I need gift ideas!

I'm wondering if anyone has any cute, easy, and CHEAP gift ideas that they do for neighbors or coworkers. (Something small, but not stupid.) Last year I got them a 6-pack of pop, and a box of popcorn and did the classic: "Pop, pop, fizz, fizz, oh, what a great friend you is!" Yea, kinda corny, but everyone loves pop and popcorn, right? So, let me know your wonderful ideas, and don't be surprised if you end up with it in the end!

Deck the Halls . . .

We've spent the last few days getting out our decorations, and getting everything all "Christmasy." I love this time of year, and how happy everyone seems. Getting the house decorated is one of my favorite parts of the season!

Here are our lovely stockings. How I wish we had a fireplace to hang them over!
Devon is the master of the lights! Seriously, though, he is in charge of putting them on the tree. He is very meticulous (thanks to his father) about how the lights are put up, and if you look below, you will see how bright our tree is when we're done!

Our finished product. No, the ornaments don't match. Every year since I was born, I get a new ornament. This is definitely a tree of memories. This was the gift I got from Devon on our first Christmas we were married. It is beautiful, and I love putting it out every year.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Favorite Holiday Reads

Here are a few of my favorite books for the season. I love reading these each year! The first 3 are picture books, and the last is are my 2 favorite Christmas novels.

The Christmas Candle, by Richard Paul EvansA Christmas Dress for Ellen, retold by Thomas S. Monson

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, by Susan Wojciechowski

Finding Noel, by Richard Paul Evans (can you tell I love his novels!?)

Christmas Jars, by Jason F. Wright

Playing Tag. . .

Alli tagged me, so here I go--

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:
1) Trying to survive 9th Grade
2) Running track
3) cheerleading
4) "going out" with Josh Wilkey
5) hanging out with the PG Girls!

5 Things on my to do list today:
1) Get grades home with my students
2) Wrap some presents (I'm a Christmas fanatic!)
3) Practice for the "Messiah" concert, and a solo I have to do soon! (NERVOUS)
4) Get singing time done for Sunday
5) Celebrate Devon scoring 2nd in his class for the 1st block of the Police Academy! YAY!

5 Snacks I enjoy:
1) OREOs-but they have to be the seasonal kind! (I will explain later)
2) Apples-Gala my fav!
3) Oranges-cuties to be specific
4) Hot Cocoa (is that a snack?)
5) Yogurt

5 Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1) Quit my job
2) Start a family
3) Buy a home!
4) Pay off the car
5) A whole new wardrobe
and so much more. . .

5 of my Bad Habits:
1) Leaving my shoes lying around the house
2) Not putting the cookbook away when I'm done
3) Letting the dishes pile up
4) Stressing and worrying over things I can't change!
5) I have a bazillion coats and always have 4 or 5 hanging around the house

5 Things I will never wear again:
1) cartoon earrings
2) sturrip pants
3) a perm
4) a body suit
5) biker shorts
But, never say never. . .

5 Places I have Lived:
1) Pleasant Grove
2) Cedar City (3 different places there)
3) Juneau, Alaska
4) Orem
5) ?

5 Jobs I've Had:
1) a "gopher girl" at a hydraulic shop (this was for years and year-and continues)
2) a student secretary for the University Career Center
3) a houskeeper (for a whopping 3 days! It was awful!)
4) a student secretary for the University Admissions Office
5) a fourth grade teacher at Mt. Mahogany

3 Things People Don't Know About Me:
1) Back to the Oreos-I can't really eat the other kinds, only the ones they have every once in a while with the cream colored for the holiday. The reasons: 1) They seem to taste fresher because they have to be made just for the season, and not allowed to sit on the store shelves forever, and 2) the amount of cream is absolutely perfect! Not as little as the original kind, and not as much as the double stuf. They are perfect, and hard to find, so when I see them at the store (halloween, holiday (Christmas), and spring) I stock up! Last time I saw them I bought 3 bags!
2) I started listening to Christmas music in the middle of October this year.
3) I play the piano and sing in the privacy of my own home. I freeze in public!
4) I watch home videos in my spare time.
5) My husband tells me that I'm a "closet comedian"; only he really knows my wierd sense of humor!

I tag anyone who feels so inclined!

Happy Halloween!

First of all, I hate that Halloween is not as fun as it used to be! Our Halloween was completely uneventful. We went over to my family's house, and it was good to see everyone. At school, the kids were "on one" (to be expected for the holiday!) and we had our annual "Halloween Parade", which was fun. Here are some cute pics of the class in our costumes. Below we have some pics of our jack-o-lanterns. Dev's is the skeleton, and mine is the witch. Aren't we freakin' amazing!?