Top 10 Things I Still Have To Do Before Christmas...

I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off Christmas shopping, tending sick babies, attending work parties, wrapping this, bagging that, last minute Amazon.com orders and checking the mail for Christmas cards!!  Now I am down to the wire and I am still not done!  So as a reminder to myself, here are my...
Top Ten Things I Still Have To Do Before Christmas

1.  Get 1 or 2 more gifts.
2.  Wrap 5 or 6 more things.
3.  Vacuum, Dust, Laundry, Bathrooms, Etc.
4.  Prepare for Christmas Day Breakfast and Lunch.
5.  Make sure Santa is prepared!
6.  Clean out some toys in the kids rooms so they can be jammed packed again with the new things!! (Ridiculous!)
7.  Try to keep everything Lysol-ed and everyone well!
8.  Make some Christmas snacks for family gifts.
9.  Rest for just a minute with the hubs.
10.  Read The Christmas Story to my sweet babies and remind them that He is the real reason for the season!

I'm praying that I get it all done but loving every minute of it!! 

Top 10 Things I Love About Christmas Time

Christmas is right around the corner and I, like my children (and my 'I work in retail and I am exhausted with all of these Christmas shopping lunatics' husband), can't wait! So for today’s post, I am giving you my

Top Ten Things I Love About Christmas Time

In no particular order…

1. Shopping for others.  I shop better for others than I do for myself!
2. Driving and Looking at Christmas lights. We’ve already started taking the long way home from wherever we go, just so we can look at the Christmas lights.
3. Wrapping presents. I love to wrap presents and I love to make my own wrapping paper!  Brown mailing paper, finger paint and some toddler creativity make the perfect present wrapping paper!
4. Our Christmas Eve tradition. Christmas eve is always crazy for us… many years we have four stops to make on that single day! But I wouldn't trade it for anything!
5. Christmas Programs. At school and at church, I love them all!
6. Christmas Cards. It’s the one time of the year we’re actually excited to get the mail!  I love mailed cards!!
7. Christmas Music. The Carpenters Christmas album!!  Karen is my vocal idol!
8. Preparing for Santa.  The exhausting, hard, time consuming labor of getting everything "ready"!
9. Christmas Day Morning. I love to watch my children's face on Christmas morning! Our kids are at the perfect ages for Christmas, and I can’t wait to watch them this year. It’s something I want to remember forever!
10. The Christmas Story.  Is there anything better than teaching your children that the true meaning of Christmas doesn't sit under the tree or magically plop down the chimney.  It was born under a star in Bethlehem many years ago and died so that we may live!

Don't you just LOVE Christmas!

Top 10 Thins I Love About Cold Weather

As the Holiday season approaches and it begins to turn cold, I get excited.  There are at least...

Top Ten Things I Love About Cold Weather

1. Baking!  Bonus points for this being an activity that also heats up the house!
2. Soups!  Ditto on the bonus points for extra warmth!
3. Candles, Candles and MORE Candles!
4. Heart warming movies:  It's a Wonderful Life and White Chrsitmas are some of my favorite Christmas movies.
5. Cuddle time with my husband and kiddos!
6. Sweaters, warm socks and slippers!!
7. Blankets!!  I LOVE Blankets!
8. The warm feeling that Christmas lights give. 
9. Hot cocoa, flavored coffee creamer and Apple Cider  ;)
10. Being able to open the blinds and let the light into the house without the worry of overworking the air condition!

 What are your favorite cold weather things?

Top 10 Christmas Activities To Enjoy As A Family

I borrowed a post from "Another Day, Another Thought...Or Two" for todays Top Ten Tuesday.  Today's post is:

Top Ten Christmas Activities To Enjoy As A Family

Click HERE.  There are some really good and traditional ideas!

Top 10 Things I Am Thankful For...

Top Ten Things I am Thankful For... (cont'd)

10.  Most of all, I am thankful that my heavenly father sent his son to die on the cross for my sins.  Because of this, I can one day leave this hard, cruel world and meet my maker and see all of the loved ones that have gone on before me.  This is by far the best gift I have ever received and for this I am truely THANKFUL!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Top 10 Things I Am Thankful For...

Top Ten Things I am Thankful For... (cont'd)

7.  When driving to or from work in rush-hour traffic, I am always thankful for one more minute with my babies.  You never know when God will decide to bring you home so I cherish every hug and kiss.  (Even though the bewitching hour is not my favorite time!!)

8. A wonderful, hard-working, God-fearing, High School sweetheart, had our ups and downs, best-friend, wonderfully singing, great dressing, fast driving, mexican eating, love of my life of a husband.

9.  MY ENTIRE FAMILY - From Husband, to children, to mom, to dad, to brother, to in-laws, to nephews, to grandparents, to aunts and uncles, to cousins and everyone in-between.  I am thankful for them ALL!

...

(To be cont'd)

Top 10 Things I am Thankful For... (cont'd)

Top Ten Things I am Thankful For... (cont'd)

4.  The fact that I could stand to lose a few pounds!  This at least means that there is food on the table (or at least chicken wings! LOL).

5.  Air Conditioning in the heat and warmth in the cold! Whether it be in my home, car or work, I am thankful for it! 

6. Books to read, music to hear and shoes to walk in! Having these thing means I can see, hear and move!

...

(To be cont'd)

Top 10 Things I Am Thankful For...

To Celebrate November, the month of giving thanks, I am posting a series of things I am thankful for. I am thankful for so many things that it will take me the entire month to narrow it down to only 10.  So, here is the beginning of the:

Top Ten Things I Am Thankful For

1.  The fact that my husband and I both have a job.  There were periods of time this year when we both weren't working.  That put a strain on our finances, among other things.  Thank you, God, for the blessing of having to go to work every day!

2.  I am thankful for a roof over my head.  At times I get tired of cleaning, fixing and paying for it but I am SOOOO thankful for it!

3.  I am thankful for my children's great teachers.  You never truely appreciate a great teacher until you have a not so great one!  This year we are truely blessed with wonderful, Godly influences for our children.

...

(to be cont'd)

Top 10 Coupon Sites

For today, I will share my savings sources...

Top Ten Coupon Sites That I Love:

(Click on them)

1. Southersavers.com

2. Coupon.com

3. Retailmenot.com

4. Afullcup.com

5. Couponmom.com

6. Cheapstingybargains.com

7. Smartsource.com

8. Redplum.com

9. Fatwallet.com

10. Bargainjack.com


Now all you need is a printer and a little bit of patience and dedication and you can be a successful couponista! :-)
 

Top 10 Things I Remember From My Youth

Today's list, on a lighter note, is copied from Melissa at "Simply Me"...

Top Ten Things I Remember From My Youth

It's cute and I remember all of them!!

Top 10 Ways A Christian Should Be Like A Football Fan

While attending a football game this past weekend and observing the crowd, I came to a conclusion that football fans are GREAT!!  They are soooo dedicated to their team and have a compassion for cheering them to victory!  What if Christians had that same dedication and compassion for Christ?!?!  What a HUGE difference we could make for His Kingdom if we all took as much initiative in winning people to Christ as we did for winning a football game.  Here are my...

Top Ten Ways A Christian Should Be Like A Football Fan

10. Sing a Psalm or Hymn with enthusiasm.  Really get into it!!

9.  "Shake your pom-pom" when someone receives Christ and is saved!!

8.  Stand-up and cheer for the choir as if you had just heard a 'million-dollar band'!!

7.  Sport Godly apparel EVERY day of the week like you do football flair.  Even tack it all over your car!!

6.  Go to great lengths and $$ in order to attend "the game" (church)!!

5.  If you can't make it to "the game", you make sure you watch it on your big-screen!!

4. Chat with friends and co-workers about it Monday at work and share your excitement for next Sunday!!

3. Feel a connection and friendship with EVERYONE at "the game" and consider them "Family"!  Even the little kid on the back row that just won't be still!!

2.  You pay the "Coach" big bucks without complaining!!

1.  Feel a sense of pride and gratitude when the victory is won and you have done your part for His kingdom!!


So, get off your bleacher and share the excitement of Jesus Christ with those around you!

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.- 1 John 2:15-17

Top 10 Points To Prove That Mother's Don't Get Holidays

I copied this from "The Slob" and thought it was fitting since my holidays off I do more than when I am at work!  So, here is my...

 Top Ten Points to Prove That Mother's Don't Get Holidays...

"Moms don't get holidays.

Moms don't even get weekends!

Here's a list of ten things that prove my point. Keep in mind that this is by no means an exhaustive list. Exhausting, maybe.

10. Every single day . . . whether rain, shine, Christmas or even my birthday . . . . every single person in my family . . . eats.

9. Not only do they insist on eating, but they all refuse to eat without using dishes of some sort.

8. Even if I do pretend that I don't have to clean the kitchen on a holiday (like I did yesterday), it just means I have to work harder the next day, soaking/scraping the spaghetti-encrusted dishes.

7. Daughters don't necessarily choose non-holidays to cover their faces in newly-gifted-by-grandma-hot-pink-lipstick.

6. Clothes-not-hung-up-out-of-principle on a holiday, are just . . . clothes-not-hung-up on the day after a holiday.

5. Lemonade can still spill on holidays.

4. A five-minute pick-up time skipped on a holiday means a 20 minute pick-up time is required on the day after the holiday. (I know that doesn't make mathematical sense, but it's true.)

3. Children still argue on holidays.

2. Holidays generally happen on the day before non-holidays, and therefore . . . clothes still have to be put out, lunches have to be made, and dishwashers have to be started. At least, that's what a slob-in-recovery has to do.

1. And the number one proof that Mamas don't get holidays? Even though every person in my family is fully aware that Monday (a HOLIDAY this week!) is Laundry Day, not a single one of them is willing to wear dirty undies until next Monday rolls around.

The nerve."

My Top 10 Books Of The Summer

I have really enjoyed reading this summer.  I guess it is my way of "getting away" since I never seem to get to! LOL  Although my husband isn't too thrilled when I lose myself in a book, I have done so with many this summer.  So, Here are my...

Top Ten Books I Have Read or Will Read This Summer:

1. Redeeming Love By Francine Rivers - The BEST book I have EVER read!!

2.  The Shack By William P. Young - Great story but difficult to understand

3. Three Weeks With My Brother By Nicholas Sparks - Great read of his autobiography

4. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner By Stephenie Meye - For Twilgiht fans!

5.  The Last Song By Nicholas Sparks - 1000 times better than the movie

6.  Dear John By nicholas Sparks - I did my Sparks catch-up reading this summer! LOL

7.  At First Sight By Nicholas Sparks - This is the sequel to True Believe by Sparks

8.  Forever By Judy Blume - Not a recommendation, just something I had laying around

9.  Scarlet Thread By Francine Rivers - I am currently reading

10. 3 More to Go This Summer: 'The Choice', 'Charlie St.Cloud' and 'Eat, Pray, Love'

Top 10 Bittersweet Baby Moments

This Tuesday I was kinda busy and decided to borrow a list from 'Parenting the Tiniest of Miracle Blog'

Top Ten Bittersweet Baby Moments:

"Do you remember...

1. ...the first time your baby WANTED you to put her down so she could get moving?
2. ...having to pack up those first tiny outfits knowing your baby would never wear them again?
3. ...realizing it was time to stop swaddling?
4. ...when the "slap-slap" of little hands and knees on hard floors was replaced with the pitter-pat of little feet?
5. ...how it seemed like one day your baby became interested in grabbing things other than just your finger?
6. ...knowing that it was time for your baby to be introduced to new foods and acknowledging that you could no longer take full credit for every ounce of growth? ;)
7. ...when it suddenly hit you that your baby would no longer stay where you put him and nothing was "safe" anymore?
8. ...the day when your baby no longer seemed (so) interested in the bottle, the binky, or (most of all) the breast and, while you knew that was good and natural, it also hurt a little?
9. ...when that gummy grin became a toothy grin?
10. ...noticing the hand dimples were gone?"

It took me back a few years (well, except for the breastfeeding part!)!  Maybe it brought back some memories for you, too.

Top 10 Things I Love/Hate About The Toddler Years

While currently experiencing them with 2 toddlers, I have come up with my...

Top Ten Things I LOVE / HATE About The Toddler Years:

1.  I LOVE the fact that my son wants to snuggle and hug on me because I know that soon he won't want to!

2.  I HATE the fact that both of my toddlers already hate school and they are still in daycare!

3.  I HATE the fact that they already pester each other and fight.  I thought that didn't begin until at least 10!

4.  I LOVE the fact they like to do chores!  I know it won't last long so I am enjoying it now!

5.  I HATE the fact that my princess is still in diapers even though I always heard that girls and second children are faster to potty train!

6.  I LOVE the fact that they are learing something new every day and that I get to watch them as they discover new things!

7.  I HATE the fact that I don't get to stay at home with them and watch them discover every new thing!

8.  I LOVE the fact that my children already know about Jesus at this young age!

9.  I HATE the fact that I can't give them as much single attention as I would like.  I know they are both attention hungry and I thank grandparents and great-grandparents for giving them one-on-one time that they need!

10.  I LOVE the fact that God has blessed me with this cute, tiring, stressful, WONDERFUL little family!!

"Children are an inheritance from the Lord.
They are a reward from him.
 The children born to a man when he is young
      are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.
       Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them

He will not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies in the city gate."

Psalm 127:3-5

A Borrowed Top Ten...

Today I borrowed a Top Ten.  I came across it on another blog and thought about revamping it to my own personal answers.  After reading all ten, I decided against the revamp since my answers would be almost exactly the same.  On that note, here are my borrowed...


Top Ten Reasons Parenthood Makes You Skinny (In Theory)

10. You have to buy diapers at Walmart instead of that cheesy goodness crab dip at your favorite restaurant. Cheese and crab meat...it doesn't get any better! Oh, how I miss you!

9. Even if you can afford it, you don't have the energy to take the kids out to dinner. I've given up on ever eating a hot meal in a restaurant when my children are present. Why go out and pay for a cold entree when you can eat a cold dinner at home any night of the week?

8. Half of anything you put on your plate will be eaten by your toddler...if not all of it.
I'm afraid that when Liam's old enough he'll eat the other half of my food. Why does food from Mommy's plate taste so much better than the exact same food on the kids plates???

7. You want to set a good example of eating habits, so you snack on carrot sticks and cheerios instead of snickers bars and potato chips. Yet somehow your kids always have cookie crumbs on the corners of their mouths? Ahem...Aunt Heather alert!!

6. You're burning way more calories chasing and playing with your toddler than you ever did at your over priced yoga classes. But, oh, aren't you glad you own those yoga pants now? I pretty much live in mine daily. 

5. You choose showering during their nap time rather than eating lunch.*
I learned the hard way to only shower if ALL the kids are sleeping. What can I say? Sometimes smelling fresh and clean trumps a cup of Greek yogurt!

4. You choose going to sleep as soon as possible rather than eat a quiet dinner after the kids are asleep.*
*I'm not advocating skipping meals on a regular basis...so unhealthy! I'm just saying it happens every now and then.

3. Breastfeeding burns more calories than you consume in a day.
Maybe this is why I'm always SO hungry right before bed???

2. Grocery shopping trips with kids almost always get cut short on account of...you have kids with you.
The list hardly ever gets completed!

1. Your sweet child(ren) have given you more motivation than ever to take better care of yourself and set a good example of heath and exercise!

###

Good theory, right? Hurray, my "fat pants" are too big!! But who shrunk my pre-pregnancy skinny jeans?! Yoga pants it is!

Top 10 Things I Swore I Would Never Say As A Parent

When I was growing up I remember thinking how unfair life was. It always seemed to me that I wasn’t allowed to do something or I was always getting in trouble for something that my brother obviously did.  On more than one occassion I muttered under my breath that I would be a cooler mom, a more understanding mom, a mom who wouldn’t have all these rules and chores.  Oh, didn't we all!!  AND THEN, we became mothers!
My perspective drastically changed. Now with two toddlers of my own I find myself saying things that I swore would never come out of my mouth. So, here are my...

Top Ten Things I Swore I Would Never Say As A Parent:

1. "Because I said so!"
2. "I'll give you something to cry about..."
3. "I brought you into this world, I can take you out!"
4. "You better stop while you're ahead!"
5. "One...Two...Three!!"
6. "No!"
7. "Were you raised in a barn?!"
8. "Yes, what?" Answer: Yes, Ma'am
9. "Go to your room if you're going to cry!"
10. "What part of NO don't you understand!?!?"

I guess the saying is true: The more things change the more they stay the same.

My perspective now is, I turned out great so I should follow the teachings of my wise mother!  ;-)

Top 10 Customers in the Restaurant Industry That Irritate Me...

While at work, I decided that the list for today will be...


Top Ten Customers in the Restaurant Industry That Irritate Me!

In no specific order:

1.  The 'I tear my straw paper into little pieces and leave them on the table for someone else to clean up' customer.

2.  The 'I let my kid throw food, paper, sweet-n-low packets, and whatever else he can get his hands on in the floor and I 'm not going to pick any of it up' customer.

3. The 'I'm done with my food but I'm going to leave that last bite on my fork so someone else can clean it off' customer.

4.  The 'my food took a long time to cook in the kitchen so therefore it MUST be the servers fault and I'm not going to tip' customer.

5.  The 'I forgot that when I eat I have to pay for it and I left without doing so' customer.

6.  The 'I hear you calling out food around my table but I either have no idea what I ordered or it is just not registering in brain to say it is mine' customer.

7.  The 'I come in to order take out but I am talking on my cell phone right now so you are just going to have to wait' customer.

8.  The 'I am calling in a pick-up order and I wait until I get someone on the phone to ask the rest of my group what they want to eat and scream into the receiver of the phone at them' customer.

9.  The 'I know you just brought my food and I asked for extra napkins but when you come back my friend needs an extra sauce and when you bring that back I will need extra dressing and when you bring that back...' customer.

10.  The 'I really don't like what I ordered, although I ate almost all of it, and I want my money back' customer.

I am limiting this to 10 but there could be so many more! I heart my job :-)

Top 10 Reasons I Would Be A Great SAHM...

Here are my

Top Ten Reasons I Would Make A Great Stay At Home Mom:

1.   I would plan fun and exciting FREE adventures for us!  Like going to the park, reading day at the library, watching the airplanes take off at the airport, etc.

2.  I would be able to avoid or reprimand at an instant any language that is not appropriate.

3.  I would be able to avoid or reprimand at an instant any action that is not appropriate.

4.  Fun and cheap crafts are my specialty!! :-)

5.  Nap time is "do all the things that I always want to get around to but never have time to" time.  Yeah for scrapbooking, cleaning out closets, cooking interesting meals, etc.

6.  More time for Couponing!!

7.  I would schedule play-dates and catch up with old friends that think that I am not their friend anymore because I never have time to talk to them much less see them!

8.  I could REALLY volunteer with church functions instead of showing up and leaving immediately b/c we all have to get home and in the bed.

9.  I understand that it is a difficult job; however,...

10.  I would have the joy of watching my children experience their young life and reach new milestones every day!

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."  Mathew 21:22

Top 10 Indications Your Husband Is Out Of Town...

Top Ten Indications Your Husband Is Out Of Town On Business...

  

10. The alarm is set without question yet you still freak out when you hear a strange noise in the night.

9. Not only do you take the garbage to the big, green, Rubbermaid "can" but you also haul that big, green, Rubbermaid "can" and ALL of it's contents to the road and then haul it back down the driveway when it weighs a little less.

8. You let your oldest son stay up a little too late watching a movie just so you will have some other form of human interaction.

7. You get the kids up in the morning, hydrated, fed, clothes ironed, clothes on and to school without being over 15 minutes late to work!  (And this is complicated even further by posting #8 making the oldest a little more sleepy than usual!)

6. The nightly supper menu consists of either cereal, mac and cheese, spaghettios or chicken and stars.

5. Even though you are now responsible for taking the trash to the big, green, Rubbermaid "can", ironically it seems that there is less trash.

4. You are now in charge of watering the lawn.  You pray for rain!  (Not to mention trying to figure out the automated sprinkler system that came with a 30 page instruction manual.)

3. You are also now in charge of getting and keeping up with the mail that comes during the week.  Are Mariott Rewards points that beneficial!?!?

2. On a brighter note, the TV is all yours.  There will be no golf, basketball or whatever else might be on ESPN heard in this house this week! 

1. At the end of the night, you realize that you survived but count down the days until your husbands return.  In reality you miss your talks on the back deck at dusk more than anything else ;-)

You thank God for his new job and you thank God when he comes home!

2 weeks down, 3 more to go….