a little christmas tag

My first Christmas tag! Answer the questions and then tag a couple friends. Spead the Cheer!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper with pretty ribbon. (My mother-in-law creates the most beautiful packages, I love hers)

2. Real tree or Artificial? Love to have a real one, but we have a 24" fake one
3. When do you put up the tree? Tecnically, we put it up Thanksgiving, but this year I was too excited and had it up on Halloween.
4. When do you take the tree down? Januray sometime when I get to it
5. Do you like eggnog? Heck yes I do! Dawson and I love it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? This little blue tent I got when I was five. I remember reading "Oh Say Can You Say?" by Dr. Seuss in it.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My brother Aaron. I don't have any idea what teenagers do today.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My kids. Carter plays with boxes...hmmmmm. That's cheap!
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I collect them.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? a little of both11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I honestly don't remember. I'm sure it was too horrible to mention, so I've blocked it from my memory.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Muppet's Christmas Carol, definitely. (A close second is Christmas Vacation, I do admit)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? February. I got done by July this year! And got the gifts delivered by the first week of August.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not really, I'm a hogger and love presents.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mom's Orange Rolls and Charlotte Jensen's bread goodies.

16. Lights on the tree? Yes
17. Favorite Christmas song? "O Holy Night" by Josh Groban. Anything by Harry Connick Jr.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel! Off to China in 5 days for Christmas!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolf. (What about Olive?) You know, "Olive, the other reindeer..."
20. Angel on the tree-top or a star? Neither, ours isn't big enough to hold anything.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? snow snow snowy coldness.

23. Favorite ornament, theme or color? I love all of them--we have a little bit of everything on our tree--Simpsons, SpongeBob, Disney, Nativity ones from the Holy Land...etc.
24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Ham and Potatoes
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? a trip to China....oh yeah, I've already got that!

26. Who do you tag? I tag my Mom, Aimee, Ashley (both of you!) and anyone else who needs a little Christmas Spirit today!

sweet strattons

My sweet friend tended my kids a couple weeks ago and when they were at her house, they made Gingerbread Cookies! One of my most favorite Holiday goodies!! They had such a great time and as always, they come home exhausted so I just throw them in their beds...a double bonus! My kids always love going there and constantly ask if they can go back over!

I guess that Carter just loved Emma's candy and kept stealing it from her cookies, so she just decided to go ahead and make it easier on him...by feeding it to him. What a good sport!

Totally stole these from her blog, thanks Ash! They always have so much fun at your house and I appreciate you!

first snowfall of the season

No music for this post....however, turn up the volume so you can hear Carter's precious little voice on the videoclip below!


Bluggghh! There's nothing worse that can kill my Holiday Spirit better than SNOW! I hate driving in it, I hate playing in it, it's cold, it's just awful. However, it's the most magical part of Moscow! It coats everything in this glistening and pure beauty that you can't see any other time of year.

Carter loves watching out the window and as it started to lightly snow, I caught him admiring all the action outside. Listen for his cuteness and don't you just love his little hot breath against the chilly window?!