Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Christmas Questions...(a.k.a Blog Mood Lifter!)

My last post made me down and thankfully Em had just the solution!
"The Top 20 Questions of Christmas Favorites!"
(Or is it 22?) Anyway, here they are!

1. Gift Bags or Wrapping Paper?
Wrapping paper! I love to wrap after buying gifts.
2. Is your tree real or artificial?
Artificial. I love the look and smell of real trees,
but they make the pre-lit fake ones so easy to put up!
Partylite candles in Pine scent fool everyone.
3. When do you put up your tree?
Usually the day after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take your tree down?
Um, I truthfully get around to it a week after New Years.
5. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot Chocolate, but my favorite is spiced apple cider.
6. What is the BEST gift you've ever received for Christmas?
There have been a few. A digital SLR camera...I still love it!
7. What is the WORST gift you've ever received for Christmas?
Granny panties that were 3 sizes too large.
They literally DID go up to my armpits.
8. Do you have a Nativity?
Not right now...but I do love the one Lydia sells w/Partylite.
9. Who do think is the easiest person to buy for?
Toddlers. They love the box the gift comes in too!
10. What is the most annoying thing about the Holidays?
Grumpy shoppers and traffic congestion.
11. Do you mail or e-mail your Christmas cards?
Call me old-fashioned, but I love sending and receiving
Christmas cards by snail-mail.
12. When do you start Christmas shopping?
Around Dec. 1st...payday.
13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas Present?
Guilty. Not undesirable gifts, however.
14. What is your favorite Holiday food?
Pumpkin pie. My mom's sugar cookies are a close second.
15. Do you like clear or colored lights?
I prefer clear outside my house, and either looks cute inside.
If I trim a tree for the kids, it usually has colored lights.
16. What is your favorite Christmas TV show/Movie?
I like them all, except Charlie Brown...do they still play that?
17. Do you travel or stay home for the holidays?
We have always traveled, so I look forward to staying home!
18. What is your favorite thing to do over the holidays?
Be with family and friends. And eating way too much.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Who can't? I mean really...unless you are foreign.
20. Do you have an angel or a star on top of your tree?
Neither. I have a big red bow.
21. Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
We always open one on Eve and the rest early Christmas morning.
22. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
"What Child Is This?" and "Silent Night". Oh! I almost forgot,
"Did Mary Know" but only if it is sung by the Rasmussen sisters.
The way they sing it has always given me chills.

PS- I would like to say that I love the fact we are going to have a very white Christmas. Maybe my honeymoon with the white stuff hasn't worn off yet, but I love the look of it.
Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!


Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Not A Pleasant Thought...

This post is going to be a little depressing. I was supposed to fly to Texas to visit my friend and have a great time celebrating my birthday with "just the girls". I did not know until the day before I left that my friend's mom passed away the night before from an unexpected heart complication. I'd tell you what it was, but it's a word I cannot possibly pronounce or spell. It was rare, I guess. I still went to be a support for my friend, who quite frankly is a mess. I cannot say the trip was fun. It was enlightening though.
What I learned was this...no matter what age you are, make sure you have a life insurance policy to cover your funeral expenses. A BASIC funeral costs $8,000-10,000. You heard me. That's for cremation in a plain pine box. If you want a nice funeral, you are looking at $20,000 or more. (Maybe Texas is more expensive, I don't know the costs in Utah.) Secondly, make sure your family and loved ones know what your wishes are after you die. Burial or Cremation? Memorial service or full-fledged funeral? Open or closed casket? Who gets your belongings/property/savings? If you have small children, who will raise them? Will you split them up? None of these things are pleasant to think about, but they sure are a burden on your family if you have never talked it over. I felt so bad for my friend because she had NO IDEA what her mother wanted. They didn't discuss it. Her death was very sudden and unexpected. Now my heartbroken friend is scrambling to make arrangements that she "thinks" her mom would like. And it rests all on her shoulders because her dad doesn't even know how to pay the bills. Her mom did everything. Everything but plan ahead. She was 62.
Death is hard enough on the living without all the decisions that unavoidably follow.
Just think about it.
Talk it over with someone.
Life is so short, so plan ahead.

*****Stepping off of soapbox******

Monday, December 03, 2007

Ski Lessons

Connor and Gavin got the opportunity this weekend to attend their first ski lesson. We enrolled them in 4 weekly 2-hour classes to help them learn to ski. Already after one lesson, they are doing fantastic (and they love it). Sean caught some of the highlights, and I wanted to share them.

Our first time down the hill....with Instructors Phil and Tim.

Go Gavin Go!

All smiles up to the top.

How do you get back up? This is tricky.

Hi Dad!

Connor took to skiing like a duck to water.

I don't even have to look where I am going!

This is fun! Riding up and skiing down.....

A pro. Connor skiing "Little Cat" by himself.

Yep, we're awesome.