Category: 2010 Advent Calendar

This is such a fast and easy treat. We took a box of sandwich cookies and dipped them in almond bark (I added peppermint flavor to it too). I used my Pampered Chef Double boiler to melt down the bricks of Almond Bark. We let them dry on wax paper. Then after those were cooled and “dry” the girls started…

Tonight we had a blast… everyone in the car in their PJs, a pillow, a blanket and the doggies and off to drive around our town in search for a LEG LAMP. We had a few desires tonight.We wanted to see a house decorated entirely in white, we wanted to see a lit Nativity and we wanted to find a…

I believe that you can never have too many Nativity Scenes up for Christmas time. I have started adding a new one every year to our “collection”. This year, I made one and was inspired by one I saw at my mom’s group, Vital Moms at the Height Church. I was sad to not know WHO made the one there…

Every single year, the week before Christmas, our family and my sister’s goes over to my dad‘s PARENT’s house (My mom said that she felt neglected) and makes our family recipe of FUDGE. I can’t share the recipe… only because it is the bestest recipe and a family recipe that I am sword to secrecy. 🙂 This year, Jason became the…

Because we wait until after El’s birthday on the 16th to do our inside decorating, it takes a while to get everything up. We put up all of our Santa collection (My grandmother collected these before she passed away – our family ended up with a handful of that collection to add to for our own to put out every…

I had my nephews come over to stay the night (Jen and Jason had a Christmas party to go to tonight).I LOVE having all 7 of the kids together. We made caramel popcorn and watched Christmas movies – Tonight was my all-time favorite movie – A Christmas Story. I know every word!! Larry has the magic touch too  – as…

Our Scout family put together an AWESOME display at the Home-town Christmas. Each of the Cubbies created ornaments for the tree.We cut out camping diecuts and glittered pine cones. We used rope as garland and even made a tree topper of pinecones (my mom got on a kick while helping us organize the ornaments and saw my pinecone Chrismas tree…

Rosettes are special crisp, tender pastries that are traditional in Scandinavia. I have been hearing for YEARS how great these cookies are. I just had to see for myself. I found a rosette iron at a yard sale for $2 (included the recipe book and 4 different irons – SMOKIN’ DEAL! Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 2 minutes each…

Today was Little Elwyn (aka Beanie and JellyFish)’s Birthday. WOW! 7!!! Where did that year go! We decided to spend it together as a family. El wanted to go to a movie and out to dinner. Sometimes it is REALLY hard having a December birthday, but we try and separate it as much as possible in our house. (not decorating…

Our move this last year was rough on some of  my decorations. I had several wreaths in a big bag and they got crushed. Larry told me to just throw them away and start fresh… I am SO glad that I didn’t. I picked up a few $1 sets of flowers (poinsettias and some snow covered pine) at the craft…

Nativity History A manger scene is the primary decoration in most southern European, Central American, and South American nations. St. Francis of Assisi created the first living nativity in 1224 to help explain the birth of Jesus to his followers. Over two thousand years ago a young woman by the name of Mary lived in the small town of Nazareth….

There are a few sites that I REALLY LOVE to follow. One of my dearest friends, NicoleL shared this site with me: http://www.keeperofthehome.org. I saw that there was a homemade Egg Nog recipe on there…And it is SO GOOD!!! Here is the recipe from KeeperOfTheHome.org – Photos are from her site too… Incredibly Yummy Homemade Egg Nog *Inspired by the…

Open a small present – These do NOT have to be big… I went to Walmart and picked up a VeggieTale Christmas DVD for $5. My youngest son Berlyn Loves to get into the gifts… So this is a way to keep him out. – So far so good… Luke 1:68 – “Praise be to the Lord, the God of…

Our family normally goes to the Saturday night service at the Heights Church in Prescott, AZ. Tonight as we drove up , our family “oohhhhed” and “aaahhhhhed” at all of the beautiful lights. Take an evening out with the kids and drive through your neighborhood to see all of the beautiful lights. Luke 1:45 – Blessed is she who has…

I have been looking all over for fun activities to do with the kiddoes and I came across this post on   http://catholicicing.blogspot.com/ and on Tip Junkie. I was SO excited to see it. I had to share with you!!! A printable 3-D Nativity to make with toilet paper rolls. I copied their entire post below. Have fun this weekend…

Time to start (or finish) making gift for Christmas time. Shelby is working on gifts for people in her youth group and was going through my book of ideas when she came across these. So, I thought that I would post them. Shrinky Dink Earrings You will need the following Shrinky Dink your computer with a color prints (or you…

Take time to play together today. We went outside to play in the leaves before we get more bad weather. It’s those memories that will last forever.  Celebrate the day together. Luke 1:38 – “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Tonight is one of the FINAL nights for my photo class. We were asked to make something to bring. So I am thinking those REALLY YUMMY Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes that I featured from KevinandAmanda.com. Here is the post from those: http://scrapwarrior.com/blog/2010/10/06/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-cupcakes-yes/ Berlyn and I also made is favorite (or should I say that HE made them and I…

There are so many things that are important to me – God, my family, my friends, my health, my happiness. When it comes to happiness, I always laugh at what other people deem in that category. To be rich does not make you happy. Here are some FRUGAL ways to create your own advent calendar for the holidays. For about…

In our family, we like to put up lights around the house and decorate outside. (We don’t put up a tree until December 17th or later because we wait until after El’s birthday to keep both occasions separate.) I love to add lights to the house because not only does it give a “warm” feeling when you drive up to…

HOT COCOA NIGHT – Make some homemade Hot Cocoa and enjoy a bit of snuggle time. Found a yummy recipe online at http://www.allfreecrafts.com/giftinajar/hot-chocolate.shtml A popular jar mix that is easy enough for children to prepare as Christmas gifts for their teacher, babysitter or grandma. This recipe also makes a lovely jar gift for your office colleagues or co-workers, neighbors, the…