Posted in Just for Fun
......Too bad we are going to eat them. (the chickens, not the children!)
Posted in Just for Fun
A Christmas-themed meme
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both—depends on the size and shape of the gift. Have you ever tried to wrap a Nerf crossbow?
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial—so much cleaner and it actually stays standing the entire Christmas season
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the first or second week of December. The year my third child was born (her birthday is December 17) we ended up putting the tree up two or three days before Christmas, but that’s the latest it’s ever gone up.
5. Do you like eggnog? Definitely
6. Favorite gift received as a child? The entire Anne of Green Gables series (I am referring, of course, to the books)
7. Hardest person to buy for? My second-born son—he hardly ever asks for anything
8. Easiest person to buy for? My oldest son—he asks for many very specific things
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes; it belonged first to my grandparents, who passed it down to my mother, who passed it on to me. The pieces are chipped and the stable is worn-looking, but I love it anyway.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail of course!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? My husband bought me a turkey fryer eight years ago. It’s still in the box.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It’s A Wonderful Life (White Christmas is rather delightful as well)
13. When do you start shopping? I try to shop throughout the year and have it finished by the end of October.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Do I have to choose one?
16. Lights on the tree? white lights
17. Favorite Christmas song? Gentle Mary Laid Her Child, What Child Is This?, Good Christian Men Rejoice, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (I could add more, but I’ll stop)
18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? STAY HOME.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s? I’m afraid so
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel—the one my mother-in-law gave my husband and me for our first Christmas together
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Presents at my mother-in-law’s Christmas Eve (part of her German heritage) and at home on Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Black Friday
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Anything old-fashioned or steeped in tradition
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? It may sound schmaltzy, but I already have everything I could want. Really.
Want to play along? Just copy and then post your answers on your own blog. Be sure to leave a comment here, so I can visit and check out how you "do" Christmas!
Posted in Just for Fun
Anyone who's ever been on a camping trip with a large group of people knows there is always one in the crowd to whom calamity seems attracted. In any group I am with, that one is me. I always seem to be the one who is eaten up by mosquitoes, or sleeping on the wettest area of the tent, or has a spark from the fire land on my favorite sweatshirt (while wearing it). I try to be a good sport. After all, camping is something my family has done since I was a very little girl. Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy being outdoors, and I don't even mind sleeping on the ground so much (unless of course I am pregnant--then's it's really no fun trying to get down at night or up in the morning). Actually, now that I have children of my own, I really like seeing how exciting the experience is for them. Few of them get attacked by killer mosquitoes like their mom, and most children think sleeping in a tent is an adventure.
Last weekend, some friends of ours invited us to spend the weekend at a camp near the coast. The camp was on a lake where we could swim and there was a firepit for roasting marshmellows and nice clean bathhouses for showering. As we prepared for the trip which we knew would be a fun experience for the children and (hopefully) a relaxing time for mom and dad, I was counting my blessings that I wouldn't have to sleep in a tent or go without a shower. When we got there, though the accomodations were rustic, we were pleasantly surprised by what we found. Right away the children wanted to head down to the pond for a swim, so we ladies and children changed our clothes, packed up our gear, and headed for the water. We had a great time splashing and swimming, and the boys got to use the row boat as well. After our swim, we headed back to the camp to prepare supper, and what did I find on my foot but a nice, friendly... leech. Oh, it gave me such a good feeling to see that little fella clinging to my foot. Did anyone else have any leeches anywhere on them? Of course not!
Later in the evening, as we were roasting marshmellows on the campfire, I was being bombarded by bugs. When most people get a mosquito or blackfly bite, it itches a little and maybe turns a bit red. When I get one, there is a welt the size of a quarter left behind. The bugs loved feasting on my face, and when they were through, I looked like a character in a bad comedy movie. At least it gave everyone a good laugh. Then, after a restless night with several wakeful children, we were ready for a new day of fun!
In truth, we really did enjoy the time of quiet and the break from the regular routine. Aside from the bugs, leeches, and lack of sleep, I had a great time! At least I had a nice hot shower in the morning. And my children have a fun memory.
Posted in Just for Fun
Life at my house is nothing if not interesting. Raising five children and being married to a man with a somewhat wacky sense of humor makes for plenty of opportunities for the unusual to occur.
I am often asked by people who get a taste of my husband's...ummm......unique (yes, that's the word--unique) sense of humor if he is like this all of the time. The answer I often give (or wish I was clever enough to give) is "only when he's not sleeping or sick with the flu". (If you are wondering about the above picture, those silver things are ice cream scoops, and the reason I am putting this crazy picture up on my blog is because my husband actually asked me to.)
He is training his children to follow after him in his zaney approach to life, which can be a bit unsettling for this momma who takes herself way too seriously at times.
God knew I needed someone to help me lighten up about things, so he gave me this man (and incidentally his children) who knows how to see the silly side of life. Boy, is it ever good for me.
At the very least, my life is never dull. At best, my husband gives me the gift of joy and makes our home a place of laughter and contentment. It is a good place to be, and I am a blessed woman indeed.
