The 4th Photo

Stephanie @ Olive Tree tagged me for this. Here are the rules:

1.) Go to your 4th folder where you store your photos.

2.) Select your 4th picture (no exceptions)! Seriously.. no exceptions.

3.) Post the picture with an explanation and link it back to your tagger.

4.) Tag 4 people to do the same!!

This picture is from the Chrismas program at church in 2007. That is Jordan in the black with her candle. She had just turned 10 years old...double digits...a hard birthday for old mom. :) They sang Light Of The Stable and did a really great job. :) I actually had to go to the sixth folder because 2 of the folders had videos in it and not pictures...why they weren't in the video section and not the picture section...I don't know. Obviously, I need to do some re-arranging.

Here is a video of the performance...you can fast forward through Myles' part if you want...but it's funny. :)

Getting in the Spirit...

Stolen from Steph


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? For the family - paper; for folks at the office - bags

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial - just the thought of all those needles all over the floor grosses me out.

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the day after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually just a couple days after Christmas.


5. Do you like eggnog? Oh.my.gosh - Yes!! Or "Christmas Milk" as we call it at our house.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I got an easy bake oven one year - that little light bulb made the best cakes. :)


7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad - whatever he wants he just gets for himself - ditto for Terrance's brother.

8. Easiest person to buy for? My sister - she always makes great lists.


9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes - one from Israel that my parents brought back made out of olive wood.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.


11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of one that was too bad.


12. Favorite Christmas Movie? For the whole family - the Charlie Brown Christmas movie - for the adults - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Just thinking about cousin Eddie with his black dickie under his white sweater makes me laugh. LOL

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually about a month or so ahead - I have been really bad this year.


14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes - I received a beautiful cup and saucer last year (I think) and gave it to the kids' babysitter. I told her it was a re-gift - so I didn't take credit for it...and I only did it because I don't drink coffee - or tea - and would have never used it and it was too cute for it to never be used.


15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom’s taco dip - I have to theif Steph's answer on this one...it rocks!!


16. Lights on the tree? Yes.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Clay Aiken's "Mary Did You Know" - he has an amazing voice. As far as a tradional song...I like "The First Noel".


18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We stay in town - but we do Christmas at our house - then over to Terrance's folks - then on to my parents. It's a busy day - but we have a lot of fun.


19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, & Rudolph (of course).

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We have a fiber optic angel that Jordan just HAD buy last year.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We do stockings on Christmas Eve but leave the rest for Christmas morning - it's a new tradition that I am still getting used to.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People that make the season "just" about the gifts...it is about our Savior's birth...and the extra bonus of spending time with our families.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? We have several Santa statues that Jordan bought from the dollar store that are on the mantle...that's about our only theme.

24. Favorite thing for Christmas dinner? I love that we do a non-traditional Christmas lunch - chicken enchiladas & more of mom's taco dip. Yum!


25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I already got what I wanted - a new dryer!! It is soooooo fabulous! And it's HUGE!

Have You Ever...?

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (from the beach)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Thanks Steph

2006 Wrap-up

What did you do in 2006 that you've never done before? I pretty much swore off Coke (one of my favorite drinks) and switched to water - not exciting but I needed to do it.

Did you keep your New Years' resolutions and will you make more for next year? I don't think I made a resolution last year - but my one for this year is to read through the Bible.

Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes - My sister had Natalie - the hugest baby ever!!

Did anyone close to you die? No

What countries did you visit? None

What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? More time with my DH - we both seemed kindof distracted this year

What date from 2006 will remain etched in your memory and why? Probably February 17 because that is the day we closed on our house.

What was your biggest achievement of the year? I finally started my diet that I needed to start for a long time. I'm not done but at least I've started.

What was your biggest failure? I don't know that I "completed" anything.

Did you suffer illness or injury? No - just the usual aches and pains

What was the best thing you bought? Our house

Where did most of your money go? Our house

What did you get really, really, really excited about? Our house (I see a trend here)

Compared to this time last year are you:

a. Happier or sadder? not really either - but since the house was taking longer than expected, I guess happier

b. thinner or fatter? thinner, I am glad to say

c. richer or poorer? about the same

What do you wish you'd done more of? I wish I had made more of an effort to work on my patience (something that I seem to be lacking often)

What do you wish you'd done less of? Watch TV

How will you spend Christmas? It already happened, but we spent it here in Tennessee with my family and with DH's family

Did you fall in love in 2006? Didn't "fall" in love - but am still in love.

What was your favorite TV show? American Idol, CSI, Survivor, Heroes, Lost - there are soooo many

What was the best book you read? I can never remember authors names but I know it was a book my sister loaned me.

What was your greatest musical discovery of 2006? The i-pod - the coolest thing ever!!!

What did you want and get? Our house

What did you want and not get? Still haven't found my red shoes....

What was your favorite film this year? Did I even go to the theater any??? I don't remember...we are all about net-flix around our house but I did rent "End Game" and thought it was really good. We hadn't heard of it (it stars Cuba Gooding Jr.) but really liked it.

What did you do on your birthday? I don't remember - isn't that sad. DH probably took me to dinner

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? To have a little more money between paychecks would have been nice

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? I am trying lose weight so I haven't bought too much, so basically, I wear anything in my closet that still fits and isn't falling off of me.

What kept you sane? My family

Which celebrity/public figure did you admire the most? I really like President Bush - he seems like a "real" person that makes mistakes but really sticks by what he believes in and I admire that.

What political issue stirred you the most? The attempt to legalize gay marriage - I hope it never happens - it's just not right

Who did you miss? I miss my grandad and grandma - they both died in 2005
Who was the best new person you met? I don't think I met anyone new last year that I just flipped over, although I met some nice people - including all of my W@H buddies

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006. Worrying doesn't solve any problems - it just gives you a big fat headache

Just For Fun

1. All I want for Christmas is: to be with my family - or a pair of fabulous red shoes!!

2. If I could go anywhere in the world I would go to: Africa on a safari

3. People often underestimate the power of: the love a mother has for her children - even before they are born

4. Christmas makes me feel: happy

5. In a perfect world there would be: no bills

6. If I could meet one blogger it would be: I have no idea on this one - I don't read that many

7. The stupidest yet funniest movie ever made was: Tommy Boy

8. My first New Years Resolution will be: to keep on my diet and lose more weight - doing good so far

9. _______ really skeeves me out: congestion - just nasty gross

10. I did this Meme because: It looked like fun.

Five's

Stolen from Steph's

If I had five minutes to myself, I'd

#1 Read one of my books in peace (I have several started)

#2 Finish just one project without having to get a cookie or fill up a sippie-cup or stop in any way

#3 Take a nap (I know, I know - I only have 5 minutes - but maybe they'd forget for a few more minutes. :)

#4 Shave my legs

#5 Sit on my porch and relax without someone knocking on the door asking me what I am doing

If I had $5 to spend, I'd

#1 Go to the dollar store so I could get 5 goodies with my $5

#2 Go to Coffee Beanery and get a cafe caramel (my one coffee drink I like)

#3 Go to the half price book store and get a new book

#4 Buy some dum-dum suckers for the kids

#5 Probably none of the above - I'd probably just put it in my wallet and wait for someone (DH or J) to ask me if I have any money and then hand it over.....sigh....

Five Items I'd love to get rid of:

#1 The stack of boxes in our garage that I never seem to go through and clean out

#2 All the "fat" clothes in my closet

#3 All the bills that just keep coming and coming and coming - month after month after month....

#4 The constant back pain

#5 My glasses

Five Items I wouldn't part with:

#1 My family and how I love that they are all so close by

#2 My cell phone

#3 My soft green blanket that I watch TV under

#4 My kids baby-sitter - she is a life-saver and such a blessing!! A wonderful woman.

#5 My quirks - they make me - ME!!

Five Words or Phrases I'd love to hear:

#1 "We have lots of money - go shopping and buy whatever you want!!" (Course, I wouldn't because I would feel too guilty)

#2 "Let's get a baby-sitter for the evening and go out - just the two of us. And I don't want to go to anywhere that is showing a game on TV - I just want to sit and talk and enjoy ourselves.".....ha ha ha - that one made me laugh just writing it.

#3 "I feel like you should have this HUGE raise. You've earned it."

#4 "You can diet if you want to, but you really don't need to lose weight."

#5 "Mommy, I can pee in the potty!!"

List 10 of life's simple pleasures:

~ An amazing Lord that forgives and forgives and forgives...and is helping me to be the woman I want to be.
~ A wonderful husband that understands me and my quirks.
~ A daughter that is excited about going to school each day.
~ A baby boy that is excited to see me every time I leave and come back.
~ Pants that are too loose! (Go Victory Chicks!!!)
~ Finally getting my wedding ring fixed.
~ A clean house (for the moment anyway)
~ Painted toenails
~ Unsweet iced tea
~ A good book to read

Courtesy of Women at Home

5 Things

Found at Steph's

5 Things in my Refrigerator:
1. Grapes - lots of grapes
2. Baby carrots
3. Coke (actually Sam's Choice brand)
4. Bread
5. Leftover lasagne from Wednesday night - yum!!

5 Things in My Closet:
1. All of my wonderful SHOES!!!
2. Clothes
3. Foam bath toy letters that Myles threw in there
4. DH's clothes
5. Leftover wrapping paper

5 Things in My Purse:
1. Wallet
2. Address book/planner
3. Tampons - don't leave home without them
4. Lipstick case
5. Keys

5 Things in My Car:
1. Baby gift for shower this afternoon
2. Assorted Jordan junk
3. Cell phone ear piece (for hand-free talking ~ safety first!!)
4. 1 car seat
5. Keys to my sister's house

I've Been Tagged

Thanks, Steph!!


Accent: Mostly Southern - I love my "y'all" and I constantly get teased about the way I say "oil"


Bible Book that I like: I really like the gospels - all 4


Chore that I don’t care for: Cleaning the toilet - I won't get graphic - but it's nasty


Dog or Cat: Dog - an adorable cocker/terrier mix named Abby.


Essential Electronics: DVD player - how else would Myles get to watch his "Nemo"


Favorite Cologne: If I am feeling springy, I like "Happy" by Clinique, if I am feeling more romantic, I like "Safari" by Ralph Lauren


Gold or Silver: My wedding rings are gold but my watch is silver - so both I guess


Handbag I Carry most often: A $13 purse I got at Wal-mart - I kindof like it.


Insomnia: Yes, though not as much since Myles was born. I used to be up until at least midnight every night. Cannot stand just lying in bed - so, I don't go to bed until I have nodded off at least once on the couch.


Job Title: Wife, mother and Accounts Payable Coordinator for a restaurant franchise


Kids: 3, Dasya (who would have been 11 this August- she died at birth), Jordan (8 1/2) and Myles (19 months)
Living Arrangements: Just bought our first house!!! It is a three bedroom, two bathroom house with a bonus room above the garage. I love it.


Most Admirable Trait: This is a tough one - I guess my friendlyness. My friend at work asks me if I take my "happy pill" in the morning because I am so friendly with the vendors and managers that call.


Naughtiest childhood behavior: I climbed the fence behind our house when we lived in Dallas, TX - there was a daycare behind our house and my friends from school would be there. I was told not to by my dad. I fell off and cut my upper arm pretty bad and my dad (after he bandaged me up) asked me how I cut it. I lied and said I must have cut it on something in the alley - I got in double trouble - for lying and climbing the fence.


Overnight hospital stay: 3 c-sections


Phobias: Snakes - I HATE snakes.


Quote: I read this quote from Oprah once and thought it was great: "Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down."


I also liked this quote I read somewhere: "Marriage resembles a pair of shears, so joined that they cannot be separated, often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing anyone who comes between them." by Sydney Smith


Religion: Born again Christian!


Siblings: One older sister


Time I wake up: Usually around 5:30 or 6:00


Unusual Talent or skill: I don't think I have any


Vegetable I refuse to eat: Most of them - I don't like veggies


Worst habit: I drive too fast!! I have been trying to slow down.


X-rays: Dental, ankle (from rolling it off my mother-in-law's sidewalk), back (bicycle accident), wrist (hurdles at track practice in junior high)


Yummy stuff I cook: I make a yummy cobbler - my food usually looks better than it tastes - not that it tasts bad, I just arrange it nicely.


Zoo animal I like most: Monkeys and tigers.

Miscellaneous

Found at Heather’s…




current book: Rereading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - read if fast the first time just to get through it - now I need to go back through it slower


current playlist: Downloaded some of my favorite "Hair Metal" songs like Slaughter's "Fly to the Angels" and GnR's "Paradise City" - also have been listening to my fav AI song's that I down loaded from another site


current shame-inducing guilty pleasure: Love American Idol - GO TAYLOR!!! Also, am still a Survivor fan


current color: I am really into that mint green lately - and pink. I am trying to colorize my wardrobe, tired of only having black shirts


current fetish: Aldi's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies - they are soft and yummy


current drink: Unsweet Iced Tea - no lemon, or regular coke


current food: We are really into long grain and wild rice, J has decided that she likes it so we have it with about every meal.


current favorite favorite: Days where I don't have to do a thing - haven't had one of those in a long time.


current wish-list: A fence for our back yard so I can quit walking the dog. :) Some shelves for my living room and pantry.


current needs: To finally lose this post-baby weight


current triumph: Awana is almost over for the year!! I have my Wednesday's back.


current bane(s) of my existence: Sick little one, no fence (again)


current celebrity crush: TV - Bradley Cooper from Alias, Movies - Brad Pitt (even though he left his wife - he is sooo pretty) :)


current indulgence: Don't really have one that I can think of.


current #1 blessings: Husband, children, our new house


current slang or saying: I don't really have one, but J always says "Snap!"


current outfit: Olive green cargo/type pants and a black shirt


current excitement: Hubby and I have been doing search-a-words like crazy - are we that nerdy!?!?


current mood: Busy - why am I doing this instead of working??


current link: W@H


current pictures: Bubby at the park (my sis took this pic for me)