CHRISTMAS TRADITION

(Yes, Winnter is singing in this picture)

When I look back on my childhood Christmases, it’s not the gifts I remember. It’s all of the memories made with friends and family. I love family traditions. What are some family Christmas traditions you are passing on to your children? Perhaps you have created your own family Traditions?



Here are a few of our Christmas traditions.


1: Every Christmas season we load the kids in the car, get hot chocolate, drive around and count all of the nativities we can find.

2: The kids get New Pajamas the day before Christmas left by little elf’s on the front porch. (Aspen the Elf or Nolan the Elf)

3: The kids get reindeer food (Glitter mixed with bird feed) and sprinkle it allover the yard on Christmas Eve.

4: We go and See the lights at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

5: Santa gives the kids a new Christmas bell every year. (This is to make sure they still
believe)

6: We Read the story of Christ Birth on Christmas Eve.

7: Day after Thanksgiving we get out all of the Christmas movies and watch them.

8: Make Gingerbread houses

9: Every Family night for the Month of December we take the kids and do a service project. (This is my Favorite) This year we are taking the kids to a homeless shelter to Meet with kids their own age.



These are just a few of the things we love to do. It’s amazing how the Children look forward to each and every tradition.

I HEART SEQUIN!

Growing up on stage, my Mother always said: "You  need a little sparkle!" It's true. A skirt, some earrings and a few bracelets, with a little sparkle can make all the difference. I remember my Mom staying up late (Many times) to glue sequins on my performance costumes. This was long before the Bedazzler! Most times, the clothing I wore was made for me by the show I was asked to sing for. As a little girl, I thought it was so cool to get out of school for a fitting.

Here is the problem with loving anything that Bedazzles. You need to know when it is appropriate to wear such beautiful, shinning bright clothing.



1. It is NOT appropriate to wear sequin to Target while shopping with the children. (However, anything goes in Wal-mart)

2. Wearing Sequin to a fabulous party is great! (Christmas parties are perfect)

3. An all sequin dress should NOT be worn to church.

4. No sequin clothing on your Dog. Please!

5. Limit your Shine! A sequin dress, with sequin shoes and a sequin purse. This will make those around you temporarily unable to see.

6. Remember to enjoy your bedazzled clothing!!! Have fun and shine on (:

  

GIVING THANKS!

Every Year during the month of November, we get out

"THE THANKFUL JAR"

Whenever we think of something or someone we are thankful for, we write it down and place it in the jar.
It is so much fun at the end of the month to see what everyone is thankful for. My favorites are the little notes written by the kids, and the cute pictures they draw!



Here are just a few things I am thankful for.


1. An INCREDIBLE husband who is truly AMAZING (He should be cloned) it's true!

2. My car. Every morning I drive past the bus stop and see people waiting in the freezing cold. (I secretly want to pullover and tell them to hop on in)

3. My fluffy purple bathrobe (:


4. My little boy who has a HEART of GOLD! He reminds me to slowdown, and to have a little more patience. (Aren’t kids wise?)

5. Hershey's chocolate!!!!!!!!

6. I am thankful for my Parents, for their years of service. They have NEVER waivered in what
they believe! (I get a little teary-eyed just thinking about it)

7. For my little girl who tells me everyday “I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL HEART” (Thanks Winn)

8. Humor!

9. My family! My siblings are wonderful people, who would do anything for anyone. Not to mention they all have a fabulous sense of humor (:

10. For friends who inspire me daily. Some who have opened their heart to adoption, others who are willing to share their story! I love you!!

11. The opportunity to share what I love with others. For the gift of Music!

12. For a Father in Heaven who knows me, and loves me, despite my shortcomings.

The list could go ON and ON……

What are you thankful for???

LOVE NOTES

Get ready to CRY!!!!!!!! We can all learn a lesson form little Elena. Tell the people you care about how much you love them and give thanks! Love is a powerful word,  a powerful asset.

http://www.notesleftbehind.com/book/


When 6-year-old Elena Desserich was diagnosed with brain cancer, she began hiding hundreds of little love notes around the house for her parents to find after she was gone. Here’s the story:

Just before her sixth birthday, Elena Desserich was diagnosed with brain cancer and given 135 days to live. She lived 255 days, passing away in 2007. After her death, Elena’s parents, Brooke and Keith, found hundreds of notes from Elena hidden around the house — in between CD cases, between bookshelves, in dresser drawers, in backpacks….

"It just felt like a little hug from her, like she was telling us she was looking over us"

Elena’s parents, Brooke and Keith Desserich, have now published these notes in a book called Notes Left Behind to fund a non-profit organization The Cure Starts Now dedicated to fighting pediatric brain cancer.

Happy Halloween