Handmade Christmas Fun
This year our neighbor gift was candy cane kitchen sugar hand scrub. We made 70 jars for family and friends. My kitchen smelled sooo yummy!
Easy Recipe:
2 cups white sugar
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/8-1/4 cup olive oil
30 drops of peppermint essential oil
For coloring I added fresh cranberry puree.
Mix all ingredients except color. Mix until well blended. It should feel like snow, not too wet, not too dry. Add more sugar or oil if needed- no hard rules for this. Split batch in half, color half with cranberry puree. Pack jars with red and white layers so it appears striped. I am in love with this. It leaves tired chapped hands super soft and silky.
Some were gift boxed with Peppermint Bark Fudge, candy cane chapstick (which is awesome!!) and bath and body works socks.
The Christmas Feeling
Every year I try really hard to make the house feel warm and inviting, candlelit and smelling like Christmas. Sights, smells, and feelings are what memories are made of!!
Neighbor Treats and Sweets...
SOME OF OUR FAVORITE ELF SHENANIGANS...
I've wanted to start the tradition of Elf on the Shelf for several years now. I thought my kids were just too old. This year I thought "who cares? I'm doing it!" It's been hilarious and the whole family is into it. I can see it easily transitioning into everyone in the family taking turns through December and getting more creative with his mischievous behavior. Sometimes he even shows up with little gifts. I will eventually hand him down to Elise for her children.
Sweet Tooth Elf
Cookie Elf
Philosophy Elf
Friends?
Orange M&M's are a hot commodity in our house, get them while you can.
Sneaky Buddy the Elf painted Jacob's nose red
Planking Elf
Proud Elf
Graffiti Elf
Marshmallow Bubble Bath Elf
Practice makes perfect Elf
TPing the Tree Elf
2012 Mormon Tabernacle and Orchestra Christmas Concert
featuring Alfie Boe. I think this was the best concert they performed. Perfectly done and very touching. We went with my mom and dad and managed a holiday trip to our new Trader Joe's beforehand :)
Temple Square
Family Traditions are wonderful! Here is one of our favorites. We always have tickets around the last day of school. It's the best time to unwind from the busy schedules and prepare for really enjoying Christmas and all that it means.
Hale Theatre
Deerfield Elementary Christmas recital. One of Jacob's favorite things to do at school is tutoring the special needs girl next to him in class. He really enjoys helping her, I'm sure they will be friends for a long time.
8th grade always performs "Holiday Lights" We remember when Elise did. Such a right of passage- the last elementary Christmas recital before heading off to Jr. High...
Sharon's Birthday Celebration!! Always fun to celebrate in December!
The First Presidency's Christmas Devotional
was wonderful. A great way to start December.
I love these women I serve with so much. We have been working together for more than four years and I have learned so much from them. We've become good friends.
