Scrapbook calender

I made these for the Grandparents this year for Christmas. I won't lie, it was a lot of work. But I think they appreciate gifts like that. All I did was scrapbook pictures on 11x14 posters, then made the actual calender part on WORD and printed it off. I got it laminated it, leaving the squares blank so they could just write the dates in and re-use it. I bound it with book rings. These pictures of the calender right before I took it in for lamination.

I like this one because of the snowman I made (teehee). Isn't he so cute? My 3 year old named him frosting, you know, as in 'Frosting the Snowman' (I just love 3 year olds!)

On these 11x14s, I used 2 8x10s for the solid backgrounds. And make sure you use scrapbook glue, cause school glue does NOT stick well enough.

I liked the idea of using green for March, but not a huge fan of the Leprechaun theme...

I like how the girls' Easter dresses matched the pink solid PERFECTLY.

I think this one is my favorite. I do love pink and purple.

This is a tribute to my Father-in-law, and all the other U of U fans in the family, namely my husband. Those pictures are of my little girl. I know, she looks like a boy. When we went to that game with her dressed like that, lots of people told me how cute my little boy was. Can't blame them! Cause she does look very boyish in her Ute hat and football jacket! Anyways...

Isn't the ghost cute? I made that, too.

Of course the Christmas page was one of my favorites. Who doesn't just love Christmas stuff?

Vegetable Beef Stew

This is a childhood memory. Grandpa called this 'mud soup.' Don't worry, there's no real mud involved.

1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion chopped
1-2 cloves minced garlic
1 green pepper chopped
1 tomato chopped
1/2 cup carrots chopped
1/2 cup celery chopped
1 cup elbow macaroni
1/2 cup ketchup
1 1/2 cup tomato juice
1 cup water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp pepper

Mix meat, garlic, onions, peppers, and celery. Cook until brown.

Add liquid ingredients, seasoning, carrots, and tomatoes. Add macaroni. Place tight lid on pan. Cook on high until boiling. Then turn off stove and leave for 45 minutes without raising the lid. Use medium-heavy pan.

Grandma's Romantic House

Not just memories of Christmas, but of childhood. I took a walk down memory lane. My Grandma's house does not change, and isn't that wonderful! I could write a song about this house and all of my favorite things. Warm food, warm hands, warm hearts, warm memories. The chime of the grandfather clock, the smell of Grandpa's gloves after feeding the horses, the sleigh in the snow, and chocolate milk. Just the sight of the house brings sentiments of the sweetest kind.

First, the handcrafted gingerbread house, by Grandma.

Never missing a detail. Beauty in every corner.

Peek through the window and you'll see Santa and Mrs. Claus enjoying the evening together in their rocking chairs, side by side in front of the fireplace.

Outside an elf is busy at work.

A trimmed bassinet holds Christmas gifts.

Each window drips with drapes. The dining room overlooks miles of open fields covered with a blanket of snow.

The bathroom is bright and inviting.

The designated 'princess' room is more romantic than ever!

Even the ceiling sparkles! The embedded glitter is enhanced with hanging chandeliers.

This doll house was also hand-made

This doll sleeps in a hand-made cradle, swaddled in hand-made quilts.

The booties you see in the collection cabinet were my great-grandfather's, along with other precious keep-sakes.

Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go....

Homemade Baby Food

Sorry, I know this isn't very appetizing to look at. That's why I put it on this blog and not my food blog. But I thought this was a great little tip to share, especially since it's in the best interest of your children. Make the baby's food. From scratch.

I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it's really not! And it WILL save you money in the long run.

Always feed your baby cereal every day. Gerber has now come out with a cereal that supports brain development; click here. Ask your Pediatrician for more details about your baby's optimal diet. Click here for more info on when and how to start your baby on solids.

Anyways, to make your own baby food, all you do is buy some fruits and vegetables. If baby is just starting out on solids, start with the basics like green beans, peas, carrots, bananas, apples, peaches, you get the idea. The order is not important. It can be fresh or frozen. I do NOT recommend canned food because of the preservatives. Fresher is better!

So put a small amount of the fruit or vegetable in your blender along with some water (titrate to your preferred texture). That's it! Serve it with cereal and put the rest in the fridge for the next day. I wouldn't recommend storing it in the fridge for more than 3 days, because then it looses it's nutritional value and may even have bugs starting to grow.

You will notice how much more FRESH the food looks and smells. Baby will notice the difference too. Much more appetizing!

Christmas Tagged by Aunt Doni!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags for Christmas presents? wrapping paper, so much more fun!

2. Real tree or artificial? artificial

3. When do you put up the tree? the day after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? day after New Year's Day

5. Do you like egg nog? yes, but I mix it with milk

6. Favorite gift received as a child? barbie food court

7. Do you have a nativity scene? yes, got it last year!

8. Hardest person to buy for? Nate, definitely Nate.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Kaylee for sure!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? This year I only got around to email.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? underwear as a kid, embarassing!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? yes

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? homemade decorated sugar cookies

15. Clear lights or colored on the tree? clear, pre-lit tree!

16. Favorite Christmas song? Oh, holy night

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? stay home, going to Nevada day after

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? yes

19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve, Santa in the morning

20. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Santa in my face everywhere I go, little to do with Christ

21. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love it when people incorporate browns, I haven't figured out how yet

22. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? ham and taters!

23. What do you want for Christmas this year? Romance (that's what I told Nate)

24. Who is most likely to respond to this? the Megans and Jamie

25. Who is least likely to respond to this? Allison

Have a wonderful and joyous Christmas season, full of joy for the many blessings we enjoy because of the Savior and his love for us all. I tag Allison, Codee, Megan, Megan, Jamie and anyone else who wants to do it!

Baby's sitting up!

Brenna is officially sitting up! She falls over occasionally, but for the most part, she can stay upright. She turned 6 months on the 10th. I will do a doctor update when we go in January!

Another little update; I'm starting school again. How do I feel about this? Good and bad. I think I want to get my bachelor's degree, and I'm starting to realize I will never do it if I have a 3rd child. So here I go! Wish me luck! Hopefully I won't just chicken out and drop out. I'm starting this next semester slow with 1 dance class and 1 online class. So it shouldn't be too bad, right? Yay to dancing though, haven't danced since the Falcette Review!!!!

Family night on temple square

It was FREEZING! But we had tons of fun. It is just family tradition to go see the lights on temple square. It is very romantic to me because Nate and I used to go there frequently while we were dating, Christmas or not. I loved having the whole family there. You can't tell in these pictures, but we took our SWEET new (awesome hand-me-down from a kind neighbor) double stroller, and the girls loved it! We just bundled them up in there and put beanies on them. By the end of the night, Brenna had figured out how to take hers off. Mark, Cindy, and Cami came as well. We looked at all the different nativities and got a good feel of the true spirit of Christmas, and it's true meaning. Kaylee now loves to pretend she's Mary by putting Brenna's burp cloths on top of her head. Pretty disgusting, but cute.

Brenna got tired toward the end and started SCREAMING in the Joseph Smith Memorial building. It was very embarrassing.

Two peas in a pod!

It wouldn't be a complete night on Temple Square without some hot chocolate.

How to make baby headbands

This is how I made a baby head band, the type you can just clip on any bow or flower...you know, interchangeable.

First, I cut off the leg of a pair of infant tights.

Then I folded it in half. Do not sew it across, as this will take away the stretching capacity of the fabric.

Glue the 2 ends together with hot glue, or sew the ends together. (Sewing makes it last longer)

This is what I chose to be the attachment piece for the bows and flowers.

This I also secured in back with a stitch or hot glue. There, it's done!The possibilities are endless!

This one I just folded some ribbon underneath. So cute and easy!

More cookie making, and visit from the FAM!!!

We love it when the Nevadians come to visit. We all had to recover from a lack of sleep after spending time with my family who came last weekend! It didn't last long enough! Talking for hours catching up, doing hair and makeup together, eating, and of course making cookies, are all things that remind me so much of home, and how much I miss all my sisters and my parents. I seriously loved every minute of it, and wish they would come stay more often! Here's a glimpse of the fun we had over the weekend.

Cookie making... Nate even took a break from studying and joined in the fun! Of course he decorated a decapitated snowman with 'blood' dripping down the front of it, but it still tasted good.

Kaylee's cookie. Notice the pile of sprinkles. Yes, she was up all night after eating this. I did scrape some off before letting her dig in.


More of Kaylee's creations

I had a bottle of old decorative frosting, and it pretty much exploded. Breanne and Heather got a kick out of it!

My beautiful mom with my beautiful baby!

Heather and Carissa