Time for GINGERBREAD!

Jared has begged me, shamelessly I might add, for the past several years to make real gingerbread so we can make gingerbread houses. Honestly, I have never had the desire to put the extra effort into making it, cutting out the house shapes, etc…..UGHGHGH!! What’s wrong with graham crackers??!?

Well this year, he won. And I’m soooo glad he did! Real gingerbread is so yummy, way better than graham crackers! Thankfully, I’ve been done with the Christmas shopping for a while (got most of it done before Thanksgiving), so I’ve had some time to do things I have always intended to do in years past, but have just never had the time.

I did make one modification, though – all in the name of compromise! Instead of houses, we made Christmas trees. It was WAY easier than dealing with walls that fall over and roofs that cave in! We used star-shaped cookies to make the trees, glued them on top of each other with a little frosting, put some more frosting on the tips of the branches, and added candy for ornaments and lights. Ta da!!

We had a girls’ tree and a boys’ tree, and if you ask me, the girls’ tree ROCKS! It was so funny to watch. The boys – being boys – just slapped it all together, as fast as they could, and then started eating. The girls – being girls – were delicate, took their time, created a beautiful masterpiece, and then enjoyed looking at it the rest of the evening.

Rachel enjoyed watching from her highchair. She was pretty tired, but still enjoyed the goodies that were passed her way to keep her happy.

Caleb was lucky enough to get in on the action. What baby can resist a binky-topped Christmas tree??!!?

Now this is a tradition we’re definitely going to repeat. So much fun!

Christmas Preview

We had a Pre-Christmas Party with my family on Dec. 6. We had so much FuN, and I got some really cute shots of the kids, so I just have to blog about it! Unfortunately, we were missing a few important people. Jared was home doing tithing settlement, and Greg, Brooke and their kids were home in North Carolina having a baby!

It was so fun just to be together. This was the first time we had seen Isabelle in person (she was born 6 days before Caleb), and this was the first time Andy and his family had seen Caleb. I should have taken a picture of the two of them together! Mental Note!

The kids had a great time making sugar cookies. I think they had the most fun just rolling and re-rolling and re-rolling the dough! Edible playdough!

The kids also made cards for Grandma to take to Max, Lauren and Tommy in North Carolina. It was sad to have them so far away!
Of course it's fun to open gifts. Emily has really started to catch the Christmas spirit. She has been so excited to just see others' faces as they open gifts. So sweet!

We saw the whole range of Rachel personalities: sweet, impish, and embarrassed. See for yourself!

I so wish we could all live closer! We always have such a great time together. My family is wonderful, and I love you all!

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Project

This is what we are giving friends/neighbors for Christmas this year. I spent the past several days making 19 of them! I think they turned out pretty cute. I got the raw wood frames at Michaels, painted them, used Mod Podge to glue scrapbook paper to the front, printed the saying from Pres. Monson on the back of the leftover paper (one by one, I might add), and tied the ribbon around it to finish it off.

I like to give gifts that aren't necessarily Christmas related and that are non-food items. Don't get me wrong - I love Christmas, and I love food. But that's the problem - it seems like by the time you get the fun Christmas stuff, it's time to put it all away! And don't we all get soooo sweeted out by the time January rolls around?! So here's to something different!

Pig Tails!

Finally, at the age of 19 months, Rachel's hair is long enough for pig tails. A proud moment for me indeed! Isn't she just adorable?!?! The natural curl just makes it that much cuter!