Thoughts on Christmas

Every year around this time I start to ponder Christmas. The gifts, the meaning and the legacy and traditions I want my little family to remember. It seems every year I decide to make it a homemade Christmas. I get excited at the lessons I will be teaching my kids. Things like Christmas being about the birth of our Savior and that giving is what brings us joy during this wonderful season. But somewhere along the way I get caught up in the commercialism of it all, and my visions of a homemade meaningful Christmas become lost in the search for store bought gifts. I think as a mother I want to give my kids what ever I can. I don't want to disappoint them, and somehow I give into the mind set that giving them what they want for Christmas will show them just how much I love them. This is of course all subconscious. Typing it out makes it sound beyond ridiculous. But it happens just the same.

I don't know that this post has a point other than I have been thinking about how I can change the focus in our home at Christmas time. We talk to our kids about the true meaning of Christmas and we read the story of the Savior's birth in Luke each Christmas morning, but is this enough? Are we showing them the true meaning?

I hope that this year we can show them and not just tell them. Weather or not this is accomplished by a homemade Christmas or not, I am not sure...but that seems as good a place as any to start.

How about you? How have you kept the focus in your home on the Savior and on giving rather than the latest must have toy?

My new project

I have been feeling like I needed a new project. Because 1 husband, 3 kids house and up coming holiday's aren't enough project for me. Anyway I said to myself "self, what should I do that I would enjoy and that I can share with others?" So I decided to combine two of my favorite things writing and being creative. So Love thy neighbor's crafts was born. It's my take on a craft blog and I think it has a fun new twist. So if you are so inclined please check it out and if you like it pass it on and grab a button!

oh and not that my feelings are hurt or anything but did you see my adorable kids in their Halloween costumes in my last post? Yeah I thought so, so where's the love...not a single comment? I expect better form you...I forgive you this time:)

Halloween Happenings

Halloween was low key for us this year. I love fall and Halloween and like to go all out, but this year it just wasn't happenin'. So here are a few pics from our very predictable Halloween.

First we carved pumpkins...the night before Halloween. Most years Ben is lucky if I agree to wait until the week before.

Yes he is holding a pumpkin carving knife...don't judge. Have you met this kid there was no way in heck he was going to sit idly by while I carved it for him. I was supervising though.

If you look closely you can see Joseph is wearing his Christmas jammies from last year...just a bit of holiday confusion.

Such concentration; I am glad someone is finally taking this holiday serious! I needed an ally.

Cute little pumpkins all in a row


On Halloween we did the usual grandparent rounds followed by trick-or-treating in our neighborhood...here is our adorable and scary crew.

I love this picture!

What can I say he is who he is.


Is it just me or is she looking a bit too grown up?