Five Question Friday and A Grown Up Christmas List

I had so much fun playing along last week, that I thought I'd play along again. It's Mama M's Five Question Friday.

1. Does Santa wrap the presents he leaves at your house?

Some yes and some no. This year the kitchen and the shopping cart are just too big to wrap.

2. When is your "big" Christmas celebration...Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Tell us about it...

On Christmas Eve, my husband's stepdad's family does a big celebration that we go to (if we're in town, which we will be this year). There's a lot of food and we exchange gift cards. We do the whole pick a number, steal and swap game. Christmas Day is usually spent with my side of the family. Big breakfast, opening presents, and then chilling all day (eating, playing with presents, etc.).

3. Are you big on keeping tradition every year?

We try. Last year we added a new tradition. New pajamas on Christmas Eve for everyone in the family so we all look good on Christmas morning.

4. Do colored lights or white lights tickle your fancy?

I'm a traditionalist...I love the white lights. Although as long as they're lights, I really don't care. I love Christmas lights!

5. Do you decorate outside your house for Christmas?

We put up lights, a wreath, and some window clings.


And while we're on the subject of Christmas...and since it's only a two weeks away...here's my little list.

The things money can buy:

One of these or one of these (if money were really no object), plus a case/cover to protect it. Seriously, I drool over these. But since we don't have an endless supply of it and the little things are way more fun...

I love this calendar and would love to find it in my stocking. And I need to renew my subscription to this magazine, which is easily one of my favorites. I love to read and I love movies, so books and DVDs are always on my list. I've been knitting like crazy lately too and would love some more yarn...you can never have enough can you? And since my whole body got a little rearranged with Cate's birth, I'm always in the market for some new clothes. I've also been in love with this bracelet, from my friend's company Stop Traffick Fashion. I loved the morning version of this photo book (which my hubby thoughtfully gave me last year) and am looking forward to the evening version. And this is just plain fun!

But it's the things money can't buy that I want most:

Cate has been getting 2 year molars and is a total GRUMP. I want her molars to come in and my sweet baby to come back.

And since we're not going to Northeast Ohio for Christmas this year (and they pretty much always have snow), I'd love to have a white Christmas here, in Cincinnati.

I want my dad's company to get back on sure footing so that my parents can sell their home and and finally be together in Atlanta.

I want my coaching to pay off and my Power of the Pen writers to place at their first tournament of the season next month.

And time...I just want time this Christmas...to play, to take pictures, to knit, to sew, to watch movies, to cuddle, to sleep in, to drink coffee, to reconnect, to love, and to reflect on what this season really means. With two weeks off (starting next Friday) I think I'll be getting some of this.

What do you want for Christmas?

~Melody :-)

Ring Around The Rosy

Cate learned a new game while we were in Hudson. She loves to play this game. I love the way she falls down.

~Melody :-)

Under This Peaceful Tree...

...is the perfect place to do puzzles...

...and imagine...

...and think about what Santa will be leaving in less than three weeks!

I'm so excited, I can't stand it!  And I can't believe that Cate continues to follow the "one finger" rule (she can touch any of the ornaments with one finger) with our tree.  She's totally left the few presents we have under there alone as well.

~Melody :-)

Christmas Trains

While downtown today for my friend, Emily's, open house, we made an impromptu stop at the Duke Energy building to see their annual train display.

I didn't know we were going to stop by, so I only had the camera on my phone with which to take pictures.  Cate loved the display!  Especially since Thomas made an appearance.

It's quite an elaborate setup.  I remember going several times when I was a kid.  We're hoping to continue this as a family tradition each year. 

I'll be blogging about a few of our other holiday traditions throughout the month.  What are some of yours?


~Melody :-)

PS...Happy 22 month birthday Miss Cate!  I can't believe you will be 2 in 2 months!

Five Question Friday

I've never done this before, but it looks like fun, so here we go.  Mama M's Five Question Friday!

1. Favorite gift you are GIVING this year?  I'm excited to give Cate her kitchen, play food, and shopping cart.  And I'm excited about something for my hubby, but he reads this and our blog imports to his Facebook too, so I can't say what it is.  :-)  I also think my grandma (dad's mom) will really like what we got her.


2. How many parties are you attending between now and Christmas? Not too many actually.  We have one for our church small group next weekend, Eric has a small one at work, another small group+friends get together on the 22nd, a family party for Eric's family on Christmas Eve, and that's it.  But I have a baby shower/open house right after Christmas and we have plans to party on New Year's. 

3. What is your favorite Christmas song? I love, love, love, "Oh, Holy Night." 

4. Who was your favorite elementary school teacher and why? I liked them all, but looking back on it now, Ms H. in 3rd grade had cool purses, owned a horse, and invited our whole class over to her house that summer for a pool party.  And Miss B. in 4th grade really knew how to recommend some good books.

5. If you had a choice to live in any other period of time (other than now) what era would you choose and why? Hmmm...interesting question.  I like most modern conveniences, so I wouldn't go too far back.  I don't know that I would've been resourceful enough to live during WW2, so maybe the 50s or 60s.  Not so far back that we don't have modern conveniences like cars and television (not that I watch that much), but far enough back to get away from some things that tend to distract me like computers and cell phones. 

That was fun!  Play along if you like. 

~Melody :-)

A Whole Lotta Stitching Going On

There's been a whole lot of stitching going on in my world lately.  Last weekend my mom helped me surge around the edges of this Elmo panel to make a fleece blanket for Cate for Christmas.

My grandmother also helped me sew these 8 stockings for our small group Christmas party (there are 8 cute kids who will be getting these filled with goodies in a couple of weeks).

My grandmother is also known for knitting these wonderful cotton dishcloths.  Eric and I have gotten a few over the years and love them.  We use them until they wear out.  Last weekend, I learned how to make them.

My grandmother took a knitting break to read to Cate.  Here's how my first dishcloth turned out. 

They're so easy to make.  If you're a knitter, I'm more than happy to pass on the pattern to you.  :-)  I'm making them like crazy now to give to some family and friends who have already requested some.

With all of that, I may get around to using these huge needles I borrowed from my grandmother to make the dressy, shiny scarf you see pictured with them (she made it for me a few years ago using those same needles). 

As for the jumper from this post, which I really wanted to make for Cate for Christmas...well, it's going to have to wait a few more weeks.  I won't get it done for Christmas, but hopefully I'll get it done for her birthday. 

Yes indeed, there is a whole lot of stitching going on around here. 

~Melody :-)

Not Me Monday

I'm confessing along with others at MckMama this week.  :-)

Even though I really don't like crowds, I did NOT get up and go somewhere on Black Friday around 7 in the morning to get something for my husband.  My husband, the real hero, did NOT go to Toys R Us at midnight to get Cate's birthday present (her birthday is at the beginning of February and we're done Christmas shopping for her) since it was such a good deal:

If you bought the train table, you got the whole train set (normally $80) for free!  She loves the train tables at the various bookstores we frequent and she'll love having her own come February.  My wonderful hubby said it was crazy at Toys R Us at midnight!

I do NOT think Cate is adorable in her hat and mittens.  Her mittens are NOT way too big because they came as a set with her hat and her head is NOT so big I had to get her a 4T (she's not even two yet), which meant the 4T mittens came with it.

I do NOT think this picture more accurately captures some of the kiddos in our small group better than the ones I posted here.  

Only 3 of the 6 kids are looking at the camera.  There is one kid (behind Cate) falling down, so you only see her legs.  And who knows why Cate has her hands in the air.  The whole scene does NOT make me smile every time I pull up this picture.

I did NOT eat way too much this weekend.  And I am NOT so thankful for being able to eat (my medicine is finally really, really working so my stomach issues have stayed away). I do NOT need to start running again.  Good thing training for the Flying Pig Marathon starts soon (yes, I'm being ambitious and am hoping to do the whole 26.2 this spring...I've always wanted to do our hometown marathon in it's FULL glory--I've done the relay and the half in the past).

What have you NOT been up to lately?

~Melody :-)