We are gonna have so much fun. 
OKay, okay Paula, I'll stop!!
And you are NOT a nasty critical old bag. Period.
You are exactly right Paula. It's not a competition anyway.
My family has started the tradition of giving $$$ to a charity each year. Each family has a jar on the kitchen counter to throw spare change into. Then at the end of the year, we count up the cash and as a family (as in my parents, siblings, us) vote on one charity to get it all. Last year it was Heifer International. As a family, we gave something like $1200.
That has to be one of the BEST things we've ever done. For the past 2 years, Seth has had a big birthday party in the summer, inviting all his friends - and their "change". They get to put suggestions in for a charity for our family to consider....last year his friends brought almost $200 in change. (of course, none of my nieces or nephews did the same, but hey - we can't ALL be perfect, right?)
Still - my family holds on to the "name drawning" tradition as well - because it really forces us to spend time thinking about that one person that maybe we don't see very often....makes us stay "connected".
It comes from me you little ding dong cutie. I'll get your basket if you don't be quiet.
That's so lovely Nancy. Nice.
I had something else to tell you Nancy. But for some reason I'm lacking synapses right now. I'll think of it......
Amazing, isn't it? Just this summer it was up to $4.09 here....
(Sorry, I HAD to say it.) If it was a competition, I wouldn't even play! I can't even watch Jillian Michaels on DVD, that's how much the pressure scares me. So no pressure, no judgment, just fun. 
I am SO sorry. These people have no clue what so ever! NO gift would have been a much better choice than...a SNOW STICK? 'Cause that there's a gift that just screams "we're thinking about you"Just give her a CARD next time, would ya?
Are they insane? I mean really. Seriously. Are they starting to get a bit senile? Or have they always been so....???...can't even imagine what Christmas is going to bring...maybe you want to suggest that they SKIP the gifts and make a donation to charity in your name instead.
It's not a competition anyway.
I haven't read back through posts yet.
)Ok so we do the gift card thing for the nieces and Nephews, Last year we had a few extra dollars and bought the kids who we had picked names for each a $50.00 gift card! Well SIL and BIL didn't have much funds so they got little things for their kids that they picked Well I guess it was a battle on Christmas night when Gifts were exchanged! ( we were not there to see we were in WDW of course) My niece threw a major fit that she got a $10 gift and four others got $50. And it was soooo NOT FAIR! She threw such a stink that my BIL took her home! I like gift cards because not everyone has the same taste! This way if they buy me something and ask to see it and I have returned it I don't feel silly. Plus with teens it's much easier! Actually this year we are giving Sam and nate both gift cards so they can get what they want. Otherwise it just gets piled in a heap and never worn or used!Lisa, you've touched on one of the reasons I hate the holidays. It all just seems so superficial and hollow. My in-law clan holiday turns into a who can outdo whom fest, since my BIL is very well-off and uses the occasion to lavish gifts on his not-well-off parents (which, I do understand), but it makes D try and keep up with the Joneses (which, ironically, we already are).lmao:
So, the net result is that my in-laws spend too much money that they don't have on us, rather than keeping it which is what they should do, and then mine feels bad because we can't keep up, etc. Fun times. I wish we could go to name in a hat but that never seems to work.
And this year, it is even worse because we are giving all of them a family fiasco of a WDW vacation (BIL is paying for tickets and food and we are kicking in 300 DVC points) yet I imagine we will still have to get stuff. Sigh.
And my family, is even worse because I barely even know my brother, so we exchange a bunch of hollow crap that was either previously requested, or turns into gift cards. I hate gift cards* as I think they totally go against the spirit of gift giving.
*Except in the case of, say, a new grad that is furnishing a house, or giving something to someone not a loved one like a teacher, pet-sitter, etc.
Okay, rant over.
Your LOOKING GOOD THERE HOT MOMMA!!!!!I love when we all jump on the bandwagon of haters! HAH! No, really, this is what friends are for - to hate the people who you hate but can't because they have to be in your life.
I did the Biggest Loser DVD I bought months ago and never did. It was okay. I probably need to do a little more intensity though. Like level 2 or 3. I wussed out. I really don't like anyone today, but a least I moved, right?
Oh, Saturday night. Okay, so this is a weird outfit, but I loved it. It was fun to wear. It's a dark wash jean, white tank top, and sleeveless vest. This is not the best picture of me, but you can see the outfit. Here you go:
FINALLY SOME ONE COMMENTED ON THAT!!! I was so waiting to hear all the jokes!!!! He was certified when I was pregnant for Tyler and my midwives husband is also a breeder and I told her that stephwas a certified breeder and she said UMM I think I can see that but do they certify for that now!!
Steph - certified breeder.
WOW gas was that cheap!!!! HOLY COW! it is still at 2.33 here and I thought that was great! I don't think it has been that cheap since I bought my expedition 2.5 years ago!Oh dear! You've caught my disease!
ok - waaaaayyy off the subject at hand....gas was $1.94 today.
