December. In a nutshell.

The last few months have been Crazy… with a capital C! I never imagined I could be so far behind on a to-do list. ;) I’ve never felt so much chaos but at the same time so content & happy with life. It’s full of everything I love. {and I’ve only had a couple of break down’s, a few monster stress zits, and two migraines"} ha! Really. It’s a beautiful life. I am so grateful for  my many blessings.

I guess it doesn’t help that I’d rather spend my nights sitting in front of the Christmas tree watching the twinkling lights.

I think I’ll just try to recap our month of December. On December 1st, Zach & I celebrated our 10 year anniversary. Love that boy SO much. He makes all my dreams come true.

It was also the day my dad had surgery. It was a day of miracles. He is doing SO great. He is cancer free right now! That feels so good to say! :) He will do 12 more rounds of chemo after Christmas. He is my hero. I don’t know that I could fight like he is fighting. Truly he is amazing. It has been hard. We have had so many tender mercies. Very grateful.

We were able to visit with Braxton’s birth mom Shanna and her sweet family for an afternoon as well.  What would I do without these sweet girls who made it possible for me to be a mom?! Love them and that is an understatement!

We made a quick trip to Dallas where we were wined and dined. Seriously. Limo, 8 star hotel, breakfast in bed, the works. Can you believe I didn’t get a single picture? ha! {that is so unlike me}

\

We helped host an Ugly Sweater Christmas Party. SO fun!

this cute girl got a hair cut, and it was all her idea!

 

Welcomed a new niece! Rylin Kate Davis. She is SO tiny and I am SO baby hungry. Mmm. Nothing better than a sweet little one straight from heaven! So happy for Josh & Amber!

We celebrated my mom’s 50th Birthday. She is so beautiful. Really inside and out!

She's the kind of mom, who when you become a mom, somehow gets even better. You slowly start to realize what it must have taken to have provided the childhood you were blessed with, and wonder how you're ever going to do what she did, and be what she was. With every additional year of my own my mom becomes more amazing.

We’ve had preschool parties-

I am LOVING volunteering in Miss Brooklyn’s kindergarten class once a week too. The kids make me laugh. They are so fun!

 

We’ve been caroling, visiting the Senior Citizen’s home, Pedicures & Personal Progress, Studying Christmas with the Prophets for our Young Women Christmas lesson. Awesome book btw.

 

We have had SO much fun with our Elf on the Shelf Frisbee… my kids almost don’t want Christmas to come (I said almost)… because then Frisbee will have to go back to the North Pole. CUTE! Here are just a few of the things Frisbee has been up to! We love you too Frisbee!

 

Here is our Christmas card. We wish each of you a Merry Christmas filled with the love of our Savior, peace in your hearts & all good things as 2012 approaches.

 

Thanksgiving 2011…

We made a few Turkey day treats to take with us to Thanksgiving Dinner….

 

Recipes found HERE.

This Butterfinger pie was to die for

 

and so with this Feta Dip… my mouth is watering just thinking about it. mmm.

We had the perfect Thanksgiving.  Hope you did too!

So much to be thankful for.

I’m looking forward to the magic of December.

In fact meet our new Elf. Frisbee.  He’s full of magic! Just ask my kids! ;) wink. wink.

 

Happy December!

What a Great Day it WAS going to Be…

What a great day it’s going to be! I know I’ve said it before but the fresh start of a new year is so energizing & full of possiblities!

Well the truth is I started writing this post on Monday, today Tuesday started off with a dead car battery, a little girl one hour late for preschool & throw up in the back seat of my car on the way into town.  Life is so crazy and full of ups and downs, but I guess that’s what makes it beautiful.

I wanted to share a few projects that we got done over the holiday. Me and my sisters. {Who I miss already} made these cute necklaces- 

want to make your own? I bought a couple of the kits HERE.

Also, I might as well share my new website obsession: A Side of Peaches. They feature one product a day, like funky one of a kind jewelry, handbags, hair accessories, & more at up to 50-80% off! I like to check it early, since once the product is sold out, it’s gone.

We also finally finished the little boy ties, they turned out SO cute! My little guy wore the one in the middle to church on Sunday! ♥

 

 

We also got all of the Christmas taken down, I am always ready for it to be put away. The house feels a bit bare without all the bling. I think the things I miss the most are of course the tree & it’s sparkling lights, I also love the pine boughs on my stair rail.

But in a close second, I miss our wall of greeting cards. It makes me happy to look at so many of our favorite people! And it makes getting the mail so much more fun the month of December!

To fill up some of our already setting in winter blahs, because for the record I am so over this FREEZING cold weather! I found these cute little snowmen! I bought mine, but you can make your own using this tutorial HERE. They make me happy just looking at them! I want to get this quote printed out in vinyl, to set by them. Just like the one in the tutorial.

 

“May the Sunlight of Faith ever warm your Hearts.”

Gordon B. Hinckley

Christmas Wish List…

First off don’t let this list fool you, when my husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas this year, I couldn’t even name a single thing that I really wanted! I am happy with all that I have been so blessed with. As I ponder our brothers and sisters all over the world who don’t have a house to call a home, or even basic needs of survival, my head starts to spin, with all the many things I have been blessed with.

I always enjoy looking at other’s wish lists or products that they love- so I thought I’d make one of my own. Who knows maybe it will help you with some last minute shopping!

First I must admit, I’ve already been spoiled with a few early Christmas presents…

Apple TV- I had never even heard of it until my Zach brought one home for us a few weeks ago. SO LOVING it!!

(TV Not included")

I can now rent HD movies and TV shows with the click of a button, good bye redbox. I loved you, but now I don’t have to worry about returning another DVD the very next day! It also streams Netflix and YouTube videos. Plus stores & plays iTunes music and photos from your computer and Flikr. Seriously loving it.

I also bought these cute rainboots! Just in time too- since it has been raining here?! I know- as in the week before Christmas. So wierd. So glad I didn’t wait until Spring to get me some! Target.com people.

Another new favorite- Cool Water Perfume. Thanks Angie for introducing it to me. It’s fresh & sophisticated smelling. I bought mine at Walmart.

I also bought this game- a suggestion from my cute and talented friend Hanna- you probably know her too, from Drab to Fab!

We’ve played it once already! SO fun!!

I know… now this one I’m like last to jump on the boat, but I would love either of the Mindy Gledhill CD’s.

This is how they describe Mindy’s music- "Indie singer songwriter that will leave you floating like a scoop of vanilla cream in a strawberry soda." If that alone doesn’t make you want to buy her CD- I don’t know what will?! ♥ it! Click on either of the pictures to hear the albums.

I think this is genius too! No more scraping off the side of my Kitchen Aid while making cookie dough!

I’ve been wanting one of these FOREVER! I drooled over them at Gygi’s in SLC,about two years ago, but couldn’t bring myself to pay almost $65 for one of them!

This one is super cute too!

(found at Pier One) Maybe Santa will know which one looks more like me. ;)

Also loving this cute skirt from Down East.

 

Okay what about you? What is on your wish list? Any great must have products out there that I can add to my ever growing

wish list?

Send Your Child a Message from Santa...

This is the second year we have done this. My kids LOVE it!!! You can send your kids a personal message from Santa- Just go HERE or click on the image below. After we watched it Brooklyn said, "Mom, you can tell it's the real Santa! Did you see how long his beard was?!" She's right you know! :) Hope you are all enjoying the hustle and bustle getting ready for such a magical time of year!

Christmas Crafts Ideas…

First off, I have sat down to write oh, probably 5 different posts the last week and a half, only to get busy, and leave them half way finished, I’ve got to get back to posting more frequently with less fluff, so it actually gets done! (hopefully in the next few days, I’ll get caught up with things I wanted to post about, so check back soon!)

The last few weeks the Blog world has been oozing with awesome gift ideas, craft ideas, Christmas ideas… I can hardly contain myself, I feel myself bookmarking MORE projects and ideas then I will ever be able to accomplish this holiday season. I thought I’d share some of them with you. 

Marshmallow Snowmen

This Mistletoe vinyl quote is SO cute! Who doesn’t want the opportunity for an extra little smooch from the one you ♥?!

I think these felt Reindeer napkin holders would be darling for the kiddie table at any Christmas dinner!

I’ve been wanting to make these cute “Snowman Kisses” since last year, still haven’t figured out who to make them for though.  LOVE this little photo shoot of  these two cuties! Now I want to make a white tutu for Brooklyn! Click on the picture to take you do Talia’s blog.

Is that not SO CUTE?! My friend Liz made this for a party a couple years ago!

This has been one of my favorite blogs for a little while. She says: “

When the holidays arrive, I package up little gifts and place them in a basket by the front door. When friends visit they leave with a treat. Some years I've filled boxes with inexpensive toys for children and edible treats for adults.” Check out more about this DARLING tradition HERE.

And we are making THESE, for Brooklyn’s preschool “Polar Express” Pajama party tomorrow!

My little sister made the kids this darling finger puppet nativity set last year for Christmas- you can find a free pattern HERE.

I’m wanting to make a few more to add to our collection!

Free Pattern HERE.

 

You can print our your own Quote, to frame of stick on the fridge Here, at one of my all time favorite blogs! They come in all sizes & colors. And they are free.