Christmas 2013

December Has Wings

How is it that this month, of all months, really does just seem to fly?! December forever goes so fast that I can't help but feel like I just kinda miss it to some extent. We have done some fun seasonal type things, though and I thought I'd share them before I post about Christmas Day itself :)

Sprinkle blizzard at the boys' graham houses :)

Wishing YOU a Very...

Just want to wish anyone who reads a very Merry Christmas!

Heard this song below for the first time earlier this year and found this video wonderfully powerful-

 enjoy! I know our Savior was born in a manger and that HE is the reason our lives are what they are.

So thankful for His birth and the exciting time of Christmas to acknowledge it! Merry Christmas!

Super Quick and Easy Gifts... Popcorn and More with Printable Tags

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Today is Cooper's last day of school before the Holiday Break! I'm so excited to have all the boys together for a long while- kinda feels like Christmas season can actually begin now! With today being the last day, I sent him out the door with his teacher gifts in tow (Ryder also took his to preschool yesterday). I'm so glad that they both enjoy gifting too- they were thrilled with the cute, easy gift "baskets" we put together. To create them, I got to shop at Target for hot chocolate, gourmet popcorn and beef jerky (hard life, I know) ;) 

Last Minute Christmas Service Ideas #spreadingjoy

I can't even express how grateful I am to be part of the cool #spreadingjoy, Season of Giving effort over at Kid Stuff World. I was told about this great series by the amazing Sheila from Pennies of Time and knew immediately I wanted to join- I'm so glad she thought to ask me! So today I get to share a little list that's been gaining momentum in my head for a few weeks now... a few last minute ideas for giving service this time of year!

Christmas flies by every year, no matter what. It gets here and we think, did I really feel the spirit of it all? Did I do the things that mattered most? Will my kids remember THIS year imparticular? I know the answer for me is pretty well always "No," even if we have done some great and good things. But I do, I spend too much time at the store in the name of gift giving. Too much time in the kitchen in the name of baking and tradition. Too much time behind my laptop in the name of... what, exactly?

Mason Jar Wine Glasses: Christmas Style

Earlier this year, I took a page from the Robertson family themselves and made my own mason jar wine glasses. I think they might just be one of my favorite things I've ever made! We've loved them, from using just because to adding a bit of flair to a meal or get together with friends. I wish I had about three times as many of them! What's stopping me... who knows! Just stuff, like always! :) 

Anyhow, I saw them awhile back sitting on my counter together and had the thought that they could make a neat Christmas gift. So, I tried adding a little bit of holiday cheer to them and thought I'd share!

You can first find the full tutorial for how to make them HERE. A case of jars is about $8 and the candlesticks used for the base you can find at the dollar store. It takes 24 hours for the silicone that holds the two together to really set good, but surely within 8 or 12 you'd be able to work on getting your gift together is you were super low on time. These could make a really easy, inexpensive last minute DIY gift...

Simple Christmas Kindness with Extra Gum

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I'm so excited about this post! I know, I know, I say that a lot, but this one just got me a bit nostalgic, which I love. Fun crafty things with mint gum are something I remember being a part of Christmas time in my childhood and I really wanted to incorporate it into something I could pass on to the boys too...

Do you remember the candy trains you made during Christmas time as a kid? I can't quite remember which part was which candy- lifesavers for the wheels I think. And a pack of gum for the body. Glued together just right to make a train ornament that I remember was just too heavy for the branches! Something about those kinds of little things just brings on the nostalgia... memories of Christmas' past :) Those kinds of little things are the reason that Christmas is so beloved to us now, that we are trying to pass on the spirit we feel to our own kids.

Affordable Neighbor Gift: Dinner in a Mug

Today I'm back with my friend Emily from The Benson Street to share some inexpensive, quick neighbor gift ideas for Christmas! This month we went to Dollar Tree... and tried to get some creative juice flowing in the busy aisle, all while Cooper and Ryder buzzed back and forth needing feedback- ha! Emily is so cool to deal with my lack of organization when we get together! :) 

Christmas Wish List Giveaway!

I've been so excited for today to get here, for this giveaway blog hop!

I've been having far too much fun getting ready for it!

You already know I LOVE gifting, so being able to give one of YOU some of my  favorite  things is like a little bit of bliss :) It's possible I went a titch overboard... nah, of  course not ;) For this giveaway, I'm joining a great new group of bloggers and each of them did the same thing too- gathered items from their own Christmas wish list to send to one lucky winner, hopefully making their holiday a little happier! Every blogger is hosting a giveaway on their site, for their basket. :)

Wood Creations of Idaho Falls Christmas Sneak Peak

Let the Christmas decorating and crafting begin! Or rather, get into full swing... since it's pretty much too hard to totally wait until after Thanksgiving and we've actually already started ;) Today I'm sharing some of the fun Christmas kits on the shelves at Wood Creations of Idaho Falls. Not giving one away just yet... and I'll tell why in a sec... (you won't be disappointed) ;)

These two kits above were some of my very favorites- isn't that rusty bell neat?!

Ideas to Get Rid of your Elf on the Shelf... and Why We Won't Even be Using Them

When I set to start writing this post, I was determined that my boys' Elf on the Shelf, Jolly, would not be returning this year. Stephen and I had to "lie" to them more than I was comfortable with in order to give them as much detail as they wanted about Jolly last year. And there were those couple of occasions we forgot to move him and had to try and do it on the fly when it was already too late. I don't like the focus of our Christmas season feeling so negative. Jolly would NOT be coming back this year... I even got to work on a post about it...

SAVE on stocking stuffers with MONEY!

I really love being cozy at home during the holidays. But, truth: I also love holiday shopping. Totally enjoy the hustle and bustle, so long as it's not too much hustle and bustle, ya know? Which is why I'm sharing this stocking stuffer idea now- because, I'm surely not the only one who's already Christmas shopping so I can be done well before the day of December 24th!

Some of my very favorite things to buy for Christmas are stocking stuffers! But, confession: for me, it's way too easy to get carried away without even thinking twice!

Christmas Rocks!

Christmas Eve day was a matter of getting things cleaned up around the house- I remember it being a work day growing up too! By the afternoon, the boys were all rather antsy and cranky, so we let them open up this fun Headbanz game to play for the evening! We all really enjoyed it actually :) They also were in and out of the snow all day- we've been getting pretty good snow and are loving it!

Yet again, the boys simply cannot hold still long enough to get a decent Christmas lights pic, but I tried! By the time we had opened Christmas jammies, Cooper was seriously fried- the wait was so close to over! Before they went to bed, in our usual style, we had a fun dance party :)

Each of the boys was excited about their presents Christmas morning-

their faces were so happy and fun!

Later that day, Ryder was so tired he fell asleep while having a snack! My parents and Grandma Laura were over for the better part of the day too- they were sports to play with the boys too...

For the first time in our married life we didn't have to travel on Christmas Day and it was so nice!

Awesome, blessed Christmas Day :)

The Days Just Before

I'm certainly behind the curve posting about the little bit before Christmas

now that it's over, but oh well I guess!

A week or so before Christmas, Cooper and Ryder were trying to "hide out" in the hallway bathroom. When I tried to find out what they were up to, they said they were "doing you (me) a surprise." They were cleaning the bathroom together! Coop had brought Ry in a stool so he could get up to clean the mirror- this sure made me smile :)

December 23 we were in Pocatello for the Buffat Family Christmas Party! A couple of family members ended up being sick and we didn't have all the time we would have liked, but it ended up being a great time anyway. Each family brought pantry items to create several big boxes to give to a family friend in need. Grandma Janie also had candy canes with notes on them about the spiritual significance of the candy that the kids got to "knock and run" around the neighborhood- they loved this part!

We met several of Stephen's cousins at Grandma and Grandpa Reynolds to give them a super-size caroling treat! I think they said they counted 52 of their posterity in their front yard! It was neat to watch them watch us :)

After their house, we all went to the mall in Pocatello to try out a little flash mob style Christmas fun! We all stood in the center court of the mall, in smaller broken up groups, while Stephen started singing solo! Then we all joined in with him- it was pretty interesting! A unique memory for sure! We noticed a few people joining in around us.... and that the Pocatello mall is pretty well a tomb these days :/

Then the next day we got duded up for Christmas Sunday-

don't the boys all look so handsome!

From Our Family to Yours...

Teacher and Classmate Gifts

Like most kiddos out there, today is Cooper's last day of school before Winter Break!

I'm excited to get to his class to do the games for his little party :)

We also put this little gift together for his teacher.

I thought of all the things she could probably use over the break, it would be just some R&R! Mrs. Schuster is a great teacher! I know she is at the school early and stays late. She is organized and kind and truly cares for these little kinders. I know if I were her, I would be so exhausted at the end of each day! So hopefully this combo of lavender epsom salt bath soak, a magazine and a candy bar will help her take some time over the break to just relax :)

And I realize that, in usual style, I'm too late to be much help to anyone out there,

but if you could use a quick teacher gift, you can click on the tag image below

to attach to whatever relaxing goodies your teacher might like!

Bubble bath, a calming candle, a soft CD- lots of things would work!

I cut around the scallop by hand to create a red border- enjoy!

The Most Wonderful Time

This last weekend we traveled home for a Huffaker Family Christmas party! Again, all of my siblings were able to be together- we've been lucky lately! It was awesome being at Mom and Dad's, with both my Waddoups and Huffaker grandparents there as well. We had drawn names between the couples and the kids earlier so we had a fun little gift exchange. I love getting the chance to buy cute little girly things for my nieces!

For some crazy reason, Ryder decided he was going to open his present at random a couple nights before.... grrr....so his was no surprise! I do believe we'll start this whole Christmas thing a bit later next year- the boys are about fried with all the waiting!

Cooper and I picked some adorable little Lalaloopsy Mini dolls for Quincy. If I had a girl, I would have to restrain myself not to be collecting all of these- they are SO cute! We picked a little magician girl and a firefighter girl for her and she was delighted! Again, hers wasn't too much of a surprise since Cooper told her what it was during lunch... :/

Stephen and I had Ben and Cyndel's names this year. I know Cyndel loves decorating her house and they are about to move, so I made this fun chalkboard for them to hang in their red and turquoise kitchen!

Only the edges are turquoise, but it should look good against her red wall :) It was fun using this chalk marker and picking a quote to go on it. Now they can change it up as they want- they seemed to really like it. Stephen also made Ben a modified clay pigeon thrower. :) They happen to have our names also and gave us the coolest basket of goodies for us to have some "us" time...

I also made this sign for my Mom- now she can hang art or pictures of her grandkids on it :) She has their drawings on her fridge now.

My Dad gave each of us girls the cutest hats! Aren't we stylin' ? ;) My sisters both look good in hats and I usually don't, but I really do like this one!

And I daresay the best part of the whole day was the impromptu Nativity the kids put on while Stephen read (a condensed version of) Luke 2. Ryder is a shepherd- I begged him several times to swap the army hat for a towel, but he wouldn't have it, so this is a shepherd, folks.  He got rave reviews for sure! And isn't Brylee the cutest stinkin' angel ever?!! She kept lovin' on the doll that we used for Baby Jesus the whole time :)

Quincy was thrilled as thrilled to be Mary! She kept telling little snippets about Mary, followed by "Which is Me," said very matter-of-factly... cutest. While getting ready, she was wearing awesome pink high heels, though I don't think they made it into the actual production ;)

And Coop was the lone wiseman, very proudly carrying gold...

in the form of a shiny necklace he found in the playroom :)

Because Mary simply couldn't be without a Joseph, we asked Taron to participate and he obliged happily... handsomest Joseph ever :) This was honestly really touching... comical, yes. But also touching. These little ones know the Christmas story. They know that it is more important and their spirits sure did shine! 

And in other news around our house... I just wanted to add these couple pictures also :) Little Ry has loved playing with this snowman building set that I attached to some magnet paper. I printed these from HERE. Fun little bit of Christmas-ness to fill his time while I'm in the kitchen :)

Cooper's school recently put jars in each classroom and encouraged students to put their spare change in the jars so that the money could be combined to give to a family in need. Well, the idea captured Cooper immediately. He didn't think he had any money that first day, but went to his backpack and coat to dig through his pockets anyway. He could hardly contain his excitement at having found a dollar bill! He went and put it right in the class jar. Then the next time he built and decorated this new fun jar to take for his class to all put money in- so cute! I couldn't help but busting up when he called it "The Poor Jar." Not funny I know, but it still make me giggle! So glad he is a giving kid and is touched by thinking of others :)

Indeed it is the most wonderful time of the year...

so long as I don't have to go into Walmart for the next week...