ListEn iN

Happy, Happy HOlidays!

HI everyone!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Ours was fabulous, we feel very blessed for everything we have - friends and family especially. The past week has been filled with parties and lots of food. Tonight I am going to a Christmas party with my friends and then for the New Years we are heading out to stay over at our best friends house, The Howells. Boston is soooooo excited and keeps asking if it's time to go yet.

So I bet you're just like me - your home looks like a tornado hit inside. Toys are strewn everywhere and the goodies from the neighbors are taking over my kitchen. Plus I can't wait to pull down and box up all the Christmas stuff. Well, the very organized Aby Garvy sent an email to her subscribers and I especially loved this tip from her:
Do some easy math. OK, ready for the next reality check? Here it comes. When you started the holiday season, did you have any empty drawers, shelves or closets just sitting there waiting for new things to arrive? If your answer is no, it's time for some easy math. For each new item you added this holiday season, subtract an old item of the same kind. For example, for each new pair of socks, get rid of an old pair. For each shirt added, subtract out an old one from your shirt drawer. And so on. Collect all your "subtractions" into a box and make a trip to your local charity drop-off location. This "easy math" strategy works for toys, games, clothes, outerwear, and any other item that you received which replaces something you already own.

So, last night that's what we did - well at least in the boys room. We pulled out old toys that aren't played with and clothes that are too small. It's like a breath of fresh air! Next is our home office - YIKES! It's the room that stuff just gets piled in.

Happy New Year! I'll post again after the New Year.

Christmas Questionnaire

1. Do you like wrapping paper or gift bags? I LOVE wrapping paper, kinda goes right along with my love for scrapbook paper. Each year I choose a grouping of paper and that's all that's allowed to be used.

2. Do you have a real tree or a fake one? FAKE. Love that I don't have to take care of it. Except, I would love to buy one that all ready has lights.

3. When did you put up your tree? Day after Thanksgiving... it was actually Eric's idea this year. But, it took us about two weeks to put the tree box back in the storage room. I think the box sat on the kitchen table the entire time.

4. When do you take your tree down? A few days after Christmas.

5. Do you like Eggnog? UGGHHH... gross!

6. Favorite gift ever as a child? Wow, I don't know. I can remember my worst present - a bike! I was a snotty teenager and cried the entire morning. FACT: I still use this bike today.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yep, it's actually a nativity that Eric had when he was a kid. And Boston has one in his room

8. Do you like receiving mail or email cards? Mail, hands down!

9. Favorite Christmas movie? Don't really watch Christmas movies.

10. Favorite thing to eat during the holidays? OH - all the handmade goodies neighbors bring. I always look for the toffee first thing. YUM

11. Clear or colored lights on your tree? I have white lights but I'm thinking I want to switch to colored.

12. Favorite Christmas song? Rockin' around the Christmas Tree

13. Do you travel or stay home for Christmas? I've always grown up traveling to Salt Lake because we are the only ones in the family who moved away. Now that I'm married everyone is in the same town so it depends on which year it is.

14. Favorite reindeer? Comet - I like the name.

15. Do you open presents Christmas Eve or Morning? We always opened gifts on Christmas Eve - the ones from our cousins and grandparents. This is if we weren't able to go to Salt Lake and spend the time with our family.

16. What do you love most about Christmas? I love the happiness and excitement it bring to children.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!! Okay, now it's your turn!

A List You'll Love from Debbie

Suggestions for a Simple and Joyful Holiday Season

1. Give a gift to someone who does not expect one from you.

2. Search for JOY, in the sights, sounds, and smells of the season.

3. See through the eyes of a child.

4. Focus on what you have, not on what you don't have.

5. Grant yourself “pockets of peace” as you go about your Christmas tasks.

6. Put together a Christmas planner to keep all your Christmas “stuff” in one place.

7. Don’t over-schedule. Control your calendar. Don’t try to go to three events in one night. Select one and enjoy it.

8. Involve children in meaningful activities. Set aside special times just for them.

9. Spend time playing outdoors - have fun doing physical activities.

10. Remember that if you can't change something, change the way you think about it - attitude!

11. Do something anonymously – practice “random acts of kindness.”

12. Schedule a block of time alone on Christmas Eve day. Send the kids with dad or grandpa to a movie, bowling, or skiing. Complete the tasks you’d stay up all night for.

13. Take good care of yourself – eat right, exercise, get enough sleep.

14. Find the “bless in the mess.”

From Cut the Crazy Out of Christmas - holiday planner by Debbie Raymond and Norma Olsen

Day 3 with Debbie - Finding JOY

Debbie says:
Well it’s the last week before Christmas and all through my house, not a creature is stirring, BUT ME! My eyes flew open at exactly 6 this morning with the thought, “I’ve gotta get going!” But through the day I've tried to remember to keep things in perspective, and try to find the JOY of the season in all that I do.

Yesterday I did something just for myself. I made a little Christmas visit to a sweet neighbor of mine who is now living in a nursing home. Elaine had a stroke twelve years ago and the result of the stroke was dizziness. The stroke didn’t affect her speech or mobility, but she lives every day with horrible dizziness, and the nausea that comes with it. Because of it she can’t read or even watch TV. Imagine spending all day every day, just sitting quietly. Her husband took care of her at home until she began to fall when she stood up, so she had to go where she had more help.

You would not believe this woman. I have never met anyone like her. She is the most positive, gracious, sweet person you’ll ever meet. She never complains. After a long talk catching up on her family news, we talked about how she copes with her condition. She told me she just sits and counts her blessings. I want to always remember her last comment. I left her room with tears in my eyes. She told me that one day last week she had a day with no nausea. “I was so grateful,” she said. “I think I just wore Heavenly Father out because I thanked him over and over all day long.”

Visiting with Elaine was the best thing I could have done this Christmas season. Her attitude brought me the JOY I was seeking.

I love this poem by Edgar Guest:
When it’s Christmas, man is bigger and better in his part.
He’s keener for the service that is prompted by the heart.
As he serves others, it somehow seems to me,
That at Christmas he is almost what God wanted him to be.

Day two with Debbie...

Kids and Christmas…it's a winning (and whining) combination. Christmasis both fun and hard for kids. With the retail season starting earlier and earlier each year (including all the commercials on TV) the wait for Christmas seems to get ever longer for kids.
The best thing you can do for your kids right now is sit down with them and talk about the days left until Christmas. Explain the family schedule for the next ten days. If they're old enough to understand a calendar, show it to them so they can see what you're talking about. Choose a couple of special activities just for them and write them on the calendar. Let the kids circle the date in red. THIS WILL GIVE THEM
MORE TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THAN JUST WAITING FOR DEC. 25. The activities don't have to be elaborate or expensive—or even very long. In fact, kids love it best when Mom or Dad will just go outside and play with them.
In the book I mentioned in yesterday's post, a mother told about finding her daughter crying in the closet on Christmas Day—just after she had opened all the gifts she had asked for. When the mother asked what was wrong the girl answered, "If I had known this was all there was to Christmas, I wouldn't have waited for so long." You can avoid this kind of disappointment by giving your kids events and experiences to be excited about throughout the holiday season.

Debbie, her husband, and grand-daughters

from the expert...

CHRISTMAS JOY

Our editor, Debbie Raymond, is going to spend a couple of days talking about how to cope with the stresses of the holiday season. For ten years, Debbie and her friend Norma Olsen have presented a workshop to women called "Cut the Crazy out of Christmas." They have also published a "Cut the Crazy" planning binder.

Debbie says:
Less than two weeks until the big day! Many of us are feeling pretty stressed about now. I'm so glad that I got a few things done in November—I'm not like some of you gals that have every gift bought wrapped and delivered, but I'm doing OK. Mostly, I'm just trying to find JOY in the sights and smells and sounds of the season and the rest will work out.

One thing I know about Christmas is that it seems to bring out the best AND the worst in all of us. I want to tell you a few things I've learned over the years that have helped me cope with the pressures of December.

Number One: THERE ARE MANY THINGS YOU CAN'T CONTROL about the holidays, but YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR ATTITUDE and how you approach people and events. We all have certain traditions and certain people that are a necessary part of Christmas whether we like it (them) or not. We can choose how we react and even how we feel. For example, if you have no choice about attending, oh say, your husband's office party…you can make it a miserable night for you and for him, OR you can decide to smile, enjoy the food and music, and make being decent about it your holiday gift to him. Maybe you have in-laws that drive you crazy…you can talk about them, complain, poison your kid's minds about them, OR you can decide to stay quiet, do what you have to do with pleasantness, and get through it. I learned this philosophy from a book called, Unplug the Christmas Machine. It has made a big difference in how I approach Christmas. I promise if you'll make an effort to keep that smile on your face, even in the check-out line at the store, it will help you feel the joy and peace that are Christmas. - Debbie

quick gift...

I made these neighbor gifts in a flash last night. While watching Shrek the Halls with the boys I pulled out the hand soap I bought from Bath & Body Works. First, punched out the tags from our Delightful Tag Sheet. Using our Christmas Fun stamp I used black ink and the cute stamp that says Merry Christmas. I handwrote "Washing" you a Merry Christmas (that was the stamp) Love the Halls. Last, I quickly cut some ribbon (gingerbread and christmas love) and tied the tags around the top. TA DA - QUICK GIFTS!

Stacking Santa...

isn't this guy fun?? our talented and crafty graphic designer, Tammy created this in our Christmas Joy Pattern Book. His body is made out of paper mache boxes that she decoupaged our Santa's Coat and Santa's Beard patterned paper. HO HO HO!

thrifty card making...

You can't miss this fun article we put together for thrifty card making tips. CLICK HERE to read.

Christmas with Jana...

Post by Jana Eubank

At our house we begin the holiday season by decorating our home together as a family with the Christmas music blaring on the stereo. We dance around and sing to our favorites, laughing and just enjoying each other. Each of my kids has a small tree that they keep in their rooms as a nightlight throughout the month. On Christmas Eve they each get a new pair of pajamas and pick a Christmas pillowcase to sleep on while dreaming of sugarplums.

 

In addition to neighborhood parties, drives to look at Christmas lights, and making goodies for loved ones, we have a few special traditions that are our favorites.

 

The first one is a Nativity Night and Talent Show. Grandma Holbrook has made each one of the grandkids their own costumes to wear in the Nativity play. They love dressing up and acting out the Christmas story while the parents watch and narrate. The children treat the story of the birth of our Savior with tenderness and respect. I love feeling the spirit each year during this special time. After the nativity each grandchild performs a talent for our Family Talent Show. We then end the night with a soup dinner and return home with tummies and hearts warm for the season. It doesn't get any better than that!

 

Another favorite is making cookies for Santa a couple of days before the big night. My kids always insist they be Gingerbread Men. We found a favorite recipe a few years back and now it has become a tradition to spend the day rolling out the dough, baking the cookies and then decorating them. By the time we are done the kitchen and the kids are covered in icing and sprinkles. It's a great time!

 

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! Here is our favorite Gingerbread Cookie recipe for you and your families to enjoy as well. Happy Holidays!

 

Gingerbread Cookies by Jana Eubank

¾ c. Sugar

¾ c. Shortening, butter flavor

¾ c. Light Molasses

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Ginger

1 tsp. Cinnamon

¾ tsp. Nutmeg

¼ tsp. Allspice

1 egg

5 Tbsp. Water

1 tsp. Baking Soda

4 ¼ to 4 ½ c. Flour

 

Beat sugar, shortening, molasses, salt giner, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and egg. Mix in 6 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon soda. (The mixture will look grainy, this is normal.) Mix in flour until like soft dough. Roll out on floured cloth to 1/8 inch thick (about like pie crust); cut into shapes and bake at 375 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes. Eat plain or frost. We like cream cheese frosting on ours!

Note: You can re-roll the dough several times. Thinner dough equals crisper cookies, thick dough equals softer cookies.

 

Cream Cheese Frosting by Jana Eubank

1 (3 oz.) pkg. Cream Cheese, softened

1 Tbsp. Butter, softened

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 c. Powdered Sugar