I've been dreaming of a white Christmas

Well, it's already white here, so no, I'm not dreaming of a White Christmas. I do have to tell everyone that I found the BEST cd ever!!! If you have ever watched Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, you'll understand why this is so exciting to me. I found a CD that has all the songs from that movie on it!!! And...this is the best part...it was only $5.99!!!! It came in a collectors tin with a stocking. My sisters and I loved that show and looked forward to it every year. I have always wanted to find the CD but never could. I will listen to this all year round, I'm sure.

We went skating yesterday and that was super fun. Tanner loves skating and is really good at it. We also slept under the tree for our advent activity. We've also baked, iced and decorated sugar cookies and played in the snow. Tonight we are watching "The Nativity Story".

I have been doing a lot of reading of the General Conference issue of the Ensign and am feeling inspired to what my goals for the new year should be.

Other than that, things are going well. Tanner is done school for the holidays. He is really excited to be going to Calgary for a day. His concert at school was SOOOOO stinkin' cute. He was a little panda bear (well, all of the Kindergartners were). They all did a really good job.

Have a happy holiday and a Merry Christmas.

The secret...

...to great Gingerbread cookies that do not crack is to use parchment-lined cookie sheets. Last night Tanner and I made gingerbread family cookies and even on my Pampered Chef cookie sheets, they cracked but on my regular cheap aluminum cookie sheets that were lined with parchment paper, they were smooth. Tonight we will decorate them and then possibly give some away...lol. We will give some away. We don't need 5 dozen cookies. The following is the recipe for the cookies. It is from the cookbook "The Essential Mormon Cookbook" by Julie Badger Jensen. I LOVE this cookbook and use it A LOT. I used it when I was asked to make funeral potatoes and I had no clue how to make them. Anyways, here's the cookie recipe:

1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 cup molasses
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 egg
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
4 1/2- 5 cups flour

In a large bowl cream butter and sugar; set aside. In a small saucepan heat molasses to boiling. Pour molasses over butter and sugar and add the vinegar. Let cool. Add egg. Mix in sifted dry ingredients. Chill for at least 1 hour. Roll on lightly floured board or surface and cut as desired. Bake on well-greased or parchment-lined cookie sheets for 8-10 minutes and 350 F. (I baked for 8 minutes only and they turned out great)

So try and enjoy!

Also, I found these useful tips in time for Christmas:

Soften butter in a hurry...just grate the amount you need or invert a small heated pan over the butter dish

To prevent cheese from sticking to your grater, chill the grater first by placing it in the freezer for a few minutes.

Gravy too salty? Ada a few pinches of brown sugar. It will mellow the saltiness without sweetening. Throw in a chunk of raw potato and the same thing will happen.

To get rid of strong smell on your cutting board, cut a lime or lemon and rub the cut side over the board. Or make a paste of baking soda and water and apply generously.

So thankful

Yesterday we had testimony meeting because we missed it last Sunday. There were lots of people who were thankful for the service that was given to them because of the big snow storm. As I was thinking, I thought about how grateful I am to the people who helped us with cheerful attitudes. After talking to my Mom and realizing that no one even offered her help to dig out her garage...not a neighbor, not a member of her ward, no one, it made me think about how blessed I am to live in a community where everyone helps everyone else and that's just what we do. It makes me grateful that I DON'T live in a city...even Lethbridge. More positives just went on my list of things that make where I live a great place to live!

I have reflected a lot on the last year and this year has been for sure one of my top 5 years. 2000 was one: married! 2003 another: Tanner born 2008:Emerson coming into the family and 2009: turning 30. This has been a wonderful year filled with, I feel, much growth for all of my family. I am looking forward to a new year with, hopefully, more growth (read:maturity), more love, more joy, more learning, more fun/sad/challenging times. I am sad to be saying goodbye to my Primary kids. I had a rough patch with them but I have really grown to love them and have love, love, loved teaching them.

We are making and decorating Sugar cookies tonight...most likely just making and decorating tomorrow. We have also had a p.j. party and watched 'The Flinstones Christmas Carol, 'The Muppets Christmas Carol', and 'A Christmas Carol' (the first, black and white version). I have never seen any of those. I have seen a version of the Christmas carol, but I can't remember which one it was. I have also seen the actual play twice. I LOVED it! You must go if you can. It is well worth the money and it's such a neat experience.


In process of making the cookies



The decorated cookies


Saturday, we went to the Temple in the bad weather. It took us 55 minutes (normally 35 minutes) because we drove so slowly. I love the Temple and I love that Matt and I have made a commitment to make it a priority in our life. We have truly benefited and been blessed because of it.

We went today and picked out our yearly Christmas tree ornament. We decided that every year, since we moved, we would pick a new ornament as a family. The first year I picked a stocking. Last year Tanner picked a glass tree, and this year Matt picked a snow filled snowman ornament/ball. None of them match the Blue and Silver decor that is on our tree, but each ornament has special memories from that year.

Well, that's all we've been up to for now. I am starting to get really excited for Christmas. I will be back tomorrow and Wednesday and then on Thursday is Tanner's school Concert!!!!! I can not even convey the joy and excitement I feel for this. I am close to floating on air. My little boy, in his first school concert...ahhhhh....So much more to look forward to!

Christmas tips

I was just looking for some Christmas movies and music and came across a few websites I thought I would share.

fanpop.com -you can watch over 100 classic Christmas shows from Garfield to flinstones to Simpson's (for those of you who like them, I DO NOT!) to friends.

classicchristmasmovies.com- again, watch right on their website some classics like miracle on 34th street, it's a wonderful life, Rudolph the red nose reindeer.

allthingschristmas.com- exactly what it says...all things from decorating to traditions to movies to watch to tips to meal ideas.

live365.com- listen to Christmas music 365 days a year.

Christmas is coming!

Lots has been happening in the last week or so. We started our advent Calendar. We have gone to the ward party, started the nice jar, put up the tree and decorations, gone to the old fashioned Christmas (Matt took Tanner because it was so stinkin cold out), written to Santa (okay, we haven't done this one yet, but we will tonight), we were supposed to go to the First Presidency Broadcast, but Church was cancelled so we assumed they didn't show the broadcast here, and today we are making cookies and taking them to someone in need.



Last week was a busy one. The best day was Wednesday. Susanne and I drove up to Calgary and went with my sister, Megan, to So You Think You Can Dance Canada Tour!!!! Megan and I screamed and screamed and then we screamed some more. Susanne did lots of screaming too. It was so much fun! Susanne is the only friend I've ever travelled with and she is great company. It's nice to be able to travel/vacation with people that you can be yourself around. My sister Megan is so fun. She was like a kid in a candy store. I have only ever seen the American version of the show so all the dances were new to me because I didn't watch the Canadian version of the show. Megan and Susanne knew what dance every one was and could tell me if it was a good one or not. So that was fun. I'm glad we went.








(some random Christmas shots)

Then on Thursday I got on e-mail that one of my other best friends had her baby. I am so excited for them. It is their third baby and they have all boys. Congrats again, Jamie! I always get so excited when my friends have babies.

On Friday we went to a fabulous Christmas party. It was soooooo much fun. I had a blast. We played 2 truths and a lie and then did a gift game. It was hilarious. It was an adult only party so that was nice to get out without Tanner for a few hours. Tanner went to the Bishops house and he said he loved it there and it's his favorite place because one of their boys has Star Wars Lego. So he was in heaven. Santa may have to do a small trip to the store to get some Star Wars Lego...lol.

On Saturday it was crazy!!! Tons of blowing snow and coldness.

Everyone seems to have a "cold day" story and ours is not very exciting but here it is anyhow...when Matt went to do the papers on Saturday morning and the car got stuck just as he pulled off the drive way...so it was sitting on the road. I suggested to Matt that he call his friend and ask to borrow his quad to deliver the papers. So he did and his friend was so gracious and lent Matt one of his quads. Then as we got talking I thought of when the night came and our car sitting, half covered by snow drifts, on the road. So I suggested we try to get it onto the driveway and call and see if someone could help us. Lucky for me I have a best friend who's husband has a shovel on his quad and was happy to come and help us. So we finally got the car on the driveway and we are so thankful for the help that was given to us. We had to have the car towed backwards onto the middle of the road to get a "run" onto the driveway, but it worked! Then we went over to Susanne's house and ate, watched footloose (my first time ever!) and played games. It was a blast.

They cancelled church here on Sunday and that was kind of weird. But all in all, it's been a great week-ten days. Matt came home Thursday night and that was wonderful.

So ever onward. It's suppose to be cold for the next couple of days so we'll have inside days.