Christmas Tag!

Got this Tag from Matt 'n Meg's Blog!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper
2. Real tree or Artificial ? Artificial.
3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving, and actually I think it was the Saturday after Thanksgiving this year!
4. When do you take the tree down? I usually take it down the day after Christmas.
5. Do you like eggnog? Love it, I'm gonna try the soy milk kind this year!
6. Favorite gift received as a child ? My Barbie Dreamhouse
7. Hardest person to buy for? Jason
8. Easiest person to buy for? Kaybrie
9. Do you have a nativity scene ? Yes. I have 3 up this year!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards ? Mail, I mailed my photo cards out December 1st!
11. Worst gift ever received? I don't have one that I would tell......
12. Favorite Christmas Movie ? All
13. When do you start shopping? All year......
15. Favorite thing to eat or drink at Christmas? I love fudge, all of the snacky type foods, and basically everything full of calories!
16. Lights on the tree? Yes, pre-lit for me and clear.
17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night, My Grown Up Christmas List, and anything by Point of Grace.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? At home
19. Can you name all of Santa 's reindeer ? Yes, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer , Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and last but not least Rudolph! (I stole this)
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve, and Christmas morning is all about Santa.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The weather. 80 one day, 30 the next, gotta love the Sooner State!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color ? All ornaments
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham, Turkey, Dressing
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Hopefully the husband is reading...1ct diamond studs!

Now it is time for everyone else to share......

Family Christmas at Dry Gulch USA

What happens when you get 15 family members, 1 family member in the womb and 3 family friends together for a old fashioned western Christmas meeting? Utter chaos and scattered folks everywhere (I love my family)! This year we decided to take a drive to Dry Gulch USA (east of Pryor) to hop aboard the Christmas Train. Now, I have to admit, I have a very committed and loving family, since one of my cousins drove from Houston, and the other's from the Durant area.

The Church on the Move here in Tulsa actually runs this Christmas attraction, this is its 1st year opened after being closed for 3 years for extensive remodeling. What a great attraction. The train ride included a narration of the Bible, from the Beginning until the crucifixion of Christ. Braden had lots of questions. The village was beautiful, with wagon rides, stagecoach rides, carousel horses, and lots of food.

My only complaint. Santa. What a Bah Humbug. He just sat there, did not say a word, and remained expressionless. Of course, he may have not liked the fact that 18 people were in the room w/him and 15 wanted into a group picture. The picture by the way was not that great, my Daddy was cut out of it, not a good thing, since I begged him into the family memory!

Christmas Gathering

Hopefully, I don't get into trouble for a copyrite infridgment, but I just had to put the above themed picture on. This was the theme for my church's annual women's fellowship. It was all about the Home: decorating ideas, recipes, gifts, and keeping healthy for Christmas. I believe this was the 5th year for the event, and it has grown by leaps and bounds. By the number of ladies last night, I am thinking either we better hurry up and get the next phase auditorium built (which ours is only a few months old)or we are gonna have to move this holiday tradition to 3 nights. How can I describe what went on last night (yes, it was my first time, but not my last)...Someone said it was where Oprah's big giveaway meets HGTV, there are no better words. Our sanctuary was completely full of women, we had food, laughs, giveaways, (I'm not telling, for those of you going tonight, I refuse to spoil the fun!)and a definite opportunity to share Jesus with others.
One thing that was once again pointed out to me this past month, 1st in one of the CML forum (visit my badge)and now at the Gathering is the story of the sisters Mary and Martha. Of all the women in the Bible I am probably a "Martha", I don't slow down, I am easily agitated when others don't jump in to help. I really must learn not to sweat the small stuff, laundry, dishes, dust. If Jesus was to visit me today, He doesn't care what my house looks like, he only cares about my soul and my heart. I really did enjoy myself last night. I did volunteer to decorate a table for the two nights, but that was very minimal considering the amount of volunteers it took to pull off such a wonderful evening. My friends, Angie, Carrie O, Carrie T, and Stacye also went. Next year I am definitely going to take more friends w/ me! I am also going to add a few new blog links. These are lady's from the church and they have such wonderful ministries to share!

Workout Time: Kid's Learn by Example

In some of my blog entries I talk about Carrie O, Carrie T, & Stacye. These are my BFF's that I met in my Stroller Workout class. Well, Stroller class has of course ended, but we all still get together and walk, workout, talk, and eat! Our babies have grown up watching us bounce, lift weights, do crunches etc. It's really not surprising that they have picked up on our "great habits"! Check out Kaybrie, Cydnee & Justin with the 2lb dumbells! Priceless.

15 Foot "Hay" Snowman

My MIL just sent me pictures of Uncle Elbert's latest creation, and I have to share! Uncle Elbert is my MIL's brother, he put together a 15 Foot Snowman in my MIL's sister's, Aunt Katie's yard! It is made of 3 round hay bales. He has worked two days spray painting it! I think I want one for my yard. ;) Isn't this the cutest! If you want to see it in person, you'll have to drive to Centerville, Arkansas!

Writer's Note: Just found out, it was Lois Ann & Julie who did the decorating. Gotta give credit where credit is deserved! :)

Black Friday, "Absolutely, It's Unbelievable"

This is the second year that I have been a SAHM. I always heard about Black Friday, but working for the bank the day after Thanksgiving was always "Red" Friday. If you weren't at your sales goals for the month, you were not going to have a bonus for December, because the bank was null and void to traffic. Last year I was out and about around 8 AM, and caught no sale items. This year, I decided to be a little more adventurous. My friend Angie and I met at Target at 6 AM, she is 7 1/2 months pregnant (I am so sorry that I drug her out and about)! Anyway the line was around the store, news helicopters were hovering, but we really only waited about 10 minutes to get into the store. I found everything I was after, had a nice talk with Santa ;), saw an old college friend, and then we were interviewed by KJRH TV. Check out the video, I am actually in it, boy do I need to start my holiday diet! Then we made our way to Chic-Fil-A, Kohl's, Ulta, and then Michael's. The worse place was Kohl's we stood in line for 1 1/2 hrs! All of my shopping is done except for a few odds & ends and I am so ready to get them wrapped and under the tree! We really had a lot of "girl" fun, and I hope we can make it an annual tradition!

Awesome God, Good Food, Boy did we EAT!

The Crow Family held its second annual Thanksgiving dinner today. Yes, I cooked! My MIL came over and so we had a total of 5 Crow's. The annual dinner consisted of: Turkey Breast, Cornbread Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Giblet Gravy, Cranberry Salad, Deviled eggs, Cranberry Sauce, Rolls, K-bars, and Chocolate Pie. Yum! Yum! I can't take all the credit for cooking, my MIL made the gravy, cranberry salad, chocolate pie, and the rolls. I took pictures of our leftover spread......lots left, come on over!

My Thanksgiving Prayer

Dear God, Oh the many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! I have to begin by being thankful for you, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Without You, Jesus, in my life, there would be nothing to be thankful for.

Thank you God for my beautiful, healthy family. For my wonderful and loving husband Jason, thank you for bringing him into my life and being a wonderful husband, father, son and provider, I pray Lord that your will, will be done in his life and that you lead us to make wise and Godly decisions regarding our life together. Thank you for Braden, my beautiful baby boy, God you have a plan for this child and I give him to you, please give me the instructions that you would have me to develop him. Thank you so much for blessing me with a sweet baby girl. You knew exactly what I needed when you gave me her. Guide and direct me into also paving a Godly future for this child, I also give her to you.

Lord, thank you for my parents, my brother & sister, and my 9 nieces and nephews. Lord, you know their hearts and their needs, I ask that you bless them and keep them well and safe.

God, I ask that you be with all my extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, for those who do not know you, I ask that you use me as a tool to lead them to you and if not me personally, please place someone in their lives who can lead them to you. Be with those who are ill and hurting this holiday season. Please give them comfort.

I pray for our country, for our leaders and for our future leaders. I know that I am not in complete agreement with our president elect, but I do respect the office and I know Lord, that nothing will happen unless it is your will.

I also pray for those that I don't know. I pray that you will send someone into the lives of the ones who do not know you.

I love you Jesus, Thank You! Amen.

Twilight

My friend Carrie T. was telling me about this awesome book she was reading w/ her 11 year old daughter, I have to admit, I honestly did not think this would be up my alley. I typically read "adult" love, romance, and mystery! Then, all of a sudden I started seeing everyone's blog postings about this movie. I went back to Carrie and asked her, "is this what you were reading?" So, I broke down this past Saturday and bought the book and finished it Monday night. Loved it! I actually talked Jason into going w/ me today to see the movie. There really was not much talking him into it, considering he loves anything supernatural. I loved the movie, it was a little different than the book, but, Hollywood has to sell, and it did make $70 million its first weekend in the box office. I have purchased the next two books and plan to delve into them tonight! Now is where I tell you that I think I am truly married a vampire. What? Well, Jason loves the dark, loves cold and rainy weather, and, his bite isn't all that bad......:)

Stickers to Feminine Products, What Next?

I previously blogged about Kaybrie's love for stickers! Her love ranges from Smiley Faces at Wal-Mart , to banana stickers, to Barbie stickers at the Dr's office, to the Princess one's that I have hidden that are only deserving for a "big" girl who uses the potty. Well, today she found a new type of sticker at my "not so fun" doctor! My little nosy girl, while sitting in her stroller, decided to prowl through the drawer of the examining table, while I was a little preoccupied! Needless to say I could not get a picture, but when finished she had managed to find 3 new types of stickers stuck on her clothes and stroller, one mini and two maxi.........Oh, what next?

Grandma Played Outside with Us this Afternoon!

For dinner tonight, I made my famous and easy Taco Soup! We invited my MIL over to eat and see the kiddos! We were having a wonderful, beautiful 78 degree day and Jason & the Kids were outside playing. Braden was running pass routes w/ the football and Kaybrie was climbing and playing w/ the outside toys, when their Grandma got here. For a 68 year old woman, I'm loving that she got out & played w/ the kids! What memories......

Braden's Questionairre

This evening I was sitting in front of the computer and Braden came in asking for a piece of paper. He then proceeded to sit down at the table and ask me questions, kind of like I was being interviewed. Who knows maybe he was just trying to get to know his Mommy a little better. Well, I of course answered his questions and he wrote down my answers. Here is what I discovered after I had put him to bed. Now keep in mind he is 7 and is really trying to spell according to sounds.

food-chocolate
vecdboll(vegetable)-lettis (lettuce)
coler (color)-red
movey (movie)- littel marmad (little mermaid)
spot (sport)- sofball (softball)
Book- Marry higs clark (Mary Higgins Clark)
Play with- play with my kide's
mothe (month)-October and Decimber
Game-Candyland
drink-dit cook (diet coke)
state- Oklahoma
contry (country)- Younite Stats of a Amrkei (United States of America)
song- I am not a lown(alone)
cake- straberry sortcake (strawberry shortcake)
toy- my copter (computer)
cook- All, I like to make food.
animal- horses
pet- a dog for my kide's
And then, this note: I Love You Momey

I am of course a little concerned about some of these words, but I think we will sit down tomorrow night and go over them. What will be interesting is him reading this post a few years from now and being embarrassed. But, I really do have to give him an "A" for effort!