A sheer crack up!

Last night was a special night at Awana's. Not only did it ring in the 2 week break (yeah!) but the kids (and adults)also dressed down in their PJ's, listened to the Pastor and his wife Laurie read/acted out the Christmas story, and made sheep Christmas tree ornaments.

Back story: I help the 1st graders. Austin is in 2nd grade. Two types of yarn choices - one fluffy and one not. In my opinion, the fluffy one was WAY cuter. So, using my leader connection skills, I make sure that Austin gets some of the fluffy yarn for his sheep. I feel like I'm watching out for my kid and being a good parent by hooking him up with the starts of a great sheep...

So, fast forward through the night...It was a crazy night, but the kids all seemed to have fun. (Leaders - not so much). We are getting ready to leave and Austin is showing off his sheep to me. (which by the way he named Candy because I guess they both like sweets) He cut off almost all the yarn....basically sheering the sheep in a way. When I asked him why he cut it off, he simply said, "it was too fluffy." So cracked me up. Here, I think I'm looking out for the little guy when I should have just let him pick the yarn himself. Ok, I know in the picture, the sheep looks fluffy, but it was supposed to be TWICE (maybe even three times) that size with yarn.

Still, little Ms. Candy Sheep (i think its a girl) is pretty darn cute and will proudly be displayed annually at our house.

Christmas Picture Outtakes

A couple of nights ago our family took our annual Christmas picture together. For some reason when a camera is involved, goofiness ensues...










MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Well, my week off from blogging was rather nice. I still kept my eyes/ears open for any good blogging topics, but decided to just focus on the family and Christmas card making. So, I figured I would tiptoe back into blogging with a survey!

CHRISTMAS FUN

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper all the way. Although I totally hate wrapping presents (Michael normally wraps the majority), I add the pretty bows that make them look so cute under my "department store" tree.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial all the way. I'm a practical gal and am fearful of a squirrel nesting in my tree and popping out to attack me.

3. When do you put up the tree? Normally, I put it up right after Thanksgiving. I almost put it up early this year since we weren't having Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year.

4. When do you take the tree down? After New Years. I hate taking down the decorations. The house just looks so plain.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yup...especially in Braums ice cream form. Oh so good. Last time Michael and I went by to get some (his in shake form), they only had enough for his shake...so I'm still without my yummy ice cream treat. Hopefully, I'll get to experience the joy soon.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmm...I had several that I loved. I was always a big fan of Barbie and My Little Ponies. I know one of the stupidest presents I ever ASKED for (and got). My bro wanted a skateboard from Santa, and being that I wanted to be like him and have the same type stuff, I asked for one too. I never could ride it correctly and ended up just sitting on it while riding down hills.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Toss up between my step-dad Vic and Michael's parents.

8. Easiest person to buy for? So easy to buy for me...but if I'm buying for someone else...my nephew Jackson is pretty easy to shop for. Oh and my niece Jenna because she is only like 7 months old and doesn't really care yet.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Sadly, no. I TOTALLY want the Willow Tree one but don't want to spend the money on it. I'm a bit particular in what type of nativity scene I wanted, so I just never bought one.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? MAIL for sure! I love getting Christmas cards and displaying them all over our mantel. I'm making my cards this year too. At first I regretted that decision because I was getting a bit indecisive, but now am loving it!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A horribly ugly jacket that I got in high school. I just had to grin and say thanks. It was thoughtful in that it was a really warm jacket and I was always cold, but it was ohhhhh so ugly!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I love the old Frosty, Rudolph, and Santa's Coming to Town ones. Michael let me buy them on DVD too...but still haven't gotten to watch them yet. So sad...so so sad.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? This year I started early with great intentions (early - meaning before Thanksgiving) but still have quite a bit left to do!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Just for Dirty Santa gifts.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Hmm - I have several favorites - lots of sweets. I also miss having my dad's Sausage and Bean Soup on Christmas Eve. It was oh so yummy!

16. Lights on the tree? White lights - would love it if they twinkled

17. Favorite Christmas song? O' Holy Night

18. Travel at Christmas time or stay home? Thankfully we get to stay in Ponca City. Normally, we are at my mom's house.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Ruldolph. Oh, and almost forgot Donald - Amber's imaginary reindeer!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We have an angel but I don't have a preference. Just has to work with the tree motif

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Its always been Christmas morning (well, depending on if we have the kids) but this year, Michael and I are talking about changing things up with our immediate family a bit.

22. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Midnight Christmas Eve service at Presbyterian Church snuggled up to my Nana and her white fur coat. It was the first time I remember getting to hold a lit candle.

23. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't remember how old I was, but my friend Stephanie told me while I was over at her house. I didn't believe her at first but then started realizing that there was no way Santa could be real...still played like he was though for many, many years to come. I'm not sure when my parents realized that I knew the truth.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? We normally have a meal similar to Thanksgiving dinner on Christmas. I would love to have a ham instead with cheese potatoes and all the yumminess or to have Sausage Bean Soup for Christmas Eve again. YUM YUM!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Stamping stuff

Hasta La Vista, Baby!

NaBloPoMo is over! I did it. I really did it. I feel accomplished, a real go getter!

Remind me next year, not to participate. I'll totally root on my blog friends who are up for the NaBloPoMo challenge, but it's definitely something I'll be abstaining from next year.

So, for those of you who have gotten used to a daily dose of Julie...well...I'm taking the week off....at least a week. Maybe more.

So, until next time...

Mother and Friend

I have a cool mom. She is one of my best friends, and I love spending time with her.

Growing up she gave me perm after perm (first one being when I was 3!!), let me play in her makeup (I still love doing that), and did Jane Fonda workout videos every morning (I even joined in sometimes for fun...weird to think of it as fun now but I was little).



I was a handful - either totally happy or totally not. I'm still kinda like that now, but a little bit more mature.



I remember fondly my friends and me sitting on my parents bed chatting with my mom. As a teen, I never really got that whole embarrassment about being with your mom. She was cool. She still is!

In high school, I would often remind my mother that she wasn't a teenager herself and that my friends weren't her age. It was a on-going joke between us. (Not in a creepy Maury Povich Show kind of way) She never completely believed me that she came across that way - as if my friends were her bff's too, but she totally did it all the time. Many might see this as weird, but you have to understand my mom. She is silly and fun and kind hearted. She rarely gets angry (stand back when she does), and always gives good advice. She is just an awesome person.

Well, freshman year of college, mom was helping me move into the dorms. I saw a girl I knew and said hello, chatting for a minute and then got on the elevator. While on our ride up, mom stated, "Oh, she seemed so nice. Is she our age?" (She said it dead serious too) I quickly looked at her with a smile and stated, "No, mom. She is MY age." We both cracked up.



She will always be young at heart, no matter what age her license says! Love you mom!!

Please make my dream come true...

Dear Mr. President (or whomever else can make this happen),

I have a suggestion...a little request that would make my holiday season complete...

Could you change Black Friday into a Federal Holiday??? PLEASSSEEE?? Either that or make Thanksgiving on a Friday? I'll even give up Columbus Day if it means I can have Friday off!

You see, I just feel like my time would be better spent shopping for some great bargains and actually stimulating the economy instead of sitting at my desk and waiting on a small handful of customers. People don't think about doing banking business that day anyway. I know there is that silly Federal law that won't allow banks to be closed 4 days in a row, but really, is that even necessary now a days? With all the technology advancements in the world today, people are still able to access their money. I know they can't make deposits, but that's just a minor detail really. Think of all the money that would be saved/spent if bank employees could have that day off....its mind boggling really.

So anyway, I'm sending you this letter with a hopeful heart that you will hear my plea and change the law.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Julie Nephew, banker extraordinaire

You met who?

So, yesterday while enjoying our Thanksgiving meal, my grandfather (Papa) tells us a story.

Now mind you, Papa has awesome stories, and I love hearing them. He even helped write a book called "Palace on the Prairie: The Marland Family Story" about the Marland Family and the Marland Mansion here in town. He's experienced a lot in his 92 years, but this was one story I wasn't expecting!

Last week, Papa went to Tulsa for a funeral. After it was over, he and a friend went to eat lunch and then came back to the church. As they pulled up, the family of the deceased were also returning from the grave site. A buddy of Papa's asked him to come meet a jester (at least that's what Papa HEARD) and thought he was referring to the Masonic Lodge. (which I don't completely understand, but everyone else at the table did...so I didn't question it). Well, come to find out, it had nothing to do with the lodge. Instead, he was meeting JESSICA SIMPSON!

Ya, the gal who is on my Ipod was shaking my Papa's hand calling him Mr. Northcutt. Come to find out Jessica's agent (or something like that) was also related to the deceased and Jessica was there for support. Funny thing is that Papa had no idea who he was meeting until after the fact when his buddy clued him in to his new friend's identity. Papa just smiled and said, "Well, she was a nice looking young lady."

Too bad there weren't any paparazzi to capture the story!