Not your typical Christmas Wish List!

I feel that I have been blessed with 3 beautiful, wonderful, self-less children.  Each year when asked what they want for their birthdays and Christmas, you would tend to think that they would give you the typical list which usually is a mile long.  But not my kids!  They only ask for one or two things and that is it!  I love them so much and I am so thankful that they aren't caught up in all the "give me, give me... or what's next."

Brayden has taken it one step further.  When you ask him what he wants for Christmas, he replies in a very serious manner.  " I have a blanket (to better understand this one.. I am making blankets for Christmas gifts and I ask him if he would like one and this is his answer every time), I have a pillow, I have a shirt... I don't need anything for Christmas.  He is very honest and serious about it.

So when Ross took the kids to the Ward Christmas Party last Friday... it was Brayden's turn to sit on Santa's lap which is a HUGE improvement from last year( he didn't want to have anything to do with him).  Naturally Santa asks what do you want for Christmas this year.  And naturally Brayden replied with the same 3 things.  I am sure that Santa wasn't used to hearing a little boy reply like that. 

I am so thankful that my Children understand the true meaning of Christmas.  This year will be exceptionally small due to finances and honestly I am very excited about it!  We decided to get the kids one nice gift each and then 1 or 2 smaller ones.   I have also made most of the gifts this year and I absolutely love it!!  It is very rewarding for me and to know that I can make something with my hands that turns out pretty good and that I can bless other's lives with them.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a special New Year!

Love you all!

Here are a couple of gifts I am making for Christmas...

I love making gifts!  I have had so much fun making these... I am still in the process of making others yet not completed.. but here is a sampler of what I have done so far.  Hope you enjoy looking!!

This is a table runner I made....

Please don't look too closely... they aren't perfect.. I have never made anything like this before and especially without someone teaching me how!!  Thanks!

Snow days and decorating the tree

The kids were so excited to have their first snow days ever!  The last time we had this much snow was 8 years ago and I love it!  I love how pretty it is, I just wish it would stay off the roads, I don't think that is too much to ask do you?

Jerry had a couple friends over the other day on the one snow day and they and Rae had so much fun!  I even played for a couple minutes and then just had fun taking pictures.

One of my favorite parts about this wonderful Season is watching the kids decorate the tree.


But I have to tell a quick story about our tree and leading up to it.  I experienced a lot of firsts while up there this year.  First, this was Mom and Dad's first Thanksgiving at their house.  We enjoyed all those who were there and missed those who couldn't make it.  Then we went to Donnely on Friday to round up the horses and bring them to Mom and Dad's.  When we got there I really had to use the bathroom... and we looked at the out house and Sondra and I found animal tracks leading up to it and a hole in it so we decided that definitely I would not go there!  So I had to go outside in the snow for my first time!!


Then Ross got on Shadow and helped his dad try to round up the horses to put them in the corral along with Bryce and it was neat to see the grandkids and Tammy, Craig, Sondra, Christine and others block off the way so the horses won't go that direction.  When the horses did come the beautiful sight of them running in the snow reminded me of the scene in The Man From Snowy River when the horses were running in the snow.  It was almost magical!  When they finally decided to cooperate (Ross,Craig and Calvin lead them with hay in their hands to the corral with Dad on horseback making sure they made it.) I was in the truck with Mom and Brayden asleep on my lap, Dad loaded up the first round and I have never been in a vehicle that had horses in it.  It was interesting driving home with them moving all around! 


Now to the tree.... Ross said he rode on horseback (Shadow) for about a mile in thesnow looking for the perfect tree for me.. how romantic!!  And he did find the perfect one!!  It is so big, and full and beautiful with pinecones on it!!!

It took 5 strands of lights, 6 boxes of tinsel, over 200 ornaments and we still have room for more!  I love it!  I have a humidifier on it to help it from drying out since it is in the room with the woodstove.  I love this time of year!!!  Also, something that I have enjoyed doing since I was a little girl and that is I love to turn off all the lights at night and just sit and enjoy looking at the beautiful tree with the lights reflecting on the ornaments and the walls.  There is something so peaceful and rejuevinating about it!

Riding Amos in the Snow... snow much fun!

We got to ride Amos for the first time in the snow yesterday and Ross got him pretty tired... rode him almost an hour!  But the thing that I most enjoyed was when Ross' Mom got close to him while Ross was taking a picture of me on him and Amos snuggled right up to Mom!!  And then Dad got to ride him for the first time and I absolutely loved it!!  I wanted to share these with you.

Frozen Dog!!

You know you have a dedicated hunter/pointer on your hands when he doesn't mind looking like this from being out in the freezing weather to be able to retrieve birds!!  Just looking at him makes me cold!!