Tag Archives: Family

FQTuesday: Christmas Edition

Posted on by
5

I had this planned for Friday, but didn’t have time to complete it.

1.  What is your favorite Christmas movie?

I guess I’d have to say the live-action Grinch.  I haven’t watched it in a while, though.

2.  What is your favorite Christmas memory?

I’ve had lots of good ones, so why is this coming up blank?  I remember all the Christmases, laughing and warm around the fireside at my parents’ old house.  But no one memory stands out.

3.  What is one of your Christmas traditions?

My family always has cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning, usually before we go downstairs for the presents.  The traditional Christmas meal is meatballs and mashed potatoes, but that’s not always on Christmas day since we’re juggling schedules and want to be good and hungry for it.

4.  What is your favorite Christmas song?

I love “O Holy Night” which reminds me what this holiday is all about.

5.  What is your favorite Christmas food?

My mom always makes peanut clusters (chocolate and peanuts) which I love.  I also really like summer sausage, cucumber, and crackers.  I think I like these especially since I only eat them at this time of year.

‘Twas a Perfect Birthday

Posted on by
10

My birthday yesterday was just perfect.

There wasn’t anything flashy or over the top, but that’s why it was so great.

Tuesday (birthday eve), I worked from home as I had a package coming that required a signature.

What was in the package?

A Nook (thanks, Mom and Dad!).

That’s right, I’m now one of the growing population of readers who is reading electronically.  I haven’t given up paper books, but when I can, I’ll be reading electronically.  I’m a lazy reader, and prefer not to actually have to hold a book open.  I also like that it automatically remember where you were…once again, I’m lazy.

Then Wednesday, my birthday, was just right.  Lots of birthday wishes from friends and a generally pleasant day.  In the evening, a few friends came by and we had some appetizers, played some games, and of course, followed it up with some cake.  Looking back, it’s hard to describe why I enjoyed it so much, but trust me, I did.

27 Things at 27

Posted on by
8

Continuing the birthday-eve tradition of 26 things and 25 things, here are 27 things that I’ve done at the age of 27:

1.  Saw Phantom of the Opera.

2.  Saw my baby brother marry the best woman for him.

3.  Was a bridesmaid (and a maid of honor) for the first time(s).

4.  Got buried in snow in North Carolina for the first time.

5.  Watched Gone with the Wind.

6.  Added a second tax site at work.

7.  Met a US congressman…who got voted out in the most recent election.

8.  Read several books that really influenced me.

9.  Started making serious progress on making my life better for creation.

10.  Saved a (very small) emergency savings, and kept it.

11.  Left apartment life behind (though I was sad to part ways with my roommate of 3 years).

12.  Grew my first vegetable garden with moderate success.

13.  Went on my first overnight work trip.

14.  Got my car wrecked by an anonymous drunk, angry driver.

15.  Went to kids’ camp for the first time as an adult and loved it.

16.  Have finished my 5th year at my job…by far the longest I’ve worked anywhere.

17.  Helped my roommate through the first homeowner’s crisis I’ve ever dealt with: the death of a water heater.

18.  Vlogged for the first time.

19.  Got my game on, competing with friends in a diet and exercise competition.  The first time was helpful, the second time, not so much.

20.  Switched from teaching Sunday school to kindergarteners to helping with the 5th and 6th grade class.

21.  Had my first solo vacation and loved it.

22.  Voted for my first Democrats.

23.  Helped with the first ever Readathon for Hunger.

24.  Wrote a novel.

25.  Decorated my first full-sized Christmas tree not in my parents’ home.

26.  Read 164 books.

27.  Traveled to Atlanta, Wichita, Myrtle Beach, Norman, Charlotte, Roanoke, Denison (Texas, 2x), Kansas City, small town Kansas, and the middle of nowhere.

FQF: The Gift Giving Edition

Posted on by
3

1.  What do you want for your birthday? (December 15, hint, hint)

On the top of my wish list is a Barnes & Noble Nook (not the new color screen one, but the traditional kind).  Which should come as no surprise if you’ve read about my book-packing woes on Twitter.  When I wrote out my birthday/Christmas list this year, I realized that I really am grown up, as I was asking for things like cloth napkins.

2.  What was your favorite gift that you’ve received?

Though it wasn’t for my birthday or Christmas, I’d have to say my car.  When I graduated from college, my parents did what they always said they wouldn’t: they bought me a car.  A great gift and I chose well, as my Camry has had no more than cosmetic issues caused by the rough streets (a rock to the windshield, a drunk driver to the side, and a nail to the tire).

3.  What was the strangest gift you’ve ever received?

A pack of plain white copy paper.  I received this as a gift from my (younger) brother when I was in elementary school.  I had wanted paper, but I wanted colored printing paper.  Still makes me laugh.

4.  What was your favorite gift to give?

I think it’d probably be the scrapbooks I made for some friends from college the Christmas after I left OU.  I love to give gifts more than receive them, so I can’t say that there were any gifts that I didn’t like giving, but some are more meaningful than others.

5.  Are you done shopping for Christmas?

Yes.  Though I still need to mail presents to a friend and her girl.  Other than that, I’m done.  I will wrap my family’s gifts once I get to Kansas (I had them shipped direct from Amazon).

Not Back Yet

Posted on by
6

I’m still in Kansas, but I thought that since it’s Monday, I’d still do my traditional “I’m back” post.  Except, you know, I’m not back.

This trip has been great.  I’ve gotten a good bit read, but also have spent a lot of time playing games and hanging out with the family.  All of my dad’s family was in town, so we got to have some good times with the cousins.

Some highlights:

  • Being taught, alongside a couple of other older cousins, how to play dominoes by my 9yo cousin.  Actually, it’s a lot of fun…who knew?
  • OU beating OSU (and what a wild game!), sending us to the Big 12 Championship.  Actually, I’m probably more excited to have one last opportunity to  beat Nebraska before the hightail it out of the Big 12.
  • Spending most of the trip in my pajamas much to my mother’s chagrin (Hi, Mom!).
  • Being introduced to this site by my sister-in-law.  I’ve adopted the word “historiaster,” which means a contemptible or inferior historian.  I do believe it’d make a great intellectual insult.
  • Essentially having a sleepover with my cousins.  Five of us had a lot of fun playing different games including Mario Kart.  I still suck.

I’m not flying out until tomorrow morning (early! way early!), so I’ll be going to lunch with my grandma (Hi, G. Zoe!) and visiting the school where my mom principals (that’s a verb, right?).  It’s been a great trip, primarily because it’s been so low-key.  I think I’ve figured out that I most appreciate the trips where I never leave the destination after I’ve gotten there.