Got this one from Jen...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?  YES! lol  Usually bags for friends and wrapping for family.  Don't know why, it just ends up that way.  My FAVORITE wrap is brown paper tied w/twine or raffia w/some sort of CHRISTmas Stampin' Up stamps.

2. Real tree or Artificial?  We used to do the real ones, but I pick up quills ALL year, so we have used a fake one for years.  Last year, however, we got the most wonderful tree!!  It's very rustic - just the way I like it - it has just a touch of "snow" (so it doesn't look 'cheap') and pine cones and we put only vintage and rustic ornaments on it.  LOVE IT!  I hate to take it down!

3. When do you put up the tree? If not the day after Thanksgiving, then the weekend following.

5. Do you like eggnog?  No. 

6. Favorite gift received as a child?  Hmmm...my Barbie Dream House.  I'm old enough that it was the second edition, still cardboard, but it was WAY cool!! 

7. Hardest person to buy for?  My mom.  She's very well off and has 2 of everything.

8. Easiest person to buy for?  My dog, Maggie!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?  Yes; it's the one my family has had since I was about 3 years old and is starting to fall apart.  I'd like to get replacement Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus and a few animals from the company that does the wooden angels for all occasions (shoot, can't think of the name).  While I'm at it ... I CAN'T STAND to see the wise men in a nativity scene!!  They didn't find Jesus until He was 2 years old, for Pete's sake...so put them waaaaay over on the other side of the house that they can make a journey of it! 

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?  Both.  If I have your e-mail address, you'll probably get an e-mail; family and friends w/o e-mail get cards. 

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?  OK...I'm serious here...no joke...My dear grandma was a very frugal gal, having lived through the Depression she was always thinking of USEFUL things to give.  The first CHRISTmas we were married she gave us a can of Crisco w/a bow on top!!  lol 

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?  White CHRISTmas.

13. When do you start shopping? Usually in December.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?  Yes.  'Nuff said.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?  My mom's stuffing!

16. Lights on the tree?  White.

17. Favorite Christmas song?  O Holy Night and I Wonder as I Wander.  I have a really beautiful arrangement of 'I Wonder...' that I worked out on my hammered dulcimer.

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home?   We usually go to my mom's house.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s?  Possibly...um...no.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?  A rustic star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?  We have our OWN family CHRISTmas on CHRISTmas Eve morning - when the girls were little we were always rushing all over the place and we weren't making OUR OWN memories and they couldn't enjoy their news clothes or toys.  So, when our oldest was about 5 we started our own tradition on the day before. 

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year.  The emphasis on Santa and stores putting up CHRISTmas - eh hem - I mean 'holiday' decorations BEFORE halloween!! 

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?  Rustic, vintage.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Didn't I answer that?  My mom's stuffing.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?  A digital camera.

The holidays are near so I want to know...

1.
Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
 Hot chocolate!

2.
Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
 Nope, never did the Santa-thing.  Jesus supplies the gifts – that’s what we’ve always told them.

3.
Colored lights on tree/house or white? 
 White

4.
Do you hang mistletoe? 
 yes

5.
When do you put your decorations up? 
  always right after Thanksgiving :) 

6.
What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? 
My mom’s stuffing.               

 7.
Favorite holiday memory as a child: 
When I was about 11, I couldn’t sleep one Christmas Eve night and I had my radio on.  It was about 2a.m. and Nat King Cole’s “Chestnuts Roasting” came on while huge, fluffy snowflakes floated down outside my windows.  Ahhhh.

8.
When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? 
 2^nd or 3^rd grade.
9.
Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? 
Yes.  So that OUR family can make our own Christmas memories, we open our own presents on Christmas Eve morning so that it’s not interrupted by having to leave to go to someone’s house.

10.
How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? 
  We got a new Christmas tree last year that is very real-looking w/just a little ‘snow’ and pinecones on it.  We put away many of our more trendy ornaments for the girls to have one of these days and now only use the more vintage and backwoods-looking ornaments.  It’s very rustic and I LOVE IT!!
11.
Snow! Love it or Dread it?
I love snow...especially when I’m inside looking out!

12.
Can you ice skate? 
  That’s up for interpretation…I’ve roller skated all my life and only ice skated once.

13.
Do you remember your favorite gift? 

Christmas of 1998, Ty got me my hammered dulcimer!!

14.
What is the most important thing about the Holidays for you? 
Remembering God's gift to us in His Son Jesus and having my family all together for Christmas. 

15.
What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
 Pumpkin pie and red velvet cake.

16.
What is your favorite holiday tradition? 
The big family meal – everyone together and happy.

17.
What tops your tree? 
 A rustic star

18.
Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Definitely giving 

19.
What is your favorite Christmas Song? 
  O Holy Night and I Wonder as I Wander

20.
Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? 
 Yum.

21.
What do you want for Christmas? 
A digital camera

22.
Do you attend an annual Christmas Party? 
 Ty’s work and – if can call it a party – our annual Christmas Eve service.

23.
Do you dress up on Christmas or wear PJs? 

When I was little we dressed up for the meal.  Now we just wear ‘nice’ jeans and maybe a ‘dress’ blouse/shirt or sweater.

24. Do you own a Santa hat?
 nope – don’t do the Santa-thing here.

25.
Who do you normally spend Christmas with? 
Our family ~~ Christmas Eve day is for our own family; the weekend before Christmas day is w/Ty’s side of the family, Christmas Day is usually w/my side of the family.

If you got crafty kids or you make alot of your own decorations for the Thanksgiving Dinner table I have a great link for you today.  Family Fun Magazine has a site with a list of links to all of the Thanksgiving themed crafts on their site.  You can choose from table covers, baskets, turkey placecards, hats, table top projects, chair decorations, even a pinata!!! You can access the main page by clicking here and then moving your curser over the list and pick what you want. 

I would suggest bookmarking this page.  I plan on using this a lot. They have got some great stuff. 

JUMP INTO READING AND

Teaching children to read and to love reading

Is one of the greatest privileges given to parents and grandparents.

If you have a little one who is just now learning to read, or has  been trying for awhile and struggling, then you NEED this new book by TOS Publisher, Gena Suarez.  In And Then Mama Said, It Takes Time to Learn to Read, you'll follow along with the story of Splish as he tries and fails, and tries some more.  Eventually, due to the patience of his homeschooling mama, Splish learns to read and discovers how much fun reading can be.

What makes And Then Mama Said, It Takes Time to Learn to Read different from other books on the market?  In this book you will find:

• charming characters that your family will quickly come to love
• delightful illustrations that lead your children right down the path to Bliss Hollow
• a children's book that encourages obedience to, and respect for, one's parents
• vocabulary words related to the story, along with simple definitions, providing you with tools to make this story more than just an entertaining read
• a word search (with answer key), reinforcing words and themes from the book
• a Christian worldview and Biblical concepts
• a story that subtly presents the amazing benefits of homeschooling

With each order of the print book, you will receive a FREE download of the BONUS COMPANION ACTIVITY GUIDE!  This e-book contains:

• copywork
• coloring pages
• an alphabet maze
• science sheets
• and much more!

And Then Mama Said, It Takes Time to Learn to Read
would make a fabulous Christmas gift for everyone on your list -
readers & non-readers, parents of special-needs children,
those who are looking for books that promote Godly character,
pastors, homeschool teachers, grandparents, babysitters,
concerned friends, YOU!

ORDER TODAY
and have your book autographed by the author!

Would you like to know what the Crew has to say about this book?
Cindy says: "Have you ever wished for a picture book to read to your preschooler that tells a story of a homeschooling family?  With the thousands of picture books available, stories featuring homeschooling families are woefully lacking, but Gena Suarez has filled the gap!  And Then Mama Said…It Takes Time to Learn to Read is the delightful story of Splish the Frog who desperately wants to learn how to read.  Everyone he knows can read–everyone except him.  "It takes time to learn to read," Mama tells him again and again.  At last, after a long winter's sleep, little Splish does learn to read and he eagerly enters the fascinating world of books. In addition to learning to read, Splish learns that trusting his mama is just as important as obeying her.  The Frog Family's love and joy of being together is beautifully conveyed throughout the story.  Parents will appreciate the respect and kindness displayed by each of the book's characters.  You won't have to worry about your preschooler picking up any bad attitudes from this book."

Jolanthe says: "The many colorful illustrations held the attention of my younger children and also helped them identify with the different emotions that Splish goes through in the story. Gena Suarez did an amazing job weaving a story of hope along with solid character lessons into the book. Parents have a variety of topics that can be talked about with their children after reading the story: obedience, appropriate behavior, self-doubt, encouragement, forgiveness and patience. The book also serves as a gentle reminder for parents to be careful comparing the learning differences in children – because 'everyone learns at their own pace.'"

Gina says: "With it's adorable illustrations and soft and gentle approach, this book is a great encouragement to beginning and struggling readers. Children who take more time to read are often wrongly labeled when all they really need is time to mature and gentle understanding. I have a struggling reader and she was very encouraged as she related to Splish. After reading the story together, she asked if she could practice reading to me! Thank you Gena, for approaching a subject that is often left untouched!"

Heather says: "Rich with imagery so often missing in children's stories, And Then Momma Said ... It Takes Time to Read is a story to share with pre-readers and readers alike. The characters in this story are refreshingly kind (no snarky siblings here!) and recognize the power of their words and actions. Papa models godliness by reading to his children from the Bible. Towards the end of the story, Mama commends Splish for growing in character. Suarez's dedication to keeping first things first is apparent; I'm fairly certain that I've never seen a children's book that touts character above learning to read! What a nice reminder for homeschooling moms, whose days are so often focused on heads, not hearts."

For even more Crew reviews, click the links below:

Last night I made homemade pizza, Kendra-style, for my family for dinner. This is the BEST pizza we've ever had. The kids can't eat enough of it. We decided to watch a Veggie Tales movie while we ate our pizza since pizza isn't too messy and I had stuff on the table.

**

During the movie, Abigail wanted MORE pizza. Mike was going to get it for her and he asked her if she wanted cheese or pepperoni. Abigail decided to get the pizza herself and got up and left the living room with her plate. Alison stands up and says in a very loud, Alison voice, "she wants PEPPERINA."