What I did on my Thanksgiving Vacation

Jimmy, my mom, and I went to Dallas to see the Cowboys play against the Miami Dolphins.

Other than it being really cold, we had a GREAT time!

The stadium is beautiful and the Jumbotron screen is ENORMOUS!!

Sadly, the Dolphins lost in the last minute of the game.

The drive to and from Dallas wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be and we even did some Christmas shopping on the way home.

A Christmas Survey

I found this Chrismas survey on one of my new favorite blogs A Teeny Tiny Teacher.  I love to read about her adventures with her class.  I admire her enthusiasm!


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Wrapping paper for most things - isn't that kids enjoy the most - ripping the paper off??

I do use some bags - but mostly ones I am recycling!

2. Real tree or artificial?

We have had an artificial tree for the last nine or ten years.  However, two strands of lights are refusing to work so I have no idea what we will do next year.  A new artificial tree seems so expensive until you compare it to what a real tree costs each year.

3. When do you put up the tree?

We usually put it up sometime during Thanksgiving weekend.  My husband assembles the tree and I fluff the branches and then the kids do all of the ornaments (except for a few old, breakable ones).

I am really excited to say that Jules, our 1 year old lab, has done REALLY well with leaving the tree alone.  (But now I have totally jinxed myself I know it!)

4. When do you take the tree down?

I don't have a set date but usually not too long after Christmas.  I like to have all the Christmas decorations down and put away before going back to school but we go back really early this year so I don't know!  

One year I actually took it down Christmas night after everyone else was asleep! 

5. Do you like eggnog?

NO! I am not an egg person at all!
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Hmmm . . . I am not sure.  Cabbage patch dolls, a bike, and a walkman are all in the running.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?

Yes, my mom bought me one last year.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
My husband! 

9. Easiest person to buy for?

My kids.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Mail, even though I usually don't send them.  I would NEVER send them via e-mail!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

Probably clothes that don't fit.  Please don't try to flatter my by buying something smaller than my actual size.  Actually, please just don't buy me clothes at all!

12. Favorite Christmas movie?

I am not much of a movie watcher and I probably haven't seen most of the "classics."  I do love the Charlie Brown Christmas special and the old Rudolph, where the elf wants to be a dentist.  I also really like Prep and Landing which came out a few years ago.  And yes, I realize those are cartoons and not movies.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

It just depends but usually in October/November.  I don't buy all year because people's wants/likes change.  I do try to tuck away money starting in September though that way I am ready to buy gifts when the time comes.

14. Ever recycled a present?

I'll never tell.  (But I'm nodding my head yes ok??)

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Of course I love Christmas dinner and all that comes with it but my absolute FAVORITE food at Christmas are gingerbread men made with my friend's recipie - to die for!  (Oh, and they are NOT iced.  They have red hot decorations!) 

16. Clear lights or colored lights on a tree?

Colored!  I hate the hospital/security look of clear lights. 

17. Favorite Christmas song?

Silent Night
There's A New Kid in Town - George Strait

18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home?

We stay home.  We are lucky to live in the same town as both my parents and my in-laws.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Yes, but I have to sing the song to remember them all!
20. Angel or star on top of the tree?

We have a star that I don't love but I'm not looking very hard for a replacement either! LOL


21. Open the presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

As a kid, we always opened gifts from my parents on Christmas Eve and then Santa came over night and left his gifts under the tree unwrapped.  None of my friends did it this way so I knew my husband and I were meant for each other when I learned that his family did it the same way!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?

Ummm . . .  I hate that it isn't always cold for Christmas where I live in South Texas.

I also hate how I always felt that everyone else did Christmas better/had more fun/etc. but I have decided to let go of that and just do it the way *I* want to do it. 

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color?

I love a tree with all types of ornaments on it.  I love the ornaments that my husband and I made as kids and the ones my kids bring home each year from school.  My tree is a real mix of everything. 

When I was growing up my friend had a cowboy tree that was adorable but it was like out of a showroom.  I like the more homey feel of our tree.
24. What do you want for Christmas?

An iPhone - but I will be waiting until February to get it.

Corpus Christi Science and History Museum

Yesterday I had to drop some work off at the college and buy my book for Summer Session II so the kids went with me.  I think it is important for them to see where I spend so much extra time right now.  They know I am going to college but I don't think either one of them realized what the college looked like or exactly how big it was. 

After we ran my errands I took the kids to the museum.  I think they really enjoyed it.  They especially liked looking at all of the rocks from around Texas.  They were creeped out by the boa constrictor skin and unimpressed by the replica ships of Christopher Columbus.  (So was I for the record.)

I hope that we can do a few more day trips to Corpus this summer to explore some more of what it has to offer!

Run for your lives!!

A couple of weekends ago we took the kids to Corpus to do some shopping and spend some time together as a family.  We went to GattiTown and these vampire teeth were some of the prizes Garrett bought.

Be afraid, be very afraid!

2011 All Stars Opening Ceremonies

This past weekend our team competed in the 2011 All Star tournament that was held in Calallen.  We are so proud of our girls!

Hi ho, Hi ho, it's off to work I go

Today is the first day back to work after two weeks of vacation.

Vacations during the school year are great but boy, it's tough to get up at 5:00 a.m. after sleeping late for two weeks.  And by late, I only mean until  8:30 or so.  8:30 seems really early until you compare it to 5:00 a.m.!

I'm excited to go back to work and see all of my friends, just like a kid I guess.  However, I'm feeling guilty that I didn't go to school during my break to get my room organized and ready for the new year.

I have a lot of testing to finish up and then I need to get back on a regular schedule.  It is amazing how much more productive I feel when I am on a regular schedule. 

All ready for church

I look at pictures like these and I wonder where did the time go?

I'm already off to a better start

 Garrett got a motorized crane from Santa, along with a stocking full of goodies.

 Meagan got an iPod Touch from Santa, along with a stocking full of goodies.

This is Jules, our new family member.  She, too, received a stocking full of goodies from Santa.

How was your Christmas?  What did Santa bring you or put into your stocking?