Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve at my Mom and Dad's this year! The traditional Chili and hot rolls for dinner and we opened our pj's and books as well. My mom made the three girls matching pj's that turned out so cute. She was still sewing while we ate dinner! They all looked so cute as triplets! I guess technically my sisters and I were triplets as well, we all got matching jammies too! We should have changed and took a photo!! LOL :)

Things I Love About Christmas

-New pj's and books on Christmas Eve
-Shopping early in the morning the day after Thanksgiving
-Decorating the tree
-Clark, putting the lights in the yard and on the house
-Hot chocolate and apple cinnamon toast on Christmas morning
-Wrapping presents
-Last minute shopping
-Neighbor gifts
-Teaching my children about the true meaning of Christmas and not to be selfish
-Shopping in Layton/Riverdale with my mom, sisters and aunt
-Work Christmas parties
-Being creative, making homemade gifts
-The smell of pine
-Stocking stuffers
-Diet Coke (I had to throw that in there!)
-Anticipation
-Courtney's Chrismas list
-Shoveling snow
-Making everyone unwrap presents one at a time
-National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
-Chili and hot rolls on Christmas Eve
-Cow ornaments
-The Christmas radio station
-Seeing family and friends
-Taking pictures
-Family traditions
-Receiving Chrismas cards in the mail
-Leaving the Christmas lights on all night on Christmas Eve
-Snuggling
-When my vacuum explodes two days before Christmas :(
-Putting the gifts away
-Taking down the tree and decorations
-My cute neighbors homemade caramel popcorn
-Cleaning out closets
-The kids having a break from school
-Telling the kids that if they aren't good, Santa can come back and take everything back just as easy as he brought it
-Knowing my Bear Lake getaway is getting closer
-Making Candy Cane cupcakes
-The kids asking where Santa is on Christmas Eve

The Endless Christmas Projects...

I made 8 more sets of these...

And four of these for neighbor gifts...

And 16 of these ornaments with everyones names on them...

And two of these!!

I still have one more big project to complete and some wrapping and then delivering. Oh and some shopping for dad. I will be so glad once everything is done! What a crazy, busy but wonderful time of the year!!

Oh Christmas Tree... MOO!!

Another year of the cow tree, I never get sick of pulling out all of my cow ornaments to put on the tree. It makes me unique!! Right??? I added three new cows this year. So much fun to collect! Can I just say that pre-lit trees are definately the way to go! One of my smartest purchases from last year. Anyway, here is the tree! Mooey Christmas to you! :0)

My tree skirt that my mom made for me several years ago. It just goes with the theme perfectly! Where else would I find a black tree skirt??

Teacher Gifts

Another project for all the teachers this year. Conner came to me back in November and asked if I would make some of my note cards for his teachers at school. I thought this was so sweet of him to think of them and want to give them something for Christmas. Especially since he is in 6th grade now and has 5 different teachers. That added to my stress level a bit! ;) I am very appreciative to all of my childrens teachers and for the things that they are learning. It's the least I could do. Anyway, I'm happy they are done and are being delivered today! Next project...

Courtney's 1st Grade Teacher

Conner's Teachers

Christmas Projects

I have been frantically working on multiple Christmas projects. More posts to come, but in the meantime this one is complete. I was asked by a friend of mine to make a couple sets of note cards for gifts. I have to give credit where it's due though, the layout is copied from my friend Richelle, I just added some vinyl, ink and the "A note from.." label. I think they turned out pretty cute! Now on to the next project...

Jensyn's Special Day

Last Sunday, was Jensyn's blessing day, and crazy as it was we didn't get any pictures of just him in "the outfit". So Keesha dressed him all up again and took some quick photos! Too precious! I think he knew he was sporting the fancy clothes and thought he was pretty cool!! What a handsome boy??

Candy Cane Cupcakes

Today is my bosses birthday and I always bring a cake for everyones birthday in the office, so I decided to try a recipe that I got off of GTU (Good Things Utah). Something different and a little festive. The recipe is from the cookbook 101 Gormet Cupcakes by Wendy Paul. This cookbook is on my Christmas list, hint, hint! ;)

Candy Cane Cupcakes

1 white cake mix

3 eggs

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 recipe vanilla butter cream frosting

Peppermint candy for garnish

1 cup white chocolate chunks or chocolate chips

Mix together cake mix, eggs, milk and vanilla. Pour batter into the paper liners and fill 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until cakes are light and golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely. Frost with vanilla butter cream frosting and top generously with crushed peppermint candy and white chocolate chunks.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

8 tablespoons butter, room temperature

3 3/4 powdered sugar

2-4 tablespoons milk or cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place butter in large mixing bowl and beat until light and fluffy. Stop mixer and add sugar, milk or cream and vanilla. Begin to beat frosting with your mixer on slow speed, gradually increasing until frosting is thick and creamy to desired texture. Frost cooled cupcakes.

Novemberfest 2009

Courtney, Hadley and Kenzlie had their first dance performace at Novemberfest. They all did such a good job and were all so much fun to watch! We have three very cute little dancers!

Presley and Courtney

Hadley & Kenzlie

Look at Kenzlie's "kissy face", too stinking cute! She practiced this!

Camera Accessory

Thanks to my VERY talented mom we created this awesome little camera accessory! For those of you with Digital SLR cameras, the purpose is to cover up the ugly "Nikon/Canon" strap and we added a little bonus pocket that will hold the lens cover snuggly so that you don't lose it. I am selling these for $10 if anyone is interested, they make great Christmas/Birthday gifts! There are 7 different designs, with a different pattern on each side. All of the patterns are pictured below. I am sold out of the example on my camera, but if I have enough interest in that pattern I will make some more. Just drop me a comment with your email address and I will contact you.