Last weekend we went to Cabot for our third and final installment of Christmas 2009! We got to Cabot late Friday night, but of course the kids wanted to open presents.

This morning Kristin and I headed to the dentist to have her two bottom teeth pulled. The adult teeth came in behind them and the baby ones weren't moving. The dentist prescribed some medicine to take before the appointment to help calm her down. She was fine, went back by herself and didn't have any problems. She wanted to see all the tools he used...needles, the "tweezers" as she calls them that he used to get her teeth out, etc. I'm sure she talked their ears off, but at least she didn't panic. Luckily she likes our dentist. I really liked him today because they were having "Jimmy Buffet Day" to help beat the winter blues! They were all dressed in island clothes, called the radio station to have Jimmy Buffet music played, and they made strawberry margaritas (non-alcoholic, don't worry!). They were having cheeseburgers later for lunch. Needless to say, they were having fun! I drank a margarita while Kristin was getting worked on and I must say it was the most relaxing and quiet 45 minutes I've had in quite awhile! Not long after we got home Kristin pulled her other top tooth. She has three teeth to put under her pillow tonight! Poor tooth fairy is going to go broke.

Well, two out of our three Christmases are complete. The weekend before Christmas, we went to Joplin since Chris has to work Christmas night. Actually Chris and Kristin went...I had a horrible migraine and I stayed home. Here are some pics they got with K's new camera...they aren't great, but I'm just happy they got some pictures!

Friday was official Christmas Party Day! It started with our Christmas party at Sunshine Montessori. The kids had a blast decorating cookies, making Christmas wreath ornaments and seeing SANTA!!! The looks on their faces when he came in is something I won't forget...too cute! As soon as we got the kids down for their naps, I headed to Allen Elementary for Kristin's party. I organized the craft for the party (they also made wreath ornaments) and I felt like I should be there....plus Kristin REALLY wanted me to go!

Welcome to the 2009 Bloggy Christmas Tour of Homes, hosted by The Nester! Come on in, grab a cup of cocoa and make yourself at home!

Here's the front of our house...nothing extreme, but enough to look festive. My in-laws were here a few weeks ago and commented about our "naked" Santa...now I'm obsessed with the fact that I have a naked blow up Santa in the front yard!!! Oh well...moving along...





As you come inside you will find my Christmas village. This is the first time I've had a Christmas village. This one was given to me this year from my mother-in-law. It belonged to her sister, my husband's aunt, who passed away from cancer earlier this year. So, it is a special Christmas addition. I hope next year to have a country village and a victorian village.





Behind the village you'll find two of my favorite Christmas books..."Twas The Night Before Christmas" and "The Passion Tree" by artist Jack E Dawson. If you've never checked out his artwork, I HIGHLY recommend it. He does amazing pictures "hidden" in his paintings.



Next to the village are our stockings. Since we don't have a fireplace to hang the stockings by, I found this cute stocking holder several years ago. These stockings are all handmade...mine and my husbands were made by my grandmother.



My daughter's was made by my mother. I am way too ADD to complete anything like it!



Here is our den...this year Kristin, my daughter, requested a live tree. The first few days were rough, with the allergy and asthma issues we have, but we've adjusted. Our tree is pretty traditional...cranberry and gumdrop garland and ornaments we've collected over the years. No "themes" here. The one, I guess, contemperary thing about the tree is the topper. Usually we have an angel on top, but she was retired this year...she'd had some rough Christmases! I made this topper and still am not sure if I like it or not!






Here are some of my snowmen...I've collected snowmen for several years and love them all!



And my Christmas card tree. I only have a few cards...maybe everyone is putting off sending cards to the last minute like me :)



Here is my nativity, given to me from my Grandmother. I have another one that my aunt and uncle gave us the year we got married. However, baby Jesus has been MIA for the past three years. I keep thinking I will find him one Christmas!



Now making your way to the kitchen...here is the door going to the garage. I've got my 12 Days of Christmas ornaments hanging on the garland. Our tree couldn't handle anymore trees and I saw that my friend hangs hers on her garland (thanks for the idea,Mandy) so that's what I did. They aren't fancy, but I love them.





Here is the kitchen table...I at one time had all reindeer plates and mugs, but they have gotten broken over the years. I need to find replacements.





More snowmen in the kitchen window...





And on the kitchen counter....want a piece of candy?

Yesterday Chris turned 34! Kristin was so excited about his birthday and could not wait to get him a cake and presents. So yesterday morning we got up and went shopping. I got him the movie Terminator Salvation. I knew it was one he was wanting. Kristin couldn't decide what to get until she saw the hats. She found a great Arkansas hat, but I told her Daddy would not wear an Arkansas hat (it's not his fault...after all he's not a true Arkansan and doesn't know any better). Finally she found a Jeff Gordon hat and decided to get it. Can't go wrong with NASCAR for Chris. We picked out a yummy chocolate cake and came home. Kristin helped me get everything set up, then we woke up Chris. Here are some pictures.


Chris and his presents...he said the hat will match the new Jeff Gordon coat he bought for his birthday.


I know there are not 34 candles on the cake, but I just stuck some on there to make Kristin happy. According to her, a cake is not a birthday cake unless there are candles!


Kristin and her Daddy!

After presents we got ready to go to Fayetteville. Chris decided he wanted to eat at Red Lobster. So we went for a late lunch/early dinner. It is funny that Chris loves Red Lobster since he does NOT eat seafood. He loves their cajun chicken alfredo. And who doesn't love their cheddar biscuits?! Kristin cracked me up when she was deciding what to eat. The kids menu was just beneath her and her seafood needs. That girl wanted lobster tail! So, she ended up ordering from the adult menu and got herself shrimp and lobster tail...that is MY girl! I got the seaside shrimp and it was so so yummy! Of course Kristin had to tell our waiter it was Chris' birthday...I think she just wanted the dessert! Which, by the way, was wonderful!

After Red Lobster we made our way to Toys R Us, much to my dismay. I hate that store. Especially the Fayetteville one. It's just always a mess and unorganized. But Kristin had a 3 dollar off coupon to use that she got for her birthday and it was about to expire. She narrowed her choices down to a SIS Barbie and a Hannah Montanna digital camera...what did she pick? The camera! Again I say, that's my girl! She has been taking pictures non-stop!

After that we headed to the mall for a quick Santa stop. She was getting grumpy at this point, but she saw Santa, told him what she wanted for Christmas and we left.





We'd planned to take her to the Square to see all of the lights, but she wanted to go home. We got home and I checked her temp...100.4. Lovely. She's had a nasty cough, but I'm hoping it's just a cold. We're staying home from church today. We'll see what happens. Winter is hard on her and her...with her having asthma, she gets upper resp. infections all through winter. Not fun. Anyway, that's been our weekend. Lot's of fun. I'm getting ready to take pictures for the Christmas bloggy tour of homes.

On Sunday night the Parables choir put on their Christmas musical, Miracle on Main Street. Parables is for kids K-5th and the musical was SO SO good. Pastor Kyler did an excellent job and the kids were great. Here are a few pictures I took:






I didn't get as many as I wanted...my back was hurting pretty bad, and once I got sat down and comfortable, I didn't move! Kristin had a great time, she likes being on stage. She started Parables about a month late...it took her awhile to decide whether or not she wanted to do it. I knew that once she got started she would love it. She's already looking forward to the spring musical.

Today when Kristin got home from school she walked through the door with a big grin and a gap...she finally lost her top tooth! It's been wiggly forever and she refused to pull it. This morning it was just barely hanging on and sure enough, not long after she got to school, it came out. Guess the tooth fairy will be making a stop at our house tonight. Wish someone would leave some money under my pillow....



My back is slowly getting better. I pulled a muscle in my lower back, which is pressing against my sciatic nerve. I also might have a ruptured disk. The doctor gave me a steroid shot and prescriptions for a painkiller and muscle relaxer. I went to work for a few hours today and my back was starting to hurt when I got home. But I think it is a little better. If it's not better by the end of the week, I'm supposed to go back to the doctor. She said if I do have a ruptured disk, it more than likely will get better on its own and may not bother me for several years. So, we'll see how it goes. It really hurts to raise my right leg, which makes putting on pants and getting in and out of the car loads of fun!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Usually wrapping paper, but there are always one or two gifts that I don't have the right box for, so I stick them in a gift bag.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
When Chris and I got married we always got a real tree. Then I discovered pre-lit trees. This year Kristin wanted a real one, so we got one. It is beautiful and really no trouble, but the first few days I was sneezing and wheezing like crazy. I think my body has adjusted now!

3. When do you put up the tree?
Right after Thanksgiving...this year was later than normal....I couldn't get in the swing of things.

4. When do you take the tree down?
I've been known to leave the tree up for quite awhile since I hate taking decorations down, re-organizing all the boxes, etc. But I guess I will have to take it down at a reasonable time this year since it's a real tree!

5. Do you like eggnog?
No way, I like vanilla custard, which tastes like a creamy milkshake. I can't find it anywhere, but we always had it growing up. I have found a brand of eggnog that is vanilla flavored that tastes almost like it, but not as good.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
When I was little it was my cabbage patch dolls...when I was older, it was my saddle.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
my niece and nephew

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Kristin

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
MAIL!!!! I am horrified my invitations and cards sent by email, but I guess that's what we are coming to...I LOVE sending cards and getting them in the mail. Plus, if they are sent by email, I have nothing to put on my Christmas card tree!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I don't think I've ever gotten anything I really didn't like.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
There are too many! Kristin and I watch A Christmas Story almost every night. Then there's Christmas Vacation. I love It's A Wonderful Life and The Polar Express too. Then there are movies like The Holiday, Love Actually, and The Family Man, which aren't traditional Christmas movies, but take place during Christmas, so they are some of my holiday favorites.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Sometimes a few months before, but not usually until right before Christmas.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No…not that I can remember

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Gooey Butter Cake! I've also started making biscuits and chocolate gravy on Christmas morning.

16. Lights on the tree?
Yep, colored ones

17. Favorite Christmas song?
It's always been O Holy Night, but I think after hearing Andrea Bocelli and Mary J Blige sing What Child Is This, that is now my favorite. In fact, everyone should immediately google Andrea Bocelli and Mary J Blige on Oprah, download and enjoy....over and over and over!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Stay home...we go to Joplin the weekend before and then Cabot the weekend after. We stay home Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and I love it. Chris has to work a few hours Christmas night, so that gives us a reason to stay home without worrying about offending anyone!

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen(I memorized Twas The Night Before Christmas when I was four and can still recite most of it).

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning...Kristin opens one on Christmas Eve

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
The rushing around...feeling like you have to be here or there

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I have several...one belonged to my grandmother, it is pink and white glass (I think it was red at one point, but has faded), my Thing Two ornament (Dad called Lynn Thing One and me Thing Two) and the first Christmas present Chris gave me...a Bobba Fett ornament :)

24. Favorite memory of Christmas?
Too many to pick one...last year was great...we opened presents, watched 24 hours of A Christmas Story, had biscuits and chocolate gravy and just enjoyed the day.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
I told Chris I wanted a set of Chicago Cutlery knives...I LOVE kitchenware and I needed a new set of knives. Well, when Kristin and I got back from Cabot after Thanksgiving, what was waiting for me on the kitchen table? A set of Chicago Cutlery knives!!!!