R.A.C.K.'ed for Chrismtas

Have you heard of R.A.C.K.ed?  
Random Acts of Christmas Kindness.

This year instead of a normal Advent we are doing an act of service each day.  With each act of Service we we will leave a little Christmas note (picture above). I have made a list of acts of service and put them in my advent calendar.  I am excited to see the affect that this tradition has on each family member in my home. 
Here are the things that we are going to do each day:  1. Take Gymnastics teacher a thank you card and treat.2. Rack neighbors leaves 3. Tap quarters to a vending maching4. Take Primary teachers Thank You Notes and a treat5. Take some change to the Salvation Arm Bell Ringers6. Take treats to the post office workers7. Take Ms. Chesnek a Thank You Note and treat8. Take treats to the front office at school9. Tape. quarters to a toy machine10. Hand Out flowers to random people at the mall.11. Take Hot Chocolate to the Salvation Army Bell Ringers or other outside worker.12. Take Preschool teachers a gift.13. Take Neighbors Trash cans back in after they have been emptied.14. Take Breakfast in to everyone at Eric's work15. Put some $ in bag and tape onto machines at laundromat. 16. Tape candy on cars at temple and thank them for their service. 17. Go visit Great Grandpa Jim at the VA.18. Write a Letter to all Grandparents and Thank them for their examples.19. Take doughnuts to constrction site20. Tape money up in random places at the dollar store. 21. Take a treat to a neighbor.22. Hand out gloves at an outdoor holiday event. 23. Take Wendys dinner to Homeless.24. Make Cookies for Santa.

So, if you would like to join the bandwagon, you should.  What a great way to celebrate the holiday season.

Christmas Door Hanging

I wanted to make a Christmas Wreath for my door, but I didn't want anything expected or traditional. Since I am on a budget, I went on a scavenger hunt in my craft closet.
I found some moss scraps, some red leaves, an old frame, ribbon and a merry chrstmas gift tag from last year.
Here is what I came up with:

Keeping Christ in Christmas...

I love Christmas.

Not for the presents or superficial reasons, but I love the spirit of the season.

I love how people are generally more kind, loving, giving, etc.

Sometimes I find it hard to de-emphasize the presents and worldly aspect of Christmas and teach my children the real meaning. They know why we celebrate Christmas, but I think for a little child it is easy to forget with all the other things going on around them.

I also like advent calendars and have been searching for a meaningful one to make for my family. I found this one that sahm3.

I love it!

I am going to make one when I get the chance. Hopefully soon.

While my to-do list grows, I hope you are all enjoying your holiday season.

All the Stockings Were Hung....

I really wish that I had a fireplace this time of year. Not just for the warmth, but for the Christmas decorating possibilities.

I wanted to create a wall of stockings this year. I really wish that I had a vinyl cutter, but I don't, so this was all done by hand and paint.

The kids helped me make it on Saturday night and then we hung a shelf and hung the stockings.

I love my little Christmas shelf. It even got the approval of my husband.

2010 Thanksgiving,Christmas, New Years Card

I have to start my post with an apology.

When I made my Christmas Cards, I ordered 20. Come to find out, I probably should have ordered 30-40. I did not have enough to send to all of the people that I wanted.

Trying to keep on budget I am not going to order anymore, so hopefully those of you who didn't receive one will accept my apology and enjoy what you can of it here on the blog.

This is what it looks like:

(Front)

(inside)

Now, since you probably can't read that small print inside the card, here is the text that was included:

Top 10 Things we are thankful for after 2010:

10.) Being an American. It may not be a perfect country with perfect leaders, but we sure are grateful for the freedom that we have to worship the way that we choose.

9.) Jobs. Not only are Eric and I both blessed to have jobs in this economy, but we both have jobs that we enjoy. Eric put it best when he said…’It is nice to have a job where it doesn’t matter if it is Monday or Friday.’

8.) Amazing Teachers. As our children get older, we are so thankful for all for all of the amazing teachers that our children know and learn from. Especially those who teach our children at church, they are heroes in our home.

7.) Good Health. Knock on Wood. After a scare with Marcus this year and a long visit to Primary Children’s Hospital, we are grateful for healthy bodies and amazing doctors.

6.) The Little Things. The success of a child’s prayer, comforting a child by making their ‘blanky flat’ at bed time, the blowing of kisses from Emma on her first day of school. Each of us have little things to appreciate this year.

5.) Family History. We have learned about so many of our ancestors stories this year and the examples that they have set. Eric and I are excited to take our first family names to the temple.

4.) The hard times. Because they've made us stronger and wiser, and the good times even better.

3.) Memories. From a trip to Sea World with the kids to the first alone trip for Tamber and Eric. There are so many wonderful memories that our family will cherish from 2010.

2.) Being able to laugh. Eric and I find ourselves laughing over the little things that our children do, whether it be Marcus trying out new phrases, scaling the fridge or Emma learning to pronounce new words or talking about her first ‘crush’. Our family loves to laugh and make each other laugh.

1.) All of You! This year would not have been so cherished without your influence in our family member’s lives. We have so many amazing family and friends that we could not have lived without in 2010. Thank You for everything you have done for us.