presents

I love giving and getting presents at Christmas time. With Christmas just behind us, here are a few of my favorite gifts received:

1. the afghan my mother in law crocheted

2. the pot holders she also crocheted

3. the pot scrubber that her friend made

4. my digital photo frame

5. Nike mock neck running shirt

6. Reebok running shirt w/ zipper pocket

7. Ove Gloves

8. banana hanger

9. gift cards

10. cash

(almost) Christmas Birthday

Tomorrow is my birthday. When I was younger I always felt like I kind of got gypped on my birthday. But the last several years, it has not been so bad. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. everything is always decorated so nicely

2. we can almost always find something fun to do

3. everyone is off work/school

4. my family makes the time and effort to keep my day special for me

5. usually a great time to go out to eat

6. everyone is usually in a good mood

7. lights and music everywhere we go

8. lots of free events going on

9. nice time of year

10. after all, it is my special day!

my gift list

I love trying to pick out the perfect gift for people at Christmas. I find it to be part of the fun! Here are a few of my favorite gifts I will be giving this year:

1. season tickets to the theater

2. computer games

3. ed hardy shirt

4. air jordan back pack

5. reusable shopping bags

6. over the ear book lights

7. china tee shirt

8. ice cream dipper and serving bowl

9. necklace

10. volleyball shirt

Christmas activites

We all have our own holiday traditions. Sometimes I think I want to do something different, but often I stick to the same ones each year. Here are a few of my favorite Christmas activities:

1. Christmas music

2. lights on the house

3. decorate the tree

4. buy the kids an ornament

5. bake cookies

6. get out all the pictures of kids over the years

7. buy presents

8. wrap presents

9. give presents

10. get presents

when the internet is out

Since our internet has been out so much lately, I have been doing other things to keep occupied. (It is amazing how much stuff I do online every day!) Here are a few of my favorites:

1. chores (not a favorite, but this way they're done when the internet comes back on!)

2. cook

3. sudoku

4. free cell

5. spider solitaire

6. read

7. watch TV

8. shop

9. nothing

10. take a nap

soups

I love soup any time of the year, but as the weather gets cooler, I love to make different soups each week. When my MIL asked for ideas for an alternative Christmas meal, I said "Let's all bring soups!" Here are a few of my favorites:

1. black bean

2. taco

3. potato

4. tomato

5. corn chowder

6. vegetable beef

7. chili

8. chick pea

9. pasta fagioli

10. shrimp gumbo