1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper

2. Real tree or artificial?
Artificial.

3. When do you put up the tree?
The first Sunday in December.
.
4. When do you take the tree down?
January 10th. The day after Christopher's b-day.

5. Do you like eggnog?
No, not so much.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Most remembered would be Shaun Cassidy album.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
John he doesn't want anything.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Aiden and Gavin. They are still to young to care.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes. One for every room.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Neither. But I love getting them so keep sending them.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
All of them.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually after Thanksgiving.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Red Velvet Cake Frosting and Ham.

16. Lights on the tree?
12 strands of 100 lights. Drives John crazy.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
All of them.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
We stay in state but go to see what Santa brought everyone.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
yes

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas PJ's on Christmas Eve all other Christmas morning.

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
That Christmas is set-up before Thanksgiving.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I love snowflakes,snowmen and blue.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Every year is different.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
I'm not sure yet.

Mackenzie's Summer Vacation

Spent a little time in Helen, Georgia. Mackenzie found a new hat, got to drive the horse carriage and loved tubing down the river.
We made a stop at Babyland General. Thank goodness for Mother Cabbage and Imagicilin! Meet the newest addition Flower Mackenzie.

Summer

We decided to take a trip to Florida this year instead of a cruise. I had a great time but sure did miss the cruise service.

You Can Do Hard Things

I saw this video in February at a Mini Youth Conference entitled You Can Do Hard Things. I have thought about it often and while watching the additional video between Conference Sessions today I saw it again. What a great example.

First Day of School

Nicholas first day of High School and probably my last first day of school picture.

He was soo excited.

Laura (as she will officially be called this year) chose this as her first day of school outfit but it was much better than the one she begged me to let her wear.

Yes those are her jeans tied around her neck. She was a little upset that I wouldn't let her wear this so the new summer of love t-shirt was a much better choice.

Tribute to a Fallen Hero

I just received this email from my cousin Chris, Mr. Army Tourguide of Washington DC and I wanted anyone who reads this to know our military do notice our support.

This is very special and well worth watching. It shows a community saying
goodbye and thank you to a fallen hero. What a wonderful tribute!

The link below is to a video of the funeral procession near Atlanta, Georgia
for Staff Sgt. John Beale, 39, of Riverdale, Georgia, died June 4,2009, in
Afghanistan of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device and
small arms fire. He was assigned to the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,
Georgia Army National Guard, Calhoun, GA.

Details on the route for the funeral procession were published in a local
newspaper only 24 hours before it actually took place. Considering the
short period of time before the event and that it took place on a Thursday
evening (June 11th), the number of people lining the roads is remarkable.

I personally loved that the Chick-fil-a closed their doors and allowed their employees to go outside and be a part of this moment. My dad being a military man was very glad he had gone to my sister's house in McDonough that day and accidently got caught in the traffic and was there to be a part of it at the intersection where the firetrucks are crossed. While we are busy and enjoying our summer I wanted to post this so I wouldn't forget the appreciation I have for those men and women protecting my freedom every day. Be sure to mute my new favorite bedtime lullaby before you play it and get a tissue ready.