December Assembly Moves

December assembly was a blast this month! 

It was a little different assembly because they had a guest who helped bring in the season with some fantastic songs and dance. I had these two darling sidekicks and they enjoyed it too.  Also hilarious, our Bishop was there because some of his kiddos go to the school and when they sang 12 Days of Christmas he represented '9 Lords a Leaping', so great!

~ Momma P

Hoar Frost

It is like a stunning WINTER WONDERLAND out there!!!!!!

Grandma Hinko was out for a few nights and it was an unbelievable drive out to the farm.  We picked up Stella from Kindergarten and drove there and back for school pick up, a short time frame but I just had to stop to snap a few pictures.   Just with my phone but goodness it was gorgeous out there!

 I am not really a country girl but goodness this last picture is the view from my Gma's living room window!  Amazing!!!!

We live in such a beautiful world. 

~ Mrs. P

Cookin' Up Christmas

Christmas means baking and filling our house with yummy aromas!!!!

The rest of the year we are pretty boring with just cookies and muffins or banana bread but at Christmas, wowzers gum drop loaves, oreo cookies, toffee marshmellow balls, nuts and bolts....so many special treats that aren't our usual.  Every year since we moved from Fort McMurray I have done Christmas baking with my Grandma Hinko, it is a cherished tradition.  My sisters have usually joined us and this year Gramma Hudkins came out too!!!  The little ladies join in between playing with one another. It is great fun! 

 It makes me emotional as I reflect on the blessing it is to have these two women in our lives.  I have two Grandmother's who I admire and learn from.  Being able to work in the kitchen beside them both, the privilege that is isn't lost on me. Our girls will have memories with them, how precious that is!!  We have quite a few recipes that require rolling so we all took off our rings and set them by the 'Hot Chocolate Station' and I had to snap a picture....this pile of rings symbolizes family, marriages between husbands and wives, motherhood and a whole lot of commitment, I just thought it was rather cool.

 Who doen't love adorable Christmas decor?

I'm nerdy and I know it. 

Saw these shirts and I just had to copy the idea.  We have a friend who prints vinyl for fabric so she did these up for us I just had to buy the shirts.

 Grandpa was the driver and the holder of cute kiddos!

The girls with their Great-Grandma's, oh my heart.

It is a wrap, over 2000 pieces/cookies/balls plus our loaves/nuts n bolts/peppermint popcorn, 13 different recipes in total!

~ Mrs. P

decorating job

This hunky assistant helped me with the final step in a Christmas decorating gig I had (I needed his height and strength).  The lady who hired me to do her main floor last year asked if I would tackle her family room and it was a blast.  It is fun to create and shop, making a home festive - love it!

I don't know if decorating will ever become more but it is sure fun.

~ Mrs. P

the greatest season begins

Christmas is one of my most favourite times of year.  The traditions and the opportunity to spend extra time with family, oh and the food, must not forget the food.  With so many ways to celebrate I am eager to start #LIGHTtheWORLD an initiative put out by our church;

 Since a new star first appeared above Bethlehem, Christmas has been a season of light, reminding us that Jesus Christ is the light of the world. Together, we can celebrate His birth by making the world a brighter place. All we have to do is follow Him—His life, His example, and His teachings. In doing so, we can help #LIGHTtheWORLD. 

Each day there is an aspect of the Savior's life we get to focus on, a video and ideas of ways to make that part of our day.   Be His hands in the world, in our home.  We also do Advent Bags in our family and this is a much, much anticipated tradition. Each day for the month of December the girls get to open a bag with a little gift and an ornament with a name for Jesus Christ and a scipture....it is darn cool.  Really after I like to try and enjoy the month, each of the activities we choose to participate in that are special this season.  I love sharing it all with my family!  Loved the quote by Jeffrey R. Holland, I feel like it sums up my feeling about the season well.

We do it all because of Him.

~ Mrs. P

a slow fall break

I knew going into fall break I wanted us to have some slow days and we have been.  Lots of reading, crafting, playing school and family, a little deep cleaning too!!  I LOVE fall break!  I love getting to be together and as much as I adore routine, throwing it out the window is nice every once in a while. Totally looking forward to the later part of the week with Mr. P :)

~ Mrs. P

I made up dream catchers for each of the girls' rooms.  We read a book about dream catchers and with a little pinterest inspiration voila!  I think it looks so nice above Amelia's bed.

With it being fall break there is a lot of this, toys out in different spots around the house. We try to adhere to the philosophy of put things away before moving onto the next thing but meh they are kids.  Amelia and Stella brought ALL of the shopkins and ALL of the little princesses, the minion quiet bin and few houses and vehicles onto the bed.  I did have an inner eeeek when I first walked in but then I decided to take a photo instead.  The imaginative play with little figurines won't happen forever and I remember fondly having half of the basement set up with Barbie houses and when our mom let us keep them up over night it seemed so special.  I am interested to see what my girls remember.  Sure love these ladies!!!

~ Momma P