I don't want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

This is what I really want. Mary's Heart.

Maybe if my freelancing and Shade stuff picks up I'll be able to get it...

There's also one on eBay for $6,000 (buy it now price), signed and numbered. You can also bid on it. You think they'd be offended if I offered $500?

I just think it's so beautiful and inspiring.
:)

Christmas Coupons

I'm finally getting around to completing (and I guess, starting) our Christmas shopping. When money is tight, I suggest googling the store's name with "coupon codes" after it. (example: babiesrus coupon codes) Very rarely will nothing show up. I probably saved $100 this way on various items today! I always do this before I purchase something online.

It's Christmas Time in the City

This Sunday was the annual Rochester Christmas Parade. Thankfully we avoided the entire thing by leaving for Church at 11:55 a.m. and returning at 4:30 p.m. I don't have anything against parades, it's just that typically we don't do anything that would require people to "work" on Sundays. Most all parades are on Sundays. Restaurants, shopping and movies are done on Saturday so we have a day to gear up and relax before the new week starts. Also the location of our house is on one of the closed streets so to get anywhere we have to take a huge detour. If you know me at all you know I would rather do anything than stand outside in the freezing cold.



The City of Rochester also does a great job with the Christmas lights. Every year each building downtown is covered entirely with lights. This also means every night there is a ton of traffic from visitors. It's really a genius idea, and has done wonders for the downtown area in a time when businesses are surely struggling.

Other adventures from the Paxton's:
-Tyler had his U of M interview last week. It went well, but once again, we have no idea of anything until Jan.
-Tyler got an interview with BYU, which is going to be next week via telephone.
-I broke an entire bottle of hot sauce as it rolled out of the fridge and onto the floor. Messy. Who put it in the wrong spot, anyway?
-Ava has been talking a ton. Mostly about princesses and Cinderella (still). We had to discuss the fact that it wasn't going to be Halloween anymore, it's going to be Christmas. And there's no trick or treating, rather, Santa.
-Tyler, Violet and I have all been battling colds
-We ate at Inspired Dining tonight. It was alright, but if you're really into eating organic, it's probably heaven-sent that you have a place to eat out. www.mindbodyspirits.com
-Thankfully there have been no more paint or crayon incidents, although our carpet in the basement now sports a collection of black, blue, yellow and green paint. I think Tyler and I have strategically thrown away or put away all writing and painting supplies.

Whew!!

Two Tags

I got tagged a while ago by someone, but don't remember who. If you tagged me and I didn't do it .. let me know :)

RULES:
1. Post rules on your Blog.
2. Answer the six "8" items.
3. Tag 8 other people.

8 FAVORITE SHOWS: *The Biggest Loser* The Office * Project Runway *American Idol *24* Top Design *Bounty Hunter (I can't think of any more)


8 THINGS I DID YESTERDAY * Laundry *Babysat *Ate frozen pizza *Changed Diapers *Turned the heat up to 70 *Turned the heater on in the basement *Talked to my mom on the phone *Made the bed


8 THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO *Having another baby *Tyler getting into school *Violet being potty trained *Sleeping *Moving out of Michigan *Getting more organized *Ava going to preschool *Christmas morning


8 FAVORITE RESTAURANTS *George's Coney Island *CPK *Kruse & Muir *Inspired Dining (an organic place) *Take Sushi *Macaroni Grill *Bravo *Mr. B's (for their pizza)


8 THINGS ON MY WISH LIST (I haven't started my cmas list, so this will be a stretch .. so I'll just put my dream list) *Twin white pottery barn beds for the girls *An ikea closet *A new bedroom set for us *Some nice sweaters *Dark jeans *Nonfiction books *A trip to Paris (yes, I want to go back!) *An iPod docking station for the kitchen

1- What is your favorite Christmas song? Anything Celine Dion
2- When was your most memorable Christmas? It's a toss up between last year - when we were in PA for our first cmas with two - and the year before when we were in UT with Ava and expecting Violet

3- What is your favorite Christmas treat? Pie
4- What do you dislike most about the Christmas season? Impending January

5- What do you like best about the Christmas season? Church

6- Who is the hardest person to shop for on your Christmas list? My dad.
7- If you could receive one gift without money being an issue, what would it be? I think I covered this prior, but maybe a nice vacation
8- What is your idea of a perfect Christmas Eve. Snow, food, good friends and family

9- Which do you like best, eggnog, or hot chocolate? Eggnog

10- Do you prefer a fancy Christmas tree, or one decorated by the kids? Fancy

11- What is your favorite family Christmas tradition? We don't really have anything specific yet, but we usually do one family on cmas eve, another family on cmas day, and then catch up after. The girls will wake up with one or two presents unwrapped from santa

12- Do you like fruitcake? I don't like nuts in baked goods, so no
13- Do you prefer skiing or snowboarding? Snowboarding

14- Are you dreaming of a White Christmas, or do you say “Bah Humbug” to snow? White Christmas.

15- What was your favorite gift from Santa when you were a child? American Girl Doll
16- What is your favorite Christmas movie? Home Alone

17- Have you ever eaten snow? Yes.

18- Who do you wish could be with you this Christmas? Tyler's family

19- When do you put up your Christmas lights and decorations? Thanksgiving weekend

20- Real or artificial Christmas tree? Ideally, real, but in reality we have 2 fakes. One for the porch and one for inside.

Tagging anyone and everyone!

The sun was shining

The sun was shining so I thought I would take a couple pictures of the girls playing on the table. Which they're not supposed to do.



I actually straightened Ava's hair. It's always soo all over, and she said she wanted me to after I had mine done. It was a bonding moment.
My sad attempt at trying to get a picture with both them smiling.

:)