1.WRAPPING PAPER or GIFT BAGS? Wrapping paper – however my mom made Christmas bags several years ago and it sure makes wrapping odd shaped gifts easier.
2.REAL or ARTIFICIAL TREE? We have artificial that looks pretty real. I like the smell of real but not the pine needles everywhere.
3.WHEN DO YOU PUT UP THE TREE? Usually the weekend after Thanksgiving (its also our birthday weekend.) However this year, Jared was on call and I didn’t want to do it by myself so it went up a week and a half late.
4.DO YOU LIKE EGGNOG? I love Eggnog actually but only recently did I develop that taste.
5.FAVORITE GIFT AS A CHILD? There were a few. I loved the porcelain dolls I got every year. And I got a blanket made by my mom using hand stitched quilt squares my Grandma did when she was a young mother. I got that when I was in High school but I absolutely love that blanket!
6.DO YOU HAVE A NATIVITY SCENE? I have several. I haven’t counted them yet. My favorites are the porcelain statue of Santa kneeling before baby Jesus, my Jerusalem Olive wood nativity that we got while in England, and the one I bought this year from Fry’s actually. It is really pretty. I hope to someday get a large Olive wood nativity that I see every year in the mall.
7.HARDEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? My Dad. I usually can think of something good but more often than not, he doesn’t ever use what we get him.
8.EASIEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? Jared because he gives me hints :-) Whether he knows it or not....
9.EMAIL OR CARDS? Both. I love getting the ElfYourself e-cards but nothing beats getting a beautiful card in the mail.
10.FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE? This is hard. I like so many. I love Miracle on 34th street, White Christmas, Mr. Krueger’s Christmas.
11.WHEN DO YOU START SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS? In October actually. I buy for Christmas and Jared’s birthday at the same time so I start pretty early.
12.FAVORITE THINGS TO EAT DURING CHRISTMAS? I love all the different kinds of dessert that only get made at Christmas time. That and Christmas colored peanut m & m’s.
13.WHITE LIGHTS OR COLORED LIGHTS? Colored outside, white inside on the tree.
14.FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG? I love the Christmas song, no matter who sings it. Also Breath of Heaven. So beautiful. And I heard the Bells on Christmas Day. I know hymns are inspired and I love the words to this hymn.
15.TRAVEL FOR CHRISTMAS OR STAY HOME? We do both and it is worth it to see both families for Christmas.
16.CAN YOU NAME ALL OF SANTA'S REINDEER? Yes because of the song. Dasher and Dance and Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen….. and Rudolf.
17.ANGEL OR STAR ON TOP OF THE TREE? I am all about Stars but I have seen some really Pretty Angel tree toppers lately.
18.DO YOU OPEN PRESENTS CHRISTMAS EVE OR CHRISTMAS MORNING? We get PJs Christmas eve and everything else Christmas morning. I love that my family and my in-laws do the same tradition that way.
19.MOST ANNOYING THING ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR? Hearing people that don’t celebrate Christmas try to take away the celebration from those that do.
20.UP EARLY OR SLEEP IN? We are up very early. Jared wouldn’t ever let me sleep late. (Not that I want to either :-) )
21.ARE YOUR GIFTS FROM SANTA OR MRS.CLAUS? Santa but Santa’s handwriting looked an awful lot like Dad’s handwriting…
22.DO YOU TELL THE CHRISTMAS STORY? Every year. If we can we also watch the Luke II Video at home or when we go to see the Temple lights.
23.DO YOU LEAVE COOKIES OUT FOR SANTA? Not since I’ve been married but we did before that and they were chocolate chip.
24.FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TRADITION? Decorating the house and putting up the tree. This year Jared was working so much that I did most of it which bums me out but I love getting everything out. Remembering when or where you got each thing. Then sitting down to enjoy the view :-)
Try this yourself - see how you do! Merry Christmas to all of you!
PS Thanks Barb for the Idea :-)
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Birthdays wishes
Sunday was Jared's birthday. He is now 29 years old. We joke about how he is so old and I am so young but it really doesn't matter. I love him and that is what is important.
For the past year or so, there has been a man that sells turtles on the way in to maricopa. Every time he is out there, I really want to stop and get some! Ever since my sister Heather got one, I have been jealous. As fate would have it, this man was there on our way home from birthday breakfast on black friday with Jareds family. We had just gotten all our birthday cards from the Brimhall side of the family and so following their advice to spend the money on something fun, Jared flipped a u-turn and we bought 2 little turtles!
We bought a boy and a girl. The man said they are old enough to mate and that we should expect a clutch in the spring time!! The boy is the bright green one. He is super fast and so he is named Flash. Jared took forever to name him. It went from Speed to Hydros but finally settled on Flash.
He is all over the place. He goes back and forth between the water and the rocks. He just looks hilarious when he basks. Legs all stretched out... we had to take a picture. 
He is all over the place. He goes back and forth between the water and the rocks. He just looks hilarious when he basks. Legs all stretched out... we had to take a picture. The Girl is named Calypso. She has just been sunbathing ever since we got her. She doesn't spend much time in the water, she just likes sitting on her rock the closest to the light and warmth.
On Jared's birthday, he ended up having to work a full day but that night I made dinner and his favorite Lemonade pie (thank you Momma Brimhall for the recipe!) 
He got a few presents that I made him open sporadically through out the day. He got a new fossil watch, Muppets Season 3, christmas Disney antenna toppers, a new nice white shirt, and Disney Pixar Monopoly.
He got a few presents that I made him open sporadically through out the day. He got a new fossil watch, Muppets Season 3, christmas Disney antenna toppers, a new nice white shirt, and Disney Pixar Monopoly. 
We played the quick version of the monopoly game after dinner. I got really lucky with most of my rolls! Jared couldn't believe how it was happening. I felt bad but there isn't really a way to let someone win that game. We had a lot of fun anyway. We will just have to have a re-match so he can win :-) (The winning board above)
I am so grateful for my hubby and I love him dearly. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jared!!
Today is my birthday but I will have to blog later about how it goes. :-)
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving this year was at Jared's sisters house. She is so super talented in making everything yummy and look amazing! (above is her invitation to dinner. Isn't she amazing?!?)Unfortunately, Jared was on call the whole week. He went in to work Thanksgiving morning for 4 hours then right as we were getting ready to leave for dinner, he got called back in for 3 more hours. He missed dinner and I was late. I wanted to get a picture of the table before we started eating because it looked so nice but since i was late, I only have what it looks like after we were done.
Jared's sister had these little paper boxes on each place setting with candy corn and candy corn pumpkins in it. Before we could start eating we had to open the box and pick one candy corn out, Say what we are thankful for, then eat it. Then when we ate the rest of the candy later, we had to think of things we were grateful for. What a fun tradition. Thank you Kristen!
I was in charge of making the squash for dinner. I have never made squash on my own before and Jared's family didn't grow up eating squash. I made Butternut Squash (above) and spaghetti Squash (below). For the spaghetti squash I got a receipe off of allrecipes.com. I added romano cheese and rosemary for seasoning. It turned out great but I made way too much in perfect Thanksgiving fashion. I still have some left over!
This was our table. SUCH GOOD FOOD! I am really glad I got to spend time with some of Jareds family all that day. I do wish Jared could have been there but I am more thankful that he has a job and that he can work. 
Jared's sister had these little paper boxes on each place setting with candy corn and candy corn pumpkins in it. Before we could start eating we had to open the box and pick one candy corn out, Say what we are thankful for, then eat it. Then when we ate the rest of the candy later, we had to think of things we were grateful for. What a fun tradition. Thank you Kristen!
I was in charge of making the squash for dinner. I have never made squash on my own before and Jared's family didn't grow up eating squash. I made Butternut Squash (above) and spaghetti Squash (below). For the spaghetti squash I got a receipe off of allrecipes.com. I added romano cheese and rosemary for seasoning. It turned out great but I made way too much in perfect Thanksgiving fashion. I still have some left over!
This was our table. SUCH GOOD FOOD! I am really glad I got to spend time with some of Jareds family all that day. I do wish Jared could have been there but I am more thankful that he has a job and that he can work. We also enjoyed going to the Mesa temple lights that night. When we got there, the lights weren't on but as we walked up to the Visitors Center, the lights came on. The sister missionaries said that the lights weren't supposed to come on that night but we must have been lucky. That or they just needed to test the lights.
In front of the Visitors center there was a family that had brought their pet bird. They let the Sisters take pictures with it as well as Jared's Dad, sister and nephew. It was a wonderful day and topped off with a beautiful Temple and yummy dessert. Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone!
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