12 things I love at Christmas!

These are the twelve things I love at Christmas!

Number one:

Kent is home for a whole week!

Actually make that Ten glorious days of Daddy filled fun.

Sleeping in, yummy breakfasts, games and movies!

What could be better?

Number 2:

Picking out the perfect Christmas card photo.

One that shows your children's progress as well as their beautiful personalities.

Then hand writing personal messages to each person on your Christmas list!

Best moment, dropping them all in the mailbox like messages of love from our family to yours!

Number 3:
Paper snowflakes!
Each year we take time to cut out snowflakes with the kids and hang them on our giant windows!
These are the last to come down at the end of our holiday season and I am always so sad to see them go!

Number 4:
Counting down the days!
We start December 1st
Each day we do something special or have a treat!


Number 5:
Listening to Christmas Carols!
Nothing rings in the spirit of the season like
Bing Crosby or Andy Williams belting out
White Christmas or Happy Holidays!





Number 6:
Reading this Christmas story!
Merry Christmas with Love
by Chris Shea
It is one of my favorites and always leaves me with a tear.




Number 7:
Buying and trimming the Christmas Tree!
I love the way the tree smells and the time we spend as a family decorating it and making it perfect! Then I love to sit and stare at it. Just like I did when I was a kid! I even sing,

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree....

Number 8:
Hanging the stockings with care!
I like how each one says I'm a member of this family, I live here, I believe in Santa, I believe in Christmas, I Believe in the Savior, and I have a home!


Number 9:
Reading this Christmas story!
This Is the Star
A historical account about how one star lead lead many to faith and how it's still in the sky today!




Number 10:
Welcoming the sweet spirit of Christmas into our lives!
At Christmas it is always easier to let peace and Happiness into our days! To be polite and kind, thoughtful and caring. Welcoming the good in to our lives! Like we would welcome an old friend or family member into our home.

Number 11:
Having a heart full of JOY!
Then sharing it with others.
Baking treats for your neighbors!
Sending heartfelt Thank yous to those you love!
Inviting friends and family to spend time with you!
EnJOYing your many blessings!

Number 12:
Remembering the reason for the season!
The wonderful birth of the Savior Jesus Christ!

There are so many things to love about Christmas! These are my top 12!
What are some of the things you Love?

Holly and sweets!

We have a 1950's home and are lucky enough to have two holly bushes. This year after our fall cleaning and trimming of the bushes I was able to make this pretty Holly Wreath. It just needs a pretty bow. It looks great on our fireplace but my husband is going to hang it outside as soon as he gets a chance! I can't wait!

Now this is the Sweet little Cupcake purse I've been talking about! I found a tutorial on Everyday chaos ( find the link in my side bar) and I know a few little girls who will enjoy one of these this Christmas!

Now what to fill it with?

Monkey buisness!

Here are the cute Monkeys I made for Megan! I got the idea from mmmcrafts tutorial, you can find a link in my blogs I follow. I can't wait to see Megan's face when she opens them!

I'm going to make Kitties for Allison. As well as some cupcake purses I saw on everydaychaos and a scripture bag I saw on some blog I can't remember sorry blog!

I'm so excited for Christmas this year!

My Conversion!

I was reading a post over on Segullah and it was making me think about my own conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. It has been 19 years since I joined the church. I am most thankful for my friend Michele Matteson who first invited me. So here is my conversion story.

I was born Catholic and raised in New England. I went to church in dresses every Sunday. My mother had great faith in God and as a result so did I. I attend CCD which were religious classes taught to young Catholics. Some of the things they taught never made sense. When I questioned my teachers, they would say I just needed to have faith. So I continued to attend class and do my best to believe the things I was taught. I really loved the feeling of doing what God wanted me to do. When I was a kid whenever anything really good happened I would feel this warm tingling feeling through my body. I was known to say to others, “Did you feel that?” My younger sister thought I was crazy. I thought I was special. So I tried to seek out situations that would leave me feeling that tingling. When my parents divorced sometimes we wouldn’t see my Dad for weeks. Some days I would say things like, “I wish my dad would come by and take us for ice-cream!” Then he would show up out of the blue and take us. My friend thought I had a gift. I thought I was special. I felt like my really good wishes would be answered and so I tried to save my wishes for only really good things. My life went on that way till I finished high school, then I went through a rough year. In that time frame one of my friends from school investigated and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She had never gone to church before but she would say things like, she knew her church was true. I thought she was crazy. Still I was curious about this new church she went to and I really wanted her to invite me.
Over the summer my friend went to BYU, she came home for the two weeks between summer and fall. One night we all went to the beach the moon was huge and red and we all talked about Revelations and the end of the world. The next day my friend invited me to go to the Vineyard with her and some people from her church, I said I would. Her friends were a group of missionaries. We spent the whole day together with members it was really fun and at the end of the day we watched a movie. It was really good and I got that tingling feeling. After the movie the missionaries invited me to read some chapters in the Book of Mormon, I agreed and made a plan to go to church the next day.
When I got home I read the chapters and then I started from the beginning of the book. The next day I went to church and had a great time. Everyone was so friendly. That night they taught me the first discussion. When we talked about The Holy Ghost I got the same feeling I always got and knew exactly what they were talking about. Over the next two weeks I met with the Elders several times and finished the Book of Mormon. The missionaries invited me to pray about the Book of Mormon and to be baptized after our second visit. I thought they were crazy, I was Catholic and my mother would never let me join another church. I didn’t even consider the possibility. However, I continued to take the discussions. When they taught me about the apostasy it made perfect sense. I really felt everything they were telling me was true. Towards the end of the discussions out of the blue one night my Mom asked me if I was going to join that church. I was quick to respond “What do you mean?” She said, “You just seem so happy!” I said, “What do you think about it?” She said, “As long as you believe in God and Jesus I’m fine with it!” so I just said, “I think I might!” Then she said she thought I should go talk to a priest before I made up my mind. She made me an appointment for the next day.
Nervously the next day I walked up to my church and met with the priest. He was very nice and we had a long talk about my intentions. In the end he said I should give my church more of a chance and then he blessed me that I would make the right decision. My heart skipped all the way home. When I got to my house, I locked myself in the bathroom and prayed about all the things the missionaries had taught me, about the Book of Mormon and if I should be baptized. I knew immediately that it was all true. I felt so happy I called the missionaries and left a message I would be baptized as soon as possible.
The day of my baptism was amazing I remember the moment I received the Gift of the Holy Ghost the most because I just couldn’t stop shaking.
This was only the first moment of my conversion; over the last 19 years my testimony has grown line upon line about each and every part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In end I learned I was special, I was a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loved me and that the Holy Ghost could be my constant companion. It has been a wonderful blessing to have found the church and I can say I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is true and I like to say it, In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Indian Summer!

View from The Metacomet Trail

Growing up here in the North East my childhood was filled with names taken from the Native Americans who once roamed these places.

Streets, towns, lakes, beaches and even businesses carry the Natives Americans names.

Many of the things we said would not be considered appropriate today for example:

Indian sunburn -that's when you put your two hands on someones arm and twist in opposite directions squeezing the skin so it turns red.

Gave my sister more then a few of those.

Another term we used was:

Indian giver- which is when someone gives you a gift and then takes it back.
Called my sister that more then a few times.

Now when my children speak of Indians they are almost always speaking of people from India. When they use the term to speak of Native Americans I always reinforce the politically correct terms. In fact it is through studying with my kids I have learned most of what I know about the Natives from this area. I am happy to say they learn a much more realistic account of events.

In school I was taught about the Native Americans but it was always about the happy Indians who helped the pilgrims teaching them to hunt turkeys and sharing their corn, who all sat around one big table sharing a meal. Then freely gave their land away.

The purpose of all this talk was because today I was thinking about Indian Summer. Which is a couple of days of warm calm weather after the first freeze. It usually occurs at the end of October or the beginning of November. It's my favorite part of fall and I am hoping to experience it soon!

I'm happy when I say Indian summer it means nothing negative to my children. I hope they remember the Native Americans who first inhabited this land with reverence and respect. That as well rounded children they learn that humans can live in peace and should not be judged by their appearance. There is a place for all no matter their beliefs.

We are all spirit children of a father who loves us.

My sister SueAnn

Here is a picture of my sister SueAnn the last time I saw her.

She came for a visit last summer. Just her and Emma for a whole week.

After a year of Liver and intestinal problems,

she was feeling better and looking better too!

They had lots of fun and she was happy to have Emma to herself.

I'm sad to say last Sunday Sept 20th her short time here on earth ended.

Heavenly Father called her spirit home.

I'm happy that this is the last memory I have of her.

Happily enjoying her time with her daughter.

For those of you who didn't know my sister She was beautiful.

She loved gymnastics, cheerleading and drum corp.

She was an ICU nurse who worked in Florida, Massachusetts, Ohio and Maine.

She saved my life once when she stayed home sick.

I was five and had found a pack of matches. I thought I could light one and I did!

When the fire reached my fingers I dropped the match on my pajamas.

I sat in the kitchen crying as the fire spread through my clothes.

My sister hearing me cry came to find out what was wrong.

When she found me covered in flames she began to put the fire out with her hands!

I am so thankful for her.

I am thankful the time spent with her, for the love she brought to our family.

I am thankful that our family can be together forever.

I look forward to seeing her again someday!

Here are all the nieces and nephews together at the funeral. Although we were very sad to say goodbye to my sister! Happiness goes on in families forever!

Harry Potter!

Christopher's big accomplishment this summer was to finish the last two Harry potter books! I'm so proud of him! I know there are lots of avid readers out there, but when I was a kid I didn't read anything I didn't have to! So I am so glad that Christopher has been bitten by the reading bug and found lots of time this summer to curl up with a good book and exercise his imagination!

Way to go Chris!

First day of school 2009!

Here they are my most adorable children off to school on their first day! I will miss them, as I have been home with at least one of them for the last 12 years! However, I am looking forward to this new stage in life when I can attend to my daily chores without hearing "MOM!" shouted in 10 minute intervals. I am also looking forward to doing more unplanned service, volunteer work, a little crafting and home improvement here and there! Most importantly I can't wait to get back to school myself! Maybe I will even take a little time to become less well-rounded physically! We'll see about the last one!

Pie is ten!

Here she is our birthday girl having her birthday doughnuts!


Christopher, AlliKate and Joe were more then happy to help her eat them!



Not till she picked her favorite two first though!


I love this Megpie!
I can't believe she has been with us for a decade now! when she was little I would tell people how I would have ten babies if they were just like her! Today I would say the same! When we looked through her baby book We remembered some of the funny things she's done. When she was little and you would call her to do some thing she would simply reply, "I too busy!" and when speaking of the important men in her life like Daddy, Grandpa and Uncle Matt she would say, "I luff him!" but my most favorite memory is the Christmas we gave her the toy vacuum, we thought she would love, instead when she opened it she exclaimed, "That's a mommy present!" and promptly began to cry! We all laugh and laugh over that one! The time has gone by so quick. So all I have to say is,
"That Megan, I luff her!"
Happy tenth Birthday Sweetie!

Fun in the sun!

With everything kids have today, I am surprised

that they manage to have the most fun doing the simplest of things!


We had a few of the neighbors over and they ran through the sprinkler all afternoon!
When they were done they sat on their towels and chatted the day away!

I think we had the same sprinkler when I was a kid!

I even remember putting my face in the water just like this !

I love this one of the girls covering their faces so the water doesn't go up their noses!
So sad summer is almost over!

Kent pickled a peck of pickled peppers!

We grew Jalapeno peppers in the garden this year, Kent and Christopher's favorite! The other day when we had a sufficient amount, Kent decided to pickle them! Yesterday he wanted to know if I blogged about them! So here they are! Upset bellies and Bologna here we come!

Oats n' Honey Whole Wheat Bagels!

The Little Red Hen asked.....

Who will help me make the bread?

Today in Mommy school

we read the story of the Little Red Hen

and followed it up with a lesson

on how to make whole wheat bread.

We had a lot of fun mixing and

kneading the dough together.

When the dough finished rising for the second time,

the kids were out enjoying the sun shine

and I thought it was the perfect time to

try something new.

I have been dying to make bagels.

So with a little help from my favorite cookbook

The Bread Baker's Apprentice.

Here is the finished product.

Yummy Oats n' Honey Whole Wheat bagels!

My first attempt at dress making!

My brother in Law was getting married and I wanted something special for the girls to wear. I had been looking for weeks but I just didn't like any of the dresses out there! So I got an idea that I could make them! My husband thought I was crazy, Because I wanted to use the material from some old curtains we had. Well the idea blossomed and this is the result!

First I drew up a pattern from a dress Megan had. Then I changed the skirt to look like one someone from church made for her daughter.

Then I saw these great flower headbands online at crewcuts, Jcrew.com! I thought, "I could make those too!" So with a trip to the sewing store for a few odds and ends I was able to make these cute dresses for just a few dollars.

So cute and modest too! I even made one for Megan's American Girl doll. When I get a chance I'll make her a hairbow too! My well rounded motto:

You can't succeed, if you don't try!

Do you have an idea that's been eating away at you? Why not give it a try? You may be on to something!