"One Night in Bethlehem"

"Come to enjoy live holiday music and refreshments. Tour the streets of Bethlehem and hear the Christmas story as told by those who were there on that Holy Night."

My calling for the last 6 months has been coordinator of "One Night in Bethlehem"...a 10 year tradition for my ward. Each year more has been added and attendance has increased. This year when I was called, I was asked to find ways to help the Spirit of the occasion remain, while simplifying the process. It has been quite a learning experience for me.

Part of the challenge to the ward has been to invite non-member friends to come with you. Although it is advertised in the newspapers, and other "media outlets", the sweetest part about the attendance this year was that the people really did bring their friends. We had over 600 attend.

I have wanted to wait until I'd scrapbooked these photos, but have decided it's worth posting them before they feel outdated.

"ONB" is a two night event...with live music being performed for 2 hours each night. You sit and listen to the music as you enter and then when you're ready to start on a "tour" of Bethlehem. Starting with the shepherds...

Then the wisemen...(these are two of the three)...

The stop at the inn...where there is "no room", so you stop in the courtyard of the inn and listen to the inn keeper tell his story...

Guests at the inn...sitting in the courtyard...

Then the sweetest part...the manger room...with Mary, Joseph, and a real baby!

Things Don't Always Turn Out as Planned

Tomorrow I hope to continue my blissful documentation of the glowing parts of the Christmas holiday that are turning out "just how I'd hoped".

But, tonight as I tried to re-create the cute craft project I saw on my sister's blog with my own children...I had to acknowledge to myself--if only briefly--that crafts projects...the Christmas holidays...even life in general just doesn't always go as planned. And, that blogging doesn't necessarily paint an accurate picture of the daily realities it claims to record. (At least I can't promise we all smile this big through every life's moment--can you?)


So, for tonight, enjoy the "real project"...where I actually let my 2 and 4 year-old do just what their hearts desired. (Yes that's an alien, a "funny mouse" by Joshua, and a cyclopes.) As you anticipate further more "inspiring" posts in the days ahead. =)

Waiting for a Baby

Last night we watched a darling roley-poly 9-month old girl so her first-time parents could go Christmas shopping for her presents. Nathan was taking a nap when she arrived, so I went up to his bed with little Alexis and said, "Nathan, the baby came. Wake up so you can come play." I tried to hold her up so Nathan could see...but didn't know how much had gotten through his groggy eyes or mind. I few minutes later Nathan came dashing down the stairs fully awake and with one big question. "How did she get here so fast?!!" He was so excited that our new baby sister had come so much sooner than we'd expected!

I'm afraid it's going to be several long months of waiting for a very excited big brother!

Day with Dad

Greg had promised Nathan and Joshua a chance to go sledding. So, today while I cleaned inside...the guys went outside for a good time. (It was 20 degrees at the most...so they decided not to venture too far from home.) I wish I could say I'd gotten so much done inside, but every time a looked out the window and saw them being so cute...I'd have to run out and take another picture!

Egg Nog and "Elf"

A great deal on Egg Nog...

+

A favorite holiday movie...


=A good time had by all!

Cheers!

Memories Made We'd Have Rather Avoided

Just when you think you might me on the verge of on top of your life...
I was just getting boys ready for "quiet time" today after lunch and ran downstairs quickly for something. I immediately heard and then saw water streaming from the ceiling right over our boxes of storage. I called maintenance and then Greg...thankfully they were able to solve the problem quickly and damage was less than I had thought in the first several minutes. Really we've ended up feeling quite blessed with how quickly things have cleaned back up! But, we'd really rather not make a memory like that anytime again soon!

Tonight we're hoping to deliver "neighbor gifts". Here is this year's great plan...a snowman that covers a 2 liter bottle of soda. Kind of fun! I started this and got them mostly finished early summer...so it's been mostly enjoyable to just get them out and finish them up.

December 3--This Year's Advent Obsession

This year we've got three advent calendars going. A candle with markings so you can burn just enough each day to be "burned out" by Christmas. =) A felt, picture nativity advent. And this year's new idea and guaranteed tradition...the JELLY BELLY Advent.

The Jelly Belly Advent is the "brain child" of my sister, Carol's (with the help from husband, James). For each of the 24 days before Christmas...there is a scripture to read, a Christmas song to sing, and then a Jelly Belly to taste. Each day's Jelly Bellys are tied in cellophane. Just the right number for your family. There are 24 different flavors...one for each day. So, you're guessing what that day's flavor is. The coolest part is the "Jelly Belly Decoder" complete with coded words that are made readable as you slide it through the red cellophane window. Our kids...no our whole family...has loved this! It has been our most successful "nightly" venture yet!

Would love to hear your advent ideas!

Two Easy Dessert Recipes

There are two cobbler-type recipes I've found in the last little while that taste wonderful and are very easy! (And relatively inexpensive...esp. if you can find blueberries on sale.) I've also made both of these recipes in a half-batch. Using only half the cake mix and saving the other half for the next time. This has worked great for our little family.

Pumpkin Cobbler

1 box yellow cake mix (save 1 cup)
1/2 cup melted butter
1 egg
--Mix together and spread into a greased cake pan.

29 oz. canned pumpkin
3 eggs
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 pinch nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
--Mix together and spread over cake.

1 cup saved cake mix
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup butter
--Mix together, cut in butter and sprinkle over cake.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until center is not wobbly.

Blueberry Buckle

1 can crushed pineapple, undrained (I drain off a little)
3 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
Less than 1 cup sugar
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cube butter
Less than 1 cup sugar

In a 9 x 13 pan, layer pineapple and then blueberries. Sprinkle sugar over fruit. Sprinkle dry cake mix over the fruit and sugar. Melt butter and drizzle over cake mix. Sprinkle sugar until covered. You can play with the amount. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. I find that letting it cool for a couple of hours is preferable so it is not soupy, but still warm.

December 2--Exciting News

December 1--Making a Memory

Cookies and a Movie

I'll continue to post some "catch-up" items along the way...but wanted to get one "Christmas memory-making" posted.

The cookie press we used was once my Grandma Christensen's. I've never used it before last night. So, it made it extra special to "make a memory" with something of hers.

Making Holiday Memories

This is the first year that we'll be "staying home" for Christmas instead of "going home" (to Utah). I've been kind of worried about how we'll make this season it's own kind of memorable for all of us. I often think especially about making a great Christmas morning moment--knowing Greg and I will be the sole creators of the "magic".

The idea that has helped me just get excited is to gear this year toward a "season of memories" instead of just a "morning of memories". It's my hope that in days to come I'll post a "Memory Made a Day". (I know this is optimistic, but it's worth a good try.) This way when we look back on this year's holiday, I hope we remember not only Christmas morning but a whole season of fun and family traditions in progress.

Check back and we'll see how we do! Would love to hear any ideas on simple crafts, recipes, activities that can help us fill the days ahead!

A Date with my Little Man

Nathan's favorite thing in the world is glow-in-the-dark miniature golf. So, over the Thanksgiving weekend we decided that getting to go there on a "date" would be a great way to give his life a little "perk". Hours before it was time to leave, Nathan came down dressed for the occasion. White shirt, khaki pants, white socks...he was determined to glow everywhere!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We were so lucky/blessed this year to get to spend Thanksgiving with our dear friends in the ward here...Nate and Deborah...and their three boys. Wish I'd taken more pictures...I can't figure out why I didn't! (Maybe doing to much eating and talking!)

We are just so thankful for friends that feel like family-away-from-family...especially on the holidays!

Radio City Music--Christmas Spectacular!

The weekend between Greg's birthday and Thanksgiving, Greg and I had the chance to go to "Radio City Music--Christmas Spectacular"! I first saw this show several years ago when my family went to New York around Christmastime. I can remember that of the shows we saw (including "Beauty and the Beast" on Broadway) that this was our favorite one. A great mixture of singing, dancing, and special effects. When I saw that an "arena version" was coming to the area, I just knew we had to go. So, for Greg's late birthday and our early anniversary we went and had a great night! Filled with a flying Santa, performance of parts of the Nutcracker, the Rockets, fireworks, snow falling on the stage, and our favorite part...the live nativity including real camels! It was great to start off the season making a memory with Greg!

A Much Needed Update

These last few weeks have been some of the busiest I can remember. Just in the last week alone, we've had Grandma and Grandpa Franson visit, our baby's ultrasound, and I've had my "One Night in Bethlehem" event. (The ward's Christmas activity I've been in charge of--a two night open house for the community--hundreds came!) The next posts will give you a brief re-cap of recent days...before we start in on Christmas season memories in the making!

Waking Up to Snow!

Is there a better moment than getting to wake up to the first snow of the season?!! Nathan has been sure that it means we better get out and make a snowman. (I'm a little afraid there's going to be some serious disappointment when we try to make anything with this amount of snow.) Thank goodness there was preschool to give us a reason to make tracks in the snow all the way to the car this morning.

Please note a cute little brother with dangling mittens and sleeper jammies tucked into shoes.

Halloween at Last...

I'm not sure how many times I've thought in the last few weeks..."I don't know if I can take seeing another blog post of someone else's kids dressed up in their Halloween costumes! Enough is enough!" Part of me had vowed I would not be another blog filled with what child wore what costume to what party this year. But somehow, I can't get myself to move on to the next happy moments of life without properly documenting our costume moments. So, please forgive me while I post these next scrapbook pages for posterity's sake.



I'm not sure how many times I've thought in the last few weeks..."I don't know if I can take seeing another blog post of someone else's kids dressed up in their Halloween costumes!" Part of me had vowed I would not be another blog filled with what child wore what costume to what party this year. But somehow, I can't get myself to move on to the next happy moments of life without properly documenting our costume moments. So, please forgive me while I post these next scrapbook pages for posterity's sake.

Another Update

This has been quite a week or two for Greg especially. Not only has he just turned 30...he's just been called to be Elder's Quorum president in the ward. Just wanted to post a few pictures of the men/families Greg will be working with. We've told our families a little about them and want them to be able to picture faces with names.

Happy Birthday Greg!

Greg had his birthday off of work for Veteran’s Day. It meant the whole day could feel like a celebration. He was woken up to two boys singing...a decorated house...and a big breakfast! We got to do some birthday shopping/returning...and then later in the day had a chance to go to the temple for Stake Temple Day. We finished off the night watching Kung Fu Panda and eating Dutch Apple Pie.

October Scrapbook Pages

Rockets--The "Real Deal"

Greg and I were remembering that early in our marriage we got a rocket kit from Wal-Mart. Evenings were spent assembling and painting the rocket(s), and then we'd blast them off at a nearby park. We have fond memories of even having my parents and grandpa along--especially for scouring in the fields trying to "recover" our rockets after launch.

Nathan has become especially interested in "outer space" things lately. After a trip to Wal-Mart, he and Greg have been busy building and prepping our latest experiment (while Joshua does play-doh at the other end of the table feeling very important in his own "creating").

We've now launched the rocket on our own and with a couple different families. It's been a fun way to spend the evenings "out" together. Although it's often been too dark to get a great picture...finally one worked! We're pretty excited that our rocket "moment" has been captured!


Chocolate milk and donuts in the trunk with our good friends, the Jamisons, after our first "launch attempt".

Three Fun with Fall Snacks

Nathan was in charge of taking the snack for preschool, and we wanted to do something that would be both a fun thing to take and fun to make together beforehand. The two snacks we did were from a favorite website of ours for holiday ideas:

www.familyfun.com

"Spider Pretzels"

Made using: Ritz crackers, stick pretzels, raisins, and peanut butter (there are allergies to nuts in Nathan's class so we used chocolate icing). Turned out to be easy and quite cute.


"Cheese Fingers"

Made using: string cheese, green peppers, and cream cheese.
(When Greg heard the instructions for these included wearing rubber gloves or baggies on your hands to "keep the cheese smudge-free"...and that each finger required at least five carefully little carved knuckles...this was the ultimate test of a good man's patience! These were significantly more tedious than the spiders--but still ended up being a lot of fun to make.)



Halloween Cut-out Cookies:

I found a new recipe I quite liked this go around. It's from a blog I've tried several things on and liked: Kidman's Kitchen. Click under cookies on her sidebar. Although we initially really liked the softness of these...they haven't disappeared as fast as I'd expected. If anyone else has a great recipe that is soft...but sturdy enough for little hands...I'm interested!

We went cookie delivering (the ding and run kind) with our boys for the first time. I'd forgotten what an adventure it can be--especially for a 4 year-old boy!

My Husband's New Blog

I got surprised today when my husband told me he's decided to start his own blog! But, I'm really excited for him and his idea! Please check out the following link. (He'd love to add to his "followers" collection.) You can expect...and hopefully contribute to...good stuff to come.

living-lds.blogspot.com

(You can also find the link under "Greg" on my "Family".)

"Super" Cool!

In Nathan's preschool, each child gets a turn to bring home "Dudley" the dog for a day. They're job is to give him "experiences" and then write them in a little "journal" notebook that then gets read in class. (Thanks to my sister, Carol, who's children have done something similar before, we had a vision for something a little more exciting to add than one more "trip to the park" for Dudley.) We decided to make him a Halloween costume to facilitate his future "trick-or-treating" experiences--and Nathan one to match!

Does it get more lovable or manly than this "Super Dudley" and "Super Nathan"?!!

Exciting News!

Playing Catch-Up

It feels like it's been a while since I last posted! Here are a few random updates...

While Greg was chaperoning at a youth stake dance recently, I was getting Nathan and Joshua ready for bed and got the feeling something wasn't right. I got up to lock the doors, and saw several emergency vehicles outside our front door. There turned out to be a fire in the apartments/town homes that are directly across the street from us...part of our complex! What started out to be one fire truck and a couple police cars turned into many fire trucks, a blocked off road, and a major undertaking! We watched them go from spraying with one hose into a first floor fire...clear to cutting a hole in the second-story roof and spraying water in from the extended ladder of a fire truck. It was quite something to watch it unfold with front-row seats on our doorstep. That night as it was happening, I guessed maybe 2 or 3 apartments were severely damaged. We read in the newspaper the next morning that 8 apartments were severely damaged and 16 total with varying degrees of damage. We feel so blessed to be safe an "unaffected"...but it surely has made us reevaluate and focus again on our level of emergency preparedness! (We obviously don't feel like the pictures do it justice!)


Just had to include a post of my flowers to show my mom! We've started pulling out some of our plants as the freeze-warnings here begin. It's just been so fun to have planted four little tiny "impatiens" plants and have them turn into this abundance. (Especially when I've tried them in Utah and ended up with just some little shrivels.) I think next year I'm going to plant these everywhere!