Christmas - What do I prefer?

What do I prefer at Christmas time

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift Bags, next year I am going to try to make some out of fabric
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? Monday evening after Thanksgiving or before my December 3 birthday.
4. When do you take the tree down? January 6
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, Andersen Erickson brand from HyVee.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Most presents my immediate family selected.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Men
8. Easiest person to buy for? My girls
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, a miniature set. I want the Little People set
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Clothes from distant relatives that had no clue what I liked
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Mickey's Christmas Carol
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's cheese ball, fudge, and milky way pie.
16. Lights on the tree? Yes
17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night and Little Drummer Boy
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Travel except this year for first time in six years we get to be home for Christmas. We opened Christmas/St. Nicholas present with the girls on December 6 (St. Nick's birthday). We will open presents and have a Christmas party with my parents on December 20 and we will celebrate with Wes' family a few days after Christmas. Christmas day will be about Christ.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? No.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People who spend more money than they have available.
23. What theme or color are you using? Red, Green and White - what else is there.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham from Burgers based in California, MO.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Have fun with Anna, Bekah and Wes

Cheese

My joy

My two joyfully energetic girls. Cheese, mom.

Playdough at ages 2 and 5.

Practicing for Ballet Recital May 12, 2008

Anna's dance class (Creative Movements) will do a ballet dance to Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo from the movie Cinderella. Below are two different movies of them practicing. I asked Anna's teacher (Miss Amanda) if I could video tape them so Anna could practice at home. At home she has the Bella Dancerella where they learn parts of Swan Lake. Part way through the semester Anna started not wanting to go to class because her teacher was not teaching her Swan Lake. I told her that her teacher wanted to teach her another ballet dance so she knew lots of dances. Recently, I decided this would be a great way for her to learn the dance. One version is me sitting on the left side of the room and one is me sitting on the right side. I did that so I could try to pick up as many of the moves as possible for such a young class. At the recital they will be wearing a blue tutu and leotard with pink ballet tights and shoes.