21 days left - Memory Tree

 Day 4 - This is THE DAY, my favorite, it is why we do it on my birthday every year.  We decorate the memory tree.  The memory tree is filled with symbols of what we have accomplished, events and wonderful things we have done together.  Through the year when we go somewhere we try to find an ornament that represents the location.  When the kids participate in an activity or start on a path of a new talent we try to find an ornament that reminds us of their accomplishments.  I love watching the kids faces as we unwrap each treasured bundle.  They anxiously wait for their special ornament, and share excitement and memories of the family ornaments.  This year we bought a couple of handmade ornaments in West Yellowstone when we spent the day there together on labor day.  Sara received a beautiful violin, as she has been playing now for a couple of months.  JT had the chance to try soccer, hence the soccer ball.  Cambelle started ballet and preformed in the Nutcracker and so there are two ornaments for her this year, ballet shoes and a nutcracker.  I love everyone of them, my hope is that my children will treasure these memories as much as I do. The fact that we do it on my birthday was started many years ago when Troy and I were first married.  I knew from experience that my birthday very rarely lived up to expectations so I wanted to start something that I would look forward to and would bring a smile to my face every year no matter where we were or what our financial circumstances were, so when we were first married we would put up our Christmas tree.  Well through the years I decided that  I wanted the tree up a little sooner and I wanted a separate place to hang our special ornaments, so the memory tree solved the issue of both situations.  Cambelle said tonight that she loved my birthday because we got to put the memory tree up, I think I have to agree with her.

We got this train in 2010 after we rode the North Pole Express in Heber City.

Troy and I picked this up in Victoria British Columbia in 1998.

This was in our package this year for Cambelle, it was her first year to participate in the Nutcracker.

This is Sara's violin.

In 2009 my dad passed away, he lived with us for 6 years and  we  miss him.  But it's nice to remember what he means to us.

In 2009 Troy and I were a Ma and Pa on a trek for our stake.

As a missionary I picked this up in Italy in 1995.

This is just a small example of all the ornaments we have.

Gifts symbolize the gift of Eternal Life.  Christ's atonement was a gift to us.  The gift might also remind us of the gifts of spirit that all should earnestly seek.  Our giving gifts to others remind us that all our work should be helping others to receive the gift of eternal life through the atonement

22 days left - Festival of Trees

Day 3 - The Christmas before my mom passed away she had her dream Christmas.  All her kids were home and she had a tree that was flocked white and decorated with maroon silk balls, pink lights and mirrors.  She wanted the Christmas to be fantastic and she succeeded.  In her quest to create this memorable event we began to visit the local floral shop where they had beautiful trees on display.  I remember walking downstairs and being enveloped with the smells of evergreens.  It was magical with the lights and flowers and decorations of all kinds.  My mom took me with her as she searched for the things to complete that Christmas season.  I was already in love with the holiday, but in the months that led up to the Christmas of 1984 it became a part of my mother that has stayed with me.  I think that is why I love today.  We drove to Pocatello and visited their Festival of Trees in the Stevens Preforming Arts building.

Then we went to lunch at a place that we found on the internet, it was literally the only business on the street, the kids weren't to sure about going in, but we did and oh man we are talking some good rootbeer and fantastic pizza.  Good choice.

Red symbolizes the Atonement.  The blood of Christ was shed to atone for the sins of all mankind.

23 days left - Polar Express movie

Day 2 - This is one of my favorite days.  We have been watching the Polar Express with popcorn and M&M's for a few years now.  And seriously it is one of those days that I look forward to.  The kids all get their blankets and pillows and make beds on the floor and then we turn the movie on while I pop popcorn and add the M&M's.  There is something about the simplicity of it all that adds to the magic.

Joseph reminds us of the love we can have for one another.  He cared for Mary and cared for Christ.

24 days left - Symbols of Christmas

So the journey begins, Day 1, each drawer of this cute little box contains a small ornament and a reminder of how we can remember Christ in all aspects of Christmas.  The kids were pretty excited when they realized that every time they unwrapped a present they would get to open a drawer too.  

We place special stockings out at Christmas within which Santa puts gifts.  Stockings cover our feet.  Our feet symbolize the course of life we take.  The stockings therefore can symbolize that our path of life should lead us to the gift Christ has given to all men, even eternal life.

Christmas Countdown

Christmas Countdown 2011

Every year my kids and I totally look forward to Christmas, the lights, the decorations, the activities, we love everything about it.  Well three or four years ago January came and the pretzels were undipped, movies were unwatched and we had never driven around to look at lights.  It was disappointing and I felt a little like a failure.  So the next year came around and I decided that it would be different but for it to be different I had to have a plan, preferably with a list, (anyone who knows me knows that a list is the glue that holds my life together).  So I started to think about all the things I love and wanted to do with my cute little family and began making my list.  And hence the "Christmas Countdown" was born.  Every day there is a little gift, and inside is either a new decoration or a note to tell us what activity we are going to do that day.  Lots of planning but totally worth it.  It helps us stay on track with all of our favorite traditions and has become a tradition in and of itself.  So here is the plan, this year I want to take note of each day and what we are doing.  This year will be filled with movies, activities, treats and service.  I love Christmas and look forward to another wonderful year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Prince Kevin

I had the chance to make a grooms cake for a girl from our ward.  And let me tell you it was FUN!!!  She brought a picture by for me to reference, and then said that I could pretty much do what I wanted with it, she just wanted a frog with a crown.  It was the first cake I ever carved so I was a little nervous especially because it was for someone outside of our family.

It was  red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.  I froze the cake and that made it a lot easier to carve.  I took several days to make it.  But with every step I fell more in love with this little guy.  I had so much fun making him, I hope I get a chance to make something else like this.

And the winner is...not me :)

I really didn't enter to win, it would have been nice, but I don't feel bad about how it ended up.  About a month ago I decided that I wanted to enter a cake into the Eastern Idaho State Fair Sugar Art competition.  The theme was wall to wall and the design needed to be based on a wallpaper design.  So, I searched the Internet and found a swatch that I could envision on a cake.

The whole planning process was actually fun, drawing it out and thinking of different techniques that I wanted to try.  The only thing that I wasn't crazy about was the fact that it was a very monochromatic color scheme.  But I did think it turned out rather elegant.

I should really start to take progress pics.  But for now the final results will have to do.

No matter the results I learned so much and love this little hobby of mine.  By the way I got third place, other wise known as last, since there were only three entries in my division.   More on that later ;)