Oh What Fun....Traditions

Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh... well we didn't have a horse or a sleigh but we had snowboards and sleds. Christmas Eve day we went to my brothers apartment up at Wolf Mountains in Eden. We had lunch and half of the kids went out to snowboard or sled down the hills. The heard the snow was more like ice not real ideal for sledding, but they still had fun. My brother, his girlfriend Colleen and I played Skip-bo and California Speed. We later opened gifts and finally said our good-byes. The kids were anxious to start our Christmas traditions.

We got home, heated up the white bean chili I had made earlier and had dinner. After the kitchen was cleaned up for the night. We allow them to open their Christmas PJ's in order of age, youngest to oldest, but in order to open them, they have to choose a Christmas song or Christmas hymn for all of us to sing. When the song finishes they open up their gift and run to put it on as we are all singing the next child's song. I like it because the kids usually keep to the hymns. When we were all done getting dressed and the mess is cleaned up, I read the The Living Christ, it's our newest tradition. I have Ron read Luke II in the scriptures and we even ventured to 3rd Nephi to hear what Samuel the Lamanite had to say about the birth of Christ, very nice. We all reverently go downstairs to our movie room and watch Mr. Krueger's Christmas and then Luke II -the Nativity on the same DVD. Then we say our family prayers with each of us taking our turn to pray. I allowed the kids to watch one final movie before we go to bed because it was still early. We watched our new movie that my brother got us The Sorcerer's Apprentice. They went to bed, but we didn't, Ron drove to his parents house to pick up our large gift items and I was preparing the stockings in my room. My son Brandon chose to be an elf this year and so he helped me and then helped set up when the time was right. It was a lot of fun, we finally went to bed around 1:30am. It was a very Merry Christmas. We loved our day. My other tradition is to serve Rhodes cinnamon and orange rolls for breakfast. I make my kids  wait until 9:00am to open our other gift of clothes. We each picked out an outfit we wanted, even I and Ron got something new. Ron wasn't expecting it but thanks to Cameron who also earns money in our house, we were able to surprise him. I make the kids wait until 10:00am to open all of the other gifts around the tree. The last tradition I do is make a big Christmas dinner where I can use my Wal-Mart china dishes. We actually set the table and sit around our long table.  My kids look forward to the dinner, they like it big and I don't mind cooking it. We had turkey, mashed potatoes w/ gravy, mashed sweet potatoes, corn, snap pea salad, cranberry sauce, red jello, and rolls. We all got to celebrate with Sparkling Grape Cider and a few other flavors in our nice glasses. For dessert, my girls begged me to make peanut butter pie, Cameron loves pumpkin pie and I love Banana Cream pie and I made a sugar-free apple crisp for Ron. It was a great day with all our traditions. Everyone was happy with what they got for Christmas. Happy Birthday Jesus, we love you.

Christmas Break Continued

On my fourth day of Christmas break, my mom made me do:  morning kitchen jobs and Saturday jobs too.....Children-what?!!!? Why?  Mom- "What is on Saturday this week?", children-"Christmas?", mom- "yes...the reason we are doing Saturday jobs today, tomorrow will be spent up at Chris' place."  I'm a mean mom for making them do jobs today, so they won't have to on Christmas. So mean.   Also, she made us: make 5 pies....more moaning and groaning. More surprise Christmas shopping with Cameron and rent 7 movies for the long weekend. The movies aren't due back until Monday of next week, so why not?   We are celebrating Joseph Smith's birthday tonight by eating a pioneer type meal. Will spend the night watching a movie no doubt. Maybe check up on how San Diego State does in their bowl game. Oh what fun it is to be on Christmas break.  

More Christmas Break Fun

On my third day of Christmas break, my mom made me do: morning  kitchen chores, early 3 hour cheer practice and everyone's bedrooms to perfection. My perfection not theirs :)  Lots of moaning and groaning, lots of why why whys, but I will have my way yet. I was doing lots of the work anyway, I don't know why they were complaining. Now instead of my feet, my back and knees are killing me.

To add to the fun, we spent time building Imaginext sets, reading Christmas books, deliver Christmas treats to our neighbors and friends. I was able to spend a little time reading Because He Loved Us. Made breakfast for dinner, my kids favorite dinner and watching the Bowl game Utah vs. Boise State (who should I go for?....hmmm, this is a hard one) and maybe a glimpse of the Jazz game I hope. Looking forward to bed. Happy Holidays. 

The 12 days of my Christmas Break 2011

My first day of Christmas break, my mom made me do:  morning kitchen chores, girls went to a cheer Christmas ice-skating party in Bountiful and then for a mother/daughter shopping spree at the Deseret Industries for new church clothes. It took us three and a half hours to do it. My feet hurt for standing at the fitting room waiting for the girls to try on potential clothing. I couldn't tell if I was having fun or not, through all the complaining  What happen to girls being excited about shopping and getting new clothes, even if it is church clothes. I wanted my girls to look like they were going to church on Sunday's not school. I don't think it's too much to ask my girls to dress classy and modest. We managed to find something that made everyone happy. Yeah!   We finished the night split, Ron and the boys watching Monday night football, the younger kids playing Wii games and me, watching Sense and Sensibility with Brandon spending more than half of it watching too. I think I had the better fun. Our Family Home Evenings are on Sunday for now and we had a great story lesson from Samantha and Brandon and then we watched The Sound of Music.

My second day of Christmas break, my mom made me do: blow and tie birthday balloons for my 16 year old brother,  morning kitchen chores, trip to the Orthodontist with Cameron, Christmas shopping with Cameron, he wanted to buy our family a gift and then took Jonathon Christmas shopping for his friend and to get a hair cut. Then spent the rest of the day making treats for neighbors and friends. My feet hurt again :) This was suppose to be a family activity but turned out Danielle was my only helper :(   Dallon did find some time to help me crush oreos for Brandon's birthday mud pie. :)  Have a party, sing Happy Birthday and then watch the BYU basketball game/Inception on Blu- Ray. Yeah! 

Believe

Believe....      December is the time you might see this word pop out all over the place, usually by itself. In fact, I have. When you see the words in a magazine, store or on TV advertisements what do you think they want us to believe?  They leave it blank, like you can believe what you want. What does it mean to you?  Someone suggested that they, the world...  really is trying to get us to believe in the special feeling that comes at this time of year. Everyone knows this feeling comes because of the goodness of heart from giving or in other words the Spirit of God, because everything good comes from God. Because we live in a politically correct world and in a world where it appears to be unacceptable to say the word God or speak of Jesus Christ as if it's a bad name even though it's the whole reason we are having this celebration, they can't really say it, because of offending somebody. So, to say it correctly according to how I feel.  
 
I BELIEVE in Christ. He is the Son of God, the baby that was born in manger a couple of thousand years ago. He was born in humble circumstances. What makes this baby special? He came to show us the way, to teach us the way, to SAVE us, through the ultimate gift of sacrifice of the Atonement. He did it for each of us ever born and that will be born on this earth and many earths like this one.  He is the reason for this Christmas season, there is no other reason. Everything else is superficial. "He is my King! With all my heart to him I'll sing; I'll raise my voice in praise and joy. He healed the sick the dead he raised. Good works were his. He ransoms me, from Satan's grasp, he sets me free. And I shall live with joy and love. I'll gain my fondest dream; He is the source of truth and light. And while I strive through grief and pain, His voice is heard: Cheering me on "Ye shall obtain."  Jesus is my Savior, Lord, Brother and Truest Friend. I do believe in Him with all my heart and might. I BELIEVE in CHRIST

I would like you to listen to this song of what Christmas is about or not about. Click on the link below.

Christmas Must Be Something More  I think you will hear someone familiar singing this song.

Scripture Tracker

I made up a scripture tracker yesterday. I included all scriptures, including The Family Proclamation, The Living Christ, For the Strength of Youth pamplet, Articles of Faith and two conference talks.. I am starting with the Book of Mormon. Yesterday, I read the beginning pages of the Book of Mormon. Today, I will read 1st Nephi chapter 1-4.  At the beginning of my tracker, I put the date I started. I also plan on putting dates completed next to the scriptures to be read. I want to see if I do get off track, how long it happens for.  Follow along to keep yourself on track to read from the scriptures everyday. I will include the first three weeks worth of sets. The complete project should take just over a year to complete unless you do more of the sets in one day, which I plan on doing at times. It will be fun to have a group doing this together. The important thing is to read every day. Some of the sets seem long but most are short chapters, the sets I put together are reachable. If you get so far ahead let me know and I will post more of the sets.

My Scripture Tracker

Title of Book of Mormon

Introduction, Witnesses, Testimony of Joseph Smith & Explanation

1^st Nephi  1-4

1^st Nephi 5-8

1^st Nephi 9-12

1^st Nephi 13-14

1^st Nephi 15-17

1^st Nephi 18-20

1^st Nephi 21-22

2^nd Nephi 1-2

2^nd Nephi 3-5

2 Nephi 6-10

2^nd Nephi 11-20

2^nd Nephi 21-25

2^nd Nephi 26-29

2^nd Nephi 30-33

Jacob 1-4

Jacob 5-6

Jacob 7-Words of Mormon

Mosiah 1-3

Mosiah 4-7

Mosiah 8-11