Believing in Santa....

I don't remember when I stopped believing in Santa...

do you?

I can remember my dad asking me that all the time, "When did you stop believing in Santa?" ... I told him, probably when you started asking me, "When did you stop believing in Santa!"

I work with Middle School kids - it starts with kids in Grade 5 & goes up to Grade 8... I know the 8th graders are 'too cool' to believe in Santa.  The 'too cool' years are really kicking in gear in 8th grade, getting them prepared for 'totally cool' for High School years...

But I see those tiny little 5th graders & wonder if they still believe....

I'm careful what I say around them... I don't want to be the one who crushes Christmas spirit.

I do remember being 'older' ... & by older, I'm thinking at least 3rd grade... & every day we would come in from shopping, I would run into our basement & check the stockings.  Not sure why.  I mean, no where are there stories of Santa coming early...

But one day, there was something in my stocking!!!  It was a pack of tissues.  & not just any pack of tissues.  They were from Japan.  They had Japanese writing on the package & a cool Japanese design on the tissues themselves.

I can still remember that.

That feeling of excitement... of being in awe... of wonder... of amazement.

Do you know, I still to this day believe it was something magical that put Japanese tissues in my stocking....

(mom... dad... don't tell me it was you... I don't want to know)

I guess no matter how old you get, you still want to believe in the magic of Christmas...

________________

How old were your kids when they stopped "believing"?

Do you have memories of Santa?

When do you feel the "Magic" of Christmas?

Weekend Wrapup...

I could sum it up in a few words

Shopping, shopping, shopping...

I'm exhausted.

December is the month that makes me hate shopping.

Plus, we were busy with some other things happening

*  I had friends come over so I could snap quick pictures for them for a Christmas card.  Fastest session ever.  Literally took 5 minutes & got 5 perfect pictures :)  that's what I'm talking about.

* Everything that isn't bolted to the ground in my house is wrapped.  When I get in wrapping mode, I'll wrap everything that could possibly  make a gift.

* Bruno got a hair cut... without taking a part of his ear off this time!  Success!  The groomer said, "He's a little stubborn, isn't he?" ... why I call him my grumpy old man.

Doesn't it look like he has a handlebar moustache?

* Ricky had to work on Saturday so I spent the morning cleaning... its my Saturday Ricky Work day tradition

* someone was glad to have him home though...

Ignore the fish on the couch...
that was our Youth White Elephant gift we took :)

* The Youth Christmas Party was Saturday night.  You ain't experienced nothing till you experienced being in a room full of middle school kids that have ate a lot of sugar.  Woooowwwww... I wish I could bottle up that energy.

* I loved the message at church on Sunday.  About the important things in life... & its not Power, Position & Prestige... good stuff.

* We took a game of musical chairs in youth & turned it into the BEST.GAME.EVER!  My voice was scratchy from yelling & laughing about it.  I love youth ministry.

* Soooooo Ricky ruined his Christmas surprises... which is sort of a tradition for us. We always tell each other, "DONT buy anything for yourself from Thanksgiving till Christmas" but somehow one or the other of us does & its usually what the other has already bought.  Well, Ricky was on a roll because Sunday after he looked through the ads, he found 2 things he wanted to go get.. that I already bought for him.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  I had to tell him I already had them, nicely wrapped & ready to go.... It was a nightmare that turned into a blessing.  I ended up finding one of the items for MUCH cheaper & ended up getting a BETTER item for a price I'd rather pay... so it all turned out OK in the end... except now, Ricky has no surprises.  Maybe I'll just kick him in the shins Christmas morning for a surprise.

* I hate when channels have on finales on the same night. I haven't watched Once Upon a Time because I had to watch the Survivor finale (GO TYSON!!!!... I cheered for him all year long) but I did watch Revenge.  Goodness gracious. That was an intense last half hour.

Now back to work... going to be a busy one.  Lots to do... at least its going to be a warm up here!  Much needed in my opinion.  Hope you're weekend was wonderful!

Work crisis ahead... that is going to really age me....

So my birthday isn't for another 2 weeks ...

& I'm already dreading it.

Not that getting older isn't tough enough.  I mean, when I turned 40, I felt like my body said, "OK, that's it.  We're going on strike. We've had enough"... & that was 2 years ago.  I've made deals with parts of my body that keeps it going for a certain amount of hours per day.  Turning 42, I'm afraid to see what else is going to go on strike or what's going to give out completely...

This year, I get extra stress at work for a birthday surprise.... not the kind of surprise I was looking forward to on my birthday.

This is a joke right... what you're going to do to me?
WHAT?  You're serious?

My coworker takes off the Christmas/New Years weeks every year.  Its a given. Don't even THINK about taking off that time of the year, its claimed.

I can live with that... after all, we still get the Holidays off.  But I cover for her when she's off...

This year though, its throwing me for a tizzy.

My Birthday is Monday, December 30th... New Years falls on a Wednesday.  There's a payroll I have to figure up in there.  & New Years, the payroll processing company closes early.

Our payrolls aren't just a normal 40 hours a week kinda payroll.  They are payrolls where I have to look up dozens, if not hundreds of courier runs, for EACH employee...

It normally takes her 3 days to do this on a payroll week... & she does it every time...
except for 2 weeks out of the year when she's on vacation, when  I do it.

So its not like I'm familiar with it & can do it in my sleep.  It's something I do twice a year...

& then I found out today that I have to have it all done by that MONDAY (Dec 30th - my birthday)... by 1:00 pm...

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

This was my reaction when they told me the news about this

So let's recap - something I rarely do, I have to be awesome & amazing at & do in 6 hours what it takes the pro to do in 3 full 9-hour days?

Wow...

Can we just start the praying now for me?

or get the straight-jacket ready?

I think I'm going to earn all my new grey hairs on my birthday....

On the flip side... after 1:00, however it goes, its still my birthday....

I'm gonna EARN some much needed sugar from a birthday cake!

Hodgepodge

Wednesday... here we go...

1.  Are you doing anything special to mark this season of Advent? If so, please share.

What's advent?

Kidding... but no, not doing anything.  I forget about it actually... which is kinda sad.  Gets lost in the hustle & bustle of Christmas, which I'm now feeling guilty about.

(Hanging my head in shame)

...or hide my head in a bag....

2.  Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen...and of course you recall, that most famous reindeer of all...so which reindeer name best describes you this week?

I'd go with Prancer... just because I feel like I'm moving in ridiculous ways lately

 

 

Prancercise .. all the rage... even Thor does it...

3. What's worse-too quiet or too loud?  Which have you had more of lately?

For the most part, I hate quiet.  I just had this conversation with someone this week.  I hate total quiet. I have to have music or a TV on at all times... white noise.  I think better with distraction.  Call me the opposite of ADD.

.... its probably why I talk a lot too... my voice is a good substitute for white noise.



4.  When you are administratively gifted, how often do you find yourself not trusting less gifted people to do what they've committed to do?  If you are not so gifted that way, but are reliable, how do you feel when the stronger person (in that area) goes ahead and covers it before giving you a chance to come through?

I'm confused... I must not be gifted...

HUH?  What?

5.  What is your most dreaded task relating to the holidays? Your most looked forward to holiday task?

I hate all the wrapping.  It kills my back. There just isn't a good place to wrap.  The kitchen table is too low.  The bar is too high (though that's where I end up making wrapping central) - the floor is out of the question. 

The most forward?  When it all calms down & its the time to spend with family & friends... ahhh... Hallmark answer :)


6.  Facebook has released it's list of the 'most talked about topics' for 2013. Pope Francis took the number one spot. Does that surprise you? He was followed by election, royal baby, typhoon, and Harlem Shake. Your thoughts? What was your most talked about topic in 2013? (Facebook, around the kitchen table, or wherever it is you talk)

I was all about the Royal baby for sure.  Any time there is a picture of Will or Kate on TV, I'm "sssshhh-ing" everyone around. 

I still never got the whole Harlem Shake thing... but this is also the world where "What the Fox says" is a big hit...

7.  What's something you view as a necessity that others might view as a luxury?

My treadmill... when my last one broke, I was in a panic.  I mean, sweating until the next morning where we could get to the local Fitness Store to get a new one.  And then I had to wait 2 weeks before it was delivered.  I felt like my arm was cut off.

Winter & dark nights early... with hilly country roads with no street lights or side walks?  A treadmill is a definite necessity.

I mean what else do I hang my laundry on to dry?  ... KIDDING!!!!...

It can even be a dog necessity ... at least it should be for my chubby dogs

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Woke up this morning with a pain I haven't felt in years... I'm talking like years years...

I think I'm getting a sty in my eye...

I used to get them all the time as a teenager... can't remember the last one I've had as an adult.  This morning?  I remembered the feeling.  Putting on my  makeup this morning felt like torture.  Tonight, I'm going to be sitting with a hot rag on my eye all night.

OUGH!... always something...

Don't let eye pain stop me from enjoying life

Hating winter... & its not even winter...

Short post today...

Only to voice my internal screams at winter.

Friday, I had enough already when it took me over an hour to get home in the snow & ice.

This morning, I've REALLY had enough when it took me 1 hour & 40 minutes to get TO work...

See how dark & dreary?  & snowy & cold?
& Sitting in this exact spot for 20 minutes?
Yes... internal screaming is a must

At least going home, you know you're going home...
Sitting in traffic to get to work?  Even worse

Being car sick, waiting for hours to get to work?  Yes I become the Grinch

Winter doesn't even start for another week & a few days...

I can tell me & her are going to have some tough days ahead ...

Don't get me wrong... I complain about the heat of summer too... I don't mind winter when it comes to the cold.  I just hate the snow & ice when I have to drive somewhere.

Let me stay home with a kitchen full of goodies to cook & bake, my DVR full of good shows, no where I need to be & nothing I need to be doing & I'll be happy...

who wouldn't be...

Winter Wonderland - Weekend Wrapup... Whooo!

Like that title?  Lots of W's in there... Wonderful! ;)

Friday

* Left work early because Snow Storm 2013 hit...

it was HORRIBLE trying to get home

* I keep saying it was only by the grace of God I got home safely.  My windows were so iced over, it was like someone poured glue all over them & the defroster couldn't keep up with it.  I tried to stay in the same lane so I didn't have to worry about using my mirrors, but then forced to change lanes when there was a wreck & people struggling to get up a big hill... I literally was saying "Jesus take the wheel"

 

* Made it home... & then could appreciate the beauty of the snow

* Harvey's first big snow fall... & he was IN LOVE!!!!





I had another video where he was playing in it at night... it was awesome, because the end of it, he ran in from outside & jumped on my head knocking my phone out of my hand.  I thought it uploaded... it didn't... & I deleted it.  Thanks youTube for screwing up my memories

* Sydney hates getting wet so when she comes in with snow on her back, I get it off of her right away...

* Harvey... obviously doesn't care about getting wet

He kept taking his toys & leaving them in the snow & then bringing them in

putting them on my lap... brrrr!!!!

* I don't think I've ever been so tired in my life.  I was ready for bed at 7pm ... but Ricky & I ended up catching up on 4 episodes of Arrow ... the best super hero show on TV

* Couldn't fight it any longer - I was out by 10.... zzzzz....

Saturday

* Snow days make me want to clean my house... what else is there to do?  After all, I'm wiping down the floor every half hour with the dogs tracking in snow anyways

* I love my Scentsy burners but found my snow flake Oil Burner... thought it was appropriate for the weather.  I forgot how STRONG the smell is with it.  Literally like 40 drops of vanilla oil from Yankee Candle & a tea light & my whole kitchen was smelling.  This was my last tea light candle too - must remember to get more.

* I'm on the hunt on how to make a good mocha latte at home.  I put hot chocolate in the cup, brewed coffee on top, warmed up vanilla soy milk & poured it in... it was actually pretty yummy!!!!

* All my nails broke during the cleaning of my bed room...
how does that happen... all at once...

* Heard a noise & thought it was the salt trucks going down our street... nope, our awesome neighbor cleaning off our drive.  Our drive is on a slope & with that little curve at the bottom, I can't tell you how the smallest bit of snow or ice makes us slide right off.  So we once again gave thanks to God for our amazing neighbor that takes care of us.

* We ended up heading out Saturday evening for a little bit... had to get to Kroger because it was the last day for 4x's Fuel Points when you buy Gift Cards.  Well, who doesn't love a gift card for Christmas so we slid down the hill & loaded up.  Now, for the new few weeks, Ricky & I will enjoy 30 cents off our fuel/gallon... worth the trip alone

* I can slide on dry ground.. honestly.  Ricky even said, "How are you sliding?" - I fall, trip, slide in any condition.  In Kroger, in the lane, there was a little piece of water where snow had melted off someone's shoe... guess who slid & almost busted my face in the line?  yep... I've got skillzzzzz!!!


Yeah... me & this guy have the same kind of SKILLZ


* I got caught up on Elementary... first season finale... thumbs up!

Sunday

* They canceled our Youth class because of the snow so we were going to go to 2nd service at church... to find out THAT was canceled because of another ice storm that came in... geez Winter... you got a few months to go.  Don't have to drop it all at once.

* Someone was glad church was canceled....

* I think I sat & snacked all day long... peanut butter & crackers, popcorn, bananas, Baked Cheetos.  If it was in the house, I was eating it. 

* Had Ricky play me in cards... hadn't played cards in awhile.  We played 500 Rummy... I got my butt beat.  Guess that's why I haven't played cards in awhile.

* ABC Family is just the best for Christmas.  I watched their movies all day long.  "The 12 Dates of Christmas" was adorable!!! ... & I made Ricky watch "The MistleTones"... he even liked it!




* Once Upon a Time... I'm already freaking out for next week's winter finale...

* Revenge... I'm already freaking out for next week's winter finale.... :)

* Sydney & Bruno sleep in our bed with us.  Harvey still stays in his crate... & Zoe usually had her own queen size bed in the guest bedroom... but for some reason, Zoe wanted to stick with us.  So we had 3 dogs in the bed.  You should have been me & Ricky trying to find a 'spot' on the bed so we could sleep.  We were curved around dogs that refused to budge.  The things we do for our dogs...


I'm sure this is what happens

Hope everyone had a safe weekend... you stayed warm... & you got some Kroger Fuel Points!!!

Friday Fragments

Look at me... back to Fragging...

I didn't have time to do a Vlog... & its a shame too because I got my hair done this week & its still slick & shiny & smooth...

& I don't have five solid things to think about for Five on Friday... so I'm just letting my brain run its course...

Fragging it is..

*****

 

 Its sleeting this morning... with snow hitting us later this afternoon.  & MORE ice this weekend.  I think I'm going to lock myself in the house till Monday.


This is how I feel about the snow & ice
 

 

*****

 

 Bad thing about locking yourself in the house during December?  I need to Christmas shop!

 

*****

 

The bad thing about Christmas shopping - I need more money
... who just said, "Yep" or "Amen sister"

 

*****

 

I am stumped, as every year, on what to get the Hubs for Christmas. 
Why are men so hard to buy for? 

 

*****

 

 Anyone watch The Sound of Music?  Twitter was all abuzz about it.  Both positive & negative.  People were forgetting that this was based off of the Broadway play - not the movie, so when Maria is singing "Favorite Things" to a nun instead of with the kids, I think some people's head exploded

 

I thought Carrie Underwood's voice was awesome... but her acting skills? Ouch

 

Could have been worse - it could have been a version by Liz Lemon

 

 

 

 

*****

 

Liz Curtis Higgs retweeted one of my tweets about her book.  I felt like someone special for a moment in time.

Read @LizCurtisHiggs "Women of Christmas" in a few hours. So worth reading for the Holidays. Christ the Savior is Born!
— Rebecca Jo (@RebeccaJoKnits) December 4, 2013

 

*****

 

I laugh that my spell check wants to correct the word "retweeted" ... come on Spell Check!  Don't you know that the word "selfie" is in the dictionary now.  (Yes, Spell check wants to correct "Selfie" too) ... welcome to the world of 2013-the world of made up words.  Bootylicious is still not a word I use every day, thankyouverymuch

 

*****

 

I need to go steal .... or borrow... a child for a few hours.

I'm DYING to go see Frozen - the new Disney movie!

Idina Menzel & Kristen Bell!  & that's really Kristen Bell singing!

I'm just afraid the cute little snow man melts.

... I'm still traumatized in the Frosty the Snowman where he turns into a puddle

 

 

 

 

 

 

*****

I guest-Blogged this week on Christmas Traditions...
Check it out... pretty fun if I don't mind saying so myself :)

CLICK HERE  

******

Well, hope everyone has a fantastic Friday!!!
Stay warm & safe everyone

.... I almost wrote Stay Classy..
The Anchorman is everywhere lately... getting in my head
I'll leave with that then...



Minus the "fatface"
That Ron Burgundy! 

 

Sound of Music!!!! LIVE!!!

On Thursday nights, I think my DVR has smoke coming out of it.

Its on double time shift every hour...

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (where I may be one out of 18 people who watch it in the world) ... it really is a good show if you hung past the first few episodes

Vampire Diaries ... which I still love, but will admit that "The Originals" has knocked it down.  The story line is struggling... but I'll stick with my Damon

Grey's Anatomy ... not sure why I still watch it... its kind of lost its spark, but I stuck with ER till the end, I'll stick with Grey's..

Elementary ... I'm like 15 shows behind, but I LOVE this show. It still convinces me that I could be a detective.

& of COURSE, Scandal!!!!  THE best show on TV right now...without a doubt...

But tonight, all of it will be recording & put to the side...why?

Because tonight is The Sound of Music - LIVE!!!! With Carrie Underwood.

I'm so excited about this....

First all - I love The Sound of Music... always have... maybe all except the "Climb Every Mountain" scene.. that was always the cue to go refill drinks & get more snacks. 

Maybe the Live version will be better

I had the 2 set VHS  tape when it came out.  Yes, the movie was so long, it had to have 2 VHS tapes... that's sad... Titanic is the same way, which we also owned.  Thank goodness DVD's came along to save room for all the movies over 2 hours long!

When Ricky & I were dating, he also took me to see The Sound of Music on Broadway where Marie Osmond played Maria!! It was wonderful!!!

Goodness.. how long ago WAS that play?  This looks like something out of the 70's

So I'm giddy excited about the show tonight.

I saw the special they put on last week where they showed how they were making it, practicing, choosing the cast... made me even more excited.

I love Carrie Underwood anyways... I've gotten over the fact that she beat my Bo Bice in American Idol. 

& its LIVE!! That always makes me nervous FOR the people.  I'd have to take stock in Immodium if I was on a LIVE show that big. 
I may take some Immodium myself just because I'm hoping it all works out OK for the cast.

Was there anything better when the Captain would sing Edekweiss?   Be still my heart...

I know some people are upset that they're redoing such a classic... but I love that they are.  I mean, they re-do EVERYTHING.  If they can re-do a new Sleeping Beauty with Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, then Carrie Underwood can be Maria...

So fingers crossed for them all... I'll be sitting in front of the TV with my dogs, making them listen to me sing...

I may even do a twirl in the room envisioning big Alp mountains behind me...

Anyone else watching tonight?

You a fan of Sound of Music?

Anyone else love the Goat Song.. & loathe Climb every mountain?