Mi Casa

I know some of you have been able to come and see my new place, but for those who live too far away I am meeting your requests to post pictures. I moved in just over a week ago and almost the whole family was able to pitch in and help. Thank you so much for unpacking boxes, cleaning, and putting things away, and installing my sprinklers and beautiful green grass! :) I'm currently changing the color of the dining room table and chairs and have about half of the windows covered. Still many more boxes to unpack and stuff to organize...(shower door and mirrors are supposed to be here on Monday morning.) I'm SO THANKFUL for a beautiful home and that I got to move in 1 month ahead of schedule. Next week, I've got to start getting my classroo ready for the school year.

Christmas Time Tag

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Mainly shiny wrapping paper...I love making the bows!

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Fake for convenience. Gotta have a real wreath for the smell.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Right after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Each year it seems later and later.....

5. Do you like eggnog?
I LOVE IT!!! But, I love my grandma's boiled custard even better.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I have two....My magical musical thing (still works!) I got it when I was about 7, and my little
cabbage patch baby, Emery Leo. Bryn got Clay Greg the same year!






7. Hardest person to buy for?
Mom and dad. It seems like they have everything and they are very practical. Starting in August, I try to listen very carefully for gift ideas. For both of their birthdays and Christmas.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Any of my sisters.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes, I have two. One is an old white ceramic set that my mom used to display, and the other
is a silver set of just Joseph, Mary, and Jesus and arch with a star on top. I can't think of the
name of the company...got it in Sisters, OR.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I do both. Interestingly enough I was just reading in "Good Housekeeping" that it is fine to
send cyber wishes to your friends--no faux pas here! By the way, I haven't sent cards yet.....so Merry Christmas, friends and family! :)

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A pink Avon bracelet watch.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
I have three that are tied 1) Christmas Vacation 2)White Christmas, and 3) Elf

13. When do you start shopping? Mid September

14.Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes, mainly lotions that I get from students. Too many scents bother me, so I give them to
other to enjoy. It's the thought that counts!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Anything that my mom or Bryn make, but especially Mountain Peaks, Kris
Kringles, Carmels, and White Chocolate pretzels.

16. Lights on the tree?
Pre-lit....hey, there's an idea! I prefer white lights over colored. It seems to help make the
ornaments sparkle a little brighter.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
"Let It Snow!"--I used to make Cassie sing it with me over, and over, and over..., "It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas" (love the Osmond version) and love to hear my mom play "Sleighride" on the organ--nice and loud. I also get "Baby It's Cold Outside" stuck in my head all season. Love it!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I've always spent it with the my parents either at home or at a siblings' house. I don't like
winter travel, unless I'm flying somewhere.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? yes...Kristin, I have researched the question of
whether it's Donder or Donner in many children's books. I think the jury is still out. I always
sing donder because that's how I learned the song. And by the way, I always say that
Rudolph couldn't join any reindeer games "like monopoly"....not football for me.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Both--This year a star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
We got to open 1 gift on Christmas Eve (usually from my Grandma Hays because it was
pajamas..except for the year I got the pink bracelet watch). Now, I save all the presents for
Christmas morning. I have always loved opening my stocking the best. Santa always
brought us our favorite kind of "sugar" cereal and wrapped little presents like chapstick, jelly
bracelets, gum, etc. that were always fun to try and find as I sifted through the candy.
Stockings= JACKPOT!!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Christmas being marketed before Halloween comes along.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I love the traditional red and white. Although my theme would have to be something like "an
ornament for each year of my life". My grandma has always given us one ornament each
year, so my tree is ecclectic.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Fondu for Christmas Eve and ham, cheesy potatoes, salads, butterhorn rolls, and of course
sparkling cider for Christmas day.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Hands free cell phone attachment or $ to buy one.

26. Who is most likely to respond to this?
3-Way tie between Bryn, Cassie, and DeAnne. Anyone who would like to respond are more than
welcomed!


27. Who is least likely to respond to this? People who don't read my blog. :)
Merry Christmas!

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas...Finally!!!

I am so excited to have the internet back again! For those who don't know, I have recently moved across town to do a little housesitting...and dogsitting. Anyway, I just got the interent hooked up the other night and now it's time to let my fingers fly across the keyboard and update my blog...a.k.a let you know what I've been up to lately.

I am officially done work for 2 WHOLE WEEKS!!! I honestly am looking forward to much needed relaxation (although having school delayed for a 4 out of 5 days this last week was a good headstart....a schedule I could really get used to), working on my scrapbook, baking some Christmas goodies (or at least enjoy some), hanging out with the family, playing games, watching the Christmas classics, and just getting things organized.

This last weekend, my parents, my nephew, and I headed down to Eugene to attend the baptism of my nephew, Avery. It was wonderful to attend such a special event and day with the Templemans. We stopped by our favorite Eugene hotspot--Trader Joe's (Tri-cities really needs one), went on a Christmas light drive, played Clue Jr. with all the boys, and hit the Woodburn outlet mall. It was a great visit, aside from a sinus infection and the drive home. A big winter storm hit and it took us 9 hours (I believe) to get home. The visibility was low and my dad has become a "hero" again for getting us safely home.

So, on to the dogsitting....I am not an "animal" fan. I like to look at the them and all, but I don't really like to take care of them. That's the way it is for me. Now, my sister's cat is fun to cuddle and pet--she doesn't stink, lick my face, or "beg" for food. I could handle that, and actually kind of like her...but other cats??? No thank you. Blue, my new pet, is a large chocolate lab. John has done a remarkable job training him, but he's still trying to figure out how far he can bend the rules with his new "master". I know that labs are social critters, but I just didn't really have an idea of HOW social. For example, he is my shadow. Everywhere I go...he's there. I'm in the shower, and before I know it his snout has pushed the shower curtain to the side, I swear...just to watch. CREEPY! I'm pulling laundry out of the dryer, he's blocking me and pushing me out of the way. Even now as I type this, he's laying at my feet (pushing on my legs) just being a dog. I tried to keep his dog pillow out in the living room for him to sleep on at night, but then he whimpered at my door and I couldn't sleep. So, I moved his pillow into my room and he slept the whole night through. Hooray!! The third morning with him, however, he decided to jump up and literally just walk across the bed AND ME and jump down just to get my attention. Okay all you dog lovers out there.....WHY does he have to shred his rope toys? I actually went to Petsmart out of desperation and bought a couple of items to keep him entertained for hours. I'm happy because now I don't have to be entertained for hours picking up itty bitty pieces of rope around the house following the dog. Any suggestions would be helpful! I do have to admit that this snowman toy I got makes me laugh whenever Blue finds the squeaky part.