My Favorite Christmas Traditions

My favorite tradition has nothing to do with puppies, but they were so cute, I couldn't resist!!!
I have two favorite traditions from my side of the family.  The first was when I was a child we lived in the Netherlands {Holland}.  They celebrate the first 5 days in December by putting their shoes out on the doorstep.  If they have been good, Father Christmas, {Santa} fills them with gifts, If they have been bad, His elf, short Pete, throws them in a black bag and carries them off to spain, where Father Christmas lives.  No gifts are left in those shoes.  I am not sure we celebrate it exactly the way it is supposed to be done, but after we lived in Holland, for many years we would put out painted wooden shoes from Holland and they would be filler every night from Dec 1st to the 5th. 
Father Christmas, doesn't always make it to my house now, but some years he has brought
presents to my husband.  I must not be a good girl, because he never brings me anything!! :]   [Short Pete needs to whisper in my husbands ear!!]
My 2nd favorite tradition stems from my childhood as well.  As children we would shop for each other a few days before Christmas at the local bargain shop.  We would spend the whole time hiding from each other and then hiding our gifts at home until we could get them wrapped.  Berrett and I have continued the tradition by going to a store together but splitting up and buying for each other.  It's fun to hide from each other and then sneak in the gifts to wrap.  Walmart is usually the store we choose, and its big enough and busy enough that we seldom see each other.  I cannot wait to carry on both of these traditions with our own kids.

Just a thought...

 I was watching the link on LDS.org today about the Video's of the Life Of Christ.  I was really interested in the videos about the angel telling Mary of the impending birth of Christ and her visit to Elizabeth.  http://lds.org/bible-videos?lang=eng
I was watching this and was suddenly struck by the fact that the Lord asks us to endure hard things to receive the most wonderful blessings.  Mary was unmarried, virtuous and yet she still carried the Christ Child. It is amazing to me that she accepted this so willingly.  She must have been treated so badly by those who did not understand.  She could have been rejected by her family, her friends and her Beloved Joseph.  And yet, she said.... " And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her." Luke 1:38

I have been occasionally feeling sorry for myself.  I have watched others get pregnant with no difficulties, or held babies I love, only to send them home with their mom's at the end of the day.  Adoption is not easy!! You go through so many emotions, You have to be interviewed, you have to lay open your personal life to a stranger, You have to find the money to pay for it.. You have to be patient and wait for someone to choose your family.   It can feel like too much sometimes.  I have put some of all of that on the back burner while dealing with my mom's health issues and in some ways it was a relief to do so.  My younger sis is pregnant, and I am happy for her, but also a little sad for me.  I found out recently that some friends adopted and I am happy for them but now curious about their experiences.  I guess I am ready to do more to make this miracle happen.  I am ready to face hard things to receive the miracle.  The Lord requires the best from His servants and sometimes the Very Best can be the Hardest, but I am willing to show myself ready.  I guess I am echoing Mary, by asking the lord to make me His Handmaiden, to let it be unto me.. according to His word.  Whatever that may be.

If You LOVE Oreo's cupcakes!!!

If you love Oreo Cupcakes

Ingredients: for cupcakes
1  package of Oreo's
1 package of Chocolate fudge cake mix{mix according to directions on box}
1/2 package of semi sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp of unsweetened cocoa

Ingredients for Frosting :
8 ounces of cream cheese, room temp
1/2 cup of unsalted butter- room temp.. {1 stick}
3 3/4 cups of powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp of vanilla
1/2 package of Oreos
The other 1/2 Regular Oreo's cut in half or Mini oreo's[optional for decoration}
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Preheat oven to 350 degree's.  Line cupcake tins with liners, place a Oreo in the bottom of each liner. Mix the cake mix according to directions.  In another bowl, toss the 1/2 bag of chocolate chips with unsweetened cocoa.   Chop the rest of the first bag of Oreo's coarsley, add chocolate chips and chopped Oreo's to cake mix. Fill the cupcake tins. Bake according to box directions.. {smallest amount recommended in my oven}
While cupcakes are baking make frosting.
Cream together butter and cream cheese. Add vanilla and powdered sugar until blended well. Chop 1/2 remaining regular sized Oreo's very fine.  {You can use a food processer if you have one, I don't. I put a few in a heavy duty ziplock and use a rolling pin to crush them.}  fold into frosting.  Add the rest of the chocolate chips to frosting and foldin.  After cupcakes have cooled, frost and decorate with 1/2 of a large Oreo or mini Oreo's. Refrigerate until serving.

Our Missionary Nephew Comes Home Tomorrow!!

We are so excited to greet our nephew Robert who is coming home from the mission Field tomorrow.

He has been serving in Argentina.   I made him a "candy gram" for a homecoming gift.

I put it in a round plastic container, filled it with the candy and taped the candy gram on the outside.  That way I don't have to carry a big poster board to the airport.

 This is the message I came up with using candy bars and some BYU mints.

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Look  Ladies, its Elder Robert Murray that Big Hunk that just got home from the mission field.  It might be quite a Shocker but we expect that soon he will hit the dating scene and start hanging out with some Smarties from BYU.    U-no it may make us Snicker if he brings home any Runts or Airheads.  Just remember Robert,  you don't need to bring a companion on your dates unless you want to look like the 3 Musketeers.  Be a Good & Plenty date and take  her to the movies or the Symphony. You can be a Mr Goodbar in your singles ward and on campus as long as you don't act like all the other Hot shots telling Whoppers about their missions. Follow these words of advice and  you can Skor a Marvolous & Magnificent Companion to take to the temple! 
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 I tied it with a ribbon and Tada!!! Ready for our missionary!!

Halloween decorating at our house!!

Halloween mobile between kitchen and dining area

Front Door... Spooky!!

Next to front door on landing, hope they don't "walk' away!!

So I was in the mood for Halloween last night and started decorating!! First time in a long time. Berrett seemed slightly amused.  He is the Halloween fan in our family, but with all the kids I have had coming in and out of my place lately, it felt fun to decorate!! I did some of it this morning and my neice Adria seemed to love it!!

My in home pre-school

I have been tending my 4 year old niece a few times a week for the last two months.  Her mom asked me if I could work on some pre school stuff with her and this is the poster I developed to help with our learning.  Lots of fun things on the web that are free to use.  I am enjoying working with her. She is one smart cookie!
I am also still tending Declan, my friends baby boy, and occasionally Kinzlie, the daughter of some other friends in our ward.  Makes for some busy times!!

Love.. Love.. Love.. Babies!!!!

As some of you know, I have been tending a 8 week old baby boy for a friend of mine.  I have to say, after the first 5 minutes I held him, I was in Love.   They don't do much at that age except sleep, eat, cry a little and fill their diapers, but I am loving taking care of him.  I only have him 3 days a week, but I love those 3 days.  Today I tended a friends 8 or 9 month old baby girl.  I have watched her before, and I have to admit that I love her too!!  So different at those various ages.  You do need to do more to entertain them when they are older but still lots of fun.  She and I played Peek a boo for about 20 minutes today and we both were belly laughing!!
 If I had any doubts about going from a career woman to a mom, I no longer do.   I love taking care of these babies.  I do understand that its not the same as a full time mom, but still... I was made to be a mom.   I also no longer have any doubts that I will love my baby through adoption.  I love these 2 babies that I have tended in the last few months, so much and they are not mine.  Still.. I would step in front of a bus for either one of them.    I hope their parents know how much I care.  It can't be easy to leave your baby with some one else, but I take the best care possible. 

 Angela, The 8 week olds mom, left a bassinet here for me to use for him.  There are diapers and blankets in my apartment.  I have formula and baby bottles in my kitchen.  When I walk by these things when he is not here it makes me a little sad, I miss him.  But mostly I miss knowing my own baby.  I can't wait for this journey to be over, and yet, I enjoy the anticipation too.  I love walking through the baby department, looking at clothes and pricing diapers.  I love talking to other mom's about their babies and their sleepless nights.  I love dreaming of our future child, planning names, activities and our future.   I don't know you yet, little one..
But know this... Mommy loves you!!!