Just a few last memories...

Just a few more Christmas memories before I close the chapter on 2008! This year as a family we made 300+ sugar cookies for our neighbors. It was quite the undertaking and I'm not sure what the neighbors thought of our "kid quality" cookies. BUT they were delicious!!! (Thanks for the recipe JEN!) We had such a good time and made such a mess ! I will probably be cleaning dried up cookie dough until next year when we do it again!(thanks again JEN :)) Here is a picture of us in the process!



This is a symbol of what we all did all Christmas break! Some might call it being lazy but I call it rejuvenating!!!!!!!



This is what we did most of December. We ALL learned how to embroider! (Another great idea from Jen) It was so fun and I hope the teachers appreciated the effort of my kids. It was amazing to see how much ownership and pride the kids took in making something all by themselves for their teachers.

AND... Just one more memory. This is my favorite gift I got for Christmas this year. J gave it to me. Even after the entire month of sewing she decided to make me a homemade, hand sewed, cell phone holder. Isn't it adorable? On the back she glued a clip (her brother's future missionary tag)He only got a little mad when he saw it! It was Christmas!! I definitely get alot of comments when I wear it. I've tried to explain to J that I don't want to wear it out by wearing too much, but she just said she will make me a new one!! She is so great! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Christmas Program

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the program that we have the kids put on every year. There is something very special and a little sac-religious about role playing the birth of our Savior. It helps to bring the spirit of Christmas to your heart. It helps to remind us what this whole crazy season is really about. This year was a good year. The kids were attentive and there was NOOO crying. YEAH!!!

This is a picture of Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus.

Angels we have heard on high!!

Yesterday for our church program we performed an amazing rendition of "Angels We Have Heard on High." It was so beautiful. There was a harp, a flute, an organ, and a piano. They were all playing different accompaniments. I thought I would be okay to sing it without being emotional BUT... I didn't. When we were younger my parents would take us Christmas caroling to the widows in the ward and Chelsie and I would always sing the alto to this song. We would try and mess up and laugh and she would always ask to sing this song because it was about her..."in ex (chel sie) dio." It just reminds me of her. So back to church... I really thought I was getting better at not losing it every time I am reminded of her. It has been 18 months! But as I listened to this amazing song. I really felt like she would have been there with me singing the alto part. It was so surreal. It felt like there really were Angels on High singing with us. Just her way, I guess of letting me know she is still here.

Christmas Memories!

I've been sitting here looking at some of my Christmas decorations. I don't have many! I realized that the ones I keep have a real sentimetal value to me. I think it is interesting that Christmas time brings so many memories and most of them I cherish! So I thought I would share some of them with you.

This is a very special piece for me. I am almost "idolistic" when my kids touch or play with it. I remember one Christmas we went to New Mexico to visit my Grandma for christmas. She has since passed away but I remember she had a Santa and Baby Jesus exactly like this one one her coffee table. One morning I got up before everyone else, and she was up sitting on the couch and we sat in the dark with the Christmas tree lights shining and we talked about life and stuff. It was wonderful. She held the little baby Jesus, and she told me how special he was to her and how much He has changed her life. So when I saw the statue in the ceramic store I knew I had to buy it. My Mom and I both painted them together which added another memory. It brings back such good memories.



This decoration has significant meaning behind it. One year my sister Chelsie (who passed away 18 months ago)made this for me. She was probably only 13 or 14 and was so proud of herself. It was probably one of her first crafts she ever made and it took a long time to make. She didn't even wait until Christmas to give it to me. She said, "I am sure you will want to use it this year." And then year after year she would come to my house and just sit by it and watch the lights. If you look really close, at the bottom are little people playing in the snow. I just love it, it makes me remember all the fun times my family and I shared in the snow.



This was the first christmas decoration that we recieved. At our wedding reception someone gave it to us for a gift and I don't even know who it was. But I love it. If you look close you can see the broken twigs from all the loving kids who want to get a closer look.



This is a sweet gift that one of my best friends gave me! Thanks Jen! It was at a time in our lives when we both had no money. We were all going to school and trying to learn how to be mothers. She used to make gifts like this for all the neighbors and didn't even keep one for herself. She has always been generous to everyone around her. It just reminds me of sweet peaceful days.



These are our stockings. I LOVE THEM because they bring back so many memories of my childhood Christmas's. When I was growing up my Mom us each stocking with felt cutouts on them. We each loved the symbol on our stocking. I was a santa. My mom told me that her mom made her stockings just like that too. So I decided that I wanted to make some just like them for my kids. SO I did. They don't look as beautiful and cute as some of the stockings that I have seen but they bring alot of memories back for me.

Isn't it about ...time???

J and I had a great day today. She was in a competition for Ballroom dance. It was so fun to spent time with just her. I am amazed at the interesting things you learn when you are able to spend one on one time with your children. J told me all kinds of things that I didn't know about her. I watched her perform and then we went Christmas shopping. And "fortunately" the roads were completely covered in ice so my 45 min trip took and hour and a half. But we had so much fun singing in the car and talking. It was a great day. When I think back on it, I think if a tv camera were watching us he would have said. Isn't it about ...TIME???

Christmas Celebrations have begun!

So we started December out with of course some treats! (And yes I am 0-1 for days on my no sugar diet!!) But it was so fun! I just love days like this. When everyone is busy making something great. The kids were so proud of their houses. I thought I'd better put them on here.

Too busy to even smile for the picture!

Carefully crafted by J

She wanted Santa to see it so that is why she is so excited to take the picture!

Even the C man got into it!!!

D and Dad's smiley face house!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Dinner with my family!


I want to sit at the kids table!!


Making a big mess and loving it!


Craft time! The kids love our tradition of doing crafts all day!


Thanks giving was great! We had everyone here except one sister and her family. (We missed you T!) We sat down to a great dinner that everyone helps to make. We used the once a year china, which A washed all by hand! And the kids had a great time eating with the goblets and nice napkins. My sister W wanted to have sparkling cider so we toasted to great memories and ate like royalty!!
After dinner while the guys watched football, the moms made crafts with the kids. Oriental trading sells kits for cute crafts that hardly cost any money at all. We let them make them for all their friends christmas presents. They loved it. It was great to spent time with family. I love the holidays!