christmas!!

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Hmmm. I think it's this pumpkin pie cake thing. Bottom layer is like pumpkin pie and top layer is a yellow cake mix with butter that bakes into a yummy crust.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? When we lived in MO we used to go to Silver Dollar City during the time that they had it decorated for Christmas - so pretty!

17. What tops your Christmas tree? A red and gold bow.

18. Which do you prefer - giving or receiving? I love giving, although it's kinda tricky to figure out what everyone would like to have. I always want to give "the perfect gift". It's SUPER fun to buy for Sadie now, though!

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Oh, Holy Night

20. Candy Canes. Yum or Yuck? Depends on my mood at the time I think.

21. What do you want for Christmas? I got a few early gifts ~ my video camera and my photography workshop back in October.

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party? We have one at our house for all the staff families at our church.

23. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJ’s? We wear whatever, but Christmas morning is always p.j.'s.

24. Do you own a Santa hat? Nope. Sadie has one, though.

25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with? Family... every other year - my family/Brian's family.

For My Friend...

...Noelle ~ who has been waiting for this picture for 2 weeks now. Sorry it took so long, but I have FINALLY posted it! It was SO SO good to see you and your family. Can't wait to do it again! Love you guys!

Thanksgiving Pictures ~ 2 weeks late

no time for words. sorry!

Fall Pictures

I took some pictures of Sadie while we were in Kansas City for Thanksgiving. I got a TON of great ones. Here is one for now. Enjoy!

Happy Happy Happy...What? and Other Stuff

So I was out shopping this afternoon. Just me and the Sade-ster. We had a few things to get because we have 2 parties to go to tonight and we are out of wipes in the church nursery. Not. Good. First, we stopped by Babies R Us to get the wipes. Well, of course I had to peruse the clearance section just to see if anything was too good to pass up. Well, I found it. The "perfect" Christmas picture outfit (see below). And I bought it. (Did I mention that this is the 3rd Christmas picture outfit that I have purchased?) Yeah, I have issues. Anyway, then we headed to Tilly's to get Amanda's birthday gift. I decided on a gift card. Very original, I know. So, I walk up to the check-out counter and pick up the Happy, Happy, Happy card - I thought the last word was birthday. I walked out of the store and glanced down again at the card and it said...

Hmmm. Hanukkah and birthday aren't synonyms, are they? Oh well. It will be a happy day anyway. It doesn't matter what your money says as long as it spends, right?

After I put Mersadie to bed last night, I went back downstairs and saw this. All of her animal magnets neatly put in the pie pan. I guess she wanted some "meat-lovers" stew.

This is another thing I just had to get when I was at Babies R Us. Only the best invention ever for one who doesn't like a mess. A spill-proof snack cup. And it really works! I bought 2 - one to replace the one that fell way underneath someone else's car in the parking lot and one because it was a 2 pack. :)


So, my trip to Babies R Us for wipes turned into this. Just had to have about 40 dollars worth of STUFF! Don't you just love that cute peti-coat and adorable sweater? These pictures don't do the outfit justice, but I promise that some pictures in the near future will show it in all of its precious little girl glory!

K, got to the end of this and realized - no picture of Mersadie! Sorry! I promise to post again very soon!

Anyone Need a Massage?

Sadie and Joe taking it easy in the massaging chairs at Kohl's. Funny kiddos!

Super-Cute Joe Joe!

I could eat him up!

Sadie is gearing up for Christmas!

Sadie wasn't even screaming this time. She was just smooshing her face against the gate - too funny!