Party!

I haven't blogged forever. December has just flown by! We had company, then got sick and then had all those busy December things going on. I'm going to back track a little mostly just to document the things we did this month. It wa so much fun and so busy!

First, we had a ward Christmas breakfast instead of the traditional Christmas dinner. It was fun and different.

The nursery acted out the nativity. They really didn't do much acting but they all looked really cute. Owen was a wiseman!

The next week we had Derek's school party. They had different stations and the kids got to make an ornament and decoration a cookie. Then they played a game. It was so fun and Derek was so excited to have me at his party, which made me feel so happy!

There is his cute teacher. She looks like she could be Derek's older sister!

Little Christmas Gift ideas

I know this is long but it is an awesome tradition!

Gifts for the Savior
Scott and Angelle Anderson, “Gifts for the Savior,” Ensign, Dec. 1997, 58–59

One December we gathered our family together for a family meeting. We asked our 11-year-old son how it would be if on his birthday the family members gave presents to everyone but him. He didn’t like that idea at all. We went on to ask if there was a holiday when we gave gifts to others but not to the person whose birthday we were celebrating. It didn’t take the children long to realize we were talking about Christmas. That year, however, we wanted to make Christmas more meaningful by giving gifts to the Savior, whose birthday we were celebrating. Three-year-old Laralyn headed to her room and returned carrying her favorite doll. “Daddy, could I give my dolly to Jesus?” she asked. We explained that the Savior knew of her willingness to give him her most prized possession and that he would want her to take care of the dolly for him. She was delighted and said, “I love giving gifts to Jesus!” By now our older children had become more reflective. What could they give the Savior? We discussed what he would want. We talked about how he had paid for our sins and wanted us to give them up. We talked about how he would want us to give of ourselves through service and sharing our talents. Gifts could also include being more obedient in such areas as journal writing, scripture reading, and keeping the commandments. We put a little white box on the fireplace mantle and asked our family members to write their gifts on slips of paper and place the slips in the box. Then we explained that on Christmas morning, before all of the other gifts were opened, we would have family prayer and then share with each other the gifts we were giving to the Savior for the coming year. As the years have come and gone, the tradition of the white box has helped our family focus on the real meaning of Christmas and on our love and gratitude for the Savior.

Gift Idea for Children
(give out on Dec. 13th or 14th)

Did you know that Santa Claus chews gum everyday?
And that Santa blows bubbles in his sleigh!
Only twelve more days tell Christmas, it is coming fast
so plan carefully to make your blubble gum last.
A piece of gum everyday is all that you should chew
and with every bubble that you blow think of my Christmas wish to you.

Gifts for neighbors and friends

(attach to a candle)

Light a Christmas Candle
To Remind You of the Star
That Guided Humble Shepards
And Wisemen from Afar
May it's Light Still Lead You
As You Journey on Your Way
And Bring Thoughts of our Savior
Throughout Your Christmas Day

(attach with a bag of candy)
(sung to the tune of Jingle Bells)

Dashing from the mall,
with groceries yet to buy;
lessons, work and housecleaning,
life is so crazy! Why?

Bells on our phone ring;
the machine will take the call,
we have no time for family or friends,
it drives us up the wall

How are you? How’s your life?
We really want to know.
We’d love to chat and hear the news,
but please don’t talk too slow.

How are you? How’s your life?
We really want to know.
Hope you’re ready for Christmas,
now maybe it will snow.

A day or two ago,
we thought we’d make a treat,
for all our special friends.
a Christmas gift to eat.

Our intentions were top notch,
but our schedules would not budge,
hence, here’s this years edition,
of homemade Christmas fudge.

(attach to a bag of muffin mix)

You're getting
"muffin" for
Christmas!

Let the Birthday Celebration Begin!

As a kid I use to love birthday parties especially mine. I do have to say though getting older isn't half bad when you get a week long celebration!

My birthday Celebration began last Monday when this cute Christmas plate arrived in the mail from my wonderful friends Michelle and Laura. Isn't it adorable? I just love it.

Then Thursday my new friends from Tennessee took me and two other birthday girls out for a little birthday lunch at my favorite lunch spot.

Zoe's birthday was on the 8th, mine the 9th and Christina was on the 6th.


I love how Owen is eating ice cream and holding a piece of lettuce.

Friday my husband sent me two dozen red roses! I absolutely love getting flowers delivered!

Friday night one of my best friends Lauren from elementary school came for a weekend visit. She is the best! I laughed so hard the whole weekend! It was so much fun.

Friday night we went to this awesome place called the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. It is a small cafe where you can listen to up and coming singer/songwriters. Many stars over the years have performed here.

Saturday we went and had a little lunch at the Loveless Cafe another hot spot around Nashville. They had the best biscuits I have ever tasted.

Saturday night Lauren wanted to see the Nashville Nightlife. Let's just say that is way out of my element. I don't drink and usually avoid these types of places. But it was so much fun and we had a great time dancing to the

Colley Jones Band.

Sunday was my actual birthday and it was great. I went to church, took a nap, my husband cooked an amazing dinner complete with coconut cream pie. After dinner we headed to the Opryland and got to see all the amazing Christmas lights and they had this wonderful outdoor Nativity (and you all know how much I love Nativities).

Yesterday morning we made a quick stop to the Pancake Pantry and I had the best breakfast of my life. I had an amazing omelet. But I wish I had take a picture of the chocolate chip pancakes Lauren ordered they looked amazing. (and I don't even like breakfast!)

This weekend my hubby is taking me on a special date. I can't wait!! Getting older isn't half as bad as I thought it would be!!

Choo-Choo- The Polar Express Here We Come!

This past weekend was our annual trip on the polar express. My kids love it and we have done it the past three years. I was so happy when we moved to Tennesee and found that we would be able to carry on the tradition. This year was really fun. The night before we watched the movie and everyone opened their new pajamas.

Then the next morning we got up for the ride. We went with some friends from church and had a great time. This trip was a little different than the last one in Texas. We got to sit in the eating car and buy treats. We also stopped off in a town for about an hour and a half. The town had set up bounce houses, book walk, sit on Santa, a choir and booths. It was really cute.

The Elves greeted us as we boarded the train. Owen wasn't too excited to get up early.

Our new friends The Cluffs went with us.

The train conductor read the story of the Polar Express and then they had a magician aboard the train.

The town had a really cute activity. It was like a cake walk but instead the kids got to pick out a book.

Two visits with Santa made the trip complete!

What fun traditions do you have?

My little addiction!

I just love Christmas time. Everyone seems to be happy, we are often thinking of others, it's my birthday this month, we bake, etc., etc. I don't even mind the decorating. Christmas does however bring out one of my addictions. I am addicted to Nativities. They are all over my house and I just love decorating with them. I tend to buy them all year long. Lately, however I don't just want any Nativity. I like it to be unique or have some special meaning. Since I can't invite you all over to my house (wish I could) I thought I would just share some of my favorites and why I love them.

This is the first nativity Drew and I received as a married couple. My brother and sister in law went on vacation to Israel and brought it back for us.



The first Christmas Drew and I were married we went to Europe. We were on a limited budget so we only bought a few souvenirs. This one came from a small town in Germany.


When we lived in Tucson, Arizona we would go down to the boarder towns in Mexico and I picked up this little tin nativity.


It helps to have a birthday in December. Nativities are almost beginning to be a staple gift from my mother and husband and I absolutely love it. Drew bought this Lladro nativity for my 30th birthday. See the Lladro of my dreams below!


My husband surprised me with this Jim Shore Nativity one year for Christmas. I love his work and was so excited.

My friends Laura and Michelle gave me this pewter nativity last year for my birthday. I love that those girls know me so well that they combined my two loves, nativities and pewter.

My mom gave me this cute little nativity by Mary Engelbreit. It has little kids acting out the nativity. My mom has also been helping me collect the willow tree nativity. It is large and has a number of pieces. I hoping this year it will be complete! (hint, hint mom)




My mom even found these cute nativity stocking holders for my birthday last year. I just felt like they went perfectly.

I found this one just a few weeks ago at a craft fair. It is the holy family made out of wooden spindles. I thought this was so clever and unique. I had to have them!


These are some of my favorites because my kids can play with them. The first one the kids move a bead each day starting the first day of December. I really love the advent nativity calendar.


On Executive Homemaker there is a cute activity where you can wrap up twelve pieces of the nativity and have the kids open one each day and read a poem with it.


I also found the cutest craft we are going to make this year. I wish I could post the picture but it won't let me. Check it out. It is a graham cracker nativity. It looks really easy to make. I know my kids will have a great time.

This is the Nativity of all Nativites in my mind. This Lladro Nativity is the nativity of my dreams!! At least I have my dreams!

What are your addictions, I mean things that you like to collect?