ShannonAlbert.com - June 2009

me: "blake, remember there's $1 in your backpack that you need to give your teacher."
blake: "what is it for?"
me: "there's a family that can't afford presents so the teachers are going to take the money and buy them a dvd player."
blake: "they should buy their own."
me: "well, they can't afford it."
b: "santa comes for everybody. he can do it."
me: "well, but the parents want to give them something too."
b: "they'll probably waste it."

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both.
2. Real tree or artificial? We have a pre-lit artificial so it's quicker for the kids to get started decorating. Real smells so good though!
3. When do you put up the tree? First weekend in December.
4. When do you take the tree down? January 6.
5. Do you like eggnog? No.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My first computer, a TRS-80, which was really just a keyboard that you connect to the TV and I stored my programs on cassette tape.
7. Do you have a Nativity scene? No.
8. Hardest person to buy for? Andy - he doesn't want anything.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Payton by far. She knows what she likes.
10. Worst Christmas Gift you ever received? Dolls.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? When we send them, it's by mail.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Elf.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Around Thanksgiving.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Baked goodies on Christmas morning. This year's baked Christmas morning goodies - croissants from Williams-Sonoma.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear but the kids want colored.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Baby it's Cold Outside.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We haven't had many Christmases at home. Usually at my parent's house.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? No.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star. Apparently this question drives Andy and his siblings crazy and starts a big debate. I don't get it.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve w/Andy's fam and Christmas Day w/mine.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Blake counting down the days.
23. What is the 'corniest' family tradition you do, or miss doing? Not sure we have a corny tradition.
25. Which looks best, theme trees or homey trees? Homey. I don't really care how the tree looks as long as the kids have fun decorating it.
26. Gingerbread or sugar cookies? Gingerbread.
27. Do you like Fruitcake? Don't think I've had it but they don't look good.

Blake: "Why is it called a Christmas tree? Shouldn't it be called a December tree since it's up all of December and not just on Christmas?"

The menu included brined turkey (best turkey I've had I think), spiral-sliced ham, mashed potatoes, country green beans, sweet carrots, macaroni and cheese, two types of stuffing, fruit salad, fresh veggies, rolls and maybe some other stuff I'm forgetting.


I also made 4 pumpkin pies from scratch (filling from scratch, crust was frozen) and others brought other desserts.


Andy was determined to fit everybody on the main level of our house which meant lots of tables in the living room.

I took a few pics at Thanksgiving but haven't been able to find my camera since. Photos courtesy of Andy's brother, Mark.

All of the cousins on Andy's side except for Althea. She'll be in the pic next year because her parents say they'll be coming to Kansas every Thanksgiving from now on.

Micah (almost 2), Isaac (9 1/2), Bree (2 1/2), Mia (almost 6), Payton (almost 13), Lizzie (almost 2), Alan (6/7 months), Blake (6) and Joey (almost 5)

Dan's birthday is usually very close to Thanksgiving so we end up celebrating that at the same time. This year his birthday happened to be on Thanksgiving.


Ping pong tournaments alll day in our garage. So much fun.


The kids played the Wii (brought by Uncle Nick) all day long and had so much fun. I hear that all of them have pretty much asked Santa for Wiis for Christmas this year. :)


Winding down after a long day... (Mark's roommate Tali on the left)


Ending the day w/a hand of poker which Andy's dad won...


The next day, we headed up to KC and everybody went to Nick's for a night of poker. 11 of us played and I won but best of all, I beat David who has teased me constantly after beating me last year. Shut him up for at least a month when we go to visit him in South Carolina.


On Saturday, many people headed to Maria's to watch college football but Katrina and I took our kids to see Enchanted. I thought it was funny and cute and it was nice to see Disney making fun of itself.

On Sunday, most people went to the Chiefs game but my mom and I took my kids to Crown Center for some shopping and Blake sat on Santa's lap. I don't think he's ever done that so I was super excited and got his pic put into a snow globe because that's what he wanted. I'd take a pic to show you but....no camera. :(

Overall, we had a very busy 4 days but had so much fun. We're really looking forward to our busy days coming up where I go to NYC, then we spend 4 days in KC for Christmas and then 5 days in SC visiting David, Liz and Althea.

We did Elf Yourself last year but this year's is even more fun. Click here to see us dance.