A few of My Favorite Things...

To LOOK at! Every year I like to change up my decorations a little.

I don't do much, just move things around and add a couple of new things!
Here are some of my favorite places in my house this year!

I got the "printable" from blogland. I wish I could remember where! I think it's cute!

Our Cocoa Station with a twist! I added the lazy susan that I spray painted black!

Mr & Mrs Gingerbread! Sitting on top of my corner hutch. This picture doesn't do it justice! There is candy ornaments hanging to the left of them from ribbons! It's a sweet sight!

This brings me JOY! What more can be said!

Our "12 days of Christmas" trees! I changed them up this year.
I added new ribbon and cute pom pom picks! It made them so fun!

It's going to be sad to take all these decorations down! I've enjoyed them so much! They make me smile! I guess I'll have to start some new home "improvement" projects now!

Baking Day!

Every year we do the 12 days of Christmas with our family.
Basically, we have a family activity of some kind on each of the 12 days before Christmas.
This worked really well with our NEW tradition we started.

Well, every year one of the days is: Baking Day! Yums!

This year we kept it simple! We didn't bake as much,
because we just didn't need all those sweets around!

So, we made the favorites: Peanut Butter Blossoms, Russian Teacakes, Scotcharoos, Puppy Chow and CANDY! Caramels, Divinity, and Peanut Brittle!
Yes, I think that was MORE than enough!

We started a NEW tradition last year having a vege tray and
crackers and cheese set out while we bake!
That way we get a little healthy with the sweet!

Trimming the Tree

I never know if I'm going to have help with the decorating or not. I did end up decorating the house pretty much by myself, but these wonderful elves came in and did the ornaments on the tree! It was so fun!

It's so nice having these cute girls to decorate with!

It's a WONDERFUL Life!

I seriously think I am having the best Christmas I have ever had!

Have you ever had things going so well that well, maybe in a little bit negative sort of a way, you keep wondering what Bad thing is going to happen?

That's how I feel.

Silly.

Well, I'm just going to enjoy it. Anyway.

I feel like I finally figured out how Christmas is SUPPOSED to be. *LOVE* it!

We are loving our new tradition and feeling the spirit. The true Christmas spirit!

a Christmas craft

I love Christmas and I love crafting!!!

The other day I was on this blog and saw this.

I knew I had to make one... and I knew just who I was going to make it for! {shhhhh}

So, I waited until {2:00} and ran to Sonic to get my drinks - and drink carrier! I hit the dollar store on my way home and purchased my wrapping caddy supplies.

I headed to my craft table with Route44 in tow and started crafting! I embellished with supplies I had on hand! It was super easy! I had so much fun!

I would love to make more of these cute this caddies! Guess I'll have to visit Sonic more often this month!!

Here's my version of the Gift Wrapping Caddy:

Our Christmas UPDATE

So yesterday we started our new CHRISTmas tradition! We did our first "lesson" from "A Christ Centered Christmas" book. It was beautiful!

Unfortunately, I was kind of emotional through it. I don't know why I struggle showing that side of me, but I do.

I told the girls we were starting a new tradition and they needed to be patient while I figured it all out, but I felt it was going to make Christmas extra special!

They were sweet and cooperative. I was sad Hillary, James and Heather weren't here. But that's pretty much how it goes now.

Anyway, I think it was a success! And yesterday there was a special spirit all day. It was beautiful. Sacrament was wonderful, two of my girls bore their testimonies! (that's never happened) and then we came home and ate dinner and listened to the Christmas Broadcast via Salt Lake. It was wonderful!

Yes! This is going to be an amazing Christmas!

A Christ centered Christmas

I'm going to make a confession. Every year I start the Christmas holiday with the intent to make it about Christ - and His birth. Every year I fall FLAT! I'm sure none of you have my flaws, but there it is - I fail!

When my kids were younger I did pretty good, but it just seems like I get caught up in all the "have to's" that when the holiday is over I always feel like I missed something. Like I failed. I feel hollow somehow.

So I pack up all the goods and move on to another year and hope that next year will be different.

But NOT this year. This year is going to be different. I know it is. I feel it. I will tell you why.

Friday I was at Seagull Book. I buy a new Christmas book every year as one of our 12 day's of Christmas items. This is a tradition that I look forward to every year. As I was looking at the books I was struggling with what to buy. Everything I picked up was about someone who had either died or was dying and somehow related to a Christmas experience. It wasn't what I wanted. I wanted something that helped capture the true meaning of Christmas, was entertaining, would keep my kids attention and something we could read in one night.

Tall order.

I was feeling a little frustrated, so I offered a little prayer...

Right then I felt prompted to pick up this:As soon as I started reading, tears came to my eyes and I knew I had found the answer to how to make Christmas special this year.

This isn't the book I'm going to use for our 12 day's of Christmas tradition. But it is the book I'm going to use to bring Christ back into Christmas for the Durfee family.

This book touched my heart. When I read the introduction I thought, "How could she know about MY family? How could she know MY thoughts and feelings?"

Basically, this book is seven Family Home Evening lessons centered around the Christmas story.
Sort of. But you really have to check it out to appreciate it! It is beautiful and simply done.

When I read a part of the first lesson about Mary, I knew I needed this book. It reads: "Every mother wants every part of Christmas to be just right. We agonize over the perfect gifts; we contemplate how to create lasting memories; and we long for meaningful celebrations." It still brings tears to my eyes to read this.

This is how I feel. In every way. Someone understands!

So, I bought the book. I've read much of it. I've talked with Vaughan about it and we are going to start a new tradition this year!

I've been SO excited all day. I keep telling my kids this is going to be the BEST Christmas we have ever had. I really believe it too!

I'm so grateful for a loving and understanding Heavenly Father. I'm so excited for Christmas and for a beautiful month to get to know our Savior a little better.

Thank you Heavenly Father for knowing my heart and helping me get to where I want to be!

Merry CHRISTmas everyone!