Do's and Don'ts

I just have a little ornery demon that has been dying to get out and today I just have to release it.

Please when Driving DO NOT:

-talk on your cell phone (please, feel free to use a hands-free set; this is okay)

-drive with your skull candy earbuds in. (you can't hear emergency vehicles)

-drive more than 5-10 mph in a parking lot. (you will hit someone)

-drive in a snow storm without your lights on. You cannot be seen no matter what time of day it is. (I know, I drive up Parley's Canyon every day)

-drive with poor tread on your tires. You do not have to buy "winter" tires, but a good set of all-weather are wonderful for around the town driving. (your poor tread can cause accidents)

-drive on a day that you feel inadequate to operate your vehicle. If you feel the need to drive 5 mph on a day that the weather scares you, but does not necessarily require you to slow to this speed, PLEASE find someone to be your driver for the day or take public transportation. It is not worth the headache for you or anyone else on the road.

When Driving PLEASE:

-use your blinker. (in a parking lot, turning a corner, changing lanes, etc.)

-go the speed limit (unless weather/ice doesn't permit you)

-keep good wipers on your vehicle

-wipe all the snow off your ENTIRE vehicle. (this means your hood and roof and trunk. wiping off the hood means your windshield will not fog. wiping off the roof and trunk means that my windshield will not fog from the snow on your car flying onto mine.)


Okay. Demon ran away. Hopefully He won't be back for a while.

It has come and gone

I can't believe that Christmas time has come and gone. It's a good thing that Vacation is still here. My hubby and I spent Christmas Eve and Day splitting our time between families. (for anyone soon getting married please take this ONE piece of advice: don't marry anyone from your same state or province. It's a headache to go see EVERYONE. rant finished) It was a good Christmas though. We played games, ate food, read from Luke 2, and opened gifts. It was a fun two days.

I am extremely exhausted though. I took two naps yesterday AND slept 8 hours last night. I just don't know what the deal is. Oh wait! There is an organism stripping me of any extra energy my body can produce. Right. I remember.

My hubby and I got a nice surprise Christmas Morning. Santa had brought us a car seat and pack 'n play. It was wonderful and will be VERY helpful.

Thanks Santa!

As adults we don't get to be surprised very often at Christmas, but was there something this year that you weren't expecting that you received or took part in?

Christmas Can Cure

This was our contribution for the season. (and by "contribution" I mean, we spent the day helping out)

My hubby and I spent the day in the Park City area. There is a non-profit organization called Christmas Can Cure that brings a special Christmas Holiday to wounded veterans and their families every year. This year was the first one in Utah. The families get to stay at a resort in the area, go skiing, tubing, horseback riding, play sled hockey, and have an early Christmas Eve and Day. The community gets involved in any way they can. The Boy and Girl Scouts did a flag raising ceremony for to honor the two veterans and their families. And there were schools in the area that made Christmas cards thanking the soldiers for their service.


The flag ceremony.


The Chidester Family


The Perez Family

It was a lot of fun getting to know the families and their father's stories. I think they did more for me than I did for them.


You can find out more about Christmas Can Cure HERE.

The Candy Cane

We give to you
A simple shepherd’s crook
To remind you of the shepherd
Who walked the hills of Galilee.

To remind you that you too are called
To follow the Shepherd’s way
To care for the lambs of our Father
So that none will go astray.

For each lamb of our Fathers
Is precious to behold
And we must teach them by his spirit
To bring them safely to his fold.

So as you view the shepherd’s crook
As it hangs on your Christmas tree
Remember you walk in the footsteps
Of the Shepherd from Galilee.


By Linda Maizer

**********************************************

I have always loved this poem. There are all sorts of wonderful analogies for the Candy Cane. I haven't found one I didn't like. Today this one reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas. The love, support, and silent help we give to each other. Everyone seems a bit more giving during this time. Those in need receive help more readily and we spend our hours determined to find the perfect gifts for our family, friends, and even strangers.

It's hard to be young, just out of college, new family and want to help others out when you have little or nothing to give. We just can't do everything. It's hard to pick and choose who you will help and how. My hubby and I have spent the whole month trying to figure out what we can do to help out. Realistically, we don't have much. But we want to. Our busy lives keep getting in the way. We will find something before the end of the year. And I'll tell you about it.

What do you do at Christmas?

I just Can't believe it!

6 WEEKS! There are 6 weeks left. It's excitement, nervousness, and panic all rolled into one overwhelming emotion.

How did you handle the last few weeks of pregnancy?

When it was your first what were the last few things you wanted to get in before you wouldn't be able to enjoy them as well after baby changed life? (you know the things that you will never have time for until your 50 and have no more kids at home)

I Found Them!

Last year we spent a whole evening driving around the Sugarhouse area looking for Christmas Street and Bible Street. Last night, we found them. It was a fun Family Home Evening Activity.

Christmas Street. (1500 East 1735 South SLC)

The cul-de-sac is lit up with lights. Here is the beginning. It's just a small street. It took us only ten or fifteen minutes to walk it.


These people have true spirit. Just one of the houses on Christmas Street.

BIBLE STREET (1400 East 1735 South SLC)


This is the start of the street. Each house has at least one scripture and a picture to accompany it about the birth of Jesus Christ.





This was a fun street to travel down. The signs alternate sides of the road so you don't necessarily want to get out of the car. The street is shaped like a "U." Don't be deceived when you get to the bottom of the "U", keep going. There is more.

Go see these fun displays. It's worth it.

Festival of Trees

I love to decorate for Christmas. I was always the one growing up to pull out all the boxes and get everyone else involved. (if I let them, and if they could handle my orders)

I still love to decorate. My own assortment of decorations looks a little sad, but grows every year. (I'm really glad that we don't have too many decorations because we wouldn't be able to put them anywhere in our little apartment now or during the storing season) So, the last couple of years we have spent an evening wandering up and down the isles at the South Towne Expo Center looking at the beautifully decorated trees. There are big trees, small trees, wreaths, gingerbread houses, and many hand-crafted items donated to raise money for the Primary Children's Hospital. I love looking at the amazing talent that so many have. If you have time, each donation has a story to go along with it. A story about someone who has battled some sort of disease. The donation is in memory of them.

Here are a couple of the things that I saw:


This Castle is AMAZING!


The UP House was wonderful as well.


It was hard to believe that this train was made of gingerbread.


"The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" Tree.


A "John Deer" Tree



"Star Wars" Trees. This had multiple trees with fliers traveling between trees. Battles being fought below. A whole bunch of action figures. This was cool.


"The Wizard of Oz" Tree

And, of course, My FAVORITE TREE:

The CANADA Tree. "Christmas EH?"

There is always a couple of BYU trees, UTAH trees, and Jazz trees. I just can't believe I didn't get any pics of them. They were wonderful as well. If you have never gone to the Festival of tree you should go next year. It's beautiful fun. There are crafts for the kids, live performances, and Santa is there. Your family will love it.

Christmas Giving

At Christmas time growing up we spent a whole ton of time mixing, baking, and heating up the kitchen. (not to mention the house from the oven) And as time goes by, like in most families I think that some of the loved traditions when you were little get left behind or forgotten or changed. This happened in my house.

My mom is a great cook. At Christmas time it was Chocolates, Pies, Slush, Nuts and Bolts, Cookies, Caramels, and Crisps. We would eat plenty and give plenty away as well. But over the years my mom has stopped cooking these things. Busy lives.

Well, this year, being pregnant has really made me want to make all of the goodies I enjoyed as a little girl. (not to mention I don't have to feel too bad about eating them right now)

Here are the cookies that have been made:



I am very proud of this face. My artistic prowess astounds you doesn't it?


These sugar cookies were made with my Hubby's nephews(6, 4, and 2 yrs old). They were so cute and surprisingly careful not to mix up the colors. It was a lot of fun.



These are my shortbread cookies. Don't ask what's in them just eat the beautiful goodness.

I also made Caramels. They didn't make it long enough to get a pic. They disappeared.

WHAT DO YOU BAKE AT CHRISTMAS TIME?

First Presidency Christmas Devotional

The Christmas Devotional is a tradition in my house. We go every year. Everyone in my family tries to get tickets and every year someone gets some. We plan our month around this and many other activities.

This year the devotional came upon a time when my family had sickness and surgeries. They just couldn't go. So, we took my Hubby's brother and sister-in-law. It was a nice evening. Lights. Inspirational reminders to not overwhelm myself at Christmas time. Calls to spread the true spirit of Christmas. Wonderful Music. I LOVE Christmas Carols. It was a perfect beginning to the Month of December.

I haven't Forgotten You

I have just been having a fight with the internet gods all week.

I spent Monday decorating my house. (which really means putting up the tree in a little apartment) Then I had a bad cold all week. Fighting that monster too. I went to the festival of trees on Thursday. It was awesome. (pics coming) And tomorrow I am going to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. I will let you know all about it.

I'm so excited to not be sick and start my Christmas Baking. Joyous. I will post all of those too.

All Pending the Internet not Fighting with me Again.