Oh yes I did...

Yep. 24 Questions for the 24 days of Christmas ahead of us...How would YOU answer?

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Gift bags baby! For those who know me, I have been doing better with this...consider yourself warned...and lucky! It used to be SOFT WRAP!!!

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Definitely real. I gotta go with the Oregonian in me on that one. Artificial is for sweetner...not for Christmas trees.

3. When do you put up the tree?
The last few years it has been the 1st of December. Gotta wait that extra day for November to end. You have to pay homage to the Turkey. I mean, come on. Many a bird DIE so we can have a holiday.

4.When do you take the tree down?
New Years-part of the start of a new year ahead...

5. Do you like eggnog?
Yum! Yep. My Dad keeps it in GALLONS-ready to drink over the holidays. No wonder I gain so much weight when I am home for Chrismas.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Hmmm. Toss up between the MRE's (Meals ready to eat) and the gun from my Dad...What can I say? I grew up military.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My husband. It should not be that hard, but the boy is TOUGH to buy for. He would rather have nothing at all which makes it even harder!

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My kids...oh yeah. To be 2 and 5 months! Dollar Store Christmas for us!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
We were married in December and someone gave us one as a wedding gift. THANK YOU MEG!!!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Gotta mail the yearly newsletter. It is sometimes the only coorespondence some of my family members recieve from me all year! I am a bit of a slacker!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Hands down the canned ham...also from Daddy dearest- He tries, he really does. He just did not have much of a clue as to what to get a girl...He had 5 boys after all.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Charlie Brown's Christmas or the Grinch (old cartoon version) we quoted both as kids.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
When do I NOT shop for Christmas. I keep a list in my wallet and cross off the names as I go. This year however, everyone's gift will be the newsletter...Susprise! Happy Holidays!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Are you kidding?! My brother is getting a recycled Birthday present for Christmas. I think there is still an ongoing joke recycled present going around my family that has been circulating since the late 80's. Ah recycling- the only way to buy...

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
I love pepermint bark. So good. And for some reason Dutch Minties always taste better to me around December.

16. Lights on the tree?
Yes. I do love the lights. Only the white ones though. We had the color ones all growing up and I have since moved on...

17. Favorite Christmas Song?
I LOVE Let it Snow, White Christmas and O Holy Night. There really are not many that I do not love.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Well I have traveled alot through the years to go home- OREGON!! But I will never be a "vacationer" for Christmas.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Can I sing the song while doing so? If yes, then more than likely I could.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
I dont have either at the moment. I usually try to put something there however.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
As kids we always got to open ONE on Christmas Eve. I have kept this tradtion and the one is always going to be Christmas pj's to wear to bed and on Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
People who definitely do NOT have the Christmas spirit and cut you off in the parking lot while you are waiting for a space...with your blinker on...and 2 kids in the car... That and people who do not have a home to go to. It just makes me sad.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color.
Red RED, RED!!! Susprised? I have a Russian Theme: ornaments, food etc. each year to help my girls with thier culture.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner:
Wow. What is there not to love. I love Russian Blinchiki.

HELP!

Ok. SO I am trying to beautify our blog to reflect the season and I cannot get this dumb wall paper background changed. I have tried and tried. So. Sorry for the eyesore. I am working on it! If anyone has any suggestions, I am welcome to them.

It has begun...

I knew this day would come and I would be spending more time than I would have thought on my knees scrubbing the carpet...But it will all be worth it when we put away the #4 diapers and she goes into the next chapter of her life as a newly potty-trained toddler...ANY support and/or suggestions are greatly appreciated.


We thought the pink would help...Ill let you all know.

My Boy-

I was so certain that this one was going to be a boy...the pregnancy was polar opposite from my first, and I just had the woman intuition that this was our little man we were thinking it would be. Now I know that she was supposed to be here. Now 4 months have passed and I look at pictures like this and think why on earth I would ever hope she would have been a he.

I think oh I have picassa, I should really "doll" that picture up. But I look at it again and again and think, I love her just the way SHE is...Why shouldnt everyone else?

Vacation with kids?!

My oldest brother was married in October and dang it, he had to get hitched in Hawaii. So we decided to take the girls and make a memory out of it. Too bad were not Jon and Kate + 8- we would've had the whole thing paid for and could of had 2 weddings (sort-of). If you're not a fan of the show- don't start to watch...It will only cause bitterness in the end. 

ANYWAY! Here are just a few pics of the fun filled 5 days on Oahu. 

Autumn

I love this time of year...I used to not like it so much; October, Fall, Halloween... Until I had her-

Now that she is a October born girl, this time of year means so much more to me. And each time I look at her, I feel the same way. She means so much more to me too.