Away in a Manger

The highlight of our Christmas decorations each year has always been my family's nativity scene. My parents bought the pieces when they were living in Germany 29 years ago and each year we have loved putting it together piece by piece. Each piece is made out or a rubbery resin so aside from bite marks, they are pretty indestructible, which make them perfect for kids. After my senior year of high school, my mom and I went on a month long trip to Europe, just the two of us. One stop was the Italian town of Lucca, close to the factory where these Fontanini figures are made. We went to the store where they were sold, and were devastated to find out that a collector had come the day before and cleaned them out. We were lamenting our bad luck and trying to salvage one Nativity set with the pieces that were left when the young storekeeper came to us and said "Here is a catalog- I need to make a trip to the factory anyway. Just let me know what pieces you want and how many and I will go today." We poured over the catalog drooling. My mom added a few pieces to her set, as well as selecting pieces for a set for each of my two sisters. I also chose all of the pieces I wanted for my set- I had been saving up for this for a while (and other purchases on our trip...) Buying them from this store was a FRACTION of the cost you can buy them for in the States. He left for the factory and we killed time exploring the Piazza and he came back with all of the figures and wrapped them up individually for us. It was soooo nice of him. This is the Piazza in Lucca.
That next Christmas, it was my family's off year for Christmas and so it was just my parents and I for Christmas Eve and morning (my mom reschedules Christmas to be the 25th and 26th on her off year). My Dad built a German mountain farmhouse for all of our Nativities to match the one he built growing up. He gave me mine Christmas morning (before my sisters got there) and I got to spend all morning setting up my nativity. It was actually a very sweet Christmas morning before all the hustle and bustle of sisters and nephews that night. Each year, I really enjoy arranging the Nativity in our home. There is no baby in the manger because he has not been born yet. Here is this year's rendition.





Each year we always include a joke- something out of place. Do you see anything? (you can't see the crackerjacks box on the balcony...- so that doesn't count.

Free giveaway

My sister is starting up a bow business and is doing a free giveaway on her blog. Check it out. Here is her Etsy store!

Free photo book

Another free photo book

Here is a free photobook giveaway. I don't know much about the company, but I figured I'd pass on the info. I found out from my sister. I put together my photobook from Snapfish, and LOVE it, and now another new (to me) company is offering the same thing to simplemom readers.

simplemom is also giving away an additional 5 photobooks, any size or style. Read all about the giveaway here.

Hurry, the deadline is tonight for the additional giveaways...

Family Pictures

A few weeks ago I won a photo shoot from my friend Sabrina. The pictures turned out great, especially since we picked the only frigid day in October to take them. :) Thanks Sabrina!

This picture epitomizes my life as a mom. Anyone else feel that way? :)

What sweet little girls. Thanks again Sabrina.

Follow-up

So it turned out that everything I ended up buying on that shopping trip fit well and looked great- so it was a success. :) And I ended up going back and getting a pair of thick pink tights with silver butterflies to go underneathe if it is cold. (I had also bought a shirt and sweater at the same time and they worked out great. I was worried because the shirt was 5T and for those that know Jes, she can still fit into 18 month pants as capris.) But it worked out! Just as an update. :)

A sneak peek...

So- I have the hardest time shopping and have no confidence in my shopping abilities. It mainly stems from having a student budget and limited shopping trips with 2 kids, not to mention its not my favorite pastime. It's hard when you don't get out very often, and when you do, you have to find exactly what you need on a fantastic sale... So anyway, I went out today debating on whether to buy a leotard or not to go with her tutu when she already has another leotard that won't really work... long story, but I decided on this 3/4 sleeve onesie instead. Then I second guessed myself all the way home so I decided to dress her up to see if we had all the things for her Fairy Princess costume. I found little fairy wings at Roberts yesterday- they had a one day sale 75% off all Fall and Halloween items. :) (My funds were limited because I had so much fun making bows with Kelley- I bought a little more ribbon than I probably should have...heh heh ) I think her costume turned out pretty cute :) Especially for only spending $3.50. :) She got the tutu for her birthday and I gave her a bunch of costume jewelry and crowns for her B-day as well for dress up.

I found a great solution for Kelsi and bows- I have a feeling she is going to be bald for a while, although her hair is starting to grow. I found these headbands for a great price ($1) in an eBay store. Now I can use all of Jessica's bows on Kelsi instead of worrying about elastic headbands. Yeah!!! I was so excited.

What a funny family I have

Here are just some random funny pictures. Kelsi has started making this really funny face by curling out here lips and wrinkling her nose. It is actually really cute. This picture does not do it justice, but it is close.My mom flew my sister Kelley to Salt Lake for a week instead of her going to visit and we had a GREAT TIME!!! Thanks Mom!!! I'll post more pictures of her visit when I get them.
It was the first time Kelley had been able to meet Kelsi, and I was able to her little girl Rachel. (she's beautiful, by the way) Anyway, Kelley and I had a great time making bows, including learning how to make little bugs out of ribbon. Notice the little dragonfly in my hair below. There is a great website that has great directions for free. I highly recommend it.

My Great-Aunts came down last weekend to hang out with my mom for a "Ya-Ya" weekend, which involves dressing up in hats for the "Witches Brunch." I guess you had to be there. :)

Saturday night there was a Ya Ya weekend at Thanksgiving Point where people could dress up and decorate hats and win prizes. I didn't go, but my Mom won a Prize! She won a full year's membership to all the activities at Thanksgiving Point for her, my dad and any grandkids. That includes the Dinosaur Museum and Petting Zoo and Gardens. Lucky Lady, but can you blame them? What a hat! You can't see the tentacles for all the fru fru on top.
This was just a silly picture I took when I accidently put way to much shampoo in Jessica's hair. Didn't you always do that with your hair when you were little? We would always pull our hair completely forward and then fold it back and pretend we were Martha Washington.

Kyler's Baptism

My nephew Kyler was baptized last week. Here are a few pictures from the event. Congrats Kyler, we are really proud of you. :)

Kyler was baptized by his Uncle Bryce.

Here are the 2 inseparable cousins playing the piano and singing "I am a Child of God."

My Drury Grandparents came down for the baptism. Aren't they a handsome couple?
Sorry about the bad picture, but here is a picture of the Clan.

Liberty Park

Today we went to Liberty park with some friends and I decided to play photographer. I would love to get a new camera, but we have had such bad luck with electronics lately I don't dare get a nice one. Thanks to all of my photographer friends who have inspired me because you are INCREDIBLE. (Specifically Malisa, Sabrina and Brittany)

Not bad for a 6 year old point and shoot digital camera. Let me know if you know of any good cameras that you have found. For now, I want to just get a nicer (more pixels) point and shoot. Like I said, we have had such bad luck with electronics and I prefer to not buy a super nice camera right now, and I don't have a lot of funds to put towards one, either... I should probably edit them, too, but alas, I am procrastinating canning...

Yay for Fall Weather

I love Fall weather. Fall is by far my favorite season. My favorite weather is when you can where a sweater, but you don't have to. After a very rainy (but wonderful) conference weekend, we spent sometime outside is the beautiful weather. Here are a couple of pictures of Kelsi playing.

Canning

So we have been doing a lot of canning this year thanks to not having a newborn and not being pregnant. It is amazing how productive you can be without those 2 things. :) Also, I inherited a bunch of jars from my Grandma who passed away just over a year ago, and I know some people with fruit trees they are not using this year. We have canned cherry pie filling, peaches, peach pie filling, applesauce, apple butter, apple pie filling and now pears. I'm about ready to be done. I will end up with over 170 jars of fruit, though. Plus, my mom just got a dehydrator that I am using to finish off my apples and I attempted fruit leather for the first time last night.... It tastes good, it just didn't come off the trays. hmmm. :( Apparently you are supposed to use plastic wrap. but I was afraid it would melt... Anyway, here are some pictures from our adventures from the past month.

We canned peaches on my birthday a couple weeks ago. Here are some friends over -Tami and Allison. My mom was really sweet and brought a cake. We had a good time. I figured if I am going to be canning, I might as well teach other people and have friends to do it with. :) We ordered seconds peaches from McMullin farms in Payson and they brought them up to the farmer's marked in Sandy for us. We ordered 14 bushels (28 boxes) and Tuesday morning (the day after my birthday) we canned 70 jars of peaches in 4 hours. A lot of work, but a lot of fun. The peaches are SOOOOOO good.

Jes has been a super big helper. :) On Saturday I was canning some pears to see how they would go and she peeled a bunch on my apple peeler. She loves to help in the kitchen. In this picture I think she was eating more than helping, but the peach pie filling was REALLY good.

See? I tried to not let her double dip.

Is there anything more beautiful that jars of peaches cooling on the counter (since all the work is done and cleaned up)?

Here the girls are helping with applesauce, and eating as many as they could get their mouths on. Jes was washing them, and Kelsi was actually putting them up on the counter for me. In many ways it is easier to have them help in the kitchen rather than feel neglected, but sometimes it just adds to the stress level. This particular morning they were both really sweet and it was really fun to have them helping.

In the middle of applesaucing. I thought Jes's smile was cute.

It has been a very productive month, but I ready to be done with the perpetual mess. I should go finish my pears...