pre-christmas (2 of 2)

our December looked a little like this....



 1. Disneyland for Craig's company Christmas party

 did you even know that the "real" Santa is at Disneyland? he even has all of his reindeer there.

 the inspiration behind P's halloween costume.

 outside the Autoban ride where miles steered his car like the maniac that he is.

2. Attended a fundraiser for Mitt in San Diego. It's hard to say if miles was happier about...

a) being allowed to help himself to unlimited sprite at the drink bar

b) eating the chocolate cake that was on the table during Mitt's speech

c) getting to see Papa... he kept slipping away from me in the crowds and running through the photo line, jumping into Mitt's arms because he had to tell Papa "one more thing". A few people may have some blond curly hair in the corner of their picture. (and he saved a piece of gum in his pocket the whole time to give to Mitt on his way out).

3. The Relief Society Christmas program at our house....this year we had dinner at Emily's house, down the street, then everyone walked down to our house while sipping the hot cocoa they gave out. The RS put on the best program. They had a women come and speak that was an author and an expert in all things Dickens. She told the life story of Charles Dickens and talked about the influence that "A Christmas Carol" has had on the way that Western civilization celebrates Christmas, all intertwined with readings from A Christmas Carol. They served a gingerbread "bread" pudding for dessert. (so so good...it was Paula Deen recipe, found here.) You may think I am crazy for how much I love hosting this huge event, but if you could feel the sweet Christmas spirit that these ladies bring to my home, you would understand.

4.  Cookies and guests

we made A LOT of cookies. (in one day, 26 different kids cut out, baked and then decorated gingerbread cookies....I did it with my activity day girls in the afternoon, then used all the scrap dough and extra icing to make them in the evening with my boys, cousins and neighborhood kids. I just saw the huge mess after activity days and decided...lets just go with it and get it all out at once. my floor at 8pm...oh boy). 

 My brother stephen and sister Bekah came to town for a 4 day visit. Here is bekah baking with all the kids. Aside from a day at the beach, we mostly just lounged around the house, watched movies and bex and I sewed some Christmas projects.

every cookie miles decorated all month long involved 2 bottles of sprinkles and took average of 25 minutes. 

 this was at rachel's annual cookie decorating party (for 60!). parker decorating 2, sat in the grass, ate them, then came back and miles had JUST started decor on his second one. works of art. i loved this picture so much because it capture exactly what parker is like as a big brother. Miles is so dang lucky.

5. Friendsgiving

low key, last minute and perfect

Caroling at Rachel's house-it was pretty funny. we are holding battery operated candles and singing this version of Jingle bells with parts. (basically the boys just sing Jingle jingle jingle jingle the whole time in a deep voice-it's a Motab version). next year we def. need the hand muffs

 i made roasted butternut squash & brussels sprout with cranberries and rosemary (toss everything with olive oil and S & P and cook at 425' for 35 mins) to go along with our turkey dinner.

6. Christmas Crafts

these are 2 of the many crafts that were a part of our Christmas.....

 Courtney taught us how to make these "ornaments" by using modpodge to glue pics on the front and back of a piece of chipboard. (mine had the same pic on the front and back.....and there's modpodge on the top of the pictures, too. ) My sister used this idea for her Christmas card. She glued a pic to one side, with modpodge and painted modpodge on the top of the pic to protect it, then wrote on the back like a postcard and mailed it off. (By the way...from what I can tell, mod podge is just watered down elmers glue).  I hung my pictures on a mini-tree on my island. I got the idea for a tree on the island from Gee and the tree stand, which i am in love with, was bought at Architectural Salvage-the antique store-last February.

 Fort Kits

if you ever have a crafty idea, tell Brittany and she'll make come up with 10 ways to take it to the next level. AND you can do it together, sewing the afternoon away while the kids help themselves to snacks out of the pantry for lunch and dinner.

a few years ago, my sister in law Cami gave us a "Fort Kit" for Christmas. A set of jersey sheets, in the jersey drawstring bag they came in, with ribbons sewed on the corners of the sheets. there were clips and treats in there as well. BEST present ever. my kids loved it then and still pull out that sheet set to make forts.  Brit and I each made about 6 fort kits for family and friends this Christmas. Same idea, just a few twists. We just did one big flat sheet (our were from Ikea, but i think DI would be even better-you could get a fun vintage floral or stripe and it would cost a buck). We sewed up big striped bags to keep it all in and added goodies with professional looking labels.

Why is it so fun to give homemade gifts?

and why does it feel so good to have Dec (besides Christmas in Phx), written about?