You guys, when Helene announced that she was hooking up with Taylor to do a kid on Christmas post, I felt just like…a kid on Christmas. (I am here all day folks!) But seriously though. Christmas is my jam. I love Christmas. I love everything about Christmas! I am pretty sure I have expressed that enough around these parts lately! But seriously, who doesn’t get all nostalgic around Christmas time and remember how excited you used to get when you were younger…seeing all the presents under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning as you come walking down the stairs gracefully running at full speed?!

My parents always made Christmas very special for my sister and I growing up. We had traditions every year and they were wonderful! We always put up the Christmas tree Thanksgiving night while watching Eddie and the Cruisers. We always went to church Christmas Eve and then promptly acted like we were going to bed as soon as we got home so that Santa would come. But not before opening one present on Christmas Eve. My sister and I always exchanged gifts Christmas Eve. It was always so fun just getting to open one present! We would also put out two cookies for Santa and some carrots for the reindeer. Duh. (My dad always made a mess of crumbs on the plate so we knew Santa enjoyed the cookies.) Tracy and I would wake up at like 4:30 am ecstatic to go downstairs and see what Santa left for us under the tree. One of us would always wake up first and then we would wake the other and wait together until an appropriate time that wouldn’t make our parents mad to wake them up. It was usually somewhere between 7:00 am and 7:30am.  It would be the longest 4 hours of our lives!!!! We would be like ok lets just do it!!! Then I would get rational and be like mom and dad don’t want us waking them up at 5:00 am let’s wait a little longer. We would play games or one of us would get in the others bed and tell stories until it was time.

When we would finally wake up our parents, my dad would always go downstairs first while my mom would hold us hostage in our room because my dad would have to get the camera ready to take our first look expressions. Dad, why did you NEVER have it ready the night before?! I think you liked holding our suspense a little longer. One year I remember the batteries in the camera were dead and he had to find more and my sister and I were upstairs pacing and yelling about how he should have thought about that the night before. Patient, much?

Finally he would yell “Ready!” Tracy and I would go flying down the stairs and straight to the presents after hamming it up for the camera. Dramatic we were. My parents always went above and beyond every year to give us the best Christmas ever. We might not have gotten a ton of stuff throughout the year, but gosh darn did they spoil us on Christmas. I think every year they got both of us EVERY thing on our lists. Which were long and bratty looking back. I know now how much my parents must have had to save in order to give us so much. I do know that my sister and I always appreciated everything and made sure they knew it too though. We were ungrateful like I see some kids acting today.

When we got older my dad would take our most expensive or anticipated present and make it difficult to open. He would wrap a box in a box in a box in a box in a box. Or he would build a large box out of wood and nails and screws and he would wrap a screw driver separate and make up open the screwdriver then use that to open the box he built. Just ridiculous! Tracy and I used to get frustrated or mad but you know what….it sure did teach me how to use a hammer and a screw driver so thanks dad! Plus it makes for good stories that we bring up every year. I remember one year Tracy went through all that work of using the screw driver because she had asked for a cell phone. When she finally got to the present, it was a toy cell phone! It was hilarious the expression on her face!!!! My mom had the real present hidden away. They were so creative!

After we opened presents, my mom would make us breakfast and we would play with our new stuff for awhile, and then head to my Grandma Jerry’s. Grandma Jerry always spoiled us rotten at Christmas too. She bought me my Super Nintendo system one year, a Game Boy another year, she had given me a pair of real gold cross earrings one year. She just really knew what we wanted. She also made the best food! Her sugar cookies were to die for. They had orange rinds in them and the best icing you have ever tasted. I cant even explain it. Gosh I miss that woman! Just hearing her laughing and having a good time with us, telling us stories about when my dad was younger or talking about the last book she read. Playing cards and cooking dinner. We always had the best time over there. When we got older and moved out of state, we always came back and stayed at her house for Christmas and then when we came home, my parents had the presents set out under the tree like Santa had come when we were gone.

I had so much fun when I was younger at Christmas time,  I guess that is why I love it so much as an adult! I love decorating for Christmas and watching the movies that we used to watch when we were younger. One year my parents took us to see Home Alone 2 in theaters, so I always think about that when I watch that movie now. My dad used to read us How the Grinch Stole Christmas and we watched that movie every  year. My dad made a Grinch scene for our yard with Whoville houses, some of the Who’s, the Grinch and even Max the dog. It was so cool!

I love giving presents. I get so much joy watching everyone open presents that I took the time to pick out while thinking about them and what they like. I love getting things for the nieces and nephews and watching them open their presents and get excited and tear through them just like Tracy and I used to when we were little. They are always so sweet and thoughtful, last year they made me a Christmas platter and got presents for my dogs.

My husband probably thinks I am a little crazy for liking Christmas so much, but I cant help it! I love it every year! I get so excited and so happy around this time of year. I want to do all the lame things like watch movies, listen to Christmas music, decorate, make Christmas crafts, bake Christmas goodies, go sledding, see Christmas lights. Can you believe I have never built a ginger bread house? I would love to do something like that too! I may just have to borrow a few of my sisters kids and have a Christmas filled day while they are still young and fun! Now excuse me, I have some stuff to go throw glitter on!

Here is a photo dump of Christmas past. You have to excuse the pictures, they are all in scrapbooks so they are photos of photos.

Christmas in PA was always fun because more often than not there was tons of snow! Look how pretty my mom is 🙂

1990 AKA the year Tracy cracked her head open and was rushed to the ER for stitches, Dramatic that one! I will tell the story another day, it involves her blaming ME for those stitches. PSHHHHH Whatever!

Our classic faces!

Dancing to the nutcracker song, dont mind me!

The year I got my first Nintendo!

Freshman year of high school. I was a Michigan fan because the boy I was crushing on was. Typical Nadine. Remember the Starter brand that you can now find at Walmart?! Haha. You were the poo if you wore that stuff back in the day.

Never too old to sit on Santa’s lap!

Me kissing my little sister on her first Christmas.

Clearly an angel.

My dad called me Dino. Nadine. Dino. SO clever that one.

Senior year with Santa.

Sorry they arent in order. I uploaded them in order but then something happened. It happens.

Well hello there. I don’t have a ton of fun things to report about this weekend. Mainly because I spent most of it just trying to breathe. I tried so hard last week to fight off the crud but the crud won. And it won good.

Friday – When I got home from work, Chris and I made a pizza and hung around the house for the evening. The weather had dropped about 30 degree from the time we woke up to the time I got home and it was sort of misty nasty outside and staying in felt so good. We plugged in the tree and just watched TV. Nice and relaxing.

Saturday – I made breakfast Saturday morning and did a few things around the house. We decided to head out for a little bit. We hit up both the Bargain Hunts in the area! At the one in Birmingham we found a fun raft to take to Gatlinburg with us for sledding and snow fun. We also found 2 fun things to decorate with in our game room downstairs. At the other one we found some Game Cube games that we don’t have! The video games were 5 for $10 this weekend, so we were able to find 5 to try out! We started to get tired, Chris isn’t feeling 100% yet from when he was sick, and I was starting to cough again.

We came home, I made some nachos for us and we watched the SEC Championship game. That was an interesting game. Neither team has any defense what so ever. I was sad that Alabama wasn’t in it…but you can’t win it all I suppose. After that game was over, we caught a little bit of the Big 10 game, but then I decided I had enough because I didn’t really care about the outcome of the game so I turned on good ol’ ABC Family for some Christmas movies! I watched The Santa Clause 3 and Deck the Halls. I just love Christmas movies!

Sunday – I worked on our meal plan for the week and got our grocery shopping done. While I was out I stopped by Bath and Body Works to pick up some candles since they were two for $22!! I got the Marshmallow Fireside and Flannel. Nothing like having some cozy candles burning around the house!

We watched some of the Law and Order SVU marathon and Grimm and had Cajun Chicken pasta for dinner. Then it was Christmas movie time! Home Alone was on and I just cant resist that movie! The second one is supposed to come on tonight! Maybe I will catch it too! I made some hot chocolate and enjoyed seeing the tree plugged in, the smell of marshmallow fireside as the shadow from the flames danced around the room, and good ol’ Kevin McAllister giving those wet bandits the whats up!

I have some posts scheduled out. I know Helene is doing a Christmas link up tomorrow about being a kid on Christmas! Sounds right up my alley! Anyone else have any coming up?

There are just two more shopping weekends left until Christmas! Are you all ready?!

Keep the change you filthy animal.

I tried so hard last week to not get sick. I even willed myself not to get sick my constantly telling myself “I will not get sick. I will not get sick. I WILL NOT GET SICK.” I pumped my body full of Emergen-C and Arden Garden’s Full Recovery. Yet, it was inevitable. You can fight off germs, but you cant fight off weather changes! Cue dramatics: I think I am dying. I cant breathe. I am coughing so much that my ab muscles hurt. You get the point. So I figured, what better way than to spend my last days on this little blog here. Sunday Social is always fun! I tend to find some new blogs through this link up.

1. What is the wallpaper on your cell phone?

I usually use CocoPPa to download wallpapers and lock screens for my phone. I have one of their wallpapers right now that is a baby pink with little white hearts. My lock screen is actually a picture of my diggity dogs right now!

2. What do you keep beside your bed?

My cell phone, a digital clock so I can see how much more sleep I have if I wake up in the middle of the night, my night time lip treatment, a Bath and Body works aromatherapy stress release or sleep lotion, a picture of Chris and I, a picture of my mom and I, a lamp. a lego statue of a bride and groom that Chris gave me when we were engaged, my Nintendo 3DS charger also sits there with sometimes my 3DS pugged in sometimes not.

3. What is your least favorite chore?

All of them. HAHA. Really though, I HATE cleaning out the kitchen sink. I hate it hate it hate it. And why does it never stay clean? Every time we rinse of a plate it just gets dirty again. So frustrating!

4. If you could eliminate one thing from your daily routine, what would it be?

Dishes. They are never ending. I dont mind doing my make up or hair, playing with the dogs, making lunches for Chris and I. All of that isn’t so bad. But gosh darn those dishes!!

5. What do you do to vent anger?

Throw a tantrum light a 3 year old. Just kidding. (Sort of.) If I need to literally vent it I will talk to Chris or my mom in most cases. Sometimes both if I need to super vent. Usually when I am mad I will clean or organize things. Play with my dogs because how can you be angry when you see those sweet faces. Lately, listen to Christmas music because I love it and the best way to spread cheer is to sing loudly for all to hear!

6. What is your favorite holiday of the year and why?

Christmas. Duh! Do I really need to elaborate?! The togetherness, the giving, the presents, the spirit, the movies, the music, the decorations, the food, the treats, the weather (if you are lucky), the glitter, the hot chocolate, the smores, the shopping, I just love EVERYTHING about Christmas!

Cue the Christmas themed posts! It is no secret around these parts that I am a bit excited about Christmas every year! How can you not be? I love everything about it! The togetherness, the spirit, the decorations, the glitter, the food, the music, the movies, the presents, the giving, the glitter, the cold weather. Just everything! (Did I mention glitter?!)

It got me thinking. Buddy the Elf could be my best friend. If you don’t want Buddy Elf as your best friend, then we probably aren’t going to be friends either. There are so many reasons why Buddy could be my IRL BFF. I mean, he really is the only person I know that can pull off tights and a pointy hat. He has mad crafting skills and can win any snowball fight! I think we can all agree he is pretty awesome. He covers the five most important things I look for in a friend.

1. He’s smart. I mean, he has all the important food groups covered:

2. He knows Santa! If you aren’t a believer, then really what are you?! Lame with no presents, that’s what!

3. He knows how to plan a day and have fun!

4. He knows just how to cheer me up.

5. He always has a smile in his face.

Now stop being a cotton headed ninny muggins and get excited about Christmas with Buddy and I!

I am feeling a little random today, so I think I am going to do 10 on Thursday!

1. I did a Focus T25 work out this morning. I am going to start the actual month on Monday, but I just wanted to test the waters today and tomorrow to see what I am getting in to. I did the cardio work out. I was actually impressed with myself that I didn’t have to use the “easy version” of the work out the entire time. In fact, of the 25 minutes I probably only did 4-5 minutes of the moderated work out moves and it was only because the arch of my foot was cramping up, not because I couldn’t handle it. I think doing the 30 Day Shred and Ripped in 30 work outs really have allowed me to build up a little endurance. How do I feel after? It has been 2 hours and my thighs be burning! I was drenched in sweat afterwards too so I know I burned some calories and had my heart rate up.

2. I am SOOOOOO tired of hearing about the damn Iron Bowl. I haven’t really seen any of my Alabama friends saying much about the game since Sunday. Yet for some reason there are a ton of Auburn people complaining about Bama fans being sore losers. Um, you know what is worse than being a sore loser? Complaining about sore losers several days later. Maybe have some class and act like you’ve won before?

3. I can’t believe that it is already the 5th of December!!! When I think about it, this year really has flown by. I am not sad to see 2013 gone though. I’m hoping for a better 2014!

4. Mac has left the Christmas tree alone all this week. I am so proud of the self control he has displayed. Usually that picture is Mac. Only a 7 lb white furry dog version. Haha. He has walked up to it several times, with a glaze of glitter ornaments shining in his eyes then he remembers he is trying to be a good boy and walks away. Maybe looking back a time or two.

5. Damn. At least we are just one day away!

6.Can someone please tell me why it is 78 degrees today? It is hot and humid and nasty! The weather is supposed to drop a lot tomorrow. Awesome. I ALWAYS get sick when this happens 🙁 I understand why there are Eskihos now. It is because it is summer weather in the winter and you don’t know how to dress! Why do I live in the south? Sometimes I forget!

7. That was me this morning. Guzzling Emergen-C like it is the only way into Heaven. I will not get sick. I WILL NOT GET SICK. (My throat is scratchy. I am pretending like it isn’t.)

8.I am loving all the Christmas themed posts all over blog land! It really gets me in the spirit. I have a few of my own scheduled over the next few weeks!

9. Christmas shopping was seriously a success for me last weekend. I think we are at least half way done (maybe more) with buying all the presents. Two more arrived on our door step last night from Amazon. Feels so good! I love Amazon Prime!

10. I am seriously in love with my Spotify Christmas playlist. I listen to it in the car mostly. Try having road rage when you have Christmas music blasting. You can’t! Lauren was so kind to send me her playlist too. I have over 100 songs but it is never enough. What is your favorite Christmas song? I can always add more to my list! If you want to follow my playlist because you don’t have time to download over 100 songs….my Spotify name is Nadine708. Please don’t judge me if it tells you I listen to the same song 20 times in a row.