Christmas Traditions

We enjoy making gingerbread houses every year. And this year was no exception!

As soon as the candy was on the table the girls had their hands filled, cheeks packed, and drool dripping out the sides of their mouths as they said, "more, more, more!" The task quickly turned from leisurely decorating to a speedy race to see if I could decorate the houses before the little munchkins ate everything or complained of tummy aches!

Although it looks like Anne is helping she is really sampling the candies before I get them placed on the house. There are many things that were attached a little slobbery slimy!

We opted for grahams this year just to simplify things for me. True to his designing and engineering genes Edwin devised a house that is more than the little thing I slapped together for the girls.

Grace and Anne enjoy looking at the houses every day. Surprisingly, they haven't tried to eat the candy off them yet (I don't care if they do eat it).

Grace tells Anne, "Be very careful. Just look."

Don't Neccos make the perfect roof tiles?!? (This year I found Necco's in August for ten cents a package and of course I purchased everything they had on their shelf! Every year we look of Neccos at Christmas but they are no where to be found. I will be on the lookout for clearance Neccos in the future!)

Grace wanted a sled, but a sled isn't any good without a snowman on it! We crafted the snowman out of salt water taffy, and well...we won't be using taffy next year...it melts and gets deformed quite quickly! So here is Grace's melting snowman wearing a purple hat and blue mittens perched happily on a partially eaten gummy seat

Edwin's reindeer was once standing proud with his head and antlers erected high.

He opted for the grazing pose for this picture!

My evaluation for this year is:

These little houses may not be attractive.....

BUT WE HAD A BLAST MAKING THEM!!!

Christmas Gifts

I've been busy with house guests, baking treats and making these pretty Christmas gifts for our friends and neighbors. My mother told me I needed to be crafty so she showed me how to make bows, gave me a glue gun and sent me on my way with 14 wreaths and a bag of decorations. Here are a few I made for our neighbors.

This is the one the girls helped decorate so it is hanging on our door. Thanks mom for the Christmas gifts. I'm glad I helped you clean out your project corner a bit!

The neighborhood loves them!

FHE 12/01/2008 Christmas Scriptures

Opening Song: Joy to the World

Opening Prayer: Edwin

Lesson: We decided to start the scripture reading program for Christmas found in the Friend Magazine this month. Check out the links below and you can read along with us!

1 Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7 GAK 113

2 Luke 2:1–7 GAK 200 3 Luke 2:8–20 GAK 202 4 Matthew 2:1–12 GAK 203 5 Matthew 2:13–15 GAK 204 6 Luke 2:40 GAK 206 7 Luke 2:41–52 GAK 205 8 Matthew 3:13–17 GAK 208 9 John 9:1–17, 32–38 GAK 213 10 Matthew 8:23–27 GAK 214 11 Matthew 19:13–15 GAK 216 12 Matthew 5:1–10; 6:9–13 GAK 212 13 John 11:1–3, 17–27, 41–44 GAK 222 14 Luke 17:11–19 GAK 221 15 Matthew 21:12–15 GAK 224 16 Matthew 26:17–30 GAK 225 17 Matthew 26:36–45 GAK 227 18 Mark 14:42–46 GAK 228 19 Luke 23:32–46 GAK 230 20 John 20:11–18 GAK 233 21 Luke 24:36–43 GAK 234 22 3 Nephi 11:1–17 GAK 316 23 3 Nephi 17:1–10 GAK 317 24 Joseph Smith—History 1:14–20 GAK 403 25 D&C 76:22–24 GAK 240

Closing Song: Joy to the World

Closing Prayer: Jennifer

All Dressed Up

We have a whole lot of fun at our house wearing all sorts of random things!

Look Ma! No Hands!

Anne takes her blanket everywhere....

FHE 11/24/2008 Nativity

Opening Song: Away in a Manger Lesson: The First Christmas Closing Song: Away in a Manger We unpacked and displayed our Nativity for Family Home Evening. As we unwrapped each piece we talked about the people who are a part of the first Christmas. When we were all done Grace said, "Baby Jesus is cold. He needs a blanket...a pink silky." So Baby Jesus has a blanket at our house this year!