thumbs-up

I am a thumbs-up kinda person.  Perhaps stems from my years teaching elementary school or growing up in the 80s.  Either way I feel like it is such a quiet, visual way to encourage or show happiness.  I cleared off my camera because I literally could not take another picture and came across a few pics of my women giving thumbs-up.  It was a subtle reminder of how what we do rubs off on our children. Made me smile and then get worried, ugh need to work on those less positive things I do. Our women though adorable, I am slightly biased but absolutely adorbs!  I especially like these pictures because seriously leg warmers and one piece jammers, awesome!!

 

 

Mrs. P

 

Traditions

Have I mentioned that I LOVE CHIRSTMAS?  There are truly so many things about the season that make me smile and feel such excitement as we enjoy Christmas.  I few years ago I read a book called 'Treasuring God in Your Traditions' by Noel Piper, it was beautifully written by a mother seeking to bring the spirit into her home as she strived to celebrate holidays with her family.  I was touched and have often pulled out that book as she had great suggestions for Easter and Thanksgiving too.  She is just a woman trying to teach her children to follow Christ.  With the abundance of things to do in December it can be hard to choose what traditions/activities to participate in, it is definitely a family by family thing and even year by year depending on family circumstances. There was an interesting quote shared by President Monson at the Christmas Devotional this year;

 

“Christmas is a glorious season of the year,” he said. “It is also a busy time for most of us. It is my hope and prayer that we may not become so caught up in the pressures of the season that we place our emphasis on the wrong things and miss the simple joys of commemorating the birth of the Holy One of Bethlehem.”

He said that finding the real joy of Christmas comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done; rather, individuals find the real joy of Christmas as they make the Savior the focus of the season.

“Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God,” President Monson said. “His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world. He lived for us, and He died for us. What can we, in return, give to Him?”

"The celebration of Christmas should be a reflection of the love and selflessness taught by the Savior."

 

I have tried to remember these words as we have chosen what to do this year.  We have started a few traditions that work for our family.

 

 

Bethlehem Walk

The Bethlehem Walk is put on a by the Gospel Assembly church in West Edmonton and it was AMAZING!!! They have a huge part of their church set up as the town of Bethlehem with stalls to touch taste, smell and actors that were so authentic. It was a very special experience.  Gramma Hudkins and Grandpa told us about it so we joined them along, with the Birds and the Cartwrights.

 

 You walk through the whole town getting to experience what the town might have been like, then you enter a part that smelled like a stable and had animals in stalls along the side.  Sitting in the center was 'Mary and Joseph with a real baby Jesus'.  It was lovely.

 

Advent Bags
I have looked for a few years, hoping to find an advent calendar that suited my style. Recently I saw an idea on Pinterest and decided to make my own.  I bought a flat sheet from Walmart and sewed up 24 bags, stamped on the numbers and added a bit of Christmas fabric to make the bags festive (I plan on reusing the bags for counting down other holidays/birthdays/trips).  This year we put in two candies and two pieces of a duplo set for each day.  I also found an advent scripture colouring sheet so we've done that to.  The girls started out strong, then we got sick and missed a few days, but are back at it now that everyone is starting to feel normal again. Definitely a tradition that can grow as a family.  I have heard that some families do a daily service activity - LOVE IT or a just a different Christmas activity like writing letters to Santa.  Fun and flexible for use in future years.

 

Presents for Jesus

We actually started this tradition last year by writing on Christmas Eve what 'Gift we wanted to give Jesus.'  Amelia drew a picture and we wrote for her. We folded them up and put them in a little tie box then stuffed them into our empty stocking to be looked at as we decorated this year.  It was pretty neat to open up the little box this year. I need to work on what I wrote on the paper but will continue to try.  I had seen this idea years ago and thought it was such a wonderful way to incorporate a specific goal that more Christ centered.

 

We always do neighbor gifts and choose a family to do the '12 Days of Christmas for.  These are both fun, special ways to bring a smile to another's face, traditions we started way back 11 years ago when Graham and I first became a little family of two.  This year we didn't get it together to have my girls buy gifts for Santa's Anonymous and didn't do the Christmas Shoe Box either, both of which I am a little sad about.  When I was teaching my students and I would always fill a boys box and a girls box to donate. Next year, next year!!

 

Yeah for the Christmas Season and special traditions!

~ Mrs. P



the NUTCRACKER ballet

THE NUTCRACKER BALLET DATE

 

I have never been to the ballet but have always wanted to go. We purchased tickets for my sisters and the oldest girl cousins. I had visions leading up to our Saturday afternoon matinee, my big girl and I twirling in the lobby together because we were so inspired.  We had a 'big girls' date with Auntie Leslie, Auntie Alyson, Jacey, Amelia and I, it was wonderful!!!!!!! Well mostly wonderful, Amelia woke up with a fever so we gave her Advil and went anyway.  Poor girl was a bit emotional for our group picture and then actually fell asleep on Auntie Al's lap at the end, but we loved the music and saying which costume was our favourite, it was all so gorgeous. The costumes and dancing were just spectacular!!

 

 

They had crown decorating and beautifully decorated trees.  It felt magical and then when we found our seats and the orchestra started tuning and then the music began we were all mesmerised! It was so enchanting and whimsical, beautiful and frankly I am running out of descriptive vocabulary but it was almost beyond words.  An experience to be treasured for sure!!!

My big girl and I - so blessed to have her join our family!! Feel so lucky to do special things with each of my girls.  Oh they are precious, so precious. 

Amelia asked if we could have a dance party when we got home. We did. We twirled a lot.

 

~ Momma P

Tis the Season

Christmas merriment abounds at our house.

  We have been enjoying the season since our tree went up the last week of November. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!  I love the decorations, the cards, the baking, the gift giving, people's extra kindness and the opportunity to think about Jesus Christ more. 

Our blog has slipped to the way side a little as we've made a point to honour family traditions and enjoy family activities, only available during Christmas. So just a few highlights of some of the things we've been doing...oh how I love the season.

 

Christmas Parade

 (a little friend who got to ride on the float recognized us when we were calling his name

 - love his face)

We found a spot to back into and then opened up the trunk so we could all sit together with blankets.  Last year I left the vehicle running because it was so darn cold, this year it was slightly warmer out thank goodness.  We were so touched that a few people around us ran back to share some of their candy that passing floats were giving out...thoughtful people.  The girls nibbled on a bit but we elected to save the rest for our gingerbread houses.

 

 Christmas Market

 We had heard that there was a local Christmas market and a tree display so the Bird ladies and us tag teamed to check it out.  My personal favourite was a tree decorated with a 1,000 paper cranes...it was beautiful!!!

 

 

 

Christmas Lights

We love that our Mr. P is a dude who is excited, well maybe not excited BUT happy to help get our Christmas lights up outside.  The girls had a blast playing in the snow. We rarely go play outside - sad but true! It was a fun little afternoon spent as a family putting up lights.

oh our little angels

 

Christmas Baking YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Baking with Gma Hinko is one of my most favourite traditions.  She has skills in the kitchen and I appreciate that each year she shares them.  We figured that this was our 7th year baking together.  Fun and such a treasured tradition!!

 

 

Alyson, Leslie and the littles also helped out.  Alyson organized and purchased supplies for everyone and took the reigns this year...very much appreciated.  It is such fun to be together, baking it up in the kitchen.

 

 

Acting out the Nativity

My mom has slowly accumulated costumes so we can have our family act out the Nativity. This has been something I have really looked forward to! I had intended to start the month of December off by having everyone over but a big snowstorm made us postpone it.  Oddly the night we had re-scheduled with everyone snow fell heavily again, roads were really bad we heard so half our family didn't make it out to Fort Saskatchewan. Next year, next year!  We had a lovely evening with those who could come.  Gramma and Grandpa Hudkins narrated which was so special.  Amelia had asked to be Mary and was so tender and focused, she sat so still behind the manger (baby cradle) with her hands clasped listening intently to the narration.  Even thinking about her demeanour pierces my heart, it was beautiful.

 

(sad that this photo is a little out of focus)

 (Stella thought our 'manger' was a fun bed and just had to try it out. Neely was not into playing 'Baby Jesus' and crawled away every time we brought her near.)

2014 Nativity Cast

 

Just a long winded highlight of the festivities we've been participating in.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE all of the special things that happen at Christmas!!!  The traditions and decorations make me smile just thinking about them.  Everyday we've been reading a few scriptures about the Savior's life, sometimes we have pictures.  It is  awesome to me that our girls are excited to do this each day!

 

Merry Christmas ~ Mrs. P







Primary Presentation 2013 - Amelia the Sunbeam

 

Amelia Ann is 4 and a pretty awesome Sunbeam.

This was her first year participating in the annual Primary Presentation in our ward.  We were all pumped up!! Grandpa Ed and Maureen, Nanny Bird, along with Great Gramma and Great Grandpa Hudkins came out to watch Amelia and Jacey.  So proud of them both!!  Amelia totally knew all of the songs and totally had her part memorized, when it came down to it though stage fright got the best of her...next year, next year!

 

Little sister had to get in on the photo shoot and this photo is totally hilarious catching Amelia mid-sneeze.  Stella is so eager to do what big sister does, adorable!  Stella held up the program outline for 2013: I Am a Child of God and Amelia proudly held up the poster we gave each of our Primary children the Saturday night before our presentation.

 

I hope that as they both grow they will feel and remember that they are truly special children of God. Knowing that I Am a Child of God brings peace to my soul and encourages me along life's journey.

 

~ Momma P

Museum Visiting

 

We booked a date with Grandpa Ed, a little visit to the museum.  I think fun was had by all!

The regular galleries are super cool with bugs, dinosaurs, animals of Alberta, rocks and then the traveling exhibits this time were pretty neat too.  They had an exhibit on Patterns which I found fascinating and bonus - it had great interactive activities for the kiddos. I really enjoy history and the other traveling exhibit was Chinese Food Restaurants and their history in Alberta...So.Darn.Interesting!!!!  Call me a nerd but the museum never disappoints.

 I LOVE this picture of Amelia in the teepee...she looks like she is really trying to have a 'vision quest'. Bahahahaha

 

~ Mrs. P

GRIT Fall Festival

Our cousins ROCK!  We often get hooked up with cool things because of the special little folk in our family.  Jacey uses GRIT as her support and it has provided fabulous Developmental Specialists (DS workers) and wonderful access to super cool activities.  The Fall Festival was one of those wonderful activities that my girls and I got to tag along to.  Behold a plethora of fun pictures capturing an amazing morning at the GRIT office!

 

  There are some truly wonderful people in the world who work hard to help create a niche for EVERYONE and make it possible for EVERYONE to get what they need.  We just love GRIT! They put on a fabulous day.



 This cardboard castle was unbelievable!  It took less then a minute for my big girl to spot the costumes and princess it up, she knows what she likes.

 

 

 Odd/funny pictures of the ladies in a spinning chair - which was such a hit!  They spun and they spun and they spun.

 

Cool stuff I tell ya!

 

We have been so busy it seems but when we get the chance to attend such awesome things with our fam how can we not just jump at the chance?! Such a great day.

 

~ Mrs. P