Year in Review

I got this blog challenge off a message board. I have a feeling knowing my memory skills that it's going to be pretty bad. I couldn't even remember what we did over Spring Break this year!

BLOG CHALLENGE
2005 In Review
JANUARY
1. Did you have a new year's resolution this year?: Yes, I think it was to be a better visiting teacher.
2. Who kissed you at midnight?: Marc
3. Did it snow where you live?: No
5. Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop?: No. But I have been to Times Square!
FEBRUARY
1. Who was your valentine?:Uh, Marc. Again.
2. What did your valentine get you?: Ummm. Chocolate, most probably.
3. When you were little, did you buy valentines for your whole class?: Yep.
MARCH
1. Are you Irish? Partly (McCarn and Garn)
2. Did you wear green on St. Patty's Day?: Of course.
3. What did you do for St. Patty's Day?: Nothing special this year. I've learned my lesson. Corned Beef and Cabbage did not go over well with the family in previous years.
APRIL
1. Do you like the rain?: If it is warm outside.
2. Did you play an April Fool's joke on anyone this year?: Not that I remember.
3. Did you get tons of candy on Easter?: Not tons. But too much.
MAY
1. What's your favorite kind of flower?: Ooh, that's a hard one. I like all sorts, from tulips and daisy's to roses and lily of the valley.
2. Do you like the spring?: It's my favorite Season!
3. Finish the phrase: "April showers bring...": May flowers. And what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims!
4. What would you think of as a spring color?: Pastel anything.
JUNE
1. What year did you graduate from school?: High school? 1980
2. Did you go on any vacations last June?: Only if you count Girl's Camp.
JULY
1. What did you do on the 4th of july? We went to my brother-in-law's house for a traditional cook-out and fireworks. Close up and personal fireworks.
2. Did you go on any vacations during this month?: Umm. No.
AUGUST
1. Did you do anything special to end off your summer?: Since we didn't take any family vacations we decided to go to Six Flags in Atlanta over Labor Day weekend.
2. What was your favorite summer memory of '05?: Meeting our newest niece, Jasea.
3. Did you go swimming a lot in the summer?: Nope.
4. Did you go to the beach a lot?: Wished too, but nope.
SEPTEMBER
1. Did you attend school/college in '05?: Only as a volunteer.
2. Who is/was your favorite teacher?: So. Long. Ago.
3. Did you like fall better than summer?: As long as fall is still warm.
OCTOBER
1. What was your favorite halloween costume ever?: I liked being the renaissance princess in high school.
2. What's your favorite candy?: Hershey's Chocolate Bars with Almonds.
3. What did you dress up like this year? Just me.
NOVEMBER
1. Whose house did you go to for Thanksgiving?: Our house.
2. Do you like stuffing?: Stove Top Stuffing.
3. What are you thankful for?: Family, church, blessings.
DECEMBER
1. Do you celebrate Christmas?: Sure!
2. Have you ever been kissed under mistletoe?: Yes. (see Jan #2, Feb #1 above.)
3. What did you want this year for christmas?: A dvd recorder.
4. What's the best present you ever got for christmas?: A purple polka dot sleeping bag. Or the cute alarm clock. Or maybe it was the watch Marc gave me (or how he gave it to me). Or maybe just the present of having my kids around me and seeing the joy on their faces.
5. Do you like cold weather?: No.
6. How would you rate your year on a scale of 1-10?: 6

Merry Christmas!!!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Here's hoping everyone had a wonderful Christmas Day celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

We celebrated by going to church, spending time with family, and of course, opening presents. A good time was had by all.

My favorite presents to give:
ipods for Kristen and Bryan
Telescope for Josh
GPS for Becca and Peter
Palm Sander for hubbie

My favorite presents I got:
Basic Grey notch maker
Knifty knitter
Dvd recorder
Flute earrings

We had a fun time playing a dvd game. I wrapped a bunch of dvd's and we had to guess what it was by reading some quotes from the movie. Great fun!

Yummy food, fun gifts, fun giving, great family time.

I love Christmas, when I step back and look at the big picture.

One Day... Christmas Eve

In honor of the night before Christmas (which is tonight- Christmas Eve) I'm posting this anonymous poem I found many years ago. It's a description that we are just about able to avoid now that the kids are growing up. But it reminds me of many a night spent building and putting together all night long. Real quality time with the DH.

Parents Night Before Christmas~

Twas the night before Christmas
when all through the house
I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse.
Instructions were studied and we were inspired,
In hopes we could manage "Some Assembly Required."

The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds,
While Dad and I faced the evening with dread:
A kitchen, two bikes, Barbie's town house to boot!
And, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot!

We opened the boxes, my heart skipped a beat....
Let no parts be missing or parts incomplete!
Too late for last-minute returns or replacement;
If we can't get it right, it goes in the basement!

When what to my worrying eyes should appear,
But 50 sheets of directions, concise, but not clear,
With each part numbered and every slot named,
So if we failed, only we could be blamed.

More rapid than eagles the parts then fell out,
All over the carpet they were scattered about.
"Now bolt it! Now twist it! Attach it right there!
Slide on the seats, and staple the stair!
Hammer the shelves, and nail to the stand."
"Honey," said hubby, "you just glued my hand."

And then in a twinkling, I knew for a fact
That all the toy dealers had indeed made a pact
To keep parents busy all Christmas Eve night
With "assembly required" till morning's first light.

We spoke not a word, but kept bent at our work,
Till our eyes, they went bleary; our fingers all hurt.
The coffee went cold and the night, it wore thin
Before we attached the last rod and last pin.

Then laying the tools away in the chest,
We fell into bed for a well-deserved rest.
But I said to my husband just before I passed out,
"This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.

Tomorrow we'll cheer, let the holiday ring,
And not have to run to the store for a thing!
We did it! We did it! The toys are all set
For the perfect, most perfect, Christmas, I bet!"

Then off to dreamland and sweet repose I gratefully went,
Though I suppose there's something to say for those self-deluded...
I'd forgotten that BATTERIES are never included!

Two days...

There are only two days left until Christmas. When I was growing up, we called it Christmas Eve Eve. We thought we were so clever figuring that out and being the first chilren in the world to name it that. Little did we know children and adults all over had already been calling it that for years.

There's nothing like a child waiting for the magic of Christmas Eve. My kids are older now so there is no longer any "magic". But, there is definitely excitement in the air.

The cookies are baked, the presents carefully placed under the tree. Secrets abound. There's nothing like Christmas. And it will be here in less than two days!

Three Days...

Three days until Christmas. I finished wrapping ALL my presents. Yes. I think this is a first. What will I do on Christmas Eve? Sleep maybe?

Four Days

Ummmm. Yeah. I am one of the most forgetful people I know. At least I don't remember anyone being as forgetful as me. I forget appointments, meetings, people's names. I forget to go visiting teaching, to make appointments and to pay bills (not very often though--- I think I've got a handle on that one-- automatic deduction!). I didn't used to be so forgetful. I could remember everyone's names. I was so organized with my little Franklin planner. My kids were where they were supposed to be at the right time and so was I.

I've often wondered to what should I attribute this loss of memory. (Sometimes it's scary- I have whole blanks of time I can't remember. Most of the time it's just forgetting why I came into a room.) I can trace it back to two things: One, the birth of my fourth child. They say you lose brain cells in the placenta- I'm beginning to believe it now. Second, the introduction of the internet into our home.

I'm a researcher. Trouble is, now, I read so much and how so much information in my brain I can't remember where I read it or who to attribute it too. Maybe I should go back to a simpler life.

Nah. Then I wouldn't have this blog that nobody reads. Or Josh.


Quote for today:
"It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?" - Henry David Thoreau

Five Days...

Five days until Christmas. As a child I would have been going bonkers. I loved looking forward to Christmas, and I guess I still do. But now my excitement is geared toward the giving. As a kid I would dream of what Santa would bring. Even as a teenager I couldn't wait to see what "Santa" had brought. After I had children, it all shifted to the giving. And I truly enjoy giving. I look forward to seeing the joy on the faces of my kids and husband as they open presents I have picked out for them. It's nice to still look forward to Christmas.

It's nice to have something, anything, to look forward to.

I'm looking forward to having all my children home together.
I'm looking forward to eating yummy cookies.
I'm looking forward to playing games together with family.
I'm looking forward to watching some movies.
I'm looking forward to the after Christmas sales.
I'm looking forward to a new year.
I'm looking forward to finishing some books I've been reading.
I'm looking forward to finishing the Book of Mormon.
I'm looking forward to rehearsing with Twickenham Winds again, and performing in another concert.
I'm looking forward to winter. (Tomorrow is the first official day of Winter.) No, not really. I'm looking forward to the end of winter, eventually!

Six Days...

Six days, that's not very long. I've been thinking I'm just about ready for Christmas, so I don't have that rushed feeling. Unfortunately, there are things to be done, and I need to get rushing.

I did get my Christmas Letter printed, and I did mail the cards. YAY for me! Now it is time to do those last minute shoppings, the bakings and the wrappings. I won't let Christmas Day sneak up on me this year!

Seven Days makes one week

One week until Christmas Day! Yes, Christmas Day will fall on a Sunday. It hasn't been on a Sunday since 1994. We lived in our old house, and Joshua was just a year old. Bryan would have been 6, Kristen 9 and Becca 12. A house full of young children excited about what Santa brought, not excited about having to go to church first.

This year, the talk around town is how many congregations are cancelling, yes, cancelling church services on Christmas. Their reasoning is so they can spend more time with family because that's what Christmas is all about. Hello??? It's about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Yes, our families are very important, and spending time with them is also important at Christmastime, but how long is a church service? One hour? Maybe 1 1/2 hours? Doesn't that give us plenty of time to spend with family, before and after services? We cut down our service to just Sacrament Meeting, with the sacrament served, talks and music presented. But to cancel it totally goes against the true meaning of Christmas, to come and worship Christ the newborn King!

Eight days

Woke up, cleaned the house, read the paper, took a shower, welcomed my husband's family to our house.

Talked with family, made a cheesecake, fixed the appetizers, welcomed rest of husbands family, sat down to eat.

It's nice to spend time with family.

And that's all I'm going to say about today.

Nine days...

Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping,
Into the future...

Days keep on slipping, slipping, slipping...

Just nine days. It's all becoming a big blur. So much to do.

The shopping is basically done (got to get Dad something!) But the boys keep adding things to their lists:
Joshua: Did I tell you that I wanted Battlefield 2 for Christmas?
Bryan: Battlefront 2?
Joshua: No, Battlefield 2.
Bryan: That's the one with the army guys.
Joshua: I know.
Me: It's not the Star Wars one.
Joshua: I know.
Me: Too late. I already bought all your presents. Now I get to start taking away when you misbehave! (Insert evil mother grin here.)

You're getting what you're gettin'. And only then if you're lucky!

My List for Today:
*Write in blog (check)
*Go to the bank to deposit flute checks (check, and my check from the middle school clinics I did finally came in!)
*Return item to Walmart (check)
*Get hair cut (check)
*Sams Club (check)
*Get boys to wrap their presents (Josh did almost all his, Bryan started on it)
*Find MIL present (check, whew! I bought it a couple of months ago and couldn't figure out where I stuck it. I do that every year with one present. That's what I get for doing my shopping early!)
*Hide certain presents because certain people are coming over this weekend. (One came in the mail or ups or something and I can't believe they dropped it off late at night, didn't ring the doorbell, and so the package stayed outside all night IN THE RAIN! Thankfully they wrapped it in plastic. WHY COULDN'T THEY RING THE DARN DOORBELL? We were home. Enough ranting.)
*Bake Pumpkin Bread. (check, smells yummy.)
*Print out Christmas Letter (printed out 25 so far. Printer is acting funny-- keeps losing connections. Now I'm out of black ink. There's always something.)
*Address envelopes and sign cards. (Still no. Cowering in embarrassment.)
*Vacuum, mop, dust house and clean bathrooms for company that's coming tomorrow. (Umm, no. That's what tomorrow is for!)

I'm excited to have the family over. We're expecting 19. We're having shrimp cocktail, salmon roulade, a veggie tray, relish tray, cheese and crackers for starters. Then we'll have Honey Baked Ham, Rolls, hash brown casserole, green beans, fruit salad, artichoke heart dressing on salad greens, aforemention pumpkin bread and other yummies for dessert.

I just need to remember to wrap MIL's present tomorrow!

Ten days...

Just ten more shopping days boys and girls. (9 for those of us who don't shop on Sunday!) But I don't need all of them because I only have one thing left to buy! Well, maybe I will, the way I shop. Darn that frugal comparison shopper in me. What can't I just go in a store and buy what I need and then get out???

I'm not counting grocery shopping. That is a monster in and of itself. I have lots of food to buy for all the people we'll have here over the next couple of weeks. For some reason all the details of what makes Christmas come together are really shouting out at me this year. Did it always take this much time and effort to make an enjoyable Christmas for our family? No. But life was more simple then. (ha!)

So, did I get anything done yesterday? Most was checked off before I posted my blog. I never even touched the Christmas cards. But everything else on my list was pretty much accomplished.

Today's list
*Sleep in (no seminary!...does 7:30 am count as sleeping in?)
*Write in blog (check)
*Put away the laundry folded in piles all over my family room. (done! okay-- confession: I just moved them into a laundry basket and put in my room. Will work on that!)
*Have the boys wrap their presents (not yet)
*Go to Lowe's and buy big boy toys (check!)
*Find Christmas card list of addresses, address envelopes and sign cards. (ummm-- still no.)

--side note here-- I just got a letter/card in the mail today and had to look twice at the letter dated December 2004. I checked the postmark and it was 2005, but after further reading realized they were sending last's letter that never made it out with this years letter. Better late than never!

*Print Christmas Letter. (still not yet-- but I'm ready to print them out as soon as I put in a new ink cartridge)
*Mail out of town packages (check)
*Buy Christmas stamps (they were all out at the PO I went to)
*Make final meal plans and make list of food to buy for Saturday's party
*Deposit flute checks in bank
*Go to bed early

I do have to say that I got more accomplished than I thought I would today. My mother-in-law called and said they were coming down this afternoon and was I doing anything? So I invited her to spend the afternoon with me while my father-in-law went to a Boeing reunion. I got most of what I wanted to do done, with a nice bonus lunch spent with MIL.

Eleven days until Christmas...

... and the question is "did I get anything done on my list yesterday?"

Yes, and no.

Still have laundry, packages, and Christmas cards looming over my head.
I did get birthday things done. I ended up making a German Chocolate cake. Thanks Kristen for the good idea! We took Marc out to Little Rosie's for dinner.

I taught flute lessons and played lots of Christmas music with my students. I didn't get to take a nap, but I wasn't expecting to. And I didn't get to Target either.

Today's list (notice the repeats!)
*Seminary (check)
*Write in blog (check)
*Put away the laundry folded in piles all over my family room. (a work in progress)
*Put tags on all the packages I wrapped on Saturday, and put presents under tree. (check!)
*Go to Target (check... and I had to get a raincheck! I picked up some other things I probably didn't need to get. But hey, it's Christmas!)
*Find Christmas card list of addresses, address envelopes and sign cards. (ummm-- no.)
*Print Christmas Letter. (not yet-- long story there, maybe next blog)
*Label and mail out of town packages (packed up and in the car, ready for tomorrow)

I even wrapped some more presents. Slowly, things are coming together.

Countdown to Christmas

I'm really trying to be better about blogging, if just for me. Today is the 12th day before Christmas. I never have to count it because I always remember it falls on Marc's birthday. And today's his birthday! He's older than he's ever been!

This is a busy time of year. We've already knocked off the decorating, indoors and out. We've done the Stake Christmas Festival/concert, we've been Bryan's and Joshua's band concert. We've written the Christmas letter and done a majority of the shopping. With Christmas only 12 days away, I have a lot to do. What's on my list of things to do today?

*Seminary (check)
*Read newspaper (check)
*Write in blog (check)
*Put away the laundry folded in piles all over my family room.
*Put tags on all the packages I wrapped on Saturday, and put presents under tree.
*Bake a birthday cake for Marc. (Hmmm, what flavor should I make?)
*Pick up his birthday present that I have hiding at someone else's house
*Take a nap (not happening!)
*Pick up middle school carpool
*Teach flute lessons
*Go to Target to get a certain present for someone who frequents this blog, so I will not disclose the identity of the certain present.
*Find Christmas card list of addresses, address envelopes and sign cards.
*Print Christmas Letter.
*Have birthday party for Marc tonight.
Happy Birthday Marc!

2 by 2 (more inspiration from another blog)

Once again, I read this off another blog I read... but changed it to be about me. So if you read this, you have to post it in your blog. Leave a comment if you do!

2 names you go by:
1. mom
2. Jacqui

2 parts of your heritage:
1. Irish
2. Scottish

2 things that scare you:
1. violence
2. seeing my children hurt

2 of your everyday essentials:
1. laptop
2. chocolate

2 things you are wearing right now:
1. byu hoodie
2. jeans

2 of your favorite bands or musical artists (at the moment):
1. faith hill
2. billy joel

2 favorite songs (at the moment):
1. Mary did you know?
2. Breathe

2 things you want in a relationship (other than real love):
1. honesty
2. humor

2 truths:
1. Christ is my personal Savior
2. Family is love

2 physical things that appeal to you (in the opposite sex):
1. good smile
2. nice hair

2 of your favorite hobbies (aside from scrapbooking):
1. making jewelry
2. desktop publishing

2 things you want really badly:
1. new bedroom furniture
2. new cabinets in the kitchen

2 places you want to go on vacation:
1. virgin islands
2. the alps

2 things you want to do before you die:
1. see my children happily married
2. travel around the world

2 ways that you are stereotypically a chick:
1. I like shopping
2. I'm have sensitive feelings

2 things you are thinking about right now:
1. Christmas list of things to do
2. Bryan getting his act together

2 stores you shop at:
1. target
2. marshall's/ross

Oh, What the Heck: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I read this on another webpage...

A Politically Correct Holiday Greeting

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

Please accept as well a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great, not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "AMERICA" in the western hemisphere, and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, or sexual orientation of the wishee.

(By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.)