Christmas in New York

So we kept our yearly tradition of going to New York City and taking the kids to see Santa at Macy's. This past Saturday was super busy, and it didn't help choosing a Saturday to go to the city where our schedule was packed.

 Our early Saturday consisted in cleaning the church we attend, and some of the young women (including Sierra) did service in another ward by being a part of the Breakfast with Santa activity. We had to wait until she was done, hence getting a late start on our way to New York. 

It gets dark at 5pm so we managed to do most of the things we wanted to do. 

Except go ice skating in Bryant Park! The lines were super long so we decided to just continue to walk the streets of New York, eat chicken shish kabobs, pretzels, roasted peanuts, and go to the Rockefeller Center.

 It was getting late, and everyone was getting tired (except Chelsea & Lexie). Poor Noah was freezing and fell asleep in Dad's arms. We seriously need to invest in a stroller that reclines so he can sleep comfortably. 

 On our way back to the parking garage I snapped this photo of a beautiful display of the Nativity outside of a brownstone in Manhattan. 

Even though we didn't get to do some of the things we wanted to do... seeing this display of the nativity made me feel less guilty, and it reminded me of all the reasons why we have CHRISTmas.

It makes me so appreciative, and grateful to have so much LOVE for our Savior Jesus Christ. 

The Prince of Peace

"Keep Jesus in your Christmas, & you'll always have a happy holiday. You see, Christmas to me is more than a holiday".

~Liberated Gospel Choir

Last night's performance of our second annual inter faith musical was a success and everyone sang so beautifully!

We had Robert Brandt sing "The Trumpet Shall Sound" by George Frideric Handel, and his voice was fabulous!

The University Singers from Rutger's all had wonderful voices and sang beautiful hymns.

The Evangelical Lutheran church of our Savior Haddonfield Bell Choir performed with bells, and they echoed so beautifully throughout the chapel.

Kara Brandt sang "Weepin' Mary" so flawlessly, and one of my favorites of the evening were the voices from the Liberated Gospel Choir which is entirely run by students, and is a non-profit, performing arts organization. I could tell these girls were having fun while singing. 

And last, but not least...

The Cherry Hill LDS Regional Choir... in which my lovely daughter Sierra was a part of, sang "Joy to the World", Away in a Manger", and one of my many favorites... this song in which I can listen to over and over again! 

Beautiful voices filled the chapel, and it was such a magical evening in singing songs of Christ and all the artwork displayed of the pictures of the Savior was certainly a reminder of why we sing praises and why we celebrate CHRISTmas.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

 This is my Friday:

Wrapping a few more gifts,

going to the post office to mail those gifts,

addressing Christmas cards, 

hopefully mailing the Christmas cards, 

doctor's appt.,

endless laundry, 

trying to accommodate friends who need rides, 

trying to fit in the LDS missionaries to go out on an appointment with them...

(which probably won't happen, so catch me next time!), 

Lexie's violin lesson,

more laundry with help from the girls,

a little bit of shopping at Target, 

dinner,

and the day/list doesn't stop there! 

But I decompress, and not let the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season affect me. So if you have days with schedules like this and then some...don't let it affect you.  

It is days like today where my youngest can truly nap for hours during the day so that I can do all that needs to be done. That is truly a wonderful moment for me, and all seems heavenly!

I'm lucky to have days like this-minus the errands!

Many joyful, less hectic days lie ahead...at least for me.

An accordion book

These are accordion books. In our church I am what you call 'the go to girl for crafts'. I don't mind because I actually miss having a scrapbooking club, and so this gives me the opportunity to keep up my craft and scrapbooking skills. 

We have been having a lot of families moving in and out of our ward lately, and so every time a family is about to move out, I make one of these. I am not a perfect scrapbooker or crafter, but I love to make things out of cardboard and card stock. Give me that glue gun and I am on a roll! 

If you think these are cute, and you would like to make one for someone for a baby shower, a wedding book for guests to sign, or even as a birthday card (you can even add pictures in it) for all your friends and family to write something inside...here are the steps into making one.

*You'll need at least three pieces of card stock, different types of scrapbook paper, ruler, scissors, a glue stick, at least 18 in. of ribbon, and this should match the colors you use for the book. 

*Cut three pieces of card stock so that you have three perfect squares. Most card stock is 81/2 in. You can make your book any size, but it needs to be equal on all four sides. 

Glue the three pieces together, overlapping one square on each paper. The corner diagonal folds should be parallel to each other. 

Once you have these glued together, then you start decorating the individual squares and triangles. Leave the squares on the far ends as your cover pieces so don't glue any paper to one side. You can glue a square to the other side. You will need six squares and the rest are triangles. After all these are done you need to do the covers.

For the covers I just cut out cardboard from a box (2-6 in. squares) Then glue the cardboard on the center of the paper square. Fold up the edges and work in the corners. A squash fold is the best way to go. Glue the ribbon at the mid way point on the book. The square without any paper is where you want to glue it. Then glue the cover over the top of the ribbon and the cover on the other side.

 I love this card stock with the birdies on it! 

I obviously wrapped it like you would a Christmas gift. I used hot glue so that it will last a lifetime!

Glue the ribbon at the mid way point on the book. The square without any paper is where you want to glue it. Then glue the cover over the top of the ribbon and the cover on the other side.

TA!DA! Hope y'all can make one for whatever occasion!

Keeping CHRISTmas Simple

The weather is beginning to feel more like Christmas and I have put the rest of our decorations out. The kiddos decorated our tree the day after Thanksgiving which is always a tradition, and I decided to bring up our tiny little Christmas tree. I had asked the girls about putting it up, and we decided to put it in the corner of our dining area. We put their cute Mary Engelbreit ornaments on their tree. Noah is barely two, and yet he is mesmerized by the lights on both trees. He constantly pulls down the ornaments only on the big tree. He only did this for the first week. Let's hope he's grown weary of it! 


My better half just received his cookie press by UPS yesterday and he was like a little kid opening up a Christmas gift. Not only does he love to cook, but he loves to bake as well. This Christmas we are going to bake cookies for our friends, and neighbors. This will be our first time to do this as a family, and we are excited! Especially the girls!


For some reason this Christmas seems as if it is going to be simply simple. The older the kids get, the simpler it gets. I don't know. Maybe it's because of  these words that President Thomas S. Monson said to us during the Christmas devotional broadcast. Maybe it's because I have a humble teenager who has a solid testimony of the Savior, a preteen who is always thinking of others first, and only wants us to focus on the little ones. Maybe it's because I myself am striving to live a simple life with four children and one income. Everything seems to be focused less on Christ, and more on the things of the world. We have taught our kids throughout the years that Christmas is not about the presents...it's about His presence. 


Of course Chelsea and Noah are still little, and I want to make Christmas magical for them. It's also understandable for them to want to ask Santa what they want for Christmas. I think the biggest Christmas tradition we started since moving up here is going to New York and seeing Santa at Macy's. Now...that may be called a thing of the world, but it sure puts a light on all of our faces when we go and spend the entire day there! 


Our kids are filled with the Christmas spirit, and have really understood the reason for the season. Like I wrote before...we enjoy the holidays no matter what. We always have fun during Christmas, and each year our love for Jesus Christ grows stronger and stronger. 

I am thankful for that spirit! 

Nostalgic Ornaments

Top Chelsea, left-Lexie, right-Sierra. 

These Mary Engelbreit ornaments are 11 years old. I first got into this graphic artist when Lexie was born in the year 2000. I remember going to Thanksgiving Point in Utah after Christmas in the year 2000, and clearing out all their M.E. ornaments, all right down to the stockings and the tree skirt. From that moment on I became a M.E. fanatic and every time I saw anything that was from M.E. I would immediately buy it. My mother in law even made curtains, bedding, and even a baby blanket from M.E. fabric for the girls. Till this day I still get a M.E. calendar for the girls room (and a desk one for me!)

I loved her style of ornaments because of her quotes and the art is so cute, and very girly! I became a lover of birds when I found these birdhouses...

and although we don't have any pets (yet) Scottie dogs are one of my favorites! 

 I particularly fell in love with this cute gingerbread man...

and I found this sweet angel and fairy holding a cupcake!

We moved so much in the early years of our marriage, and having this one really helped me adjust to every move.

 I also realized that no matter where we lived I had to make the best of it, and make my life cheerful not only for myself, but for the new friends and neighbors I was about to meet.

This is one one of my favorite quotes. 

Moving from state to state to state has taught so much in my life and with all that moving I learned to be more compassionate, loving, kind, and warm towards others. I also think the teapots are darling.

Out of all the ornaments this one is the most meaningful. 

I count my blessings every day, and although these ornaments don't resemble the Savior, I am grateful for His birth. I feel fortunate to have had a Christmas tree up every year since the day I got married in December. I still have these ornaments, and I am saving them for the girls. I'm happy to have shared this with you in hopes that y'all will save your mementos that have a significant meaning, and share it with future generations (if they last that long!)

Count your blessings and always remember the reason for this season.

Live your life with Integrity

"Love life and look for its opportunities, and forever and always be loyal to the church."

 ~Gordon B. Hinckley 

"Peace be unto thy soul...Thy Friends do stand by thee." D&C 121:7-9, was the theme for this years Young Women in Excellence. 

This past Tuesday all of our young women got together and presented all the things that they have accomplished throughout the year for their program. I always look forward to this event at the end of each year because it really shows me, and other parents what our kids have accomplished while growing spiritually at the same time.

This year was especially important to me because of the goal I set to complete my personal progress (which I did) along with my daughter. Integrity is the last value for Sierra to complete, and her project was creating a book of quotes from General Authorities that pertain to integrity and honesty. Creating this book is a reminder to her to live each day with integrity, and to alway be honest all the days of her life.

How different my life would have been had I lived to always be honest. It would have been nice to have been raised with this as a youth, but I have no regrets...NONE! 

Having integrity is a talent. Unfortunately not everyone inhibits that very well. I see in you Sierra a lot of your father. Your dad has been in sales for 14 years of his employment, and not once has he ever felt that he had to be dishonest with any of his clients. That's what makes a good salesman. Living the life of integrity is very rare for someone in the business of sales to live by, and for your dad he has seen the results of what happens to someone who falls short of having integrity, especially at work...getting fired based on integrity issues. Sad, but true. It's so important to always be truthful to everyone.

I see how honest and true you are to all of your friends. It doesn't matter if they attend church or not. You are as unique, and true as they come. The friends that you have made throughout the years of leading a nomadic life who are not members are still your friend. I believe it's because you are always there for them no matter what, and always try to build peace around them. I know that your friends here, including your teachers see the way you live as a Latter-Day Saint, and how you have been an example to others. You live each day at school the same way you do on Sunday. You are the same, fun, clumsy, happy girl who is always smiling and wanting everyone to know that everyday can be cheerful. Even on your worst days you still manage to have that cheerful smile.


Sometimes I want to be just like you!


I look back at my life and saw all the iniquity that I caused for others...including myself, because I wasn't a very honest person. You are old enough to know a lot about my history as your mother, and I have no regrets telling you. I know how grateful you are for me to have been honest with you about my past, and the consequences that I endured from being dishonest.

I know that by telling you those things it has made you want to be a better person, and that is who you are today. The gospel helps us want to be a better person. It is what helps shine that light in you. It is what helps build your integrity. Continue to live by that and you will always be happy. Others will appreciate your honesty, and by living a life of integrity you will always be blessed.

Love you,

Mom

Ballet love

"Dance like no on is watching"~Alfred D. Souza

One of Chelsea's little friends from school recently gave her a 'free pass' to go to a dance session at her studio. I opted to take her, and Chelsea loved it!!! Chelsea took four classes after school which consisted a total of two hours at a dance studio, and out of gymnastics, hip hop, tap, and ballet. Can you guess which one was her favorite? By the looks of this photo it was ballet. She has a natural talent when it comes to dancing. She absolutely loved it, and it's official...we are getting her into ballet classes as an early christmas/birthday gift for her.

There are only four other girls in her class and they all got along and danced so well. Look at that bright pink tutu! That little girl sure had fun with Chelsea. 

Her class will consist of a half hour of tap as well. She still prefers ballet. There's that pink tutu again! She came home exhausted. She didn't even finish her dinner and went to bed at 8:00!!! That never happens in this house! I'm glad she is doing something that she absolutely loves! I think she prefers ballet over piano lessons, but we are not giving up on her with the piano. She plays it at home, but always wants to dance while her sisters play.

Who knows...maybe in the near future she'll be a party girl like her older sister was in "The Nutcracker".

She had a wonderful time, and seeing that look on her face...is PRICELESS!

Building Christmas traditions

I didn't have a lot growing up as a young child, and had no family traditions. To tell you the truth I only remember having a tree up three times in my life. When I was four, 12, and 16. I think that's why I have gone out of my way in the past when I only had Sierra by herself for five years, and every Christmas for her was filled with lots of books, clothes, and barbie dolls. With each child, Christmas became less and less. Although we think about not buying the things of the world for our kids, we still manage to get them meaningful things as gifts, but focus more on Christ, and family time.


There are so many traditions that families can build up together without feeling the need to give into that instant gratification. When I realized the true meaning of Christmas, and after being sealed to my husband in the temple, we decided to build traditions that would last a lifetime. From that day forward we would go to the temple each year on our sealing date as well as our wedding anniversary. We also took our girls to temple square each Christmas to see the lights and sometimes we got tickets to see the First Presidency Christmas Devotional (which by the way airs this Sunday at 6pm.) at Temple Square. Since we no longer reside in Utah we've been watching it in the comforts of our own home for the past five years.

We now try to keep the tradition of going to Macy's in New York City to see Santa, and go walk through Central Park. We are going to attempt to go ice skating this time! We also love to go to the D.C. temple to see the Christmas lights at the visitors center.


The day after Thanksgiving we get the tree out and decorate it as a family. Some families can go and pick out a Christmas tree at their favorite tree orchard, and decorate it together. We usually drive around certain neighborhoods to see Christmas lights. I remember the year Noah was born we acted out the nativity scene, had Noah as the baby Jesus, and read the story of Jesus. It was simple, and very meaningful. He was so cute all bundled up.


We always open one gift on the eve of Christmas, and because we have moved around so much we always give a little something to our neighbors that pertains to the church so that they can get a feel of who we are, and to let them know we are here for them if they need anything. Whether it's a DVD of the Savior, or even baked goodies. I also started a tradition of having a separate stocking for Jesus and putting a gift inside for Him. We usually write down the things we'd like to change about ourselves throughout the year, or whatever comes to our mind.


One of my favorite traditions is collecting Christmas stories and reading the same ones every year. One of our favorites is I Believe in Santa Claus, and the Tale of the Three Trees . The kiddos LOVE these books. Even my 16 year old! Sierra and Lexie especially love to read the The Forgotten Carols story as well as playing the songs on the piano and violin.

I feel so good inside knowing that I started these traditions with my family long ago, and no matter how hard times can get financially, we always manage to at least keep one. We are a selfless family, and it doesn't matter to us what we do.

As long as we have each other, that's all that matters.

December with the CHRISTmas spirit

"The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul. To catch the real meaning of the spirit of CHRISTmas... we need only drop the last syllable and it becomes the spirit of CHRIST."
 ~President Thomas S. Monson

Our first Christmas, Circa 1994

How many of you have your spouse's birthday, wedding anniversary, and Christmas all in one month? Actually within two weeks of each other?

We do!

It's always a busy month for us especially with four children, church callings, and just being a sane person during this time of the year...which we usually are. I look back and remember thinking how we are going to balance these three important events in our life as a married couple without breaking our bank account, and how we are going to build traditions, and keep them throughout our life.

One thing we decided to do is go to the temple on our anniversary. It is free, and it is the most spiritual thing you can ever do in your life as a husband and wife. Of course, here on the east we need to drive for just two and a half hours to D.C. or an hour to Manhattan. When we were living in Salt Lake it only took about ten to twenty minutes to go the temple depending on which one you were going to. Oh, how I miss that! Honestly, the drive doesn't' matter because we know that at the end of the day we are blessed for the service we have done for our kindred dead.

When it comes to exchanging gifts Jon and I have never been materialistic. Especially my husband. He always says to me he doesn't need anything...he only needs me. Of course I end up surprising him with something I made or something that he really needs which is usually clothes, or tools (that he'll actually use!) He in return knows how much I love anything that resembles love and family, and he usually chooses the perfect gifts that relate to that. Whether it's a piece of jewelry with an inscription, or even taking me to the temple again (because he knows how much those buildings mean to me.) Even on his birthday, we'll make the time to go.

Going to the Visitors Center at the D.C. temple to see the decorative lights is absolutely beautiful during the holidays! One thing I miss about Salt Lake is going to Temple Square during Christmas to see the lights. So for all you Utahans who are reading this...take advantage and go!! 

It's times like these where it makes me extremely grateful to have the five year age gap in my kids. My oldest is 16, and is not spoiled! Most 16 year olds are, but mine isn't. She is humble and is grateful with anything she receives. As a matter of fact, she said to me and her dad to 'focus on her sibs.' What a gal! I love her so much. I truly am blessed to have a teenager who is truly charitable. I think of the reasons why my kids are so understanding during the holidays as to why we don't need a lot...it is because we have taught them the true meaning of Christmas. I pray that is one tradition that they will pass on to their posterity. 

It's not about the gifts.

It's about remembering our Savior Jesus Christ and all that he did for us.