Randomness ~ Christmas Edition

If you've been one of my followers, then you'll recall my randomness post from my old blog. Well, at Christmas time I can be really random as well. I've been planning out this post in my head for about a month now ~ thinking of all of the things I wanted to include. But just last night, I thought I'd tie it together with Christmas songs. Some of the content is random and some is just traditions. Bear with me ~ this is a long one!

Oh, Christmas Tree ~ We put up our tree on Thanksgiving night. We have a pre-lit 9' skinny tree that fits perfectly in this house. I do not decorate any part of my house with red and green. I do all burgundy and gold which originated from Gregg's Aunt Beth's tree. Her tree looks like it belongs in a dept. store! And if you know Beth, she is one to emulate (beg, borrow and steal from ~ which I do every chance I get). So, this is my version of Beth's tree (which I think is 12')!

Gregg does all of the ribbon weaving and beads while I busy myself with something (I don't have the patience for such tediousness!) until it is time for bows and ornaments!

Pretty Paper ~ I have a love affair ~ with boxes. Seriously, nothing excites me more as when I get "a good box". I get excited around September because it is finally close enough to Christmas that I can start the massive box collection. I do this because I like different shaped boxes under the tree and a good box makes things easier to wrap. Then if the kids jack with the boxes, nothing happens to the paper. It is not an easy to attempt to wrap a kid's toy without ripping the paper all up. So, I go to my collection and carefully choose the right box for the gift. Now, I'm not as crazy as my friend, K, who has been known to assemble and put batteries in all of her little one's toys so they'd be ready to play with Christmas morning. I leave anything involving a screwdriver to dear husband.
It makes my heart leap just looking at it!

I do all of my paper and ribbon in green, gold and burgundy. I like abundance and options (really in all aspects of my life). I kid you not ~ at a recent shopping trip to Michael's, I had 29 rolls of paper that I painstakingly narrowed down to 9. And no, I do not save my ribbon and reuse it from year to year.
I love wrapping presents!

Do You Hear What I Hear? ~ It's no secret that two of my favorite artists are Kenny Chesney and Martina McBride.

O Holy Night is one of my top 5 favorite Christmas songs and Martina can sing it like nobody's business. Oh, and Kenny, well he could sing the phone book and I'd be happy. But I especially love Christmas in Dixie sung with Alabama. Back when I was a kid, it was tradition to play the Alabama Christmas tape while trimming the tree. I also love Kenny singing He's Just A Kid.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas ~ I love Christmas cards ~ not necessary the making of the Christmas card ~ but receiving them. I love looking a people's kids and reading holiday letters. I do like getting my yellow tablet out and listing everyone I'm sending a card to. When the cards arrive, I take my yellow highlighter and highlight who sent the card to keep track of the importing and exporting. So, if you don't send me a card, I know. No really, cards and stamps are expensive these days so I know alot of people just don't do it anymore. (Believe me, I have become the queen of the e-card). The highlighting goes back to me still being the little girl who likes to play secretary. Growing up, it was my job to keep the address book updated when the Christmas cards rolled in. I do love cards though and I attempt to get them out the very 1st of December. Oh, we are going to really attempt to follow through a cool tradition I heard about a couple of years ago. After Christmas is over and you don't know what to do with the cards, take one out a day and pray for that family before a meal. So, if you think you might be needing some prayers come Jan. 2008, then send us a card!

I write all of my envelopes using a Ultra Fine Point Black Sharpie.

It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year ~ I do love shopping of any kind. I start in September and start stashing in the closet. We also pick out Hallmark ornaments every year. We did this growing up and have carried on to my girls. The girl's each pick an ornament and Gregg and I choose one together for us. Macy chose Barbie Island Princess, Paige chose "Belle" and we chose the fridge (which I can't get a link to). Seriously, I have a refrigerator hanging from my tree that lights up when you open it. It has been the year of the appliance around here (shall we say, the week of? That is a whole 'nother post) and due to slim pickings at Hallmark, I chose it. It was time to get out of the store anyways b/c the cart fell on top of Macy when she was climbing up the side of it and I had to move fast! Luckily Gregg was there to haul two screaming kids out of the store! Good times.
I buy these candles every Christmas!

Jolly Old Saint Nicolas ~ We went to visit Santa at the mall on Wednesday afternoon. Paige wouldn't have anything to do with "Ho Ho" (yes, she called him that to his face) so I had to jump in the picture with the kids. Gotta do what you gotta do. Pics with Santa are one of things that are tradition. Oh, I'm anal like this ~ my girls will have different outfits on for holiday portraits, the Christmas card, and Santa pics. It's just how I roll.

Paigey showing me Ho Ho.

What Child Is This? ~ Macy drew "Baby Jesus in the manger" last Christmas and I just treasured it so much that it found a good home in one of my many junk drawers. I pulled it out recently and asked her if she remembered what this picture was. She said a "hot potato." It'll always be Baby Jesus to me and is safely in a frame that I'll pull out 'till I'm old and gray and remember my three-year old Macy.

Away In The Manger ~ I love, love, love this nativity. We only pull it out at Christmas. Two Christmas' ago, Macy insisted on sleeping with Baby Jesus every night. Macy still likes playing with Jesus, Mary and Joefus ..And the angel says, "Fear Not!"

Up On The Housetop ~ No reindeer... just Gregg hanging lights. We always enjoy driving around looking at lights so we make sure our house is lit too.

You can imagine Gregg's joy of me taking a picture of him through the window! All for the blog, honey!

This was taken tonight with Gregg and the girls on the sidewalk. Gregg still wants to hang the wreaths on each window and maybe add lights around the flowerbed the reindeer are in.

Frosty The Snowman ~ Last Friday night we went to Casa Manana to see Frosty The Snowman. We went last year as well ~ a fun, cultural tradition that the girls will never outgrow.

Barbie came too.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town ~ Macy told Santa at the mall that she will be leaving him apple pie and chocolate milk for his snack at our house. I don't know where she got that idea but Gregg happens to agree that Santa might enjoy that. On Christmas Eve, the girls choose one present from under the tree to open. Santa leaves his presents and stockings filled unwrapped by the hearth.

I'd love to hear everyone else's Christmas randomness and traditions. If you have a blog, I tag you or feel free to comment! Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!