Inspired by Heidi

So my friend Heidi says I need my own blog so I can post things such as what is to follow. It was a comment I made on her blog. Apparently she did not know that I already have a blog - I just don't use it for much, other than entereing giveaways and some random thoughts.
here is a c&p from the comment I made on her blog about book boxes -

ok, so apparently you cannot c&p from a blog comment. hmm, unless I am doing somethign wrong. So here it is re-typed -

Now I feel bad, as I'm not sure if we are having a book box this year - I am so behind on my shopping. I have not done as much shopping for the last year, so I have not found the deals that I usually do. Plus the kids have so many books and I am unsure of which ones to buy. But, alas, I am sure I can get them to make me a list and I will be at B & N and Family Christian bookstore buying the week before CVhristmas so I can keep this fun family activity going.
Oh, for those who like this idea, I also do something similar with clothing and movies.

It all came from a shortage of tiem one Christmas eve- wrap 7x3=21 more gifts, or put them in one box, wrap it and let them 'guess' whose 'clothes, books, movies' is whose.

We spread out the opening of gifts like this-
-when the kids wake up they can open their stockings (but the yusually wait for all to be up)
-then we eat breakfast (usually a fun cereal that Santa left) and cin rolls/fruit
-then we open Santa gifts
-get ready and go to Church
-when we get home, we either have brunch or open gifts to each other
-in the afternoon we do the book or movie box and in the evening we do the other, or sometimes save it for another day
-the clothes box gets opened the night before (if it contains pjs); before church (if it has church clothes) or sometimes later

I have found that spreading the gift opening out really makes the kids appreciate the gifs more, makes them realize who they are from (Santa vs mom/dad, sibling, g-ma) and also makes all that hard work done in the months, (this year I mean days) before take a little longer to be done.

ok, heidi, there I made a post just for you!

Christmas card 2010

Cranberry Snowflakes Christmas 5x7 folded card

Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Trains Trains Trains

I have had lots of thoughts of trains lately - My husband and I enjoyed a train trip recently to celebrate 25 years of marriage. We had a great trip to the Windy city.

My 4yo son loves trains, knows all the Thomas trains, and wants to drive by or over every track we see (and he spots them all!).

Raising Olives is a blog I enjoy reading - lots of fun ideas and just fun life too. She is giving away a train table from Constructive Playthings. If you would like to win this table check out this link -

A Chocolate Olive Give-a-way

Here's another give-away on Raising Olives blog - this one is for yummy Pillsbury brownies from Samsclub.
Plus, there is a beautiful new baby girl to see - something sweet to eat and to look at - what more can you ask for?

Wild Olive Give-away

Check out the Wild Olive blog - they are giving away free tees - I can't wait to win mine!

It's been a while since I even visited my blog - I forgot that I had changed it, and when I opened it, I wondered whose blog I was at! lol

Bag give-away

check out MckMama's giveaway blog for a great camera (diaper, book, stuff) bag give away

here is a link to make it easier for you to find it http://mckgiveaways.blogspot.com/2010/02/kelly-moore-camera-bag-giveaway.html

HP Touch-Smart Give away

Click here to enter to win this super looking computer. MckMama is always giving things away, so you might want to go there often.

Wood toy give away

here is another blog give away you can enter - here

I have won 1 thing from Kim's blog and love her info she shares - like the homemade burger buns recipe -yummy! oh, and I tried this Cranberry pretzel dip over thanksgiving and it was a hit. Why not take a look at the site and try a few new things for yourself.

Wild Olive is at it again

Here is another give away from Wild Olive Tee shirt

go check it out and maybe do some Christmas shopping -which reminds me, I really should get started doing that too!

Give Aways

I know I don't post often - but I have been thinking of doing more - does that count?
I have recently been entering many blog 'give aways' and have actually won 2. What fun! So, I will post give aways here that I find so that others can have the fun of winning too (hopefully!).
On my side bar, there is a link to Wildolivetees.com, and they are doing a give away right now, check it out if you would like to.

Ugg boots

6 month update

I started this blog a year ago, then made one post 6 months later. So in keeping with that schedule, here is the next post (why is post spelled p o s t and toast spelled t o a s t?)
Life is still great at our house, with a busy schedule most evenings, but thankfully the days are pretty layed back and unstructured. I am looking forward to spring, I really need to start walking again, and right now it is too cold, muddy, cold, rainy, and cold. I am going to set a goal of loosing 20 lbs during spring/summer (with the hopes that I meet that goal early enough to set another during the summer to loose more).
hope all is great in your world and may you be truely blessed. See you in 6 months

I don't really do this blog stuff, but thought if anyone checked on this, i should have some entries. so, sorry if it is not more. Email me if you need anything else.

Test

this is a test, this is only a test
how does this look?
is anybody there?