DECEMBER DAILY: Day 11

My friend Mikki shared this great idea for a craft. To make a Christmas Tree t-shirt using ribbons. But instead of making it myself, I had Katie and Becky make their own. They chose the ribbons and then ironed them down. Then they used my sewing machine and stitched the down to make sure they did not lift up.




They did such a great job. It wasn't too hard a project and I know they are 11 years old, but Istill think of them as my babies and that they couldn't possibly be able to do things on their own.

I love all my children for their sweet spirits and what they bring toour family. So it shouldn't surprise anyone when I say I just adore these two girlies. They enjoy making and creating as much as I do. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father sent me these two "crafty" angels.

DECEMBER DAILY: Day 10

For the last 5 years, one of the highlights of the season is the Duve's Christmas Party. We have been blessed to have this couple as friends for 6 years. We play games and go to movies with throughout the year, but this is by far my favorite thing to do with them. They invite other friends from the neighborhood and the ward to their home for an evening of conversation and good food. But the highlight of the evening by far is the White Elephant exchange portion bring to the of the evening. The $5.00 gift we bring to this party, we look for throughout the year. Some of the gifts are usually silly, gross, or just plain HILARIOUS. This year was not a disappointment. We saw a Tupperware container with goldfish, a pair of "Booty-Pop" underwear, a "Bump-It" hair accessory, 2 "Hill Billy Handbags", a talking Christmas wreath, a 7X pair of men's tightie whities, poop made into a bird "sculpture", a t-shirt with one couple's picture on and they autographed it, a pair of Jazz Tickets for the game that was being played while we were at the party, a Grinch stuffed animal, a Santa Mr. Potato Head, a bottle of Martinelli's with a flask, a large bag of gummie bears, and so much more. But by far the FUNNIEST thing I have ever seen was a set of antlers mounted with different Christmas ornaments hang off of them. Oh that's not all...two of the ornaments, when squeezed, "tooted" Christmas songs.









Steve and I went home with the Mr. Potato Head and the Martinellis with the Flask. The action we took in acquiring "the spud" did bring a little controversy. It has been given the name "the Weber" if an item is stolen from a person, then said person steals from their spouse so that their spouse can reacquire the originally stolen item. We feel so HONORED to now have a been awarded such a prestigious accolade. As usually, the party was fabulous, GOOD FRIENDS, GREAT CONVERSATION and MUCH LAUGHING!!

DECEMBER DAILY: Day 9

This is actually one of the school activities I really enjoy attending, the South Jordan Middle School Band Concert. This is Zack's 3rd year playing the oboe and I think the best part is watching the look on his face once he has completed the piece. The audience begins to applaud he looks like it is all for him, and I think that is awesome.
On top of performing 3 pieces with the Symphonic Band, he also performed 2 pieces with the Jazz band. He is definitely one that"feels" the music as he plays. He is bopping and bouncing as he plays the notes.

DECEMBER DAILY: Day 8

Katie, Becky and I were out there door early. They came along with me to finish up much of my Christmas shopping. I had a list that I hoped to have all the items checked off on, which meant we had to visit many different stores. They were awesome and very patient with me. And it all paid off for them. Once we got to Target I bought them each a bag of popcorn, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

I have to admit, although I would really much rather have everyone on the traditional schedule, I have enjoyed having these moment alone with the twins. We spent time singing Christmas songs in the car and talked about their friends and school. It is a little blessing to have this special time with them.

Later in the evening, Zack and Belle went out with the Young Men and Women to decorate mailboxes in our neighborhood. I loved going out Thursday morning and seeing all the boxes in the neighborhood with a red ribbon and sprig of evergreen. Just kind of added something to our neighborhood..

DECEMBER DAILY: Day 7

Spent Tuesday cleaning up my craft room and getting caught up on some of the projects I have had stacked up. A few are Christmas gifts, so I am unable to divulge exactly what I was working on. I enjoy those moments when I can sneak away from the household chores and set my creative side free for a few hours. I sometimes think that those moments of creating something a purse, scrapbook, table runner...help to make me a good mom and wife. I need those moments to unwind and let my mind roam. I need to try to take more opportunities to sneak into my little corner of the basement during the other 19 months of the year and get my "create" on!!

DECEMBER DAILY: Day 6

Usually the thing I look forward to the most on Mondays is going bowling, but this Monday was double fun...after bowling I went home and freshen up, picked up my crockpot of Taco Soup, and the handmade ornaments and headed off to Alicia Bresock's house for an ornament exchange party. This was my 2nd year being invited and I was hoping that Alicia would be hosting this again.

First we started with the luncheon portion of the day. There were 4 yummy soups a delicious green salad, rolls and lot s of yummy goodies (which I hated not getting to sample). The conversation was fun. I have been so blessed to have really gotten to know these women very well in the last few years.

Then it was time to exchange out ornaments. This was definitely a gathering of extremely creative ladies. Some of the ornaments that were made was a glass mirror that was etched with the word BELIEVE, a wooden CANDY CANE, a cute triangular SNOWMAN, my paper PINECONE,another SNOWMAN whose hat was made with an old sweater, 2 ornaments that had beautiful,old KEYS and greenery on them. One of the most remarkable ones was of a shepherd boy. He was had painted: face, body, EVERYTHING...it was BEAUTIFUL!!!

After the exchange was over we gathered in the kitchen and visited a while longer then gathered up our stuff and headed out the door. This is where my day took a terrible turn. I was having so much fun. My friend Mikki is one of the funniest people I have ever come in contact with. We both got to the front door with our hand FULL and found it nearly impossible to open the door to get to the cars. I was laughing so hard. We finally got out the door. I made it down the stairs, carrying my crockpot with the soup, my camera hanging around my neck and my ornaments...I looked back at Mikki who was saying something funny (which I can't remember what it was now) and I stepped on an uneven piece of Alicia's sidewalk and down I went....TACO SOUP AND ALL!!!!


I landed right on my left knee and scraped my elbow. Everyone of my friends were also loading their stuff into their cars and got to witness my "graceful" exit. The rushed over to see if they could help. I was crying, but also laughing at the same time and couldn't quite stop. I had taco soup on my nice white sweater, in my hair and it covered Alicia front porch. I was not sure what hurt the most when I got home...my pride or body. I did realize what wonderful friends I have. The rest of the day I spent at home taking naproxen wearing my pjs and was fielding phone calls and emails from the ladies who wanted to make sure I was okay and if there was anything they could do.

DECEMBER DAILY: Day 5

The kids and I had a pretty mellow day. It was fast Sunday, so we did not have breakfast. We put on Harry Potter movies which were being shown all weekend on ABC Family while we waited for 11:00 am to arrive so we could leave for church. The lesson in Relief Society was quite moving. Jenn Hays led the lesson and shared a few memories of Christmases past. Then she had invited other sisters in the ward to share their memories with us. It was so moving. The spirit was definitely palpable in that room. Sacrament meeting was also fabulous. After we received the sacrament, the testimony meeting began. Zack was the 1st one to go up to the podium. He bore his testimony. It amazes me sometimes that I am raising this young man. His testimony is so much stronger and purer than anything I have ever experienced. I learn so much from him about what "faith" looks like. There was also another cute testimony. A little boy in our ward got up and bore his testimony about tithing. He stated a "truth" that is found in the scriptures, but said it so a matter of factly, I think it surprised many adults and we all giggled. I guess he was quite embarrassed that people had laughed at him. I feel horrible about that. I wish their was a way to convey to him that I am grateful that he shared that with us. It inspired Becky to base her Family Home Evening lesson on what he said and it was a great lesson. Not sure our lesson would have been so good if he had not been brave enough to bear his testimony and share his faith with us...thank you Jakob.

After a pretty simple supper when Steve got home, I retired to my scrap room and tried to finish up the ornaments for the exchange party I was invited to. While I worked, I turned on the First Presidencies Christmas Devotional. Last year we had been luck enough to have tickets to watch it live, this year, not so much. I did enjoy being in my jammies and crafting while I listened to the messages that were given. I have to admit, I just ADORE President Dieter F. Uchtdorf . His style of speaking, is so easy for me to understand. His talk began by telling us that there are quotes that we hear during this time of the year and he quoted scriptural references to the birth of the Savior and then moved on and quoted the GRINCH. I loved it. He talked about how we get wrapped up the hustle and bustle of the season and can become "grinch-like". That it is important to remember the true meaning of the spirit. You can hear his entire talk through the link above.
The meeting ended with the message from our Prophet Thomas S. Monson . Which is always wonderful to listen to. He talked about what he reads: The Mansion by Thomas Van Dyke, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and 2 Luke in the New Testament. Then he related a story about a man that was living in Frankfort Germany during the 1940's...definitely a moving story about the true meaning of Christmas.

I have enjoyed, in the past few years, this first Sunday and listening to the leaders of the church share the messages of the season with us. I hope we got the opportunity to attend it live again some day.

DECEMBER DAILY: Day 4

Mom and I got up and dressed and went out to do some Christmas shopping. We don't get the opportunity to go out just the two of us. We hit TaiPan, then worked our way over to ShopKo, then HobbyLobby and finally stopped at South Jordan Christmas Boutique . There was lots of cute stuff. I had never been to that gift show, but was pleasantly surprised. It reminded my of the one that happens at the South Towne Center in November, but not nearly as large. So grateful I had Saturday to spend with mom, Definitely hope we have the opportunity to do again, SOON. The kids and I finished out our day by going to the Ward Christmas. It was pretty low key. It was held at the Stake Center. Pot luck dinner and then the Kearns High School Madrigals came and performed for us. Most of the program was just a standard choir singing, but towards the end they performed an interesting rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas. Unfortunately I will be unable to do it justice if I were to explain it, but I will tell you my kids have "performed" it several times since the event. Steve even stopped by and had some dinner after getting out of work. It was nice to be there together as a family, even if it were only for a few moments.

DECEMBER DAILY: Day 3

I received a Facebook message from one of my friends in Maine. She expressed her surprise in not having received a Christmas card from me yet. I am sure that for many friends that have known me for YEARS, this was quite surprising. I usually have those cards in the mail the day after Thanksgiving. Unfortunately I came down with a yucky cold during Thanksgiving and EVERYTHING in my life fell behind a week and those cards also fell victim, but Friday morning I got up and addressed all the envelopes to the people in my address book and slid the cards I had ordered from Pear Tree Greetings, placed the stamps on and they off to their intended recipients. This year I chose to order my cards from online. For years I have done a full page letter and have even made our cards, but this year I decided I wanted to simplify the process a little. I LOVE the CHRISTMAS CARD portion of the holidays and am not willing to go entirely cyber. I hope my friends are not too disappointed in the evolution of my Christmas cards.
Mom and Pop drove up from Ferron. We went to Festival of Trees which was being held at the South Towne Center. I think it is a fun way to start off the holiday. There are hundreds of trees decorated in various color schemes, themes, materials...many of which are dedicated to someone's loved one. The stories behind the trees are so moving. The trees are bid on in a silent auction and the proceeds are donated to Primary Children's Hospital. Such an incredible event. It is breathtaking to walk into the room and see the sea of trees, wreaths, and gingerbread houses.





So happy that my parents live close enough that we get to have these moments together.

DECEMBER DAILY: Day 2

Steve and I went to the performance of "SKULLDUGGERY at SANTA'S PLACE" that Zack's 2nd period Theater class put on. This is Zack's first year taking drama. I was very excited to watch him. He played the Head Elf at Santa's workshop and was so cute. There was one dance scene when the elves "get their groove on". It may have been my very favorite part of the play.


Later in the day, I hosted the monthly bookclub meeting. We discussed the book, HOUSE RULES by Jodi Picoult. She may be my favorite modern author. Her writing style is awesome. This book's main character has Aspergers Syndrome, which I found fascinating to read about. I saw so many similarities to Zack, but also realized just how "high functioning" Zack is compared to this character which is thought to be high functioning. I enjoy having the opportunity to get together with the other ladies of the book club. Discussing the bookclub is wonderful, but the side conversations are even better. I count this group of women and my monthly visit with the one of the best things about our neighborhood.

DECEMBER DAILY: Day 1

I ended the 1st day of December decorating "my" tree. This is the tree that Steve gave me for Christmas. Since our 1st Christmas I had wanted a tree that would have all coordinated ornaments. So a few years ago, Steve bought me the tree and I have acquired these bright colored ornaments during the after Christmas sales. So since Steve was at work, Zack and Belle were at Mutual, so the girls and I turned on Christmas music and I decorated the tree. It is always fun to pull out those new ornaments that I bought in Januray and am finally getting to use.
I enjoy setting up this tree. A few nights before we did the "family" tree which is also fun. That trees has the ornaments we have collected over the years from the places we have visited. Steve and I also give eachother ornaments each year. This year we also gave the kiddos ornaments. Last year we had given Zack and oboe ornament and then this year we got Belle a piano ornament and Katie a Black kitty ornament. But my favorite is the Hallmark "countdown" ornament. Becky has a white board in her bedroom and has countdown all the big events of the year, so it seemed only right to give her that ornament.

I LOVE BEING A GIRL

Last week I went to Deseret Industries (which is like a Goodwill or Thrift Shop) looking for some old books to convert into cute little purses. As I made my way to the book area, I noticed a couple of pieces of furniture. One was a large, overstuffed chair that was practically new. Then behind that I saw this beautiful make-up vanity with an upholstered stool. The stool was still new with a piece of plastic covering it. The vanity also appeared new with a couple of small scratches. And the best part was both pieces were just $35.00. I put it on hold and drove home to see what Steve thought of buying it. He came back with me and looked it over and agreed it was a good deal. The only flaw was there were no lights and where we wanted to put it in our bedroom we would have to install lights. We went to Home Depot and after thoroughly confusing an older gentleman that was working in the electrical department, we walked out with two light bars. Steve, the handyman that he is, attached them to either side of the mirror on the vanity and wired them to have a plug and on/off switch. He did such a great job.

So this morning I moved my makeup into the little drawer. After taking my shower I got to sit at my "girlie" make-up vanity. What a fun way to start off my day...I LOVE BEING A GIRL!!!