Drawing Names

This year my side of the family was planning on drawing names again however we weren't all going to be together so I was on a mission to find a website that would do the drawing for us and email us all. My family thought I was crazy and laughed at me when I mentioned it. Apparently I am the only one who would think of this...however my thought is if it is something I'm looking for then someone else has surely created it.

So after a simple Google search I found DrawNames.com. The site can be easily set up by entering all the participants names and email addresses. They are then sent an email to join the group (you are able to also remove a person if they choose not to participate). Once everyone has 'joined' the group, each person is sent an email with their drawn name. Everyone is then able to make a wish list to make it easier for their 'secret santa' to easily find them a gift.

This is such a great way to draw names!

Christmas Caramels

My holiday baking is in full swing and I baked this weekend with a good friend. We made these caramels and they turned out so yummy that I wanted them to have a pretty wrapping too. I had already wrapped them in freezer paper but they looked to plain. So I took a stamp that I had and put a little red Christmas bulb on them. It spruced them up just a touch!

Once was lost...now is found!

The worst part of losing your mind is you never quite know when it may turn up. But I do feel like I found mine again (partially anyway)! After days of searching I finally took Saturday night and searched through EVERY Christmas box I have, looked in the attic of the garage for more boxes (to find none), and then finally looked in the one place that I had Christmas stuff I hadn't checked. Sure enough i had put the labels with the wrapping/tissue paper so I could easily find them (yeah right!).

As for the rug I thought I had purchased last year it has yet to turn up and I'm starting to think that I created it in my mind since I wanted one so bad. So I took my $20 of Kohl's cash and bought one last night. I wasn't about to let this free money go to waste this time!

So all is back in order in my house and I can begin working on my Christmas letter. The envelopes are all set minus the address labels I need to print yet! Can't wait to get that checked off the list.

LOSING IT!

OMG I feel like I am totally losing my mind. I have put up all my Christmas stuff and went to print labels for my Christmas cards and remembered that I had purchased labels 2 years ago to use to the card but forgot last year. Well now this year I can't find them! I feel as if I am losing my mind because I have been through every Christmas box I have (yes there are several!) and I can't find the labels. Now I just remembered that I bought a Christmas rug for the bathroom last year (at least I think I did) and can't find that either! SERIOUSLY my house isn't that big and I feel like I am pretty organized. Where could they be?

Younger Brothers

I guess being the younger brother teaches you things that you wouldn't otherwise know. So after Blake posted a sign to keep Avery out of his room Avery decided it was time he had a sign too. Not knowing how to spell he just put an 'X' on the sign and that was sufficient for Blake to know it was meant for him. It was very cute! And it wasn't long before both signs were down and they were once again playing in each other's rooms.

What would we do for entertainment if we didn't have kids?

And it begins...

This is the sign that Blake made this weekend to keep everyone out of his room. He was apparently sick of his brother going in his room and making a mess that he ended up cleaning up. I really can't blame him but found it extremely funny that he added the names of the daycare kids too (although they aren't allowed in his room anyway). However, mom and dad did not make the list! I thought we had quite a few years before this stuff started happening but I guess not!

Reminiscing...

Today is the 10th anniversary of the day Mike proposed to me. I had drug him out to the ring store on duck opener (after he finished hunting of course) to show him the ring that I wanted. I had gone shopping with my aunt and picked it out since he was dragging his feet about it. I called him and told him that I had it picked out and he came to the mall in his camo (and duck blood too I believe) to buy the ring. He abliged and we also picked one out for him.

A few weeks later, two days prior to my 21st birthday, he popped the question. I should have known something was up as he was home from work and showered when I got home that day. He was watching TV and wanted me to sit on his lap so I did. He then said 'I have a question to ask you'. I don't remember the rest of the conversation but it wasn't some long drawn out romantic proposal but the question was asked and I answered YES! We've made a lot of great memories in the past 10 years and in 5.5 months we will celebrate our 10th Anniversary. I can't believe it's been that long but it has been a great ride so far!