Friday, November 30, 2007



It's beginning to look a little like Christmas...

Hard as it is to believe, Sydney will be in her first Christmas play this weekend. On Sunday, our children's department is performing its Christmas pageant (called "Mystery of the Manger") and Sydney is a member of the "cherub" choir (3, 4, and 5 year olds). Let's just say that she REALLY likes her angel costume (and has worn it pretty much non-stop since she got it Sunday night).


Now, the actual performance? Not so sure how she's gonna do in it.

At times, she does a great job and is singing and dancing along with the choir...

But she also likes to sit on the altar rails and boss the other children around...


It should be a joy, though, and I am SO looking forward to it. It's a great way to officially kick off the Christmas season!

I'm also starting to "get in the mood" some more here in the house. Gary found the artificial tree pole last night, so the tree should go up this weekend! (Yay!!). And I started to put out some of my decorations in different sections of the house. Last night, one of my favorite angels...

And my nativity sets appeared...



(even this one with the broken Joseph arm made its appearance; I love this one--I've had it FOREVER--and no missing piece will keep it from being displayed!).

Now...I've already started receiving all those Christmas emails in my "You've got mail" box (haven't you?) and they're actually a pretty fun way to share some holiday cheer and share some memories and traditions with each other. Borrow this one if you want to!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Both, depending on the gift. But I prefer wrapping paper (and I usually try to come up with a “theme”—matching colors, all snowmen, etc.)
2. Real or artificial tree?
We have both. Our tall artificial one goes in the living room, a live one goes in the den. And I want to buy a smaller white one for the dining room!
3. When do you put up the tree?
Usually the week or so after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down?
After New Year’s Day
5. Do you like eggnog?
Yuck!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I remember getting a boom box one time and I remember the Bionic Woman doll. But I really remember the several years when my parents bought my brother and I little gifts (like less than a dollar) for the 25 days of December. That was SO fun to get up in the morning and get to open one up before school!
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
I have two that I really love. One goes on my mantel and is the “classic” and the other goes wherever I decide to put it each year. It’s my favorite (white porcelain). I also decided to start a new tradition this year. I will not put the Baby Jesus into it until Christmas morning, when I’ll let the girls place him in it.
8. Hardest person to buy for?
My Dad
9. Easiest person to buy for?
Sydney
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Don't remember (I guess I've blocked those!)
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? I’m more likely to email them, but do try and mail some to far-away relatives too.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Hands down…”It’s a Wonderful Life” LOVE it!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually right after Thanksgiving
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Well, we do a Dirty Santa at our sunday school party every year and I have recycled for it! (But it's sorta expected! lol)

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Is EVERYTHING a proper answer?
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Clear on the artificial, colored on the live one
17. Favorite Christmas song?
O Holy Night is my favorite hymn. Just so beautiful!
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
We go to my parents’ on Christmas Eve Eve, to Gary’s parents on Christmas Eve, and to Gan Gan’s on Christmas Day. In between all of that, we try and have some meaningful time at home with the girls and with just the two of us.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?
Yes
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Angel on artificial one, star on live one
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
There’s unwrapping at every place we go! But Gary and I unwrap our presents to each other late on Christmas Eve when everyone else is asleep. Then Santa comes in the morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Grumpy people!
23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color?
Our artificial one is more “formal” with all white, gold, red, and glass ornaments. The live one is more “crafty” with homemade ornaments and such.
24. What do/did you leave for Santa?
Milk and Coke.

~~~
So...what have you got planned for the weekend?

I will do some Christmas shopping (I REALLY want to get it out of the way within the next week, so I can totally enjoy doing some more "at home," "cozy" Christmas activities like making homemade ornaments and baking...and maybe even just sitting around the fire!); go to a pancake breakfast in the morning that is a fundraiser for McKenna's Winter Guard group (yumm!); attend dress rehearsal and then the play with Sydney; and try to just relax and have a good ole time!

(And, HEY!!, did anyone notice that my Cowboys won last night? Woo hoo!!! And I totally discovered the coolest website for the rest of you who are NFL fans. You can go to www.nfl.com/live and they show live streaming from games that aren't broadcast or readily available. So I was able to watch not all of the game, but a lot of it and it was great!)

I wish all of you a very merry weekend (hey, just getting into the holiday spirit!). Let me know what all of you are going to be up to!

24 comments:

Cheryl said...

Hey, you are exactly right about grumpy people. I hate to be shopping somewhere and feeling really good and then bam! you hear someone grumpy either yelling at their kids or at a cashier. It makes me so mad! You have a nice post. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Oh...she is so cute!

Gin

Josie said...

She is so adorable! Sounds like your christmas planning is in full swing!

Unknown said...

AWWWWWWW! She looks adorable in her angel costume! What a sweetie!

This weekend we will be going to my husband's work Christmas party, and possibly to the Open House, that Rhonda, from the Christmas Notebook has each year. I have never been to a Christmas Open House, and I am really looking forward to it. (That's if my cold doesn't take me down, and out for the count!)

At some point, I really need to clean and finish decorating. Looks like it's going to be a busy weekend!

Cheryl Wray said...

Cheryl--Ain't that the truth? When I hear some grumpy mom yell at their kids or someone complain at the cashier, I want to choke them with some christmas lights or something!!! cmon people...it's all about joy!!!

Gin--Yes, she is!! :-)

Josie--I LOVE this time of year!

Kathy--The Christmas Open House sounds really fun!!! I hope you stay well and can enjoy it!!

Unknown said...

GO COWBOYS!!

I can't wait till the pancake breakfast and seeing scout in the church production!

Michelle said...

Congratulations on your "boys" win last night Cheryl.

The most annoying thing to me at Christmas is people who don't say "Merry Christmas".

camport said...

Sean is off for the next FIVE days, so I doubt there is any crafting in store for me. But there is a Santa villiage not far from here, with rides and decor galore so we may hit that.

Your little angel is adorable.

:)

Susie Q said...

Now this angel just made my day. How sweet is she?? Aw gee...I could just squeeze her and she would scream, "MOMMY! SOME CRAZY LADY JUST GRABBED ME!!!"
So you give her a hug from me okay?

Oh yeah...grumpy people are bad anytime but criminal at this time of year. I think there should be a law that everyone has to at least smile at one another.

Love ya,
Sue

Adrienne said...

She is too cute!!! I got some really good pics of Delaney today too! I will email them later, right now I need a NAP! LOL

Bare said...

How precious she is! We're having rehersal for our Christmas play tomorrow-- along with the town Christmas parade-- that should be exciting! Tis' the season to not stop *LOL* *hugs*

Trish said...

She looks adorable in the angel costume!

Have a great weekend!

scrappermimi said...

Sounds like a great show to kick off the holiday festivities! She looks so adorable!

Love all those holiday questions!

Paul-ene said...

Cute angel costume..no wonder she wants to wear it 24/7. Really CUTE!

Love your holiday decor. TFS!

Had a fun time reading your holiday questions/answers too.

What were doing this weekend....staying IN. Were suppose to get our first real winter storm. Good time to decorate the house this weekend for Christmas.
ps-Funny you mention the NFL.....my Dh wanted to throw things at the TV-during that Vikings/Packers Game(LOL)!

Edleen said...

aww..she's so adorable!

my daughter & i went to a Christmas Charity Dance Performance and it was just fabulous!

hope you'll have a Great Weekend Cheryl :)

Laura S. said...

super cute. It reminds me of my girls when they were that age.

Dawn Bibbs said...

YAY Cowboys!!!

Sydney is a cute little angel! I bet she's gonna do great in the play. I can't wait to hear your commentary on it :-).

I always love your lists/questionnaires. I think I'm gonna jump on this one. Your answers are great.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, my friend.

Adriann said...

Sydney is just too adorable. Love the pic of her bossing the children around. Hilarious!

We're putting up the tree tomorrow after church.

Can't wait to hear how Sydney did...

Lynilu said...

Those pictures are just precious! She is too cute for words, and she looks every bit the angel! Even if .... ;-)

I'm going to be home tomorrow, a day ahead of schedule, and Monday, I will start on my decorating, too. I can't wait!!

Jenn said...

Cheryl, Great pictures! Your site is always so festive. I changed my email a while back and didn't get a chance to blog for a while. I'm back now and catching up. Good to "see you" again =:)

Phats said...

Hey Cheryl
Aww how cute is she, and I love that she likes to boss people around haha.

I have had my tree up for awhile I put all my decorations up while it was still warm so I don't freeze doing it.

I finished my Christmas shopping over the weekend WOOHOO! I might still need to get some odds and ends, but all the big stuff is DONE, now will you wrap it? :)

jadadog said...

oh what a sweet angel!!! You are right about the grumps...I always feel bad for the kids, tho.

Rachael said...

She looks so adorable!!

Jacquie said...

What a sweet little angel!