Diapers and a Christmas Meme

DIAPERS:
Dudes & dudettes, I proudly announce that I am the mother of an almost-4-yr old that has been out of diapers and/or pull-ups for a whole WEEK now. Including BED TIME. With all of the extra money I'll have on hand from not buying diapers, I have decided to build a full scale replica of the Taj Mahal in my back yard. Or maybe I'll just pay some bills. I'm not sure.

But those of you who have ever changed 952,047 diapers know how huge this is. I am thrilled beyond belief. And how easy it was when he just decided. No drama. He does both pee and poo in the potty. The Boy was cool with pee for a couple of years. The poo part came with huge drama and I'm sure he'll be in counseling when he's 32 because of it.

I. Am. Diaper. FREE.

(And there was much rejoicing.)


A CHRISTMAS MEME:
I'd like to return to the blogging world with a fun little meme sent to me by my wonderful friend Erin. So to kick off my official mental entrance into the holiday season, here 'tis:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Both - usually depends on what I have on hand and what I'm wrapping. But I love wrapping with ribbon and all that jazz. Bags are usually a last resort.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Fake but wikkid gorgeous & real looking. Now you know my dirty little secret.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Yesterday but only because it had been set up and used in church. My pastor's mom had taken all the time and effort to assemble it and fluff all the branches - why waste all that work?

4. When do you take the tree down the tree?
I play that by ear. In all honesty, I'd love to have one up all year round. Maybe the ornaments would become the Christmas part but leave the lit tree up all year. That would be fun. Anyway, The Boy just asked if we could leave it up past New Years. Which is fine with me. So probably some time just after New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Love it! I have half a bottle in the fridge as we type. If it wouldn't balloon me back up to my old fat jeans in 2 weeks, I'd be drinking it all season long.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Oh I have no idea. Probably most of them. My mom didn't get us all 9,000 presents each like I do for my kids. So I usually really flipped out over whatever she got me.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Not a fan. They tend to seem smarmy to me. And the little figuring of Jesus tends to cross a line for me. I have no problem with other people having them. I mean, the funny thing is, this one person I know that has one? She flipped out over a painting of Jesus I used to have in my home. The whole graven image thing, you know? But every year, she pulls out her nativity scene. Complete with the northern European, white Anglo holy family. Gotta love that. And...soap box is gone.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
If I'm buying for someone, I know them well. I don't buy for casual acquaintances. I have way too many siblings & nieces & nephews to be spending on outside people.

9. Easiest person to buy for?
The Boy. If it's Pokemon, he'll love it. Well, THIS year. But almost every year he's obsessed with one thing or another. So he tends to make it easy for me.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail. This year, I don't know if I'll get to it. People might be getting a Valentines card from me and the boys in 2008. We'll see.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Um....nothing stands out. But getting clothes in the style of the giver's taste and NOT yours, that isn't fun if they're completely not in your realm of sensibilities.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Only one? Are you kidding me? That list could be a whole other meme in and of itself! The ones that come to mind quickly are:
- It's A Wonderful Life
- White Christmas
- A Christmas Carol (with Alistair, no other version matters)
- Elf

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Absolutely. But never if it's sentimental or I can tell the giving of it meant something to the giver.

14. What is your favorite thing/things to eat at Christmas?
I think you should really ask what WON'T I eat at Christmas! Much shorter list.

15. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Clear.

16. Favorite Christmas song?
Oh Holy Night - traditional version. Keep all the stupid over singing newbies OFF that one!!!

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I hate traveling around any major holiday. I stay home.

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
You know Dasher and Dancer
And Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid
And Donner and Blitzen.
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph! - I have to sing it to remember it. Every time I do that in my head, I here Gene Autry singing it. And when I was little, there was a country song about Shadrack the black reindeer. Can't recall it, though.

19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
We usually exchange ornaments on Christmas Eve. Then all the rest in the morning.

20. Most annoying thing about this time of year:
People that totally miss the point and stress out thinking they have to make it like some kind of über Martha Stewart event that will be photographed and featured in some high-end home & garden magazine. Honestly people, get a GRIP!

21. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I like all of them. They all tend to have a story or memory for me.

22. Favorite thing for Christmas dinner?
Um...food? Yah, I'm pretty partial to FOOD for Christmas dinner. Beyond that, I'm not really all that picky.

23. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Nothing. I'm good. I just want my boys to have fun.

24. Who will you tag for this meme?
Well, I want to see the responses from all my Awesome Blogger Chicks. So I don't care. Take it if you want to. Or don't. I will shed no tears either way.