Our Homemade Christmas

This year we did something a little different for Christmas. We had a homemade Christmas.

Santa brought the kids 2 gifts which obviously were not homemade, but the rest of the gifts were.

I spent the entire month of December, pretty much every day, working on projects. I helped the kids make their gifts for each other and for Daddy. It was really fun to watch the girls have the experience of Christmas from this perspective. They had each spent their own time and come up with ideas that they really thought their siblings would like. They were excited to give their gifts. And they were excited about the gifts they had received, because they knew that the same effort had been put into those gifts. It is quite a different experience to give a gift that you put personal time and thought and effort into than to just go spend some money. My girls got to learn what it's like to experience the joy that comes from giving to others. It was a special experience.

As part of our Christmas tradition, the kids all got pajamas on Christmas Eve. All of the pajamas were made from old clothes that were headed for DI or the trash. It's amazing how much fabric you have to work with when you just use clothes you don't wear anymore!

Now on to the other gifts:

Emma --  *A heat-able bean bag (I made one for each of the kids with their initial on it)

                *2 bean bracelets from Allyson

               * A guitar from Molly

                *A ring from Bridget (which you can't see in the picture)

                *A paper doll kit from Mom and Dad (the coloring and cutting took hours, but it was worth it.   She  loved it!) 

* A baby doll and a scooter from Santa (not shown)

Bridget -- * A heat-able bean bag

* The Old Woman Who Swallowed A Fly book with accompanying old woman from Allyson. (The book has the words and each animal which can be placed in a pouch on the old woman's stomach as you sing the song.)

* A purse from Molly made out of Daddy's old jeans.

* A cute flower pin made by Emma

* A teddy bear (which she named Belle) from Mom and Dad (made out of pink hooded baby towels that we no longer needed. The dress and bow were made out of an old shirt)

* A barbie and a scooter from Santa (not shown)

Molly -- * A heat-able bean bag

* A rope-braided necklace from Emma

* A heart pin from Bridget (not shown) made from salt dough and painted

* Matching game cards from Allyson

* 3 homemade puzzles from Mom and Dad

* A barbie and a scooter from Santa (not shown)

Allyson -- * A heat-able bean bag

* A rope-braided necklace from Bridget

* A baby cradle from Molly (the baby was from Santa). The cradle was made out of a rolled oats container and construction paper.

* A Tweety Bird pillow made by Emma from old clothing (She even did most of the sewing and has been asking for more sewing projects.)

* Fairy wings from Mom and Dad made from a hanger and leftover fabric from Emma's baptism dress.

*The phone she's holding was her other gift from Santa

Charles -- Unfortunately, we didn't get a picture of Charlie with his presents. We let him sleep past 6:00 so his schedule wouldn't be too messed up. So he didn't open his presents until after church that afternoon and I was out of camera mode at that point. But I'll still tell you what he got.

* A heat-able bean bag

* A stuffed ball

* A drum made out of a used formula can with a drumstick made from and empty spool of thread and a wooden skewer

* Rattles made from small yogurt cups with beans inside

(These homemade gifts were a group gift from the whole family)

* Some cars and a 'punching bag' type penguin from Santa

*Charlie also made a group gift for the whole family (with lots of help from Mom). He gave us our family game, which was a Bean Bag Toss. The girls really like it.

Daddy -- * His Christmas Eve pajama T-shirt, colored on by the kids. The front of it says "This is the Dad of Awesomeness!" It cracks me up!

* A book the kids made for him, "25 Things We Love About Dad" complete with pictures for each thing drawn by the kids. So cute!

* Felt slippers from Mom

We had a lovely Christmas and we hope you did too!

So Happy Together

Tonight we started dinner off by teaching the girls how to hang a spoon on the tip of their nose without holding it. The first few minutes were spent with all of us laughing at each other as spoons hung on our noses (or were held, by the smaller ones). They were so fascinated and proud of themselves. I wish I had a picture to share with you. It was a priceless moment.

Ahhhh.....Those small moments.....Giggling, joking, having fun, simply enjoying our time together..... They sure do make all of the other moments worth it, don't they?


What a great plan.....The Plan of Happiness.....It really is.

(God gave me my family + My family makes me happy + I will be with my family forever = Happiness Forever)

It's so simple. Sharing sweet moments with amazing people while we're here, and sharing many more of those moments with the same amazing people for eternity. What could make any of us happier than that?

Rollin' On The Floor!!!

"She doesn't give me peas all day yet because I don't like them yet, that's why she doesn't give me them all day yet!"

If you have not yet seen the 'Kid History' videos

you definitely should!!!!

Seriously, Jarom and I laughed harder than we have in a long time! Thanks to my friend, Miss Eva Aurora for getting us hooked!

Here is a sample of one of my favorites.....I hope you enjoy!!!

A Lullaby Fit For Eternity

The other day I was listening to the song 'Lullaby' by the Dixie Chicks. Here's a video if you want to listen.

I have talked about this song before and how much I love it. I don't think there is a better lullaby in all the world. It speaks as if from my own heart. When I was listening to it the other day it struck me in a way it never had before. Specifically the chorus lyrics:

"How long do you wanna be loved? Is forever enough? Is forever enough?
How long do you wanna be loved? Is forever enough? 'Cause I'm never, never giving you up."

Not surprisingly, I always think of my children when I listen to this song. As I thought about them this time I thought about the eternal perspective that I have as I listen to those words. Forever means something different to me than it does to many others because of my beliefs about eternal families. I believe that because I was sealed to my family by proper authority in the Temple of God, my family will be mine long after death. Forever, to me, does not mean until this life is over. It is eternity; Time without limits.

What an amazing blessing it is to look into those precious little faces and know that they are mine forever. They will always be mine. I never have to give them up, not even to death! It gives this song a different perspective, and makes me grateful for the amazing blessings that I have been given.

If you are not familiar with my views on eternal families and/or would like to learn more, you can read a short article here or you can click on the 'I'm A Mormon' button at the top of my blog.

Good...Great...And Beyond.....

Last week was my birthday.

It was stupendous!

I got to have dinner at one of my favorite restaurants (The Olive Garden, MMMMM.....) with my entire family! (Which hasn't happened in a very long time.)

And

My sweet sister gave me.....

THIS.......

I have no words.....

Emergency Essentials Food Storage Giveaway

 Here is the add from the website:

Traditional 2000^TM Year Supply Giveaway

This supply includes baking and cooking essentials, providing the versatility for cooking your own meals. It also includes fruits and vegetables, milk, garden seeds and more.

• Approximately 2000 calories per day for 375 days
• 126 - #10 cans total
• 120 dehydrated and 6 freeze-dried
• 64 different varieties

How to Enter:

1. "Like" us on facebook. Send an email to social@beprepared.com with "Traditional 2000 Giveaway" in the subject line and let us know that you are one of our fans on facebook. If you already "Like" us, send us an email and let us know. Click here to go to our facebook page.

Bonus Entries:

1. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and receive an automatic bonus entry. If you already subscribe to our YouTube channel, you will receive an automatic bonus entry. Click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
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3. Sign up to receive our email newsletters on the top center of this page. After signing up, send an email to social@beprepared.com with "Newsletter Bonus Entry" in the subject line and let us know that you signed up. If you already receive our email newsletters, send an email to social@beprepared.com with "Newsletter Bonus Entry" in the subject line and let us know that you already receive the newsletters.
4. Share this giveaway with your friends (on facebook, on your blog or website, send them an email, etc.) and receive an additional 5 bonus entries. After sharing, send an email to social@beprepared.com with "Share Bonus Entries" in the subject line and let us know how you shared.

Winner:
In conjunction with National Preparedness Month, the winner will be posted on our blog, Preparedness Pantry, during the month of September 2011. The winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries.
All entries will be verified. We welcome emails and entries from everyone; however, free shipping of the Traditional 2000 Year Supply is included for the winner to the 48 contiguous United States only. For any locations outside this area, the winner is responsible for arranging and paying their own shipping costs. If you purchase a Traditional 2000 Year Supply during the giveaway and win, we will send you an additional supply or issue you a refund for the supply you purchased - whichever you prefer.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
Your entries are going to Emergency Essentials and not to Facebook.
Facebook is in no way responsible for any part of this giveaway.

The Old Violin

"Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile:

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”

“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?

Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;

Going for three—” But no,

From the room, far back, a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

 

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”

And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?

Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,

And going, and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand

What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:

“The touch of a master’s hand.”

 

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,

A game—and he travels on.

He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,

He’s “going” and almost “gone.”

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought

By the touch of the Master’s hand.^"

^{This poem was shared at a session of our Stake Conference this weekend. It spoke volumes to me. I have seen with my own eyes the difference that can be made in a person with the touch of The Master's hand. I know how much those souls are worth.....how precious they are to me.....and how grateful I am that the world gets to hear the pure and sweet melody that they have to share.}

^{If you would like to read an article by President Boyd K. Packer that this poem is shared in, you can click here.}