Merry Christmas Tag!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper for sure. So much more fun to rip paper off of a gift.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Fake. The idea of real is nice, but not worth the needles and bugs that come with it.
3. When do you put it up? Usually the first weekend in December, I don't like decorating in November, it doesn't feel right.
4. Favorite Christmas theme? Snow men. Don't know what this means, really.
5. Do you like eggnog? Absolutely I do.
6. Favorite gift received? Last year Cody made me a picture frame to put a picture of the temple in. He made it by hand. I cried. Also, 2 years ago Cody proposed on Christmas. That was a pretty amazing gift.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad for sure. He's so old fashioned and particular.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My husband, Cody.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope. Someday maybe.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Last year at a white elephant party I ended up with an ugly crappy ring that would barley fit a 5 year olds fingers.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Three way tie between Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I start thinking of gifts about September. I start buying in November. I'm usually done by the beginning of December.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's Chex Party Mix.
16. Lights on the tree? White lights. Unless the tree is white, then I think blue lights look good.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Silver Bells and Carol of the Bells.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen. And Rudolph.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents? Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? St. George weather is crappy this time of year. Freezing but no snow.
23. Favorite ornament or color? Red and green usually. Last year I did a peacock theme with blue and green though.
24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner? Honey baked ham.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Pentax K200d. It's not going to happen though.
26. TAG - Elisa Garn, Carie Lilga. Whoever else. I don't know who reads my blog.

What's Your Secret?

PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death and God from Frank Warren on Vimeo.

This video is on this weeks post secret page. I usually don't watch videos on blogs but for some reason I was intrigued and it turned out to be very worth it. Take a look. :) Oh, and my secret is... I can't resist opening the dish washer while its running and taking deep breaths of the clean steaminess. hehe.

Cloudy Day at the Duck Pond

Photos from an afternoon walk to the duck pond above our house. We saw a water turtle on a log there... slightly odd for St. George.

Handmade Christmas Gifts!

This year for Christmas I have my brother. (My siblings and I switch off every year so we don't have to get gifts for a million people) His youngest 2 daughters are 8 and 14 and I decided to make them dolls that look like them... sort of. The blonde one is my niece Emilee. I do not sew and I am not sure why I decided to do a sewing project like this, so I got help from my amazing crafty cousin, Lindy. It took us 9 hours. Lots of fun to make though. My nieces better appreciate!
The one with black hair is my niece Angel. She likes to dress more on the dark side. We made them little wing backpacks that are removable. There were some serious misleading pattern problems but overall I think they turned out really cute.