I'm Dreaming of a PINK Christmas

IT'S A GIRL!!!!

I had the best Christmas present today! I found out that our baby is a GIRL! Yes, I found out today, on Christmas...here's how:

I had the ultrasound on Thursday, but we told the tech that we didn't want to know the gender of our baby until Christmas. He put the pictures and a little note in a sealed envelope for us to open on Christmas morning. Oh, what torture...having to wait. Eric had to hide the envelope from me because it was driving me insane! Last night I woke up at 1:00am and couldn't get back to sleep because I was so anxious.

The moment of truth arrived, we opened the envelope, and found out that our baby is a girl. I was an emotional mess of pure joy.

I then wrapped up some girl onesies to give to our kids, parents, and grandparents. It was such a fun surprise for everyone because we had kept the ultrasound a secret. Eric also proudly wore a pink tie to church today (something I thought I would never see). Every time I looked at him, I just got all giddy inside. What a fun Christmas! I am so excited to welcome our baby girl into our family!

Merry Christmas everyone! I am so grateful for the birth, life, teachings, example, death, and resurrection of my Savior. Through him my family can be together forever and I am so grateful for that! I am so grateful for this season to reflect more on Christ, and I hope that these thoughts will "rest in my mind forever"....

Moroni 9:25 - ..."may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.

 

12 Days Till Christmas Advent Tree

I love Christmas count-downs, and my kids love opening presents before Christmas. I found the perfect combination of the two over at simplykellyb. It is such a cute and easy idea, so I made one for my family. There are 12 boxes made out of paper, each a different size from large to small. Inside each box, I put a treat, craft, or Christmas activity that we could do on that day. So on December 13th, the countdown began and my kids opened box #12...and so on until Christmas Eve.

Here is what you need:

• 20 sheets of 12x12 heavy patterned paper. (I found a cute book of double-sided 12x12 Christmas paper at the craft store)
• A paper cutter that can also score (not necessary, but makes it MUCH easier to make the boxes)
• Tape
• Ribbon, raffia, etc to go around the boxes
• Number tags 1-12

Here's How:

• Each box will need 2 papers, cut and scored according to the dimensions below. Score each side of the papers to make folding easier.
• After scoring each side, there will be a square formed by the scored lines in each corner of the paper. Cut one side of the square in each corner to create the flaps of the box.
• Fold along the scored lines.
• Fold each flap in and tape.
• Place one inside the other to form the box. 

Box Dimensions...remember to make 2 of each day for the top and bottom of the box.

• 12th Day: 12x12 paper scored each side at 1"
• 11th Day: 12x12 paper scored each side at 1.5"
• 10th Day: 12x12 paper scored each side at 2"
• 9th Day: 10.5x10.5 paper scored each side at 1.5"
• 8th Day: 12x12 paper scored each side at 3"
• 7th Day: 8.5x8.5 paper scored each side at 1.5"
• 6th Day: 10x10 paper scored each side at 2.5"
• 5th Day: 7.5x7.5 paper scored each side at 1.5" (keep the scraps to use for day1)
• 4th Day: 6x6 paper scored each side at 1"
• 3rd Day: 6x6 scored each side at 1.5"
• 2nd Day: 5x5 paper scored each side at 1.5"
• 1st Day: 4.5x4.5 paper scored each side at 1"

Fill each box with treats, activities, crafts. Tie with a ribbon and connect the number tags. Stack and stagger to look like a tree. Have fun!!

 Here's a craft that was in Day 11:

What will the next 10 days hold? My kids are so excited to open something every night!

Christmas Spirit

“There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus Christ. Christmas is what we make of it. Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that Christ is at the center of our celebration. If we have not already done so, we can establish Christmas traditions for ourselves and for our families which will help us capture and keep the spirit of Christ. Because when we keep the spirit of Christmas, we keep the spirit of Christ, for the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit. It will block out all the distractions around us, which can diminish Christmas and swallow up its true meaning.” - President Monson First Presidency Christmas Devotional

What are some of your Christmas traditions that help you capture and keep the spirit of Christ?
Here are some of ours:

• Meaning of CHRISTMAS

• Visit Temple Square

• On Christmas morning, before all of the present frenzy begins, we gather everyone together and watch a short movie about Christ's birth. We talk about Christ and what he means to us personally. It adds a special spirit to our day and starts it off in the right way.