O Christmas Tree!

Why I Love My Christmas Tree

a picture of my tree, several weeks ago, before the kids rearranged everything to suit themselves!

a few snapshots of my tree

I like to refer to my tree as a Memory Tree. I have lots of pictures on it. I have an ornament made each year with a picture from Christmas. I write the year on it, and its fun to see how we've grown each year, and to look back over the last 10 years and remember different things about that particular year. Like our first Christmas together in our freezing cold, tiny apartment, the Christmas where we wanted a baby so bad, I thought my aching heart would smother me, then the Christmases with first one baby, then two babies, then a third baby. I also add an ornament of a picture of the newborn baby, if we had one that year. I have things the kids have made, things I have made and an ornament from each vacation we've had. I like to see lots of sparkle so I have glass, and crystals that twinkle. And I love tin and wood, so I have lots of that, too. I have cut and dried oranges and I love how they look with lights behind them. I have ornaments out of apples and cinnamon, and I love the smell!

This is a garland that I made a few years back out of dried oranges, apples, cinnamon ornaments, buttons and rag ties!

I love it!

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Before Thanksgiving, we went to Ryan's parents home and helped decorate their tree. All their family was there- kind of a surprise, remember how we all used to decorate the tree together, type of thing. Of course they loved it! These are some pictures of Cameron and Blake decorating the underside of the tree- a very important task.

a very careful hanger upper

What I've Been Up To

Making 120 of these

Making 100 of these, the gifts for the Sisters,

for which we used like this:

As Centerpieces for our dinner, using various silver and glass dishes, cake stands, truffle bowls, etc.

Making one of these for each place setting,

...And everything else that goes into preparing a dinner and program for our December Home, Family and Personal Enrichment. I had lots of help from our Enrichment Committee, for which I'm so grateful! The pictures of the tables were taken as we were hurriedly trying to throw the finishing touches and the individual salads on the tables. The pictures catch none of the ambiance of the low lighting, Christmas songs in cool jazz softly in the background, and the simple elegance. The picture of the table with the three trees on it, is where we (the Enrichment or RS Presidency) had our Husbands serving the choices of pasta and sauces. They (our Husbands) also cleared the tables and had the desserts all prepared and sitting at each place when we returned from our program, which was a nice touch. They also were a huge help in getting it all cleaned up at the end!

Our Theme was "Were You There"

and we had everyone bring a flashlight. After a musical number titled "Were You There on That Christmas Night?", we had everyone gather into the other side of the closed off gym, that was all dark, and we used our flashlights as our Heavenly Glory as we spotlighted and sang to shepherds, who led us to the Nativity Family, as we continued singing- ending with Silent Night, as we softly lit the family. We had real people being our shepherds and Family. Our sweet family that did the nativity has a tiny baby and no crying he made, as he softly lay on the "hay", and went right to sleep, it was so precious. Our objective was to remind us that we were there, as spirits we rejoiced and declared his birth to the world!

Painting Ornaments

Grandma sent over some ornaments for the boys to paint. The boys love to paint, and as you can see, they work very thoughtfully at it. They had a great time! Thank You Grandma!

Pickle Sandwich Anyone?

I asked Cameron what he would like for lunch today, and he said a pickle sandwich.

"Nothing but pickles", said he.

The Cold Pans

Last night we had our friends, the Bensons, over for what we like to call our homemade Cold Stone. With loads of ice cream, and gobs of candy, each gets to create their own ice cream and sugar death. This is one of our favorite things to do when we have friends over! Probably several of those people who check in on our blog, have also been subjected to our sugary antics- Lucky You!

The Big Feast

We spent Thanksgiving at my mom's house, where it was a small gathering of only 18 this year. With three tables put end to end through the living room, we got to sit at the children's end- I guess because the children mostly belonged to us!

Yummy, Yummy, Yummy

Hi-Ya!

The boys started Tae Kwon Do in November. They are in the same class and this is a picture of them showing off their new red stripes and gloves. They each got to pick out their own gloves and it does not surprise me that Blake went for safe and common blue, and Cameron went for far out orange! Of course, since it took me so long to get this post on, they have since then also earned their blue and green stripes!

Shining Moments

One Sunday after church, I was sent to my room to relax while my husband and boys made me dinner. When they brought me out to the Dining Hall, I could tell they had been busy. I could smell yummy food and see shrimp. The table was set with the fine china and goblets. There were candles and everyone was glowing.

My 6 year old pulled my chair out for me and he said,

"Welcome to our Restaurant".

I said, "Oh, have I been here before?"

To which my 4 year old said,

"Uh, Mom, this is just our house. Its just pretend, okay."

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During the feast, Keep in mind, it wasn't even my birthday, My husband asks the children to each name something special about Mom.

My Six year old says, " I have four things to say: First, she is pretty and nice, Second, she is a good cook, even though it may look disgusting, it actually tastes pretty good. Third, she is fun to play with and pretty, and Fourth, she can color and paint good. "

My four year old says, "He said everything I was going to say."

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As we continued to eat my husband asks the boys, "What should I do to be the best Dad ever?"

To which they both enthusiastically proclaimed,

"You Already Are!"

Ward Talent/Lack of Talent Show

5 Friends

10 Flashlighs

Complete Darkness

Mamma Mia being pumped through the church Gymnasium

A Super Charged Audience Lovin Every Moment

The first "Drill Team" moment I've had for 11 years, and I loved it!

Did You?