hope1976

We have a digital picture frame, but it doesn't require anything from us other than a memory card. Ours simply gets plugged into the wall and we can operate it from a menu on the top of the frame. We got ours as a wedding present a month ago and they got it off of ebay - I love it

Those are beautiful! :) On that note, I need to tell a funny story.... When I clicked on that link, I wasn't expecting a midi to be playing LOL - DH and I starting searching for one of our 10 month old's toys thinking that it turned on by itself

I didn't bake last year as I was on strict bedrest while I was pregnant ... This year, though, I'm going all out Here's one I found on a Nestle Hot Cocoa packet LOL...not a cookie, but sounds yummy! Peanutty Chocolate Truffles Ingredients: 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margerine (softened)1 teaspoon vanilla extract1/3 cup Milk Chocolate Nestle Hot Cocoa Mix1 cup powdered sugar1 cup finely chopped cocktail peanutsDirections LINE baking sheets with waxed paper.BEAT peanut butter, butter, and vanilla extract in medium bowl until creamy. Combine cocoa mix and powdered sugar in another bowl. Stir into peanut butter mixture.PLACE peanuts in flat dish. Scoop peanut butter mixture into 1 1/2 inch balls; roll in peanuts to coat. Place on prepared baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm.Serving Size: 24 truffles (I believe this is how many the recipe makes, not what you should consider a serving size )

I found the commercial at the Kohl's site - click HERE. As far as the name of it....Not really sure LOL - I searched for it, but no luck

Yeah, mine does too - I think some of the "special" items they get JUST for BF, they keep at those prices...Little People sets, CPK Newbords, Care Bears...that's what mine did last year :) Amazingly though, they don't have any computers left at BF prices

Oh my goodness!!! I'm glad I read this post! We don't have any batteries to charge, but we have a lot of batteries to buy...I always forget those and we end up spending like $20 on batteries at the gas station Definitely going on my layaway receipt so I don't forget

Ok, so I know this isn't exactly a portait, but I'm thinking of getting prints made. I love working with Paint Shop Pro and I had a ball today, since we got our first actual snow (at least that stuck to the ground LOL)...Thought I'd share and have a little "brag" moment We do have 2 other kids, but one was inside sleeping (10 months) and one was at school (7) so our 4 year old was the lucky one I haven't seen a whole lot of pictures posted, so if I'm in the wrong, someone let me know http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/woodie1976/Amy/FirstSnowCollageSmall.jpg

Once the Christmas decorations, etc hit the stores, I'm all about Christmas shopping LOL....Now what REALLY gets me in the mood is Black Friday...between then and Christmas, watch out - you give me money and send me to Walmar to buy a few things that are needed (example: toilet paper), don't expect me to come home with any $$$ left

I was watching HGTV and they had something really cool on there - not sure if you have a mantle or anything, but this required a board painted white (or whatever color, I suppose), drill a bunch of random holes part way through, and get some thick bendable wire to bend into spirals a the top to hold the cards (kind of like those photo holders they have out). Then you put the whole thing on the mantle. I thought it was cute - but have no fireplace LOL

I agree - that's very sad that people don't have anything better to do than to take advantage of someone else Thanks so much for the tip - I never would think of anyone in my town doing that because it's so small, but I guess I should think twice.

I said that 10 months ago...only I wish I had the willpower I had no choice but to break down and buy some clothes (she's 10 months old) I think it's harder with this one because I get even less sleep, so the carbs keep me going when I lose energy (and chocolate...and pepsi...LOL)

That story gave me goosebumps That's so sweet of you!!!

I watch Christmas movies all year round Actually, I do though...Although I take a break from end of summer until Thanksgiving time. We have watched Christmas with the Kranks I don't even know how many times...Put it this way...I did a search on holiday and Christmas for our DVR to record everything and anything We have Santa Clause 2, Christmas Vacation, Mickeys Twice upon a Christmas to name a few.... We watch at least one Christmas movie or show per day.

I really like that idea!!! I may have to bring that up to the school about next year That's a really good way for letting kids do their OWN Christmas shopping in a safe place. I would send money with my kids to school for something like that! See, here's what I was suggest to the school - let me know if they do something like this.... I would say the last day they're at school before Christmas, let them shop for so long per grade or class. OR let them do it the whole week before that and just tag the gifts with the students name on it. So that way they don't bring it home until they HAVE to. THEN...on that last day, let the kids wrap their presents in their classrooms as an activity (depending on age - our kids are young yet LOL). Ooooo...I really really like that LOL (can you tell)

I didn't get any on BF, but instead went on Sunday to get the things we wanted - they were from Walmart and not on sale at all. Here's What I got.... DD1 - 2 Pr of 2pc pj's (1 Disney Princess & 1 Pooh), and an outfit DS4 - 2 Pr of 2pc pj's (1 Buzz Lightyear & 1 Tigger), and an outfit DS7 - 1 Pr of 2pc pj's (video games on it), and an outfit Now the oldest didn't get as much because his were more expensive and we spent more on other things for him (he doesn't get excited about getting clothes like the other son The little ones' pj's were 6.92 each set and the older ones were 9.98. The outfits...DD's was 2.88 per piece (pants & shirt - snowbunny theme), DS4 was a 3 pc set with warm up pants, long sleeve football t-shirt, and zip up hooded sweatshirt for $6.50 total, while DS7's was a 2 piece warm up pants with hooded fleece sweatshirt for $8.88. I know it wasn't all that good of deals, but it was about $60 total for all of them, so I don't think it was all THAT bad. They don't get "new" clothes except for at Christmas time. The reason being is that we have a brand name kids consignment shop here in town that has sales 2 times a year...each sale is where you can fill a walmart bag (until it's ripping at the seams) for a total of $6.00 per bag I can clothe our kids for a year on about $60 total for all 3, so I splurge at Christmas time a little :)

I would love to do a theme tree...just not right now. Once we get a bigger home where we can have 2 different trees, one will be themed and one will be traditional. I just don't know if I can go through a Christmas without my "traditional" Christmas tree with the multicolored lights and shiny ornaments to go on it

I have a story from last year that still to this day brings tears to my eyes when I think about it....Long story, but well worth it. Last year, I did BF, so we got some pretty decent deals. Our boys each got 3 presents, but they were good ones. So I wrapped them up on Christmas Eve (2 from us and 1 from Santa). Well in the middle of wrapping presents, on Christmas Eve, I ran out of tape, so I had to run to the store quick to get some. While I was gone, I had received a phone call. Hubby told me about it when I got home that a woman called and asked if I could meet her at a local church (we don't belong to it, nor do we know anyone who does). When he asked her if I could give her a call when I got home, she said she would get ahold of me in an hour or so. She told him she had some gifts for us. So, about an hour and a half later, the phone rings and it's this woman again - she never gave her name or anything. I told her I'd be right down. Normally I wouldn't do anything like this, but for some reason I wasn't worried at all. I went to this church and parked in the empty parking lot (downtown). I just got out and was starting to head up to the door when the woman started walking towards me. She was absolutely beautiful. She came up, gave me a hug and said that there were a couple gifts for the kids inside. So we walked in and there was one room lit up - that's where the gifts were. Now before I go on, I was 8 months pregnant and we did not know for sure what the sex of the baby was. I was on bedrest from about 6 months on, and getting into the season was a little tough for me that year. I also need to say that hubby and I pretty much keep to ourselves in town because that's just how we are. So we don't know a lot of people - and the ones that we talk to we know quite well. Anyway...We walked into this room where there were 3 different 6 foot tables set up - all heaping with gifts. Each table for for one of the kids (yes, including the baby that wasn't even born). She showed me all the presents for the boys (which were wrapped already). They each had 16 gifts each!!! Then she walked me over the table with the gifts for the baby - there were 10 of those. She said to me..."Now, you think it's a girl right?" I confirmed it...then she said, "And you have another month yet, is that right?" I confirmed that also. Kind of creeped me out at first, but then once again, it was like I'd known this woman for a long time. So she carried all the gifts to my car (she wouldn't let me carry them due to being so pregnant). The gifts filled my trunk, backseat, and front seat. I couldn't see anything besides out the windshield and driver side window. So when I was all ready, she gave me a big hug and told me to have a wonderful Christmas and to know that everyone was thinking of us. So I asked her to hold on while I started my car (it was freezing). I said good bye and thank you once again and turned to get in my car. I turned around again (now this was maybe 5 seconds at most) and the lights were off and no one was around. I believe this woman was an and I always will. Well when I got home, I explained it all to Tim and made him come out to the car (all the gifts were wrapped already). As soon as we got the boys to bed, we brought everything in and peeked in the boys' gifts so that we knew if there were any doubles. Surprisingly there weren't at all. So our living room was FULL of gifts for the kids - each with almost 20 presents plus stocking stuffers. I then labeled all the new gifts from Santa and the others all from us. Ok, ending of the story here We looked through the baby gifts that we had gotten and I couldn't believe everything there was. There was about 8 different outfits, 3 toys, and a stuffed animal. To top it all off....tucked into 4 of the gifts were gift cards for Walmart (the only place we shop mind you). 2 of them were for $100 each, 1 for $50 and 1 for $20. I was in complete shock. All I could do was cry. I asked everyone we knew - includind MIL and she said WOW - she doesn't eve know anyone in that church either. So I don't know what the deal was, but I will always believe in miracles :)

Got the tree up the day after Thanksgiving just like every year and the lights are up outside, but no other decorations are up yet inside I have to do the "year round" stuff switcheroo with all the Christmas stuff. Gotta get a box to put it all in

Here, ALL presents are wrapped and there's usually 2-3 from Santa (depending on how many gifts total there are). It's usually a half and half thing though. All from Santa are wrapped in different paper though. Last year, however, Santa had to "borrow" some of our wrapping paper because he ran out in the North Pole

I know of a family here that does their Christmas the week after actually. They do get together on Christmas day for a meal, but don't actually do gift exchange until the week after. There are either 8 or 9 kids (all grown) pllus grandkids, etc. and they shop after Christmas when they can get things a lot cheaper. A lot of them use their Christmas bonuses from work to shop. I always hit the day after Christmas and I love it! Not that I buy presents, but I buy decorations, etc for the next year and I always manage to buy some things for myself

I got the HP from walmart that was $88.00. Not the best camera from what I've heard, but will do what I need it to. We have a Fuji Finepix camera (not sure what model, but it's only a couple months old and it wasn't cheap). It's too complicated for me LOL...this way, I can have my own to snap pictures and don't have to wait for hubby to extract them

Our boys make more things or wrap up one of their own toys for each other LOL - they're 7 & 4. It's so cute. We usually do make sure that each kid gets the other a small gift though. The kids usually shop last minute for us or we just buy and mark it from them. They can't keep secrets

What does everyone dominantly decorate for the season with??? I have a few Santa things, but have gotten rid of many of them throughout the past few years. I do a FEW tree things around the house, but mainly SNOWMEN!!! Here's why....Hubby used to complain that Santa didn't come until December, so why was he out in November??? So, I found out that since it snows in November (sometimes in October) I can put out Snowmen and leave them out ALL WINTER (Yes I love those "quoted" things that I can throw back at him when he complains LOL) Now he just laughs about it - he doesn't even say anything when I start anymore, nor does he say anything when I get more snowmen decorations

Haven't even talked about it, but I'm sure we're staying home. We have 3 kids (7,4,1) and it's hard to find a babysitter LOL. MIL has to work until 11, so it doesn't really pay for her to come over here at 11:30pm for us to go out for an hour - especially when we don't drink. We don't hang around a lot of groups of friends as we live in a small town with too much drama, so we keep to ourselves. We've never had the kids stay up that late, but maybe this year we'll have a little party at home with the kids - never thought of that

It was actually in the 2 day sale for Kmart for last Friday & Saturday. We got the price match on Sunday only because we were there and tried to get it on Saturday but the store manager was already gone for the day (it was 9:30pm).