The Recipe Box is getting bigger...

I do not know how many know about my little recipe blog I created a few months ago. It has been a great source for me and some of my roommates, but I am now expanding it to my family. I am trying to set up an Internet family recipe box for any who want to participate... if you might be interested in joining up click here. Read the instructions and we'll see you in the kitchen! :)

Nativities

We have all heard rumors about the collection of nativities my mother has... no, I am not going to post about them... it would take way too long... But in the natural occurrence of things I have acquired a few different nativities myself! I greatly enjoyed the posts about the different nativities everyone has and decided I would put on a show myself! :)

For all the "Precious Moments" that we have through life... :) My mom gave this adorable little set to me for a bridal shower gift. Everyone got a letter of the alphabet to find a present that fit and somehow my mother got the letter "n". :) I absolutely love Precious Moments and was so excited to finally put them out!
(sorry the picture is a little blurry)Some might not count this one (ask my mother, I count ornaments) but its a full scene... well, minus the shepherds... If there was anything that I am guilty of collecting its ornaments... actually, our tree is made up of my random assortment of ornaments... :) This one got special treatment and has sat all month above our DVD player on our TV.

One of my all time favorites... the rubber duckie scene that is placed annually in a place of highest honor... on the porcelain throne. :) You wouldn't believe the comments I get about it all month long... :)

My favorite this year is a little... non-traditional... my mother gave me a little plastic finger puppet nativity last year. Oh the memories we have of Jesus smiting people as my roommate would throw them at people... This year I decided they should get a little more respect... especially baby Jesus... and thus...

ok... so the wise men didn't fare so well in this scenario... but hey, he's a curious little robot... :)

Now I know these have nothing to do with nativities but they do have to do with my Christmas decorations! So here's my last little picture for now...

Yes, our stockings were hung by the window with care... in hopes that we might get one a little bigger... ;)

Love you all! Merry Christmas!

Ode to Christmas

Christmas time is a special time for me. I love everything about Christmas and December and...everything! What better reason to celebrate than our Savior, Jesus Christ?! As my husband has now discovered, I tend to get rather excited about the whole ordeal.

Thus, here is my ode to Christmas:
Things I love about Christmas...

Smell: peppermint, orange, pine, cinnamon, cocoa, hot apple cider, cooked ham, homemade cookies...

Tastes: see smells above :) (minus the pine) warm corn and potato chowder, Terry's chocolate orange, little Christmas treats...

Sight: twinkling and shining Christmas lights, decorated Christmas tree with gifts wrapped underneath, the nativity scene, stockings, ribbon, bows, snow sparkling in the sun and as it falls softly to the ground, the extra sparkle in everyone's eyes...

Hear: Christmas music, jingling bells, honest laughter, the crackle of a cozy fire, the stories of Christmas miracles, a joyful squeal that can come from a thoughtful gift...

Feel: the happiness of the holiday spirit, a cozy fire, warm cocoa warming me from the inside out, the citrus zing of an orange and the sheer pleasure of the smells coming from the spray in the air, the icy cold spot when a snowflake lands on your nose or cheek, my warm fuzzy scarf brushing and warming my neck, the joy I get from simple family time, and the love that seems to float through the air, the rush of finding that perfect gift, the excitement of the first glimpse of Christmas morning!...

Activities: decorating the tree, watching the Muppet Christmas Carol, Rudolph, Frosty, and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Sipping hot cocoa, driving around to see the lights, setting up nativity scenes with my mom, the family Christmas party and talent show, Temple square's lights, the MoTab Christmas concert, 1st Presidency devotional, and reading Christmas stories. I love learning about Jesus and never tire of reading His story...

Isn't Christmas just the best!?!

Finals?!

This semester has been an interesting one for me. I was so busy at the beginning of school that I barely had time to breath. But after the wedding I found a whole boatload of time that I didn't quite know what to do with... Have no fear, I have been productive. :)

The load I took on hasn't been too bad in the finals department this semester and I am so grateful. There really is a lot to do, class schedules to plan for next semester, dinner to make, a house to clean, and Christmas traditions! Not to mention the secret project I have undertaken... ;) *shhhh*

All in all its been a wonderful semester and I have learned so much! I now have a lifetime skill of understanding flowers and how they work... and how to arrange them. :) Think of all the dance money saved for those future children... :) I have learned so much in the Old Testament... who knew Leviticus and Deuteronomy were so enlightening! And I have enjoyed my Marriage and Family class and all that has been brought to my attention there... I wish I could say I enjoyed Geography as much as the other classes... but lets face it, I made it through and don't have to go to class again! :)

On other news, I actually secured a job as a TA for my Marriage and Family professor and am so excited to work with him! He's a really nice guy! I already went through his schedule for next year to make sure all was correct and sensible... *girly squeal* I am happy. :)

Ben's surgery went well and all came out fine. Ben is happy that he will get to play in battle of the bands in January and mom is happy that the surgery is over. We began with a few nerves about the new doctor, but he proved that med school did teach him something. ;) Plus, Ben has this really festive cast... ;)

Sorry no pictures just now, we're in the process of transferring data to a different computer... but I send my love and best holiday wishes to y'all! xoxox Merry Christmas!!!

Unique Holiday Humor

Ben and I now share more in common... My sympathy for him extents from my shoulder to my fingertips...

The experience started with an exciting snowboarding outing with his buddies. Fresh powder plus ice equals broken wrist. The broken wrist ends with a story of a surgery, a couple pins and...

Holiday Creativity and a little medical humor... :)

Merry Christmas and Good luck brother of mine! Love you!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Our first Christmas together means experimenting with traditions to figure out what works for us. We're only four days into it... but we are both rather excited about it! Our little tree looks fantastic! (even though the ornaments are mostly mine...) and we like to sit together at night and just stare at it glowing in the corner...

I love to have the wassail warming in the crock-pot. It adds the sweet and spicy scent of cinnamon and oranges in our home. I made a Christmas centerpiece in my floral design class this past Thursday with pine, cedar, and fir... it also smells so... Christmas-ey. :) Norah (the floral design professor) told us that as long as we keep water in the container it will last the month! So we can use it Christmas Eve! Yay!

We also purchased our first two Christmas CDs. Various classic artists like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, etc... and we listen to it fairly often... :)

My handy-man husband is experimenting with the outside lights today and has spent the morning at the home depot trying to solve the dilemmas that the vinyl siding is providing. Pictures of the final product will have to come later... :)

We have yet to catch Ferdinand (out little mouse). We actually haven't heard nor seen him since we put up the traps... I like to think that he got the hint and moved out... but I'm afraid he just moved next door...

As the cold sets in I'm crossing my fingers for a little snow... I don't know about you, but I'm dreaming of a white Christmas... :) We are hoping it will be good enough weather to continue to walk to school for the next couple of weeks, but you can't be too specific with the Utah weather... it's rather unpredictable...

Well, Merry Christmas all, until next time! ;)