December 19th

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall." - Larry Wilde

Thoughts about the importance of my Christmas tree:
I love having a real tree. I absolutely love the smell of a fresh cut evergreen. I love to hang the lights and the ornaments each year. It is so fun to back through all of the ornaments that we have received each year and remember what happened that year. Every year on Christmas Eve we open one present and it is an ornament. One that my mom has picked out to coincide with either a theme or a major event that took place in our lives that year. It is so wonderful to be able to have a beautiful tree to display all of our years. I love to sit in the room at night with the tree and only have the glow of the lights from the tree. It is so magical.

Jack insisted that when we picked out our tree that it be really really tall, taller than dad! So we got a big one. We were having issues with the bottom strand of lights and I never got around to fixing or replacing them, so that is why the lower half of the tree does not have lights.

Remember:
Each year after we open our ornament we get to hang it on the tree. This year I enjoyed explaining to Jack what each of our ornaments stands for and why it was received. It has always been a tradition to go as a family to pick out the very best tree. I remember going as a young girl with my parents and siblings. It was always so awesome to find the one. Aaron and I are continuing on that tradition of picking out a tree as a family.

December 18th

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Their old, familiar carols play. And wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on Earth, good-will to men." -Longfellow

Thoughts about "good will" and its significance at the holidays:
Webster dictionary defines good will as a kindly feeling of approval and support : benevolent interest or concern. The words that stand out the most to me are kindly, interest and concern. Feelings of good will show concern and interest for the fellow man and offer kind support. Of course Jesus Christ is the perfect example of good will. At this time of year we often think more about charity, good will, love, kindness because of Christ's birth. He taught the world about all of these things. As a way to honor Him a little, during this time of year it seems that in general people try to be more like Him in that way.

Remember:
My dad was in the Bishopric while I was younger and one year I remember that I helped him perform some secret ward duties. We went at night. My dad already had a box of food in the car and a big turkey. I think that there were presents too. We drove to a family's house from the ward. One of the kids in that family was just a year younger than me. My dad had me hide in the car as he ran the food and gifts to the door and then ran back to the car. I remember thinking that our church is so awesome to help out people like that. I also remember that the girl about my age never showed signs that she was embarrassed or ashamed that her family had less than most, it was something that I admired. It was a great experience and I am glad that my dad took me along.

December 17th

"Up on the rooftop reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Clause
Down thru the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones
Christmas joys"

This is the second year that Santa has made a special visit to see the kids. He came on December 23rd instead of Christmas Eve, because he knew that we would be traveling back to Logan that night. Jack is at such a great age for this kind of stuff. The doorbell rang and we let Jack open the door and non other than the big man in red was standing there. Jack couldn't stop but smile and bounce. Paige started crying and then began to climb up on Aaron's head to try and get away from Santa. Since we were still in Albuquerque the rest of my siblings and their families were there. If Jack's reaction to Santa is at one end of the spectrum and Paige's at the other end then my niece, Abby (who is about the same age as Paige), was dead center in the middle. She didn't have screams of joy or of terror. However Abby's mom, my sister-in-law Katie, was jumping and shouting lines from the movie Elf. "Santa, Santa, its me Katie! I know him! I know him!" It was
pretty freaking hilarious.




Once Santa's fan fare calmed down he came inside and let Jack sit on his lap and tell him what he wanted for Christmas. Then Santa dispersed some presents. He had brought the ornaments that we usually get Christmas Eve. We had a great time with Santa. As Santa was leaving, Jack runs after him and this conversation happened:

Jack: Santa, where are your reindeer?
Santa: Oh, I um took the car today, you know the reindeer had to rest for our big trip tomorrow night.
Jack: look of uncertainity and maybe some disappointment.


The disappointment of not seeing the reindeer didn't last long. But I think that next year Santa will come a little more prepared for questions from the Jack-man.

My mom is laughing because when she pulled her ornament of a gnome out Jack said "Hey Santa its you!"

Because Matt graduated from College this past year!

Because Aaron takes Jack out in the snow alot!

Both the little girls got little personalized shoes because they both started walking this year.

Paige is afunny girl. Once she realized that Santa was giving people gifts, she was a little more willing to get close to him.

My little buckeroo!

For Cameron who is on a mission and has had to ride his bike in very hot and humid weather this past year.

Previously in the week my dad's friend had asked if his family could come caroling to our house on the 23rd. My dad said sure that would be great. Then Bill responded with "you better have your song ready and your nerf guns!" This meant war. So my parents prepared and got us all new nerf guns and extra amo for the battle.

There have been many nerf gun battles in my family. One year the boys got head lamps and could then hold in the dark nerf gun wars. Sometimes the battles have been taken to the local ward building and these battles usually happen around Christmas time when we have new guns and still have amo (because it is not lost yet).

Well earlier in the day Bill had called and told my dad that they wouldn't be stopping by because one of his kids is sick. I personally thought that it was a way to divert us and catch us off guard. Well after Santa left the door bell rang and there was a moment of panicked as everyone made a mad dash for their guns. (Katie shouting where's my gun when previously she had mentioned that she was not really that into the whole thing!) Meanwhile Jack opens the door and the boys come walking down the hall very solmon and with one hand (holding the nerf gun) behind their backs. My dad gets a little excited and takes a shot. However we quickly realize that it is not my dad's friend and his family. It is the young men and young women from my parents ward caroling. The look on their faces! They whole group in unison took a step back as they saw what the door was opened to. I think as they continued they realized that we thought they were someone else. But let me tell you it was soooo funny. The youth leaders were cracking up. Hopefully we didn't scare them from visiting my parents house again!

December 16th

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exists, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy." -Charles Dana - editorial in the NY Sun, 1897, to a letter

Thoughts about Santa Claus:
Growing up it was a tradition every year to go and see Santa Claus, sit on his lap and tell him what we want for Christmas. Now that I am an adult, that would be a little awkward so now it is my kids turn to whisper into Santa's ear and tell them what they would like him to bring them. Last year we had awful experience with Santa. This year was a million times better. We went to the Cache Valley mall. There was no wait. We were able to take our own pictures. Of course Paige screamed, but Jack on the other hand ran right up to Santa and climbed up on his lap and was just as happy as can be.

I love Jack's face in this one. It reminds me of the picture of me and my siblings seeing Santa one year. Jack has the same face as Matt.

Yep Paige was not happy that we sat her down on a strange man's lap and walked away to take her picture!

Remember:
I don't really remember any preparations that we made for Santa while growing up. I vaguely remember making cookies a few times but that was about it. I do remember making a visit to see him at the mall or ward Christmas party.

December 15th

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." -Hamilton Wright Mabie

What I am most excited to give this year?
I would have to say that I most excited about the kids 'Santa' gifts. Jack has asked for a Fisher-Price Great Adventures Castle and Pirate ship. The only problem is they don't make these any more. Its a real bummer because these are great toys. There are cannon balls and draw bridges and all sorts of fun boy things. It was fun for me to try and find them on eBay, craig's list and ksl.com. I even searched other cities on craig's list hoping that if I found one I could convince the seller to ship it to me. I finally found what I was looking for and I am so excited for Jack to see them and play with them. He has already started planning out 'games' for him and Aaron to play with the castle and pirate ship that Santa is bringing him. I am also excited to see Paige receive her 'Santa' gift. We are getting her a kitchen. She loves the kitchen at nursery and loves to be my shadow in our real kitchen. Even though this is her second Christmas it feels more like her first since last year she was just barely crawling and could care less about all the excitment.

Remember:
A tradition with presents that I have carreid over to my family is that the 'Santa' gift is not wrapped and it doesn't appear under the tree until Christmas morning. Another tradition that I am trying to carry over are the items in our stockings as well as our jammies are warpped in tissue paper. Now this tissue paper is not your normal plain colored paper. It usually has a design and it is a pattern that we have never seen laying around the house or in the area where gift wrap is kept. It is special because Santa's elves wrapped the stocking stuffers and jammies, so naturally this particular tissue paper can't be found any where else except the north pole. Hopefully I can pull this off as well as my parents did!

Tuckered out

I thought that it would be nice to get out of the house for a little bit today and take a trip to the library. Aaron took the car today so we walked. There is lots of snow, but it is actually a little warmer today than it was all last week. On the way back both kids feel asleep. Jack has been in limbo of taking and not taking naps. He has gone about a week without a nap and I guess he needed one today. I laughed at myself when I got home and realized they were asleep. I had been talking to them on the way home. When I didn't hear a response I just figured they were talking softly and I couldn't hear them. LOL! Oh well, I am a crazy person who talks to herself.

December 14th

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." -Burton Hillis

Thoughts about the typical Christmas crowd:
I have always celebrated Christmas with family. Growing up it was simple because it was me, my sibling and my parents. Now that I am married, I have lots more family. For a few years we would spend part of the morning with Aaron's family and the other part with my family. Now that we have two kids and traveling with all the presents and two kids for 14 hours is not fun, we celebrate with our own little family, well at least we try, but we always end going where there are more people and lots of fun. Even though we have had different people around each year, the one thing that is constant is that the people we are surrounded by have always been family members.

I love her SMILE!

Remember:
When I was little I remember that my brother Matt used to come into my room super early in the morning and wake me up. By that time Santa had already been there and had deposited jammies at the foot of our beds. I would put on my new jammies and we would go wake up my sister. At this point, Cameron, the youngest was not all that excited about Christmas yet, so we would try and wake him up but it was usually a fruitless event. We would wait and eventually the three of us would fall back asleep in my room until the pre-determined time that my parents said it was ok to wake them up. Then once everyone was awake and had their new jammies, we would line up youngest to oldest and enter the living room one at a time to see what Santa had brought for us.

December 13th

Happy Anniversary Aaron!!!!

It has been 7 years since we have been married but 8 years since we meet. This past year has been a wild ride! I would not have wanted to experience it with anyone else. One thing is for sure that I never thought that we would still be living in Utah after 7 years of marriage. I really thought we would be out of here by now. However now it seems that we may become lifers!!! Since I get this blog printed every year I wanted to document the story of how we meet.

Our first meeting was at single adult dance held at Long State in the Pyramid on New Years Eve 2001/2002. It was huge. About 10,000 people. I even ran into a guy who I lived next door to at Utah State! Anyway Aaron was at the dance with people from third ward (the singles ward from where we grew up) and I came with my cousins, one of which went to third ward at the time. So at the end of the dance we meet up with all the people that my cousin knew from third ward. I was talking to a guy named Damian (I later found that it was Aaron's good friend) and I was telling him that I was driving back to Utah with Cory Kerr who was a return missionary that I had been writing and we decided to drive back to school together (he was going to BYU Idaho). Then Damian mentioned that Aaron Keep was going to be going with us and I said ya Cory told me (Cory had never told me Aaron's last name). I then asked is he here? Damian pointed him out and I was a little shocked. See Damian got Aaron Wells and Aaron Keep confused, which I am not sure how since he is friends with both, but oh well! Anyways Aaron Keep is the son of the third ward bishop and I knew that. However the person that Damian pointed out to me was a man with piercings and a shaved head and I thought wow the bishop's son has gone off the deep end. A little later I decided to get the guts to start a conversation with Aaron (who was Aaron Wells, but I thought he was Aaron Keep). Let me just say that it is hard for me to start conversations with people. I am very shy when it comes to that aspect. But I thought hey I am going to be driving in a car with this guy I might as well try and show that I am a friendly person. So I asked Aaron "Where are you from?" He responded with "My mom." He then turned and started talking to someone else. RUDE!!!!

During the drive to Utah I found out that Damian was indeed wrong about which Aaron he was and I got to find out the answer to my question that I had asked him at the dance. It was a little weird in the car ride because Aaron and I were starting something however Cory thought that he and I were also on the path of starting something. Once back in Logan, Aaron and I continued to keep in touch and spoke on the phone just about everyday.

Happy SEVEN years Aaron! LoVe YoU tOnS!!!!

December 12th

"Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole doesn't he?"
-Clarence from It's a Wonderful Life
Thoughts about my favorite holiday movie or show:
Ok I know this may sound cheesy but I am a sucker for all things Disney. My favorite Christmas movie is the Santa Claus series with Tim Allen. I just really enjoy the cheesy story line and message that the movie tries to portray. I want to get into the classic Christmas movies or shows but so far I have had no luck. Elf with Will Farrel might be at the top of the list too. What can I say? It is just funny!

Jack and Paige cozy on the couch watching Jack's new movie Toy Story.

Remember:
I can't think of must watch movies or shows that we had growing up. The only event that sticks out in my mind is the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center. I used to always watch it. It was/is my goal to someday be there live. However, I have realized that I hate crowds and the cold, so now I want to be able to witness it live from a hotel room or something like that. I don't even now if there are hotel rooms that have a view of the tree but I am sure if they exist they are pricey so needless to say I have yet to go to New York and witness the lighting of the Christmas tree. It seems that the past few years my life has been much busier to be able to watch the lighting even on TV. One of these years Aaron and I will get there and hopefully not have to be in the cold or in the crowds.

December 11th

"When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness." -Bob Hope

Thoughts about holiday parties this year:
This year and really every year the only Christmas party we ever has planned is the ward Christmas party. We have already gone to our ward Christmas party this year. It was fantastic. The primary kids performed the Christmas story. It was amazing to see about 10 angels, 12 sheep, a few wisemen, Mary, Joseph, and a half a dozen shepherds. They sang the songs that we have been practicing during singing time and did a marvelous job. My only wish was that I had a child who was in the production. Hopefully next year. After the Primary kids performed a few talented men in our ward sang a few Christmas carols. It was a wonderful evening and the kids enjoyed learning some more about our Savior.

Remember:
One of my favorite ward Christmas parties was when the entire cultural hall was transformed into a market right out of history. The activities committee set the scene for what it might have been like in Bethlehem when Jesus was born. There were vendors at each booth pretending to sell and show off items that would have been sold in a market during that time. As ward members got settled into their seats, in came a real donkey with Mary and Joseph. Then a whole presentation was performed that dipicted songs from Michael McLean's Forgotten Carols. It was so amazing. It literally felt like we had time traveled to the time of Christ's birth.

December 10th

"It comes every year and will go on forever. And along with Christmas belong the keepsakes and the customs. Those humble everyday things a mother clings to, and ponders, like Mary in the secret spaces of her heart."
- Marjorie Holmes

Thoughts about my favorite holiday sights:
As my kids get older I have changed what my favorite holiday sights are. These days my favorite sights are the expression on Paige's face as I turn the lights on the Christmas tree. Jack's enthusiasm and love for snow! I love to see how blatantly they show their emotions, both good and bad. I am really looking forward to seeing their cute, sweet little faces Christmas morning. It is all so magical to them and I can't think of anything better.

Watching Jack play in the snow is something that delights my eyes. Jack seems to be at peace when he is playing in the snow. I think he enjoys the freedom, the stillness and ability to plop down where ever he is and play.

Remember:
My favorite sight growing was all the Christmas lights. I used to love to see all the lights on people's homes. I grew up next to the ocean and each year they would have lighted boat parade. Seeing lights even on the boats in the harbor was just as good as seeing them on homes. I still love to drive around and look at Christmas lights. I think the kids and Aaron like it too, so we go on a drive each year and look at lights.

December 9th

"I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year."

Thoughts about my favorite Christmas book:
I actually don't have a favorite Christmas book. The only Christmas books that we have and that I have read are, how the Grinch Stole Christmas, If you take a Mouse to the Movies, and Twas the Night Before Christmas. Aaron and I decided three years ago that we would get a new family Christmas book around the holidays. I hope to eventually get the kids their own (chapter) books, as they get older each year. This year we got the family If you take a Mouse to the Movies. It fits with their ages and attention spans!



Remember:
The only reading I remember doing as a kid that seemed to happen every year, was reading the story of Christ's birth out of the scriptures. My dad some years would read the verses to us as we patiently waited to open one gift (an ornament) on Christmas Eve, then hurry to bed so that Santa could come as soon as possible.

December 8th

"The most vivid memories of Christmases past are usually not of gifts given or received, but of the spirit of love, the speical warmth of Christmas worship, the cherished little habits of the home." -Lois Rand

Thoughts about the significance of one of my items of holiday decor:
The only holiday decor items that I have that are of any significance are my nativities. Each one has been given to me for a special reason. The one that I recieved this year is this one:



Now the kids can play with an "activity set" (per Jack) and I don't have to worry about mine being destroyed!


Here are a nativity set that my brother Matt brought home from Ecuador:



Remember:
I always remember feeling warm, welcome, and loved during the holiday season at ward Christmas parties and at my Aunt Kathy's house. We would sometimes spend Thanksgiving at my Aunt's house. There was always so much going on. While the turkey was cooking we would go to their ward building and play some family volleyball. Mostly I remember watching and not playing but it was fun to just be with my cousins. I love going to ward Christmas parties. I have always loved them. It is just so inviting to go the ward building and hear stories of Christ and feel of his love the whole evening.

December 7th

"Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of rememberance - - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved."
-Augusta E. Rundel

Description of some of my favorite holiday foods:
I love sweets!!!! So any holiday treat would have to be my favorite. Cookies, cakes, pies, candies, hot chocolate, carmel apple cider (the best is from Starbucks), carmel corn, anything that has lots of sugar.



Remember:
My mom used to make sugar cookies during some holidays like, Halloween, Valentine's day, and Christmas. So when I see frosted sugar cookies that are cut into bells, trees, and other Christmas shapes it brings in the feelings of Christmas. I think that holiday foods are such a part of our culture and celebrations because, it is something that everyone can do together. Everyone can eat, because everyone has to eat to survive. Plus it tastes so good, and eating special foods is such a treat and can be really fun.

December 6th

At Christmas, all roads lead home.

-Marjorie Holmes

Thoughts about a symbol of the holidays that has particular meaning to me:

The symbol that has meaning to me, is a word. It is Believe. To me it can take on so many different aspects of Christmas. Believe in Santa, believe in the true meaning of Christmas, believe that we are celebrating Christ's birth, believe that Christ will come again. Believe that Christ is our Savior, just believe. There are so many things that we can believe in.



Remember:
We don't have any traditions or rituals with placing meaningful symbols or decorations in our home. So maybe we should start one.

December 5th

"O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth."
-Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure

Thoughts on a holiday song that has meaning to me:
My favorite Christmas song is 'O Holy Night', but this year as I was in singing time in Primary and the kids were practicing some songs for the program they put on at the ward Christmas party and I begun to get teary eyed during 'Away in a Manger'. I love the version of that song that is in the Primary Children's Songbook. The phrase, 'no crying He makes' got me thinking about Mary. What a special woman she was. She had a unique set of challenges when being the mother of and raising Jesus. I got thinking more and more about what pressure that would be to have to teach our Saviour. I am sure that it is no where comparable to pressure that I sometimes feel. The despair she probably felt when he left His mother to teach the priests. I get scared when I lose sight of my kids at the park for a split second, and they don't have people who are fearful of what my children have been prophiesed to become. I love being in Primary but sometimes, especially during singing time, I find myself holding back the flood gates. I am able to find new meanings that bring the spirit into my life.



Remember:
I will always remember the feeling I had that day in Primary. It was such a wonderful feeling to know that Jesus Christ is my redemer and He also had a mother on earth who loved Him and worried and fussed over Him. I grew a little closer to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

December 4th

"The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas."
- W.C. Jones

Thoughts on a sentimental piece of holiday decor:
From my first Christmas as a married woman, my mom has given me a nativity set. I would have to say that now my nativity collection has become my most sentimental piece of holiday decor. Each one that she has given me has a meaning based on what was going on in my life that year. A tiny one for when we lived in a teeny tiny apartment, one that just has the baby Jesus for when my first child was born. Since she has started giving me these nativity sets, others have contributed to my collection. I have one from my sister-in-law from Germany, because she lived there for a year. I have one from Ecuador, that brother brought back from his mission, I also have one from Switzerland that my father-in-law brought back from work travels. Each one has a story and I am excited that Jack is starting to ask about them and I get to tell him what they all mean to me.

A photo of my favorite piece of holiday decor. Actually all of my nativities are my favorite, but I chose this one because this year, Jack has shown lots of interest in the whole Christmas Story and asks questions about all of the characters and as a result has been playing with this set.

Remember:
Some decorating tradtions, I guess you could call them, are decorating the tree. It was my mom who always put the lights up and then let us kids put on the ornaments once the lights were all hung. After we went to bed she would rearrange the ornaments. So I am not sure if it is a tradition or just anal retentiveness (is that even a word?) but I too know am in charge of putting the lights on and then I let Jack (Paige was also included this year) hang the ornaments. Once they go to bed I rearrange the ornaments so they are not all clumped together in one area.

December 3rd

"This is my wish for you: peace of mind, prosperity through the year, happiness that mulitplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays!" -D.M. Dellinger

What does 'joy' mean to me?
When I think of the word joy, other words like rejoice, and glad come to mind. I like to find joy in the simple things. Jack and Paige really help me with that. They find joy in all sorts of mundane chores, activities, or objects. Today I was vacuming and one of the things that I find joyful about vacuming is that no matter where they are in house, once they hear the sound of the vacum they come running. Both of them love to run around and try to not get in the way of the vacum. I then chase them around the room with the vacum. It is so fun to see them laughing, squiling, and just finding joy in the little things. It makes my chores a little more joyful and bright.

The photo that represents Joy to me. These two kids are so full of joy it is awesome.

Remember:
One year I think I was in junior high or the beginning of high school, I asked for my 'Santa' gift for my own phone line. (It was the days before cell phone saturation). I was a little disappointed when I saw that Santa did not bring me my own phone line, however as the morning continued and more presents were opened, I was over filled with joy when I opened the slip of paper that the phone company sent my parents with the new phone number! I was so happy and just remember how glad I was. I also remember that my parents also seemed to be filled with joy too, to see the expression on my face and my reaction. Now that I am a parent I can understand that doing something like that for a child can also bring joy into my life as well as theirs.

December 2nd

"There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, and traditions."
- Bill McKibben

My thoughts on the article:
The prompts suggested reading an article and then writing your thoughts, but I can't find the article which is title Welcome home for the holidays. So I will share my thoughts on the title. I always want my home to be inviting. I want friends and family to feel welcome at my home especially during the holidays.

My picture of something warm. What could more cozy and warm than two cuddly kids fresh from the bath in soft fuzzy fleece jammies?

Remember:
I never lived close enough to my grandma (the other grandparents were/are no longer living) where during the Christmas season I could get together and bake, but I do remember all the yummy goodies my mom would make this time of year. She would always make English toffee, nut balls (cookie), sugar cookies, spritzer cookies, and sometimes popcorn balls. I remember that when she did some holiday baking, it really felt like Christmas. I think that we gave away most of the treats to neighbor and friends, but it was still fun to have all those treats in the kitchen.

December 1st

I signed up for a free class from Jessica Sprauge and it gave little prompts to record some of the holiday magic. I decided that I would blog about it, but she suggested scrapbooking it (digital or paper), recording in a journal or blogging! It is intended to have an entry/post each day of December, I am a little behind, but nothing like a bunch of posts can't fix. So here is the first one for December first.

"May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility." -Mary Ann Radmacher

Thoughts about my family's holiday values:
Since my little family is still young, we are still establishing some holiday values. One that we introduced last year and are giving it a go again this year, is the way we get gifts for each other and our kids. I heard there was a story to go along with this, but still haven't found it. We are only giving three gifts. One is something you want. One is something you need and the last is something to read. The story, that maybe exists, explains the symbolism behind each of those gifts in relation to the three gifts that the Wisemen brought to baby Jesus at his birth. I am hoping that this new tradition/holiday value will teach our children that Christmas isn't about gifts and toys and things they want.

Remember:
My earliest holiday memory is the year I got a Barbie from Santa, I think I was 5. My brother got a Ken doll that year. We had the biggest tree. Years later my parents told me that they had to bolt the tree to the wall and every time the cat tried to climb the tree they feared that it would fall. It was a time when my parents were starting our family traditions and creating their holiday values. It is similar to the time that I am in right now with my own little family.

Meadows Market Boutique

Hello Everyone!

I am at it again. I will be in another holiday boutique this weekend. Both Wordy Bird and Studio 21 photography will be there. If you get a chance stop by. Here is all of the information:
When?
Saturday December 5th 2009
3:30 - 8:30

Where?
Bridgerland Meadows Townhome model home
502 West 1570 North #105
Logan UT

Here is a link to the blog with a list of vendors and more details:
http://meadowsmarket.blogspot.com/

Hope to see you there!