Five Question Friday

1. Have you ever been robbed and how did you handle it?
Yes. All my jewelry was stolen in February. (See this post for more.)

As for handling it, I suppose I've handled it pretty well. Sometimes I still, all these months later, go to get dressed and reach for my earring box or something I used to wear with a particular outfit and I feel quite bereft when that item isn't there. Nothing I had was extremely valuable but it was mine and I loved my things.

So: still sad. But managing. Still very thankful that, as sad as I am about losing my jewelry, no one was hurt and nothing more serious was taken.

2. What do you do at a kids function when Parents don't behave? Meaning they are the ones being impatient and rude.
No idea.  Most kid functions we've been to have been friends and family. If it did happen, I'd most likely just leave.

3. Have you heard of a potty party? Will you/have you had one for your child(ren)?
I have not heard of it and therefore, no, probably not.

4. How young do you think kids should be when they start taking swim lessons?
Our local pool takes 2 year olds if Mom or Dad gets in with them. In my observation that is generally a waste of money. 3 or 4 year olds who want to swim seem to get on faster. If a child is afraid of the water I'd wait until 5 or 6 (which we did) so that they're tall enough to stand in the shallow end.

5. What makes you happy?
The salvation God has given me, spending time with Philip, snuggling Baby Boy, laughing with my girls, whipped cream on coffee (or anything), Coke Floats, Cherry Limeades from Sonic, Vanilla Coke at Frisch's, puppies (other people's puppies), swimming in Grandpa's pool, planning adventures, reading a mystery I've never read before, British TV shows, getting free stuff, finding a deal at a thrift store, making lists, beautiful flowers in a vase, writing when the muse is upon me, planning a new homeschool year, using our new camera, and many other things. Small things are the happiest things.

So, how about you?
This post is linked to Five Question Friday at My Little Life.

Five Question Friday

1. What do you appreciate most about your children's Dad?
Besides everything? OK. A few specific things that come to mind:
He's a fabulous listener (to them and to me).
He plays with the girls (and now, the boy): games - oh, so many games; Playmobil; Legos.
He leads our family but quietly and graciously.
He's easy going and easy to please.
He prays with us and for us.
He says no to many other things so he can say yes to us.
He leaves no doubt that we are his favorite people on the planet.

2. Do you always wear your seat belt?
Always. Get in car, buckle up. That's how it works.

3. Do you dream and do you remember them?
Everyone dreams. Sometimes I remember them and sometimes I don't. Sometimes I wish I didn't. My dreams that I remember are vivid and Technicolor. I remember bad dreams I had from when I was a kid. I try to limit what movies and TV shows I watch and this is one reason why. If I watched a truly scary movie I'd have bad dreams for the REST OF MY NATURAL LIFE. Not worth it.

4. What is one thing you swore you'd never let your kids do before having them, that you have now changed your ways about?
I have no idea. My husband and I are pretty secure in our parenting but we're also fairly flexible when we need to be. I don't remember making any draconian statements starting with, "Our kids will never..."

5. If you could be granted one wish, what would it be?
More wishes? Seriously though, I am living an amazing and blessed by God life. As much as I might wish for certain circumstances to be different (I'd be taller, we'd have a bigger house, steaks would be affordable...) there is no way I would wish to be anyone else living any different life.

So, how 'bout you?
This post is linked to Five Question Friday at My Little Life.

Five Question Friday

1. Do you wake before the alarm or stay in bed until the last possible second?
Last second. I'm one of those crazy folks who would rather set the alarm for the minute I need to get up and then just GET UP ALREADY. My husband, who actually uses the alarm (I get up and go to sleep with the Baby Boy these days), prefers the "set the alarm for an hour early and then hit snooze every nine minutes until he finally gets up" method.

Drives. Me. Nuts.

2. Who should get a baby shower? Is it just the first baby or all babies?
I grew up in Tennessee where they threw a shower for every baby.

Now I live in Ohio and it's One Shower Per Customer Per Lifetime.

Naturally, I'll admit that I prefer the Tennessee way. But, I also appreciate those folks up here who, though they do not throw a shower, still help out the growing family and celebrate each new baby.

Babies are always an occasion for celebrating, even if you don't have a shower.

3. How will you spend Memorial Day?
This is the first year in a long time I won't be spending it with my paternal grandparents and extended family. I am sad about that.

However, my in-laws are coming in for a visit and we get to spend the weekend with them and I am happy about that. We'll probably grill something and play games but I have no idea what our specific plans are.

4. Do you have a Storm/Hurricane/Tornado/Fire plan for your kids, house..?
Well, we did at our other house. We just talked about what we would do here in the rental house this week. We need to spend a little more time on this, honestly.

5. What is your favorite morning drink?
I drink a hot cup of Constant Comment tea every morning. I also usually drink some OJ to take my allergy pill and a vitamin. I'm not sure those are my "favorite" morning drinks ever but they are pretty set routine.

So, what are your plans for the long weekend?
This post is linked to Five Question Friday at My Little Life.

Five Question Friday

1. Who drives when your family is together, you or your spouse?
Philip, almost always. I don't love driving, other drivers, or cars in general. I'll drive if he's really tired or something, but otherwise it's always him.

2. Are you an introvert or extrovert?
Introvert. (This post discusses this in more detail, complete with Myers-Briggs typology)

3. Are you married to an introvert or extrovert?
He's an introvert. But on the scale of Introvert to Extrovert, he's more extrovert than I am. (Clear?)

4. What's your favorite type of social media?
Facebook. Or Pinterest. Those are the two that I waste spend the most time on. I've tried Google plus and it's just not clicking with me. And I love Twitter, but I use it more as a "scan to see what's going on" type thing.

5. What's your favorite way to "recharge"?
Quiet evenings at home with Philip, hot chocolate (or a bowl of ice cream, depending on the season), & a good book for usual recharging. (I, as an introvert, require a lot of recharging.)

Night away at a hotel, eating out, and swimming in a nice indoor pool for every once in awhile recharging. (With or without kids. Although the "without kids" type is a rare occasion indeed.)

Another way I recharge is to go thrifting all by myself. I love thrift stores and treasure hunting. My older girls are pretty fun to take thrifting but the younger ones move it from a recharging / relaxing experience into a "hurry and get this done before someone - maybe even me - melts down".

So, how about you? How do you recharge?
This post is linked to Five Question Friday at My Little Life.

Five Question Friday

1. Where do you hide things from your kids?
My husband and I have hidden things in our closets, under our bed or in the basement. Our kids are pretty good about not going through things that don't belong to them. This answer relates to things like Christmas presents, birthday presents, etc.

As for the "grown-up" candy (AKA good chocolate or such), we have a separate container for that. It's right in the kitchen and the kids know where it is but they DO NOT MESS WITH IT on pain of Mom seriously losing her cool. (Even my girls know that Mom needs that chocolate.)

2. What is your favorite rainy day activity for bored toddlers?
Playing in the sink (Water! Bubbles!), playdough, finger painting, or putting on boots and jackets and playing in the rain (provided it's not a thunderstorm, of course). Otherwise, they just do what toddlers do. I am not an activities director. I will suggest activities but my kids are - for the most part - on their own. They make their own fun or read a book or I have a list of chores that need to be done (for older kids) or a comfy bed for naptime (for littles).

I've found that if the older kids are busily playing (or busy with schoolwork since we homeschool), then the toddler will play as well. Our two year old has never been bored, as far as I can tell.

3. Are you a punctual person or are you always running a few minutes (or more!) late??
I prefer to be punctual. Really, I prefer to be early. Unless it's an activity where I think we might be the first people there. Then I like to be slightly late. Being first to a party is kind of annoying.

4. When eating out, do you prefer off the beaten path "Mom and Pop" cafes or tried and true national food chains?
Chains. Unless I have a really good reference from some I greatly trust in culinary matters. Greasy spoons and hole-in-the-wall places are not my thing. Unless, as I said, someone I trust has suggested I eat there.

5. Does your significant other snore? Do YOU snore?
No. And no. Although all bets are off if we have head colds. Otherwise: no.

My apologies for the sporadic posting here lately. Things are getting kind of crazy around here: Baby Boy due in 4 weeks. Closing on this house in less than 2. Crazy times, indeed. If you feel so inclined, please pray that these things happen they way they are supposed to and that all the INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED logistics work out. (Oh, and you could throw in a prayer that someone moves out of a spacious but inexpensive house that we can snap up and move into before the end of the summer. That'd be awesome.)

This post is linked to Five Question Friday at My Little Life.

Five Question Friday

1. Would you go to your high school reunion?
I would, but it would be a party of 1.

I am a homeschool graduate {she said proudly, smugly}. Which means I was a graduating class of one (and yes, that also means I was top of my class). 

I also went with Philip to his high school reunion. We had a good time with our good friends we see on a regular (read: yearly) basis but he seemed mostly reminded of why he had lost touch with the rest.

All in all, I don't think I'm missing much. (Or we could count my family get togethers as my reunions. In which case: sign me up! I love it when we're all together.)

2. What's something that you've recently splurged on; either for yourself or someone else?
Does a $10 pass to a homeschool buying extravaganza and a $5 Decaf Raspberry Mocha Frappaccino count? That's what I splurged on today. Other than that I can't think of much.

3. How do you handle your child's fever?
We try to let it run its course unless the child is completely miserable. Then we call in the Tylenol or Ibuprofen.

Otherwise: lots of liquid, rest, and cuddles with Dad & Mom.

4. What's the nicest thing to happen to you lately?
Um...My husband watched the kids all afternoon so I could go buy homeschool curriculum (and a Frap). We had Root Beer floats last night. My dad took us for ice cream on Wednesday. I took the two youngest to the park Tuesday for a good playground romp and short walk (all I could handle and even then "walk" is a generous term for what we did. "Waddle" might be better.). Oh, and my dad brought me chocolate. (How bad is it that most of my "nice things" are to do with food?!)

We think our house appraisal and inspection are over. If so, that's a really nice thing. If not, then scratch that.

If it sounds like I'm trying to be grateful for little things, then you are correct.

I've been in a lousy mood lately and not very good company for the folks around me. I hoping this improves once a) we're done selling this house, b) Baby Boy arrives on time, healthy & safe, and c) we have a nice new-to-us house to move into. Meanwhile, I need to focus on counting the little blessings.

5. What is your current favorite song?
Narrow it down to just one? Not gonna happen. But here are some favorites right now (links are to Amazon mp3 tracks):
I Have A Dream (It Feels Like Home)- The City Harmonic
Ho Hey- The Lumineers
I Will Wait- Mumford and Sons (could seriously listen to this CD - minus one track - on constant repeat)

So, what's your favorite song right now? And could someone explain to me what, exactly, is the attraction of getting together 10-20-30 years later with people you didn't like to begin with?
This post is linked to Five Question Friday hosted at My Little Life.

Five Question Friday

1. What is one thing you wish you did not have to teach your children?
I wish we didn't have to talk about "tricky people" (what people used to call stranger danger or just Child Abductors / Abusers in general) or things like s*xting. (The latter came up this week when Thriving Family magazine was discussing it. My 11 yr old daughter - who does not have a cell phone - brought the article to me and asked, "What does this even mean?")

2. What are you going to use since Google Reader is going away?
I've made the switch to Feedly. I don't love it...yet. But I think I will get used to it and maybe even like it better than Google Reader once I get used to it. (P.S. Google - you stink. This is why people hate you. Get people to use your stuff and then pull it out from under them. And no, I do not wish to switch to Chrome at this time. Give me a break. If I could get away without using any of your services I would. Maybe that switch from Blogger over to WordPress is not such a bad idea...)

3. British comedy; Hilarious or strange?
Both. Depends on what specific thing you're talking about. I love the quieter humor (or should that be "humour"?) of some British shows (Like "As Time Goes By") and I think things like Monty Python or Benny Hill are nearly incomprehensible and not worth my trouble.

4. Do you prefer card games or board games?
For a quick game, you can't beat a card game. But my husband is a board game designer (Shameless spousal advertisement: check out his latest which is doing a Kickstarter campaign right now.) so I feel nearly honor bound to say of course I love board games best. This one, my husband's first, is my favorite:

I also love the games Settlers of Catan, Ticket To Ride, Dixit, Apples to Apples, and Catch Phrase. (And let me clear up any confusion: no, my husband did not design any of these. The games he's designed that are available to buy right now can be seen in my blog's left side bar. There are more to come but those are out now. And yes, I sure wish he had designed Settlers. We could happily have retired by now.)

5. Will winter ever end?
No. It will always be Winter and never Christmas.

Just kidding.

Of course it will end! The days are already getting longer. We're buying things like Easter dresses and planning for Spring. It will happen. (Just not soon enough to suit most of us, I guess.)

So, how about you? Do you have a preferred alternative to Google Reader? Have you played a board game recently? This everlasting Winter is great for family board game nights...

This post is linked to Five Question Friday at My Little Life.
This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Action taken with these links could result in compensation for me. And if you happen to buy one of my husband's games (see my left sidebar), he gets a small royalty from that too.

Five Question Friday

1. Does your family coordinate clothing for church on holidays like Easter?
Not exactly.  I don't dress us all in matchy-matchy outfits. But we do end up coordinating somewhat. My younger girls like to wear matching clothes even when it's not a special occasion.

We'll see what happens this year - my grandma and I are going to take the girls shopping for Easter dresses. I suspect it will be a fun adventure, considering the strong opinions all my girls have on what they wear.

2. How do you get out of a funk?
- cheerful music
- finishing something
- good nap
- time alone with Philip
- time alone with God
- time alone

3. Online friends - real friendships or not?
Definitely real. Can't imagine life without some of my friends I've made because of this blog. They've encouraged me, prayed for me, and grown with me. I hope I've done the same for them. 

4. What is the one food you must eat in a restaurant (not make yourself)?
Chinese food (other than simple stir-fries or my husband's fantastic Orange Chicken). I don't make a lot of Asian inspired dishes here at home because the ingredients lists tend to be a mile long. So much easier just to pick it up.

5. What would happen in your home if you ran out of ketchup?
Nothing disastrous. One time I mixed up some homemade ketchup to tide us over. It worked OK. My kids are not exactly the, "Put ketchup on everything" kind of kids. But whoa unto the fast food workers who do not put in ketchup packets when we go through the drive-through. Pretty sure I've heard my children call down a pox upon their heads.

So, what about you?
This post is linked to Five Question Friday at My Little Life.

Five Question Friday

1. What was the most productive thing you have done this week?
Well, we did a lot of Science-y, lapbook type Volcano stuff for school this week. (I used these materials from Homeschool Share) We also pulled off a "Pink, Red, & Zebra" party for Miss Sweet Pea on Sunday afternoon. That felt fairly productive.

I didn't go much of anywhere or do much of anything this week. And, other than dealing with the theft of my jewelry, that means it was a fairly decent week, after two non-stop weeks of activity and Big Emotional Things.

2. Enjoying the winter or ready for spring?
Spring. Now. Please.

3. Are you an introvert or extrovert? Is your spouse the same as you?
I've answered this before but here goes again: Introvert. INTJ on the Meyers-Briggs construct.

4. Would you rather go without music or television for 1 year?
Television. No contest. We never watch television now. We watch the occasional show or movie on our computer but we don't have cable, satellite, or even Netflix (Yet. Someone gave us a subscription but we're still discussing it.)

Music, on the other hand, is like breathing. It is necessary for life. (And I still prefer my Crosley that plays records, CDs and the radio to my mp3 player. I'm old fashioned like that and I like music the whole family can enjoy at once.)

5. Have you ever been truly scared of someone?
Yes. Primarily of people who give me that "Something's not right there" vibe. Predictable meanies can often be avoided. Mentally unstable people = terrifying.

And after having our home broken into last Sunday, I have to admit that I'm scared to leave our house unattended and, though I'm not actually scared of the guilty kids, it really creeps me out to think about someone being in my home that way.

Home should be a castle, right? Well, right now I'm thinking this castle needs a moat and some alligators and some hot boiling tar (you know: just in case). I suspect I'll settle for an alarm system.

How 'bout you?
This post is linked to Five Question Friday hosted at My Little Life.

Five Question Friday

1. What holiday do you wish did not exist?
Any of the made up "not a real holiday" types.

2. What is your favorite romance/love movie?
 

North and South (miniseries), Pride and Prejudice (miniseries), Persuasion, and A Room with a View.




Period dramas for the win!

3. Do you make a big production out of celebrating Valentine's Day?
No, not really. We certainly don't decorate or spend a lot of money on it. (Although it is the anniversary of our first date and the anniversary of the day we got engaged - 1997 and 1998, respectively.)

We're just not very good at making a big deal out of things, I guess.

However, my girls have asked me to make these cookies for them again this year and I plan to oblige.

4. What is something weird you did as a child? (or even now!)
Oh, my. Let's just say I had a very active imagination and carried on long sagas in my head (and sometimes out loud). I think this has carried over into adulthood but it's better channeled these days. (That urge to write stories doesn't just go away...)

5. What makes you love your husband, really LOVE him, you know since Valentines is coming up?
There is no blog post long enough but I'll attempt to explain it once again:
He "gets" me and loves me anyway.
He loves God and wants to serve Him, know more about Him, and continually grow in Him.
He makes me laugh (and I make him laugh, so that's nice).
He's the best father I know.
He's creative and smart (which is more than simply agreeing with me, although he does 99% of the time, ahem).
He's incredibly good looking. (It's not shallow, it's true.)
He's the person I most want to talk to about anything, the person I most want to spend time with anywhere, and the person whose attention I crave the most.

So it's really nice that we get to be married, is what I'm saying.

So, what about you? Do you make a big deal for Valentine's Day?
This post is linked to Five Question Friday at My Little Life.
Movie images in this post are Amazon Affiliate links.

Five Question Friday

1. What is your favorite book to read with your kids?
Oh, so many! But my favorite might be Little House in the Big Woods. It's my favorite "Little House" book and I don't get tired of reading it. As for picture books, well, I love lots of the old ones:





And, the new classic:


2. After having kids, what body part has changed the most?
Shorter list: what hasn't changed. And I'm having trouble coming up with any examples for that list too.

3. Would you ever go back to college? What would you study?
Some day, maybe. When the kids are grown (minimum of 18 years and 3 months from now). I've got time to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I love learning and I love study and I'm not afraid of class work. Narrowing down my options and figuring out how to pay for it would be the big questions.

4. How do you close a phone call? Bye, bye bye or other?
Bye. I think. I don't make a lot of phone calls. When Philip calls me we always end with, "Love you," but I don't find that appropriate for all other phone call situations.

5. What is the one food that will always be your "cheat food" on a diet?
Well, I don't diet, per se, so I guess that means all foods are my cheat foods. I'd be hard pressed to give up chocolate under any circumstances so I guess that makes it my #1 Cheat.

So, how about you?
This post is linked to Five Question Friday at My Little Life.
This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Action taken with these links could result in compensation for me.

Five Question Friday

1. Do you embrace or dread snow/cold weather days?
 I love cold, snowy days.  I do not love

• driving in snow or ice or anyone I love having to drive in snow or ice
• ice storms that take out power lines

A snowy day which we spend inside our cozy house, watching the snow fall, reading & drinking hot cocoa? My idea of a good time. (Side note: today is just such a day. Except for Philip is out and I don't like that. I wish he were here with us.)

2. Which game show or reality show could you totally win?
Not sure but probably something with trivia. I have (perhaps sadly) a great memory for trivia. Anything that required physical activity I would not do well. If only there was a reality show about reading books - I would totally own that. {wink}

3. What is your preferred climate?
Despite my occasional grumbles about the weather, I have to admit that my favorite is some place with all four seasons. I don't love ice and I don't love super hot but I love to watch the seasons change.

4. What do you buy every time you walk into the grocery store, no matter what?
Milk. Usually eggs, bananas, and cheese, too.

5. If you see a spider/bug in the house, are you brave enough to kill it, or do you call for your hubby?
That depends. If he's home - I call him. If he's not - I handle it. This only applies to spiders and bugs. Mice, birds, snakes, and other creatures of a varmint nature are his to deal with. (He's got some great raccoon stories to tell.)

So, how 'bout you?
This post is linked to Five Question Friday hosted by My Little Life.

Five Question Friday

1. Have you set any goals/resolutions for 2013?
I made a little list. I'm trying to focus on just a few things instead of taking on everything all at once. January makes me want to do that: declutter everything, fix every bad habit, start every good habit I've ever heard of but haven't applied, lose 20 lbs, make elaborate homeschool schedules...

I have to fight that tendency because when I try to do everything: nothing gets done. So I have some specific things I want to work on right now: I want to blog consistently 4-5 times a week, I want to learn more about our new camera and take better pictures, I want our family to start a prayer journal, I want to read 10 more books than last year, and I want to read aloud to my children more consistently than I have been the last few months. There are a few more things on my list but it's pretty low key, all in all.

2. Have you made any travel/vacation plans for 2013?
Well, not exactly. I'm not sure a family vacation is going to happen this year, with a new baby coming in May. But Philip and I have already started dreaming about what we might do in Summer 2014 - our 15th Wedding anniversary. We went to the UK for our 10th and it would have to be a pretty amazing experience to top that.

3. What room is never cleaned in your house?
Our house is 5 rooms including the bathroom. They all get cleaned on a regular basis, although I'm willing to admit that my idea of regular may be different from yours. The only place that doesn't get cleaned is the basement, not-so-lovingly referred to by me as "The Cellar" (when I'm feeling generous) or "The Dungeon" (when I'm not).

4. What food must be in your house at all times?
Coffee - for Philip, dark chocolate - for me, and eggs. As long as we have a carton of eggs no one will go hungry.

5. Are you a hugger or more of a hands off person?
Hugs from family (or friends who are like family) = good stuff. Hugs from random folks that haven't really moved into "like family" status in my mind = awkward. I'm a firm believer in the "side hug" for most situations.

I'm pretty big on physical affection as one of my primary love languages (See this book for more on that subject: The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts) but I'm not a fan of forced affection.

My husband is starting to figure out that I operate a lot better when he makes sure to hug me for no reason multiple times a day. But if random acquaintances and friends started trying to hug me every time they see me, I'd shut down. So I guess that means I'm not a "hugger". (A term which always makes me think about that mean purple bear in Toy Story 3. "One thing you have to know about me: I'm a hugger." Creepy.)

How about you? Want to share your 2013 resolutions? Planning any exciting travel this year? Do tell!
This post is linked to 5 Question Friday at My Little Life.

Five Question Friday

1. How many times have you moved and do you have any tips?
Just a few - when I was four (I'm guessing I wasn't a lot of help with this one), when I was 18 (got married and therefore had very few possessions of my own to move), when I was 19 (moved out of state but from one apartment to another, still not many possesssions), once when I was 20 (bought our house). I have no advice on this subject, alas.

Anyone else have advice on how to sell a too small house in this {muttering darkly} economy?

2. Do you have a budget for the holidays, or just keep sliding the credit card and have a heart attack in Jan?
Budget - complete with Excel spreadsheet.  We keep a certain amount of money set aside in savings all year long for this, after all, Christmas comes EVERY year on December 25. It does not qualify as an emergency.

Then towards the end of November we look at our spreadsheet, add the new babies who have come along, and refine a bit. We are as flexible as we can be (no weeping and wailing if we go over a dollar or two) and as strict as we can be (no, "But she would really love an iPod")

3. What is the one medical thing you avoid like the plague?
The dentist. I am very good about going to the OB/GYN. I see my regular doctor on a fairly regular basis to keep my problematic lungs functional. I see the Eye Doctor every year, so she'll let me buy more contacts. I never go to the dentist. I can't remember the last time I did and I am not exaggerating. We're planning to go next year, after we get the three older girls done (we take one child every three months, rotating, and with Polly going every other time since she has such extreme dental issues). I dread it like nothing else. Maybe I should try one of those new sedation dentists?

4. What your least favorite Christmas song?
Oh, honey, do I have a list for you: Top 10 Worst Christmas Songs.

I'm also kind of a Christmas song stickler: some versions of certain songs are The Best And Shall Never Be Improved and so other people should stop covering them. Some examples:

• The Christmas Song. You only need the Nat 'King' Cole version of this. It's definitive. You are not Nat 'King' Cole, therefore, you ought not to cover it. Write your own song.
• Blue Christmas. Only Elvis has the right balance of happy / sad in this song. Everyone else makes me think this song is why suicides supposedly go up at Christmas time.
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. This song belongs to Judy Garland and I have the movie to prove it (Meet Me in St. Louis). Some newer versions are OK, but they're not dynamite.

I'll have to think about and make a more definitive list another time. Any song you love that you hate to see "covered" by some caterwauling singer of today?

5. This Christmas are you spending more, less or about the same? Why?
About the same but slightly more because God has blessed our family with several new members.

In further news, you will be glad to hear that the snowman mugs are now out and in use, the wreath is on the front door and the girls are encouraged by these signs. Still no tree yet, but soon is looking sooner than it did earlier in the week.

How about you? Budget or fly by the seat of your credit card? Least favorite Christmas song? Encouraging words about going to the dentist (surely not)? Do tell!
And, because it wouldn't do to forget: Happy Birthday to my sister Lulu! I hope it's a fabulous day and you enjoy your massage. Take it as easy as you know how.
This post is linked to Five Question Friday at My Little Life.

Five Question Friday

1} What snack/drinks do you eat at the movies?
None because I am far too frugal to pay those prices. Also: the last movie I went to was a year ago. See: too frugal. Going to the movies is not really my thing and taking children under the age of five to the movies is REALLY, REALLY Not My Thing, like I would rather have a gynecologist appointment than take toddlers to the movies.
If money were no object and I actually went to the movies more than once a year, I'd probably want a Cherry Coke and some Sno-caps. The popcorn always smells good but I know from experience that it never tastes as good as it smells.

2} What's one food you refuse to ever try?
Balut.

Otherwise, I'll generally try anything once. And I love a lot of foods that other people seem to hate: oysters, squid, artichokes, asparagus...I could go on.

3} What's your favourite nail polish color?
Don't have one. Rarely ever paint my nails. Can't stand for my daughters to have their nails painted, either. (Nail polish on little girls = immediately chipped = immediately untidy looking little girls) If I do paint my nails or toenails, it's generally a pale pink or white.

4} What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?
Listening to Christmas music when it's over.

Philip and I have never owned a house large enough to host Thanksgiving for ourselves. So we've never really established traditions for our family, which would make me sad if I thought about it too much. So I don't. I just look forward to cranking up the Christmas music. Christmas = lots of traditions for us.

5} What are your least favorite words in the English language?
Moist, vomit, insurance, construction, and spinster.

I could go on, but I won't.

What words would make your list?
 Five Question Friday is being hosted by Kate's Life this week.