An Award from ONE of My FAVORITE BLOGGING BUDDIES PLUS I NEED SOME HELP FROM MY FRIENDS!

I Rarely Do Awards.....Not sure why, except that I am a bit embarrassed to get an award for sharing a little of my life... I always feel blessed to receive them...BUT THIS ONE came from one of my BEST BLOG BUDDIES. It was a very nice surprise to be honored with an award from ....Kat at Just a Beachkat. After reading her blog for so long, I finally jumped in, so her blog probably is the real reason I blog today.....The Honest Scrap award is to share "10 HONEST Things " about myself! Like Kat, I feel like I've shared everything about me with you already. I am really a VERY normal person, with a very normal family...BUT, I will give it a try.

1. Honestly I feel tired just thinking about all the trees I have to decorate.
2. Honestly I HATE exercise. (I keep hoping Kat will rub off on me)
3. Honestly I love the RESULTS of any deep cleaning project and right now my closet is in BAD NEED.
4. Honestly I am ALWAYS planning the next Disney trip.
5. Honestly I always love a day that I never have to leave the house.
6. Honestly I can count on one hand the times I have not made the bed in all our married life.
7. Honestly I wish there were more hours in the day.
8. Honestly I cannot go to bed at night until I take a HOT bath.
9. Honestly I start feeling depressed near the end of football season
10. Honestly I would rather rock a baby, especially one of my grandsons, more than anything in the world. They have ROCKED my WORLD.

Thanks Kat for the award....I pass this award on to all my blogging buddies. You are SPECIAL!

Now I need some help from you. I am planning a family trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming right after Christmas. This is an area where I have never been, so I need tips on lodging, restaurants, "fun don't miss activities", anything you can tell me that will help me plan the trip.. And if you EVER need Disney advice, just email me...My kids call me a Disney encyclopedia. So, I will look forward to some emails helping me plan this trip. Email me at annah99@aol.com ....(that email address confuses people, but Annah was our cocker spaniel for 17 years) I know some of you are fans of Jackson Hole....Help me out!

OK, lets have a GIVEWAY! I have had several giveaways on the Christmas blog...You were my first blog friends so I don't want to leave you out.... I will draw for this collection...a set of holiday file folders (so cute), matching notepad and the Christmas Cookie Book! I will get Parker to draw on Sunday night. All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog, on THIS post, telling me you sent a new friend to the Christmas blog.

Some Questions and Some Answers and A Few Fun Pictures

I know I said I would not be posting here this week , but had too many cute pictures, too much GREAT football, and a few questions you wanted answers to. I am just going to answer the questions in very simple answers..I am REALLY not that interesting.

1. How do I make a bow like the ones I have on the Christmas blog? It is all in the hold and it is one of those things that many cannot do because they try TOO hard to make it perfect. I am going to try and give a demonstration on a post soon. Stay tuned!
2. How did I get started in the TREE BUSINESS? I did a few friends homes, always had a tree in every room at my house (that is no longer the case) and one tree led to two, then five, then 10 and now 17 years later we do 60-70 trees.
3. What is my draw to Mickey? Just the pure magic in kids and now my grandkids eyes.
4. What is my favorite ornament? I am very lucky to have picked up literally thousands of ornaments at market through the years at sample sales at market, so I have some ornaments that probably wholesaled for ridiculous prices that I purchased for a dollar..I started to say I had hundreds and then I thought again and I really do have mega ornaments. On my big tree, I had over 1500 ornaments last year. But my most prized ornaments are all my Disney ornaments....
5. How long have I been going to Disney? for many years but the 8 trips we have made with Parker and then the one with the entire family last October, by FAR the most SPECIAL.
6. How can you do a beautiful tree on a budget? I think I did a post on that on the other blog, but will continue to give tips along the way.
7. What do I do besides decorate trees and what does my husband do? I keep grand babies, which is my most favorite job. Fortunately, the tree business is very profitable and I can work about 4 months out of the year. My husband is a retired football coach and now drives chartered buses for college athletic teams. A job he can do only when he wants to....so it is very part time. As for how we do Disney so often, that's just where we splurge. My parents both died within three months of each other several years ago. From their estate we have been able to take care of retirement, meaning we live no different today than we did before having that inheritance, with the exception of GREAT family trips. A big thank you to my Mom and Dad for being savers and investors.
8. How do I accomplish so much in a day? Time management is one of my biggest challenges. I stay up very late and always get the most done from 10 PM until 2 AM...plus I live by multiple lists. I am never caught up. NEVER!
9. What is the secret to being married for 37 years? This one will seem very trite..but we love the same things, we never thought of divorce as an option, my husband is the easiest going person on EARTH, and through good years and not so great years, we still would rather do life with each other. We have 2 children...Greg and Amanda and they are 7 years apart. We have four grandsons that we GET TO grandparent together.
10. Where would I travel if not to Disney? I am just a Disney addict and would probably always choose that first, but I love New York City, love California, love Las Vegas, and I like an occasional cruise.

What got me started blogging? I have been a blog reader for several years, thought about blogging for at least a year before I actually began..and one day I just jumped in....and it has really become one of the neatest things I have ever done.

THIS post is going to be TOO long, so quit reading if you are bored....

LOOK who came for a visit today....Sweet Grayson.

Now look who is MAD because someone took something away from him that he was SURE was his.

And then fell asleep in his Pops arms while we cheered on our FAVORITE PLAYER

PACKER FANS, I AM SO SORRY, BUT THE OLD MAN STILL CREATES MAGIC ....and WOW, WAS LAST NIGHT MAGICAL!!! It may not have been REVENGE for BRETT, but it was for ME!

If you missed the latest post on the Christmas blog , I added some pictures of some very whimsical colors late last night! Check it out...and leave a comment...Remember that's all it takes to enter you in the drawing for the October ornaments.

Friend Makin Monday

*******Totally messed up on this one...this should have been under this...oh well, I will get back on schedule next week....Sorry

This week's question: What is your biggest obstacle right now? How are you making plans to overcome/push forward?

I love this weekly "get to know you" that Amber hosts. I love her blog and it again reaffirms what I have always thought....we are all facing the same battles and challenges..be sure and check out her blog..... and join in the fun.


In this season of my life three things immediately come to mind...

I need to exercise MORE!
I need to MAKE BETTER FOOD CHOICES !
AND
I need to MANAGE my TIME BETTER... how I go about doing these things ..... JUST ONE DAY AT A TIME.
Some days I do good, some days I do much less than good.
AS tree season begins, all three of the things become harder and also more NEEDED...So again tomorrow,
I am thankful for NEW BEGINNINGS.

I will be posting this week on the Christmas blog,
A Baby Changes Everything
so stop by and visit. There are so many new followers.
I am planning a surprise gift when I reach a certain number. You might just be the one! I came home from market late tonight with so many new ornaments and fun holiday goodies...I am looking forward to giving some away.
On that note,this blog is about to reach the
400 mark in followers...WOW, how did that happen in six months? I think I need a prize for the
400th person who follows this very ordinary blog written by this very ordinary person.

I will leave the "Ask Away" post open for a couple more days and then try to answer the questions.

Ask Away

And no, we are not leaving for Disney in the next few weeks,maybe months but not weeks.....I hear Mickey calling me and we have only been apart for 3 months.....and I spent 3 weeks with him in the last 10 months....But I know he misses me......

I have read several blogs recently where the bloggers ask questions.

Just a good old question and answer post.

I am an OPEN BOOK. I have made my share of mistakes, had a bucket full of disappointments along the way of life, many dreads and regrets, but I do have a wonderful life....

Since I am relatively new to BLOG LAND, I thought I might open this post for questions..Anything goes......about kids, husband of 37 years, job, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandkids, business, coaching, just anything in general! I just love a STORY and maybe YOU do to. So your questions will tell my story....ASK AWAY and I promise to do my best to answer.......

Check out the Christmas blog also....A new giveaway started today and will run through October...another HUGE ornament basket....I am in Dallas now for a few days at market and have found some fabulous blog prizes....Tomorrow I will download some pictures and show a couple.

FRIEND MAKING MONDAYS

FRIEND MAKIN MONDAYS
Friend Makin' Monday is being hosted by Amber ! This week the topic is revolving around what we JUST CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT!










This week the post is to list a FEW things I cannot live without........Once I started writing, I realized I have MANY!!! maybe too many!

The UNCONDITIONAL love of my HUSBAND and ALL his HELP!

GRANDKIDS...need I say more

Amanda, Greg, Micah and Dana....what a group..but I am so glad that you are MY FAMILY!

High Speed Internet

TIVO (at least I would hate to have to)

FOOTBALL and lots of it!

An Isagenix Shake or two or three daily

My Glue Gun......especially this time of year

The BEST mattresses and BEST SHEETS. Good bedding is a MUST.

Blogging would rank right up there!

COFFEE would have to be on the list and at least one diet coke in the house (I am so trying to get off Diet Coke)

Christmas Music and lots of it.

The KNOWLEDGE that cold weather is coming soon!

The GRACE of GOD and that covers a multitude of things....

and the list could go on and on.......but that's a start...so head over to Ambers and join in the fun!!!!

Friend Makin Monday on WEDNESDAY

I found this on another blog and though I think I am a week behind, and too late to tag on and its not Monday, so I am doing it on the wrong day just as a fun post....I love to know random details about people..it is part of their story and I LOVE peoples stories. So in the comments just pick two or three things we might have in common or just tell me a few things about YOU.

My sweet grandsons have all been sick with bugs and have been in no mood for picture taking...so this will be a RARE post without one of their pictures....
Be sure and stop in at the Christmas Blog....We had lots of winners last night of CHRISTMAS GOODIES....that will be on their way to them soon..There is ANOTHER BIG GIVEAWAY that I will draw for on October 1st, so comment away...ask questions, tell your friends, share the site. I really want the tree blog to be a fun place to learn, share and celebrate The Baby That Changed EVERYTHING!

This is my VERSION of 20 Questions.

1. Do you cook every night? No...as in rarely, as in almost NEVER

2. What kind of laundry detergent do you use & why? Whatever my husband picks up at the store. No favorite.

3. Do you do laundry every day or loads at a time? EVERYDAY....My kids always joked that they used the same towel everyday...I already had it washed and put back on top the next day.

4. How often do you eat out per week? almost everyday ...we either get take out or we eat out....

5. Where do you usually eat out? Outback, Red Lobster, Newks, Copeland's, Chilies...we try and spread the love...

6. What is your favorite retail store? I really enjoy spending an hour or two in Target...and Steinmart is a close second,though I do not shop near as much as I did in years past. There is just so much "Stuff" one needs.

7. What's your favorite thing to drink? Diet Coke and Coffee

8. Do you take vitamins? What kind? Many ...really too many to get up and count....I am a big proponent of fish oil, vit C, vit E, vit D and I take a GREAT liquid B vitamin...and can always tell when I miss a day...plus I take antioxidants and barley green.

9. What percentage of the household chores to you do? That's a good one...My husband has always been a HUGE help and can do anything better than me, but since I am a tad OCD about cleaning, I would say it is about 50-50
During tree season he does most of it, plus I try and and have someone clean every week or so.

10. Do your children do chores? When they lived at home.. ..ABSOLUTLEY...and my daughter-in-law appreciates that I taught my son there was no such thing as "a woman's job"! My daughter is a good housekeeper...We are just pretty much a family that likes things clean and in order.

11. Do you go to church? Yes and in the last few years, we have visited a lot of different churches. We try and end up at one of the churches our kids are at on Sunday.
12. Do you have a housework schedule? No...I dust as I see dust....but no schedule..I never understood people that would say they had to clean house on Saturday. If you do a little everyday you never have to take an entire day for cleaning.


13. Do you keep a working budget? No, but I think we pretty much know what we spend. I totally bank online, so there is never a need to reconcile a bank statement..a job I detested.

14. What do you do at night as a family? watch TV, read, play cards, eat out, go to movies, plan trips. We love nights at home.

15. How do you prepare yourself for a new week? LIST, LIST and more LISTS. I live by lists. Just finished typing one for the rest of the week.

16. What do your mornings look like? I normally do not get up until around 9 or 10...I am a real night owl and since I work at home, I don't have to get up. So really my day rarely starts before noon. I drink coffee, watch Good Morning America and am a huge paper reader. It takes about an hour before I really want to talk to anyone...as in I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON.

17. What time do you get up in the mornings? answered above...

18. What time do you go to bed at night? Usually around 1 or 2 AM....but I have been known to be up and working at 3 AM.

19. How do you manage all of the paperwork that floods into your household? {bills, school work, magazines, ads, etc}..IN STACKS....I have very organized STACKS, but many of them. My to do list for tomorrow has on it "Go through stacks of paper work"!

20. How do you keep your household organized? the older I get the more often I tell myself that it will all get done; maybe not today, but one day this week...In days past, I stressed if the "to do" list was not finished everyday.

That may be more than you wanted to know about me, but I always enjoy reading about how other people live. I love to people watch! I like to see what people have in their grocery carts....So have some fun with this and tell me a little about YOU!

Eight Things

Don't forget that this Thursday, I will draw for the 75.00 "Card Box", so comment and add your name to the mix more times....


Debbie at Heart Choices tagged me to share eight things about me. What a great way to get to know one another better!


Here are the instructions for 8 Things:

* Mention the person that tagged you
* Complete the list of 8 things
* Tag 8 of your wonderful bloggy friends
* Go tell them you tagged them

8 Things I look forward to:

Disney World in just a few weeks
Losing another ten pounds
Celebrating Parkers 10th Birthday
Reading new blogs
My 4th grandson's arrival in June
Visiting with some friends next week that I have not seen in months
Getting our taxes done ( as in extension)
Taking several trips with my husband in the summer

8 Things I Did Yesterday:
Bought my first Mac
Watched Tivoed DWTS and American Idol
Played Bunco
Stayed on my new nutrition plan day number 33
Read many blogs and added COMMENTS; yeah!
Spent far too much time trying to post better pictures
Exercised
Read half of Kathie Lee Gifford's new book


8 Things I Wish I Could Do:
Understand the stock market
Sing
Complete my entire "to do" list in one day
Make an extended family relationship WORK
Dance (like on DWTS)
Go to a Beth Moore event once a month
Learn to love exercise
Become a Disney Planner (and I may do this).


8 Shows I Watch:

American Idol
Dancing With The Stars
Dr.Phil
Good Morning America
Beth on Wednesdays with Beth
Oprah
Deal or No Deal
Millionaire


8 Bloggers Tagged:

Christi of Johnson Family
Sheryl at the Perch
Misty at Wind Beneath My Wings
Amber at Schmidt Family Blog
Mona at Wsprsweetly Of Cottages
Melissa at Melissa's Heart and Home
Emily at Emily's boys
Rikki at Reason to Rejoice



I chose these bloggers because I'm just getting to know them. It's fun to learn more about each other. Blogging makes the world a little bit smaller, doesn't it?