Christmas and New Year's wishes!

Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is excited for the New Year!! I am always sad to see the close of a year on my calendar but am, at the same time, still excited to pull out a brand-new calendar and look forward to all the surprises in the coming year!

Every year my kids get the Disney calendar from Scholastic and they just LOVE it!! They opened it Christmas morning and were so excited to see it and immediately flipped to their birthday months to see what Disney movie was on their month!! LOL They love it.

By my work desk I have a free America First Credit Union calendar every year and they always have beautiful scenic photographs. My mom also gave me a free floral calendar from a new floral place in Bountiful (David's), and I think I'll put that one up in my scrapbook area. Then upstairs I have the most awesome calendar. I've been using it for the last 3 years. I found it at Michael's for $1 and it is the BEST calendar ever. It's not for decorative purposes, but it does have one little clip art picture in the corner and then the rest is a 2-page spread for the month with HUGE spaces on it to write everything in. It's awesome. FlyLady sells a similar calendar, but hers costs a lot more and you just can't beat the $1 price tag from Michael's!! LOL Anyway, I took a clue from FlyLady and each of us has a different color pen that I write our activities in. Savanna is pink, Sydney's purple, Conner's light blue, Ted is regular Bic blue, and I'm red. There is tons of room in these spaces to write down everything we do - piano lessons, dance lessons, church activities, paydays, birthdays, anniversaries, whatever. All I do is write the time and activity in that person's color and I know just by looking at it who's supposed to be where when. It's great!!

Again, I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and was able to enjoy the spirit of giving and also to remember the reason we all celebrate Christmas. We had a busy few days. We had a family Christmas party for Ted's mom's family Saturday night, church Sunday morning, Christmas Eve that afternoon with my family, and then that evening out at Ted's brother's home. Christmas morning we opened presents at home, where we discovered we need new rechargeable batteries for the digital camera as not ONE of them held a charge from me charging all of them a few days before to be prepared, although I'd GLADLY just take an upgrade to the Kodak P880 camera my friend Kelly recommended. Someday I would DIE to have a digital Canon Rebel, but the P880 is a few hundred dollars cheaper at the moment!! LOL Anyway, so needless to say I think I got maybe 5 pictures of Christmas morning. Then we discovered that we didn't have extra tapes for the camcorder and only had 2 minutes of time on that. *sigh* I thought I'd covered all the bases!! Guess not! LOL Oh well, at least we were able to get something!!

The kids loved their presents and we heard from Sydney several times throughout the day that it was the best Christmas ever, so that really made me feel good. Savanna got an Easy Bake Oven, Sydney got a Bella Dancerella Cheerleader set, and Conner got Bob the Builder tools. They each got several movies, new clothes, books, and other fun things. It really was a nice morning. Ted and I only bought a few presents for each other, but they were nice. I got the new Killers CD, along with Taylor Hicks' CD!! Yeah!! Ted got Johnny Cash and Josh Groban. Ted bought be a fun velour lounge/sweat set from Old Navy that is very comfy and a cute new shirt. I bought him some new Sketchers and a long-sleeve shirt. They were great gifts and I'm glad we were able to have the nice Christmas we were, but I think I'll put my request in for that new digital camera for my birthday, Mother's Day, or next Christmas now!! LOL Until then, I think I'll just be using disposables!

After we opened presents at home, we went out to Ted's sister's house to visit. Then we came home and, while Ted and Conner napped and the girls played, I finished sewing up rice bags for my family. Rice bags are great!! My sister-in-law gave us one a couple years ago for Christmas and my girls always fight over it, so I decided it would be fun to make them for each member of my family and also my kids. They are really easy to make, just time consuming to sew and fill 15 of them!!! I went through almost 50 pounds of rice. But my kids were so excited to get them!!!!! We bought 4 different colors of fabric so each person has their own and they can't get mixed up.

We went up to visit my grandma for an hour and then over to my mom's for Christmas dinner and presents there. It was wonderful!! She had an authentic Honey-Baked Ham that was divine!!!! Then she had dilled carrots, fruit, squash, and homemade au gratin potatoes. It was a fabulous dinner and I ate a TON!!!!! We exchanged presents and all received wonderful gifts. I put vinyl lettering on tiles for everyone (with a beautiful quote about Christ) and then the homemade rice bags. My sister gave me a re-gift from her wedding - a little electric chopper that will be fun to have! My brother and his wife gave me my own mini tote full of bratzels (not sure how to spell it, but it's a Swiss cookie that she makes at Christmas time that are so fattening but oh so good!!!) plus a beautiful clock that she had made for each of our families with our names and the year we were married on them. Afterwards we had Spumoni ice cream. Well, everyone but Ted. LOL My mom has a connection with someone who sold her the big huge tubs like at the ice cream parlors/stores and she bought several flavors for my sister's wedding and had the Spumoni leftover, which was perfectly fine with me!! LOL I think she needs to give me some to store in my freezer for me to eat!! Of course, when she gets back from visiting my uncle in Hawaii!! Crazy, lucky world travelers!!

Well, I better get off the computer and get back to work as today starts my work week, plus I have to finish up editing the 1st run of a new word book for Stedman's by the end of the week and keep my house in some kind of order with all 3 kids home!! Have a great week and a safe and happy New Year!!!

Christmas poll

The wedding is over. We all survived. It was a nice day. One thing to make a note of - cute shoes are not always comfortable!! LOL Now on to surviving the holidays!!!! LOL And in honor of said holidays, here's a Christmas poll:

1. Favorite Christmas song - I love so many that this is hard to pick. I would have to say "O Holy Night" (Martina McBride's version and Josh Groban's versions are INCREDIBLE!!!) and "I Was Not His Father" from "The Forgotten Carols" (and all the Forgotten Carols, really). I also like Enya's Gaelic version of "Silent Night." There are many more, though!!
2. Favorite Christmas CD - Again, I love lots!! I love both of Harry Connick, Jr.'s, "The Forgotten Carols," our Bing Crosy CD, and Amy Grant's Christmas CDs. And "The Messiah." We listen to that every Sunday morning during the holidays (and sometimes throughout the rest of the year) while getting ready for church.
3. Christmas music all season long or only for a few days? - It bothers me that Christmas music starts on the radio right after Halloween. Really it does. I like to wait until after Thanksgiving, but by then I'm ready. I listened to it almost exclusively for a while, but now I've taken a break from it. Sydney and I listened to several Christmas CDs the other day, though, while we were baking and crafting. FM100 will be starting their 100 hours of Christmas music soon, which is all there used to be on the radio, now it's just 100 hours of commercial-free Christmas music in the days leading up to Christmas and Christmas music with commercials from November 1st through Christmas!!
4. Are you done shopping? - Nope!
5. Presents wrapped? - Nope!!
6. Favorite Christmas tradition - It used to be seeing the lights come on at Temple Square the day after Christmas every year, which started while I was in high school when our choir sang at the ceremony and did for several years. Since they've stopped, we've stopped going. Sad, I know. The lights and the spirit there is still wonderful and we do need to go. I like having Christmas Eve at my parents', where we have the spiritual celebration, focusing on Jesus' birth. And then there's Christmas PJs for the kids on Christmas Eve. Wish there were new Christmas PJs for mom too!! LOL
7. What is Christmas Day is like at your house? - In the morning, we open presents with the kids. Sometimes we have my parents over. Not sure if we will or not this year. Ted is being really crabby about everything this year, but I won't talk about that! LOL We have some breakfast and then get all ready, usually in new Christmas clothes, and head off to visit everyone. We used to have a big family gathering at my grandparents', but since my grandpa passed away that has really faded. We do still go to Grandma's to visit and exchange our gifts with her. We split time between Ted's parents and my family after that. Usually Ted's family does all their gift exchanging on Christmas Eve, plus we have 2 family parties for his mom and dad's families with none for my family, so I feel we should spend more time on Christmas Day with my family, but he doesn't. So there we go, I talked about it when I said I wasn't going to!! LOL
8. Your traditional Christmas meals - Breakfast is usually Rhode's butterscotch rolls and Christmas egg casserole. They are both super yummy. Ted doesn't like the rolls, but he loves the casserole. Which reminds me I need to put all those ingredients on my grocery list!! LOL For the Bendtsen Christmas party (Ted's mom's family), it's usually pork roast and potatoes, a very Danish meal. There's also the traditional rice pudding with a few with almonds in them for the prize (usually candy) from Mor (Ted's grandma) and jule kake (Christmas cake - with raisins and cinnamon. Very yummy!). My mom usually does ham or turkey with all the trimmings.
9. Do you have hiding places for your presents? - I used to in my house. Underneath our stairs is a closet; however, it doesn't have a lock. I put one of those childproof knobs on it, but Savanna has learned how to open those. There's no other place in our home to hide anything. I'm not even kidding. Our basement is one open room with only 2 bathrooms, the "spider room," as the kids call it, that has the furnace in it, and the closet under the stairs. Plus we have little to no closet space in the entire house. Also, we have like zero locks in our house, excepting the outside doors. Oh and the bar one like in some restrooms or dressing rooms that Ted installed on our bedroom door. I think I need to remedy that soon! Anyway, for the last couple years we have hidden the kids' presents outside in our camping trailer. So far so good!!
10. Favorite Christmas decoration - I absolutely LOVE my new advent calendar my friend Michelle designed that a bunch of us created this summer at our 3-day scrap event. My kids have loved putting the little magnet on each day and counting down the days. I'll be sad to put it away until next year but am excited to slowly be collecting all the QuicKutz dies I need to make one for my sister and sister-in-law for their birthdays next year! I also have a little Believe block that one of my neighbors gave us last year. Such a simple saying that says a lot. Then there are my nativities. Ted's grandpa made every one of his grandchildren a stable several years ago, so that is definitely treasured. I also have a porcelain one from Partylite that I really like.
11. Real or fake tree - I am a big fan of real trees because it's just so traditional and the smell!! However, I despise dealing with the dead pine tree when it's all said and done. We broke down and bought an artifical one a few years ago and it has been nice. A Christmas tree scented candle provides the artificial smell!! LOL
12. Do you do neighbor/friend gifts? Homemade or store bought? - Yes I do. The last couple years they've been homemade. Last year I did stamped candles. This year I baked Heather's pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and my friend/cousin Meredith's Crispix Mix.
13. Do you make and send Christmas cards? - I haven't been very good about that the last few years. The last year I made Christmas cards was the year I was pregnant with Conner. This year I'm planning to do photo cards and send them for New Year's as I know Costco is extremely swamped for Christmas and by the time I get the picture taken and in to get done, there won't be time to mail them before Christmas.
14. Is your tree a jumble of decorations or designer with everything all matched perfectly? - It's a jumble of ornaments and I LOVE it!!! I like all the matching Christmas trees I see. My sister-in-law has a pretty one with bells, but it's just so much more sentimental to me to have all the ones the kids have made, some from my childhood, etc.
15. Favorite Christmas movie/special - The original cartoon "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" hands down. It's such a wonderful message. I also love Rudolph, Frosty, and the Charlie Brown Christmas special. I really liked "The Light Before Christmas" that was on PBS the other night too. I will need to buy that and add it to my collection!

Well, enjoy the poll. Feel free to answer it here or on your own blog!! I know, I'm real boring with no pictures. Some day I hope to have my printer with the memory card slot working better so I don't have to wait until I put everything on CD!!

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, God Jule, Mele Kalikimaka, Happy Hannukah, or whatever you celebrate, as well as a Happy New Year!!!

sick boy and wedding countdown

Well, Conner finally broke out in chickenpox last Saturday night. And boy has he been sick. He has had more chickenpox than both the girls combined, I think, and he's been the most sick. He has had a fever for 5 straight days. Ted and his dad finally gave him a blessing this afternoon and a call to the pediatrician let us know that we can now use Children's Motrin instead of the absolutely useless Children's Tylenol (which just doesn't work on the fever, sorry to the Tylenol people - and I use it all the time for my headaches and other pains), and that has already helped. He's also finally starting to scab over, although he's not completely scabbed over yet. Hopefully he'll be good enough by Saturday morning, as that is my sister's wedding.

Yeah!! The wedding is almost here!!!!! I'm so glad for that to be over and done with. I love my sister and I'm so happy for her that she's getting married. I'm excited to see out-of-town family and others we haven't seen for a long time, but I'm just ready for it to be over and done with and we can move on to something else. I've been a bit perturbed at having to buy specific clothes for her wedding when I'd rather be buying Christmas presents. We just are really tight financially this year. My mom was nice enough to give us a little bit towards that (and she did pay for everything for the kids), but let's just say that only paid for my shoes (and what cute Steve Madden shoes from Famous Footwear they are too!! I can't wait to wear them!! LOL). Ted has new CK dress pants (from Costco) and new dress shoes (from Famous Footwear) too. I did finally find a dark purple silk shirt on the sales rack at Old Navy; however, still no black skirt. With Conner sick, I haven't really been able to go anywhere this week. Hopefully I'll be able to figure something out to get that taken care of and out of the way tomorrow so I don't have to worry about it anymore, as that is the last thing I need to purchase for the wedding. *phew*

However, I still need to finish up Christmas shopping. I got some of that finished the other day and completely wiped out that paycheck!! LOL I do have one more paycheck before the big day, but it's cutting it quite close to the holiday, needless to say, and I need to be making some of these presents!!!!!! Arrrrghhhh!!!! So, we'll see how that goes!! LOL

I sort-of did a little matchmaking a few weeks ago. There's a young single guy in my church whom I was talking to at church a couple Sundays ago and he asked if I knew any good-looking, available, temple-worthy young women. We do know one (and there's my cousin too, but she's quite a bit older and I didn't think he'd be interested, but I guess I can always ask him! LOL). Ted has a friend who has a sister who always goes out with us when we all go out together. Anyway, I mentioned her. Ted gave him her phone number, but he hasn't called her yet (I ran into him at Target the other night). I think he's waiting until after the holidays. I'm almost certain they probably won't hit it off and I told him it wouldn't hurt my feelings at all if they didn't, but he did ask, so I helped him out!! LOL So, another first for me, setting someone up on a date. Although this will be the third time Ted has set this girl up. Anyway, we'll see what happens.

I hope everyone is doing better with their holiday shopping than I am and is having a wonderful time getting ready. I hope to get it all finished soon so that I can sit down to my annual night of wrapping presents while watching my Christmas movies....oh, and Grease!! LOL Not sure how Grease became a part of my Christmas present wrapping tradition, but I seem to have fit both Grease and Grease 2 at one time or another over the years! LOL

tagged, sort-of

I got this off Jolene George's blog and thought it was fun.

A - Available or single: Ummm........Aren't those both the same thing?? I'm neither - I'm married! LOL
B - Best Friend: I have lots of friends and hate to pick favorites!!
C - Cake or Pie: I'm not picky. Give me either one or both!! LOL
D - Drink of choice: Ice water, though lately I've been drinking water bottles with Crystal Light in them. I don't drink too much pop, though I like Ruby Red Squirt, Fresca, root beer, and the Minute Maid Cherry Limeaid.
E - Essential item(s) you use everyday: the restroom, my bed, toothbrush, make-up, computer, truck, and I'm sure there are others.
F - Favorite color: I like them all, really I do.
G - Gummy bears or worms: Hmmmm.......probably the bears.
H - Hometown: Bountiful, Utah. Lived here my entire life, within about a 1-mile radius.
I - Indulgence: Lunch or dinner out with friends and NO kids!!
J - January or February: Either one's fine with me, though I'd probably take February because I should have caught up on all the post-Christmas bills by then, which would make January a not so desirable month. LOL
K - Kids & Names: Savanna, Sydney, and Conner
L - Life is incomplete without....my family.
M - Marriage date: September 18, 1993
N - Number of Siblings: 2 - 1 brother, 1 sister. I also have 3 foster sisters, although only 2 whome we actually keep in touch with.
O - Oranges or apples: I like both, especially Gala apple and the fresh mandarin oranges upstairs right now!!
P - Phobias or fears: I absolutely hate speaking in public. With everyone just staring at my while I talk, I hate it. Doesn't matter if it's in church with all the little kids or any other place with adults, I HATE it!!! Talking one on one or in a group of friends, no problem. Put me at a pulpit or in the front of a room and watch me freeze or make a fool of myself. Oh and a newly discovered fear of falling off our roof!! LOL
Q - Favorite quote: Oh, I have love so many. I have an entire quote book upstairs in my nightstand that are quotes I write down from movies or books or TV or whatever. I love good sayings.
R - Reason to smile: My kids.
S - Season: All of them for different reasons. I love the snow in winter. I love the leaves falling and the cooler weather in autumn. I love the spring as it warms up after winter. And I love the summertime, everything but the intense heat!! LOL
T - Tag 3 or 4 people: Whoever actually reads my blog and hasn't done this who wants to. LOL
U - Unknown fact about me: See H above. I've lived in the same 1-mile radius my entire life and attend the same church I have my entire life. My parents moved when I was 8 and still live in that house. I currently live in my grandparents' old home, which is also on the same "farm" as my grandma's house and my parents' home. Eventually this land will all be sold to a developer, most likely.
V - Vegetable you don't like: mushrooms, avacados, and tomatoes, although I think tomatoes and avacodos technically are fruits, but I still don't like them! LOL
W - Worst habit: Procrastination
X - X-rays: Um, I think only my arms, unless you count ultrasounds from pregnancies. I may have had some of my feet and ankles, seeing as my dad's a podiatrist and I know I had some sprains in my past, so he probably x-rayed my feet and ankles!! LOL
Y - Your favorite food: All of it, with the exception of a few things (like the vegetables mentioned in V - LOL).
Z - Zodiac sign: Cancer.

On to an update about our household.....I went to book club tonight. It was nice. I look forward to it. It's so nice to visit with everyone and chat about a book, even if we all didn't like it, chat about whatever else we want to, and much on goodies!! I also ran to Target to try to get some Christmas shopping done. Only got a little bit done. I need to go to Costco (they were closed by the time I was done with book club and I need to go WITHOUT my kids) to pick up some Chex to make Heather's vanilla chex mix, Pirates 2, the new American Girl movie, some PJs for my kids (they always get PJs on Christmas Eve to wear for Christmas morning), and whatever else I might run across while there. Ted said not to buy him anything and he won't by my anything. I really hope he sticks to that, although there are a few things that Santa will be bringing. Now just to figure out what to get my kids, buy some things to do a few other homemade gifts for my family (Ted's family said they're not doing anything for anyone this year for financial reasons, including his parents, which bothers me, but I'll let it go), and make some neighbor things.

I also need to go shopping to buy my outfit for my sister's wedding. *sigh* I need a purple top and a black skirt and some new black shoes. Ted also needs new black shoes. Where do I go to find something like this???? I checked Target. Nothing that would work. I think I'm going to have to check out Macy's or some place in The Gateway mall, although I just KNOW it's going to be expensive. Though my mom was nice and gave us a bit of money to go towards that and thank heavens she paid for everything the kids are going to wear.

Speaking of kids.....Savanna now has the chickenpox. Good thing she got them this week and not next week (the wedding is December 16th). Now to just get Conner through them. Hopefully he'll get them after the wedding. Two weeks from when Savanna broke out would be the 19th, so that would also put him before Christmas. Yeah!! Anyway, we have noticed a few spots on him, just not sure if they're chickenpox and he hasn't acted sick at all (while Savanna was EXTREMELY ill yesterday and only a bit better today), so we're watching and waiting. Can't wait to get these out of house!! I'd way rather deal with simple, run of the mill colds!!