Friday Funnies

Have a terrific weekend. Try to stay warm if you are dealing with the bitterly cold temperatures like I am.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

It is once again time for the weekly Hodgepodge. 

1. Do you struggle with the commercialization of the holiday season? What helps you keep your focus when the season’s busyness and commercialism start to take over? 

I do struggle mostly with making sure the boys realize that there is more to the season than getting a bunch of gifts. That is why I started the Advent activities when Clark was 3. 

2. What's one small thing you want to savor before the year ends? 

The quiet of the week between Christmas and New Year. 

3. December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does yours include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? If Hanukkah is the holiday you celebrate in December do you send cards to mark the occasion? 

I have not sent out cards in several years. However, I do like the few cards we receive. It is just another stress that I do not want to take on at this time.

4. What's your least favorite holiday related task? What's your favorite?

My least favorite tasks is wrapping gifts. I have a difficulty finding the time to get it done when the boys are not around and I am not very good at it. My favorite is all of the baking and other goodie making that we do.

5. Let's do a little holiday this or that? 

• shopping or wrapping
• baking or decorating
• eggnog or wassail
• real tree or artificial
• turkey or ham
• white lights or colored lights
• ugly sweaters or matching pjs
• peppermint or cinnamon 
• presents Christmas Eve or presents Christmas Day

(Online) shopping, baking, eggnog, would love a real tree but we can't have one so artificial, turkey, white lights, matching pjs, peppermint, the boys open 1 gift on Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas Day.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We had a bunch of snow and sleet overnight and today. Clark was mad because they were already off today for a staff in service. I found it hilarious.

Advent Days 1-7

 

Friday Funnies

Have a terrific first weekend of December.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

It is Wednesday again so that means it is time for the Hodgepodge.

1. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'? On a scale of 1-10 how is yours this year? (10=off the charts, 1=still looking for it).

To mean to have the holiday spirit means to enjoy the moments of the season with family and friends. Right now I am about a 3. I am sure one we decorate on Saturday that number will go up a bit.

2. What's your favorite character from a (December) holiday-themed movie, book, or TV special? Tell us why. 

I have always loved the Grinch. Now I mean the original cartoon version from the 1960s not the one with Jim Carey. I loved that he was creative in trying to stop Christmas from coming but even though he failed he realized how important the holiday is.

3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition? 

I do like gingerbread although it is not something I have very often. I did not grow up making gingerbread houses but I have made one a few times with the boys. I actually find the process to be pretty frustrating but they seem to like it.

4. Much of our vocabulary is determined by where we live or where we grew up. What say you-

sprinkles or jimmies? lightning bugs or fireflies? soda or pop? sneakers, trainers, or tennis shoes? sub, hoagie, grinder, or hero? freeway, highway, or motorway? frosting or icing? sauce or gravy?     

So I have lived in Michigan my entire life if that makes a difference. Sprinkles, fireflies, pop, tennis shoes, sub, freeway, frosting, gravy.

5. Share a favorite holiday memory from your childhood. 

On Christmas Eve we would go to church where I always loved when we would turn off the lights and sing Silent Night by candlelight. Then we would come home, have snacks and pick out the cookies for Santa. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.  

This tine of year is always bittersweet for me. My mom was very into Christmas and it has not been the same since she died. My dad though has kept pretty much all of her traditions alive which is pretty amazing. Plus I love making memories and traditions with my boys. My husband's family did not have a lot of traditions so I also love that we now have these traditions together. It is a lot of work and every year I wish I could just not do anything but all in all I am glad to do it. 

Monday Musings

As the month of December begins these are the things currently on my mind.

1) We had our first snow storm of this winter Saturday night through Sunday morning. I was hoping for a snow day today but it did not happen. I am really not ready for winter.

2) Today also starts our daily advent activity leading up to Christmas. Every year I dread it but the boys enjoy it so I keep pressing on.

3) I have been on the Moujarno for 6 weeks now and it is working on my sugar levels. The issue is that I end up feeling nauseous most of the time after I eat. No wonder this works for weight loss - who wants to eat when you feel sick after?

Monday Musings

As this week of thankfulness begins these are the things currently on my mind.

1) My hubby was on vacation last week and we did a lot of decluttering. We still have a ways to go but the house is already looking so much better. I am also glad that by donating a lot of toys we can help some struggling families give their kids a nice Christmas.

2) After 3 weeks hubby's car is finally ready. It was only a code that was misfiring so it will only be $120 instead of the $750 or so we thought. I am trying to just be thankful and not annoyed that something so simple took so dang long.

3) I am now dealing with low blood sugars after having high ones for so long. It wouldn't be so bad except it usually happens in the middle of the night and my glucose monitor set off this loud, ear piercing alarm which scares the crap out of me.

Here are the pictures for the week

Working on his wrestling persona.

The stupidity of MAGA should no longer surprise me but it does.