Wordless Wednesdays #13- Christmas Spirit(s)

Hubby made this- wicked cute, right?? :)

Copyright 2008

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Procrastination 2.0

Lately, I have been soo busy with the routine. You know the one. Wake up, brush teeth/ hair, put in eyes, get dressed, make lunches, let doggie out, make smoothies, get girl dressed, let doggie in, put her in car, drive him to work, drive her to daycare, drive me to work, work, go home, make dinner, play with girl or give tubbie, put girl to bed, sit for five seconds, pop back up and start lunch prep for tomorrow... you get the point.

Not sure what exactly it is that is making me so tired- is it this never-ending cold? is it the change in weather/ light?-, or whether it is just an accumulation of things catching up with me, making me NOT want to do things after the little girl goes to sleep at night. I find I just want to veg out on the couch and BE for a while. But I keep forgetting to upload my pics from Thanksgiving and put together the great post I have in my brain, which is something I really want to do.

I read someone else today talking about how important it is we take care of ourselves before others, so that we can truly give them what they need... It's so true, but it's so hard to put into action in real life- when do I find a half hour for me when there is this *LIST* of things thatmustbedonequitesoon?

*Sigh*

I'll figure it out. For now, please know, I'm still here, and I'm still reading everyone else. Now it's just on me to actually get my crap together and post those pics and make time for the things that I actually WANT to do, not just have to do...

Thanksgiving post to come. Sometime before next Thanksgiving, I promise!!

Wordless Wednesdays #12- A Horse Named Dada!

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Merry SITSMAS!!!

So, there is this great bloggy commenting group called The Secret Is In The Sauce, which I have come to love! They are a great way to get to know other bloggers, find ones you love, and have people visit you. The basic idea is that each day, they feature three of the best posts from one featured blogger. You visit SITS in the morning and "roll call" (ie, pop in and say, "I'm here!"), then you go and visit those 3 posts and leave some comment love. In general, people will come back and visit you, too :) It's reciprocal bloggy love sharing, and it's great!

Today, they are having a MERRY SITSMAS party!! The grand prize is a $200 gift card to... TARGET! w00t w00t :) Tar-jay is one of my fave stores. So this is major. On top of that, EVERY SINGLE HOUR today they are giving away some fantastic prizes. So you should go. Look. Enter. Be Merry.

And now, on to the requisite Merry Sitsmas Card to all my SITStas that may swing by...

Wishing You A Very Merry Christmas From Bendy Ruggles and Her Parents!

My Christmas Wish For You
Anonymous

My Christmas wish for you, my friend
Is not a simple one
For I wish you hope and joy and peace
Days filled with warmth and sun

I wish you love and friendship too
Throughout the coming year
Lots of laughter and happiness
To fill your world with cheer

May you count your blessings, one by one
And when totaled by the lot
May you find all you've been given
To be more than what you sought

May your journeys be short, your burdens light
May your spirit never grow old
May all your clouds have silver linings
And your rainbows pots of gold

I wish this all and so much more
May all your dreams come true
May you have a Merry Christmas friend
And a happy New Year, too ..
We wish you a merry Christmas :)

And now, if you would like to visit some of the great SITStas from the site, here are a couple of linkies to posts I have found funny lately:

Ravings of a Mad Housewife- Truthful Christmas Letter

The Fam Five- Boys Best Friend

Thrifty Decor Chick- The Purdiest Christmas Tree Ever

The Fun House- Letters To All The Jerks I've Encountered Today

Crazy and Happy- Funny Stuff

Have a wonderful holiday, everyone!!

Quizzy McQuizz: What Holiday Are You?

So, now that the holidays are upon us (24moredaystillChristmaswoohooI'msoexcited!! ANDonly23tillthebeginningofmyvacationwhatwhat!) I thought it might be fun to find out which Holiday I would be. If I were a holiday.

I hope most of you that know me know where this is headed, cuz I had a little INKLING of which holiday I was already and of course I was right:

You Are Christmas

More than most people, you are able to find magic in life's small moments. Traditions mean a lot to you, and you tend to be quite nostalgic. You are a giving, kind person who really understands the true meaning of holidays. You inspire others to be as altruistic and caring as you are. What makes you celebrate: Tradition and a generous spirit At holiday get togethers, you do best as: The storyteller. You like to recount memories with everyone. On a holiday, you're the one most likely to: Give a gift to everyone you know

What Holiday Are You?

So thanks to Judi at Where The Road Takes Us for taking this quiz, inciting me to take it... And to be confirmed in the fact that if I was to be a special day, I would be the special day I look forward to alllllll year :)

Thanks I Give Today

*I am thankful for my family- my gorgeous little girl who amazes me more each day; the loving husband who has been with me through thick and thin for eight years; my Mom who has supported me in every way she could for my entire life and who has grown to be one of my best friends; my Father who teaches me things, tells me what I need to hear, and gives me sound advice when I am down in the dumps; my step-parents, both of whom I adore incredibly- I think they are perfect matches for my parents, they have taught me so much, and I am beyond glad that they are in my life; my brothers, all of whom are unique and fun and loving, who could never be replaced; the family I have inherited from my hubby... I know everyone jokes about evil mother-in-laws and tragic family visits, but I truly love them and feel like I lucked out with my new extended family- I care deeply for each of you and I hope you already knew it. And the rest of my extended family, who I am closer with than most people- my cousins, who are some of my best friends, my Aunts and Uncles, who I have had so many fun times with, and the wonderful grandparents who helped spoil raise me. I am so happy to have you all today. I appreciate each and every one of you- thank you for being there, for living life along with us and bringing your own experiences to the table.

*I am so very grateful for the job I have now. Today is my one-year anniversary since I started this job! I love my position, my boss, my co-workers (except one, but we won't count him. *ahem*), and the company I work for. My job is stable and I work for a company that is in no danger of going under like so many others right now. I also feel like we truly do something meaningful (I work in the research field), which makes a huge difference to me. I am also grateful for the benefits my job provides- so many people right now are living without health care, and if we were in that boat right now, we would be seriously screwed. I won't go into why, but we REALLY needed the insurance. I sometimes think what would have happened to us if I didn't get this job, but it's a scary thought that I don't need to indulge, because THANKFULLY it's not the case. When I was pregnant, and after I had Ilyana, I couldn't find a job for a long time, but I believe it's because I was meant to end up here.

*I am grateful for my daughter's good health.

*I am grateful to have good food and a roof over our heads. It seems simple, but there are a lot of others right now just struggling to make ends meet.

*I am grateful that my husband found a position at a company that appreciates him and is quickly moving him up. I'm grateful that they see his potential and are giving him the opportunity to work with computers, which he has always wanted to do, even though he is self-taught.

*I am grateful that we are slowly working towards fixing our credit and ultimately achieving our goal of owning a home. Hopefully *fingers crossed* before Ilyana goes to school!

*I am grateful for the chance to shop celebrate and appreciate my friends and family on the holidays. *maniacal high-pitched voice* I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!

*I am grateful TO HAVE HEAT! WOOOOOOOoooooOOOOoooooOOOooo... Yeah, if you don't know about this little gem, you can read about the heat situation here

*I am grateful for my new camera to take photos of the people and things I love, for Dora the explorer, for dark chocolate, for Bavarian Wild Berry tea, for gifts from Mother Nature, for frozen strawberries (smoothies!), for Weeds and Worst Week and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia... for Soap & Glory, Origins and Old Navy.... For so, so much more... I could go on all day...

So, what about you? What are you thankful for today, in this moment?

Bloggy Fodder

First off... HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you all. I know it's early. But chances are, I won't be on here tomorrow, because I'll be too busy stuffing my face and anticipating the steals I will get on Black Friday. So now I've covered my bases.

Secondly, I have a few new blog awards!! Yay me :)

The first is from Elizabeth at Three Channels:

The qualifications to receive the award are:
A. Display a cheerful attitude.
B. Love one another.
C. Make mistakes.
D. Learn from others.
E. Be a positive contributor to the blog world.
F. Love life.
G. Love kids.

The Rules:

1. Must link it back to the creator.
2. Post the rules.
3. Choose 5 people to give it to.
4. Recipients must fill the characteristics above.
5. Create a post to share this.
6. You must thank the winner.

THANK YOU ELIZABETH!!

Then I got this one, which I have seen all over the bloggy world and been pining for someone to give to ME... And Noah's Mommy from Project Mommyhood has bestowed it upon me at long last!! Thank you, thank you! :)

So what I'm gonna do is combine these awards and give them to five blogs that I think fit both! It's hard for me to pick, but here goes with some of my faves:

Mama Dawg at Two Dogs Running

Kyla at The Journey

Caleb at The Daily Focal Point

Devin at Chasing Moments Photography

Stephanie at A Year Of Crockpotting

Finally, Hip Mama's Place is having an awesome Christmas Giveaway. So you should go and check it out. You won't be sorry, trust me!

Wordless Wednesdays #11- Our Little Graphic Designer

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Well, at least it is at OUR house!

We spent this Saturday setting up our FIRST EVER Christmas tree :) Yes, we've been together for over eight years, but since we are always at my Mom's on Christmas morning, and since we never had a little munchkin to enjoy it before, we never thought we needed one of our own. Yet. Last year, we thought about it, but our place was so small, as was the Ruggle, that it just wasn't worth it.

This year, we finally did! We had my Mom pick us up a tree from Big Lots and then her, my stepdad David and little brother Owen took the drive up to bring it to us and help us decorate it. I had a small box of ornaments given to my by my Dad- the ones that I had collected over the years at his house- and then we bought some from the Dollar Tree, since they are plastic and thus less of a fragile-scary-breakable-choking-hazard than regular ornaments. And I don't mind as much if the ruggle wants to play with them.


BEFORE DECORATING:

I got da balls, Momma.

Dada, Watch Dis!

David spent the day as photographer, which is why he's not in any of these.


DURING THE DECORATING:

The girl checks out the tree from ALL angles.

Amazingly, Owen was able to help us, even though he spent ALLLLLLL week sick with an unexplained fever. We are still waiting to hear what's going on with him, which is pretty scary. I was glad he perked up a little and was able to help me and Mom put on some ornaments...

He was showing off how tall and lanky he is. Look at him reaching almost to the top of the tree!

Odizz the decorator

Mama Ruggle the decoratess

Cey-Cey Ruggle the decoratess

"Could I help ya, Mumma?"

"Sure, honey, here's a delicate frog ornament (that was already broken once before) for you to put on the tree..."

"Uh-Ohhhhh...."

"Momma, Momma, I break the froggie! Uh-Oh!"

*sigh* S'ok, Ruggle. Here are some plastic ones to play with instead. We'll just put Mr. Froggie aside to be repaired (again) at an unknown later date... i.e., hopefully by next year.

While we decorated the tree, Will (aka hubster) put together our bed frame. See, my Mom bought herself and David a new bed frame when they were out getting our tree. Which meant, HALLE-FREAKIN-LUJAH, they didn't need their old bed frame anymore. WHICH by proxy meant... you got it... I inherited their old one. Which is just AWESOME for me. No more sleeping with our mattress on the floor. w00t w00t :)

Of course, Illy helped. "Dada, where does this go?"

Here, lemme put it in your hann! Sanks, Dada.

Look at my pretty Momma helping me decorate! Thanks Momma :)

The two sexiest tree-decorators in town. Wanna hire us? Erm, for decorating, I mean. And nothing else.

DISCLAIMER: It's not that amazing being the sexiest anything in Enfield, NH. Just for the record. If you had seen the chickies walking around my town, you'd understand. I'm just sayin'.

Uhm, yeah. I love the Dollar Tree. My tree came out much better than I expected, and I got all the red and gold ornaments AND the ribbon for 7 bucks total. STEAL!

O contemplates the meaning of having a tree...

As I anally relocate ornaments that *just look off*


AFTER THE DECORATING:

In the end, though, we had a "Pretty tree, pretty tree" (Yes, she did say that.)

Which Ilyana enjoyed all night long.

And had to check FIRSTTHING in the morning to be sure the pretty tree was still there.

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta

This is my first time participating in this meme that Candid Carrie started :)

The rules are as follows:

"In your Phriday personal post, include a phavorite photograph (like how I did that?) and a brief description of why it is your phave. Anything at all works for me ... one picture, more pictures, a video ... even if you participate it another blogger's Friday event you can double up as long as you link back to me within your post."


So here is one of my favorite photos, for your viewing pleasure...



Of course, it's a ruggle pic! It's one of the ones I took last year for the holidays. I love it for a ton of reasons- she's so small, the look on her face is priceless, hey piggytoes are too cute, and she actually kept the hat on for the photo- woooOOOooo :)

Happy F x 4!