I'm A Copycat

A couple of days ago, Sara posted about her New Year's Eve tree. I fell in love with the idea! I am NOT creative, but I can copy like crazy. I told Karen about the idea and we didn't really do anything about it, but yesterday without prompting, Caleb started taking all the Christmas ornaments off the tree. We asked him why he was doing that and he said it was so we could make the New Year's Eve tree! So make it we did (well, they did it while I was in the other room)!

We're ready to PAR-TAY! 

Temple Lights

Last night we went to the temple to see the lights before they go away. Here are a few of my favorite photos. At first I told Karen that I wished the people weren't in the picture, but then she said "Just pretend you know them." 

So which picture is your favorite? 

I couldn't tell this was blurry until I saw it on the computer screen. I wish it wasn't blurry! That would have been a good picture! I should have taken a tripod.

We had a good time! 

Do You Have Room?

I know that Christmas was yesterday, but this is one more video that I couldn't help sharing. Besides, I need to remember every day to do what this song suggests. Please watch, and then go and do.

I think April Meservy sings this song so beautifully. And as I said the other day, this is my New Year's resolution. I hope you enjoyed some of the songs and videos that were posted this past week.

Merry Christmas- Happy Birthday, Jesus!

I love this song, I love Josh singing it, I love my Savior. Happy Birthday, Jesus. Merry Christmas everyone.

Gifts

Yes, Brynley, you've got the right idea. Merry Christmas, everyone!


I just love her little voice and the way she says things like "Oh, Mary was so essighted!" and "so, I been sinking..."
Today is my favorite day of the year. It falls between the birthday of Joseph Smith, Jr. (through whom the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth), and the day we celebrate the birthday of the Savior of the world.
Today is when all the shopping and wrapping and baking are finished, and we can reflect on the wonderful gift we have been given by Jesus Christ- that of eternal life,  and a remission of our sins if we ask Heavenly Father to forgive us.
My gift to Jesus this year will be to show more kindness to all of Heavenly Father's children, and be the kind of person He would be happy to call His own by keeping myself as unspotted from the world as I possibly can.
What is your gift to Him?

Happy Birthday, Joseph!

The following video is an hour in length, however, because today is the anniversary of the birth of Joseph Smith, I thought it was appropriate. Besides, what else do you have to do for the next hour?

Heber's Coat

"The gift of Christmas isn't wrapped up in presents or parties. The gift of Christmas is Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten of the Father, the Son of God. As you follow Him, you put people first. You may spend less time in lines and more time serving others. You may spend less money on - and more time with - the people you love. You may lose yourself and you may find everything else that matters."

I've been spending some time at lds.org looking at Christmas stuff. Click here to see some great ideas for you and your family, including how you can have a more worshipful Christmas.
I also suggest you read the following, by Elder Russell M. Nelson. It is perfect and will give you insight into the birth and life of Jesus Christ.

Silent Night

Did you hear David Archuleta has announced he will serve a full-time mission for the church? How would that be if you opened the door to see him standing there? Do you think it would be more effective for him to serve where he is known or unknown by those to whom he would like to share the gospel?
I love this video, and David gives the perfect accompaniment.


I like that this video shows the wisemen not visiting Jesus on the night of His birth, as so many nativities depict, but after he is a young boy.

Donny And Mary

No, I didn't make a mistake in the title of this post and I'm not talking about Marie. I'm talking about Donny Osmond singing "Mary Did You Know" in this video. I love the song, I love the video and yes, I love Donny, and I don't even think my husband minds.

Game Night

 Saturday was game night. We had a few folks over for dinner before games. Here's how I keep my sanity when I'm hosting. I post before I host. Little stickies all over the fridge telling me what I have to do and when I have to do it. Then all I have to do is remember to look at the note and remember to take all the notes down before the guests come so I don't look like a big dork. Because that's what I usually look like on any given day.

Here's what I came up with for dessert. I started the whole concept by knowing I wanted to put something in these super cute tiny parfait dishes. It's a brownie in the bottom of the dish topped with homemade custard (tinted green to be festive) and topped with cherry pie filling.

 The spoons that go with them are tiny too. Karen has lovely nails. I could never grow nails.

The other day I made OBB's fudge. Super creamy, totally delicious. I gave this plate away to a lady I visit teach. See the pretty trees? Those are spritz cookies.

For the party, I had some dough left over, so I thought I'd make a few more cookies. 

See Santa holding the plate? 

Yeah, on day two of the life of the dough, it decided it no longer wanted to cooperate inside the cookie press. So I said to myself "Self, forget the press!" I rolled the dough into a log, rolled the log into some fondettes (yes, that's what it said on my bag. What, no one uses the word sprinkles anymore?) and baked them like normal.

Cute enough. Now let's play some games! 

It involved six decks of cards. We shuffled cards more than we played the game but I think we had fun anyway.

Mr. Frosty

Look at the pretty factor.

Looks like Jack Frost has been frolicking around here. Even the fake poinsettia got some.

Makes it look quite real, doesn't it? 

No New Posts

Before I start getting grief about not having a new post up for days, yeah, sorry. We've made cookies and peppermint popcorn, but that's about all that is going on here. I'm thinking I'm about to slip into a lack of posting for awhile...

An Hour Late

I mailed off the Christmas boxes to my kids yesterday. When I came home, I found this waiting for me on my porch.

The gifts would have been so much cuter if this had come a day sooner.
In other news, if you have a little extra time on your hands before you bake up all your Christmas cookies, read this first. I love ATK because they give you the why to go with the how.