Monday, December 8, 2008

Christmas With Your Friends!




Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. (Thanks Aimee!) Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, & try not to be a SCROOGE! Copy this entire post & paste onto your own new post! Change all the answers so they apply to you. Then tag a bunch of people you know....Tis the Season to be NICE!



1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper!! And not just throwing it together! Oh no, it must be good paper so that you can get a perfect crease... and then top it with ribbon tied just right! Aaaah, you guessed it! I am so incredibly OCD when it comes to wrapping gifts. I know you are saying that no one cares and they will only tear it off, but that doesn't stop me! I can't help it! There is nothing like beautifully wrapped gifts.

2. Real tree or Artificial? I am an artificial girl! I would love to do a real tree, actually! I think I am just scared I would kill it 2 weeks before Christmas! (I have never claimed to have a green thumb) We never had real trees growing up and I have no idea how to maintain one of those suckers!! Also, I won't lie that having one pre-lit saves me a lot of grief!!

3. When do you put up the tree? I try to get it done the day after Thanksgiving. When all the other suckers in the world are braving the stampedes at the stores, I am chillin in the comfort of my home, hanging ornaments...

4. When do you take the tree down?
Usually sometime the first week in January. I am not one to leave it up too long. The outdoor lights are a different story... Since I vote myself out of that job, I won't complain when it happens as long as it is before Mother's Day. Lol. Actually, I think this is the 2nd time we have ever done lights outside!! Thanks to Dylan for begging!!

5. Do you like Egg Nog? Gag, gag! NOOOOOO!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My mom made us Pound Puppies one year. We knew we were getting them, because she couldn't hide her craftiness... they took too long. I wish I still had it... Just to prove that my mom has actually sewn in her lifetime.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Parents. I swear. They all have everything, and the stuff that I think would be beneficial for them, they don't share the same opinion... I have given up and just try to give updated pics of my kids every year. I know. I am pathetic.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Dylan. This year, all he wants is a jack-in-the-box and a sling to carry his arrows. He is so funny!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I am still searching for one that is not tacky...

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? this is assuming that I am on top of it enough to send anything in the first place...

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? My Great Grandma used to give us HUGE granny panties every year!!! Oh, how we dreaded getting those... bless her heart... oh, how I miss them now. Funny how the things you despised are the things you miss the most. Funny little Gram.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? #1: Elf. Who doesn't like this movie?? Hilarious. #2: Christmas Story (Aimee, I am dying that you haven't seen this!!)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Oh, you know... maybe next week?? Uh, when I get around to it...
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No, but sometimes I give Dylan presents he got for his birthday that I put away. He gets so many and forgets about some, so they make a new appearance at Christmas or as someone else's birthday gift... I know. That is horrible!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Sausage Rolls and Fin and Hatti... I don't even know if I spelled that right. It is smoked cod. I know you are probably sicked out right now, but it is really good and its one of those OLD family traditions...

16. Lights on the tree? Yep!! Pre-lit, Baby

17. Favorite Christmas song? Bare Naked Ladies and Sarah McLaughlin God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel everywhere possible with in the Salt Lake Valley. I wish we could stay home!! We did last year, cuz everyone left town but us! IT WAS HEAVEN!!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.... And RUDOLPH!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither. I have a bunch of flowers and twigs and crap up there... slightly more nontraditional.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning!! That's the point, isn't it??
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People who are stingy. I used to work at ZCMI. They used to do the Angel Tree there. (I don't know if they still do now that it has been so many other stores) At any rate, I used to try to help them generate a little business for the tree when I was slow at my counter. You would not believe most of the people!! They would be walking around with over a thousand dollars of merchandise just purchased and they would tell me they didn't have the money to do it!! What the EFF?? Most of those people only needed like $15-$20. BAH!!! SCROOGES!! #2 most annoying thing is people who go way overboard with tacky lights and decor outside. Come on, people!!! There is a tasteful way to go about this and make your home look beautiful!!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? What I have right now is not my favorite (red and gold), but since I spent so freaking much on my tree when this was my favorite, it is going to stay for a couple more years!! I really want to do a turquoise tree.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? We don't really have a huge tradition for Christmas dinner. Breakfast is more our thing... We do like to have clam chowder on Christmas Eve.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I would like a live in "do all the shiz that I hate" person. Is there such a thing?? Some one who will do laundry, clean toilets, do dishes, and homework with the kids with out expecting a massive paycheck?? I don't want the basic, I want the super deluxe Model (you know, the one that does baseboards, dusting and windows as well!)!!
...been an awful good girl, Santa Baby! So, hurry down the chimney tonight!!!! (this is what I posted on Tiff's blog. I went back and did a little copy/paste action...)

TAG: Jessie, Michelle, Erin, Kallie, and Ashlii (and anyone else who feels so inclined...)



9 comments:

Erin said...

I would love to do this, but copy/paste just isn't workin out and there is no way I am going to type that all in!

¨*:·.TIFF.·:*¨ said...

you are too cute. i can't believe you don't like egg nog! i love it w/sprite. yum. aaron calls it snot, but we can't please everyone huh?

tamie said...

I don't ever do these but I thought this looked really fun, and I had a lot of fun reading yours, so I think I will do it too. You are so fun!

Stacey said...

Hi Shany! I love your blog! I'm glad I found it now can I read what you're doin'!! Your Christmas traditions sound fun I'll have to copy and paste and do it on my page. Love ya!
p.s. what the ****?! Amazing muscles on Livi! And I thought my kid was strong, we should get them together and wrestle!

4 Week Slimdown said...

I love your cute kids with santa! Way cute!

chipsgirls said...

Hey, I'm glad you found my blog. I actually just tried to track everyone down to do a pledge class get together. We went to dinner last week, but are going to get together again sometime after the new year--maybe February. Send me your email address so I can send you the info next time.
jonichipping@yahoo.com

Lauren -HCP said...

Ditto on the Egg nog- gr-Os.

Katie said...

Hey Shantelle.. I just found your blog through Kellie Kehls. She is one of my good friends. Your kids are beautiful. I hope you are doing good!

alisa and sometimes brandon said...

Let me know if you got that "does all the shiz i don't want to do" super deluxe model for christmas...and if they are willing to travel.

SO great to catch up via blog! it's been...how long? your kids are adorable and i'm glad life is treating you fabulously. :)

Beautiful Children!

Beautiful Children!

singing with the Goadies!!

singing with the Goadies!!

Dylan singing

So, at a church service on Oct. 12, our amazing friend Tim pulled Dylan up on stage with him and his family to sing. He was in front of about 3,000 people. I guess you would have to understand this family to appreciate the magnitude of this. Dylan loves these guys, and looks up to them so very much!! They are like family to us. He has been levitating ever since!! It was a dream come true for him. He has asked me nearly everyday for almost 2 years if he could sing with them. (Goadies, we love you!!) Please check out their website if you get a chance!! http://www.thegoads.com/
They are some of the most amazing people you could ever ask to associate with!!

The kids and I with Carolyn

The kids and I with Carolyn

Free Enterprise Day 2008!!

Travis and I feel very fortunate to be able to celebrate America and our Free Enterprise system for an entire weekend once a year with our friends!! This year, we had a few of the most amazing WW2 veterans there to tell their stories. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. I am amazed that men can carry such blind courage and do the things they did in such circumstances. I pray that we all realize that freedom isn't free and that many people paid, and many currently pay a huge price for us to enjoy what we have. I hope we may never forget that it is us as citizens that makes America great. We must learn not to rely on those we elect into office to take care of this country, but on ourselves. When we took our first steps to becoming independent, it was a group of 2% that signed our Declaration of Independence. We must never forget that an individual can make a difference. Let's not forget where we came from...

Freedom!!

Freedom!!
This is Trav and I with friends celebrating America and our free enterprise system!!

Crazy sisters

Crazy sisters
Hailey, I love you tons!! I am so dang proud of you!!


Crazy Crazy...

Ok, so these pictures are the culmination of about 2 hours that started out of boredom... but nothing can be boring for too long at our house. There are too many crazies around for quiet and stillness to reign for long. This moment is exactly what sisters are for.

To Hailey, I love you so very much. You are such an amazing girl... and I love that we share the same wacky and strange spirit. I really am so proud of you and I hope you always know that.



About Me

My photo
My life truly began on September 11, 1999. That is the day I married my amazing, champion husband, Travis. He is so perfect for me and I thank God for him everyday. We have been blessed with 2 beautiful children, Dylan, 5, and Alivia 1. They are the absolute joy in my life (next to Travis). I hope that everyday of my life each of them has no question that I love them. Words can never explain.