She's Baaaaaaaaaaack!

WELCOME BACK, McKinney Family...especially our talented Tara!!

I think it's time to make some CUPCAKES...Tara-style!

Christmas Star...A Gift From Our Nursery Leaders

We have the greatest, most loving, caring, dedicated,

and prepared Nursery leaders in our church.

Each week, they teach the children true principles of the gospel of Christ.

They speak on their level.

They hold them and love them.

If a child is absent, the Nursery leader often mails them a card

or drops off that Sunday's lesson to our home!

It is evident that they see these little children as "precious souls".

Today, Scarlett came home from church with a bag full of special treats

and this star with a lovely poem on the back.

(I hope you can read the poem in the picture above.)

The children are to hang this star above their bed to remind them to pray and read their scriptures every day, so that,

"when you've found your day is done,

you'll see this star and know you've won.

If your own light you haven't let dim and

like a wise man, you've followed Him."

The Spirit of Christmas

"The Christmases we remember best usually have little to do with worldly goods but a lot to do with the spirit of caring, the spirit of love, and the spirit of compassion."[Pres. Thomas Monson,December 3,2006 Christmas Devotional]

In the Question and Answer part of the ENSIGN,December 2009 issue this question was asked:

In what ways do you find peace in your celebration of Christmas?

I read this in our "One-Story-A-Day" night and asked the kids about their memorable Christmas. My oldest daughter loved her Christmas back home in the Philippines when she was 7 or 8 years old. I never thought that she would actually remember how her parents worked hard to provide for them and give them something that our meager income can afford. I personally love to think how Christmas time became the season to gather families and friends together.

While I was cleaning, organizing and throwing away scraps and scratch papers, i found this file of papers from the Relief Society that i have been keeping all these years, HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS GIFTS! and i thought that i can somehow help ease your problem regarding inexpensive but heartfelt Christmas gifts. This was actually researched and compiled by our Compassionate Service Leader(Thanks Sarah Eagar!) during that time.

*Sachets with potpouri or lavender in it(there are already made sachets at crafts stores that you just fill and tie)

*Recipe in a jar (you just fill the dry ingredients of any cookie, brownie...recipe and layer them in a jar and tie the recipe on a card to it)

*Painted candles (you paint any design on a white candle with acrylic paint)

*Painted ornament9you can buy plain ceramic or wooden ornaments at a craft store)

*Personalized towels, pillow cases(seew or paint a person's name or a design)

*Flavored oils and vinegars( put favorite spices, herbs, garlic...in a jar and filled with oil or vinegar, maybe even add a recipe to use it with)

*Beauty products( you can find recipes on the web for face masks, exfoliating creams, hair conditioners, foot soaks,bath salts, etc. out of things like honey, avocados and Epsom salt)

*Cook Book(put together your favorite recipes and write memories with each one)

*Calendar(Make one buy scratch or just put pictures of you and family over a new one)

*Coupons(write down favors that you would do for someone, lke babysit, foot massage, wash the dishes, hug, your choice movie)

*Bulletin Board(cover it with material and run ribbon across to secure pictures or notes under)

*Mosaic vases(you can find these crafts and similar ones at craft stores

*Personalized stationary

GIFTS KIDS CAN MAKE

*Aprons(you can buy plain aprons at a craft stores and have them paint it or hand-print it)

*Mugs(they can also paint a plain mug or dish)

*Doorstop(take a brick and have them paint it and put things in the holes-like plants and glue felt on the bottom so it doesn't scratch the floor)

*Rock paper weight9find a smoot rock and have them paint it)

*placemats (take an art work a child made and laminate it for them)

*Bookmarks (cut out a bookmark and have the kids color and decorate it, then laminate it)

*Terracotta pots(have the kids paint or glue things on a pot-can use beads, sea shells, material, buttons....and even add a seed packet or a bulb to plant)

*Frames(find a plain frame and have them pain or glue things on it, insert picture of kid)

*Cards(Let them paint, draw or glue all your Christmas cards-you can even peel some crayon colors, let them place them where they want, fold paper in half and iron it, the crayon shavings will melt and leave a neat design)

*Ornament Box(let the kids decorate a box to put the ornaments in)

*Wrapping paper(Buy a roll of plain, white butcher paper and have the kids decorate it and use it for your wrapping paper)

FUN GIFTS FOR NEIGHBORS(or for the Missionaries serving in your ward)

*Dipped spoons(Take a plastic spoon and dip in melted chocolate and even sprinkle on crushed up candy cane, cover with plastic wrap and tie with bow they can use them to stir their hot chocolate! Maybe even add a mug and a hot cocoa mix with it)

*Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows(Also for their hot cocoa or just to eat)

*Chocolate Dipped cherries or strawberries

*Goodies of all kinds(Find out ahead of time if they have allergies or are diabetic)

*Sparkling Cider(Add this poem:

It's funny how this time of yearbrings more than Christmas joys, like tired feet and headaches for us older girls and boys. There's this to buy and that to cook and everything to wrap. Last night i saw my bloodshot eyes looked like a city map. To keep things in perspective and enjoy this time of year, we need to take a break sometimes and find some Christmas cheer. So here's a glass of bubbly. Now sit back and take a rest and toast to all the blessings that will make this year the best.")

*Candle(Add this poem: "When you find yourself in darkness, when you feel you have no power, gaze upon this tiny light and ponder in that hour. It will give a soft and gentle glow. The longer and brighter it shines, we'll share with all we know.")

*Cookie cutters and mix(Add this poem: "I made a plate of cookies and ate just one or two, but started feeling guilty because they were for you, I went into a panic, and ordered on the phone this brand new cookie cutter so you could make your own)

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, Remember the true meaning of Christmas, and you will find joy and peace overflowing in your heart. For more inspirational thought and ideas on how we can find peace on our celebration of Christmas visit the ENSIGN December,2009 issue.

Just in case you haven't seen this or heard about this fun website, visit http://familyfun.go.com/

Butterflies: Cookie Exchange Recipe

Ooh, I'm excited for tonight's cookie exchange...

I'm bringing these "butterflies". Click here for the recipe.

Can't wait to see what everyone brings and to enjoy a cup of cheer with my sistas!

Manger Craft

Our beloved nursery leaders did this craft with the kids last year.

I did it again with my kids yesterday as part of our Christmas advent activities.

There is a tutorial on my blog if you are interested in doing this with your family.

Merry Christmas!

Secret Sister Gift Exchange Party 2009

The Secret Sister gift exchange party of 2009 was a big hit! If you didn't participate this year, you should think about doing it next year. Here are a few pictures that might give you some gift ideas for this Christmas...Thank you to Marie for organizing this and to everyone who made it so much fun (including Kimberly!!!) Love you all!

Just too sweet not to share...

Our book advent activities have begun...I'm telling you, it's good quality time!

What advent stuff are you doing?