for unto us a son is born,

unto us a son is given.

and the government shall be upon His shoulder;

and His name shall be Wonderful,

Counsellor,

the Mighty God,

the EVERLASTING Father,

the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

CAST:
Addie - Mary
Callie - Joseph (not willingly)
Baby Doll - Baby Jesus
Daddy - the Angel, a Wise Men
Mommy - Narrator
Script - Trim a Tree Story of Christmas by Jane McCreary

day before christmas

i love christmas eve. so much excitement and so many fun traditions. we always make gingerbread cookies. there is nothing like a soft gingerbread cookie with sweet frosting. reminds me of my grandma smith. she always makes the best cookies. so it has become one of those things we cant do without.

 

we use my grandma walkers old cookie cutters. it makes them even more special.

these little girls were so giddy the whole day! cant you just see the excitement plastered on their faces?!

gingerbread cookies..... check.

then onto paper snowflakes.

i grew up in the mountains where it snowed every winter. im so in love with snow, its glittery and bright. it makes everything cozy and magical. playing in it, i felt like i was in a fairy world. i miss it so much. so to help that homesick feeling we cut out paper snowflakes and hang them in every room. 

i help the girls fold them up and draw lines on the paper to show where to cut.

every time they would open them up, they would squeal with joy at how beautiful their creations were.

the house was decked and smelling sweet.

next up, our nativity.

merry christmas!

from our home to yours.






 may all your wishes come true.

may you find that childhood christmas excitment inside your heart.

 and may you find the love of the savior in your life.

all of our love.

xoxo

gingerbread village

one of my favorite traditions is making gingerbread (graham cracker) houses with my kids. when i was little my grandma had the most beautiful perfect gingerbread house that she had made. she would pull it out every year and i would just ooo and ahhh over it and pretend to be tiny enough to live inside.

here are our houses 2 years ago.....click here.

and our gingerbread creations this year...........

 

 

 

HO HO HO.....

callie has been such a ham in front of the camera. i had to add all of these of her because i loved them all.

 

 

my grown up girl.

more ho hos and a singing candy lady.

 

our village.

mine.

callies.

addies.

 

lights. and more lights.

our subdivision has the best lights at christmas time. they go ALL OUT! houses are decked  from top to bottom in fun, unique lights and one in particular that blinks to music on a special radio station. they have a horse drawn sleigh ride and santa claus!

we love to go out as a family and walk what they call the "loop of lights."

so much fun. i feel like a kid again.

jolly ol st. nickolaus

the kids saw santa at separate times this year. addie sat on santas lap in our neighborhood.....

and callie and walker at our church party.....

christmas is upon us!



pictures in front of the tree before church

                                                    

our christmas card

i really loved our christmas card this year.

can you blame me??!!
i sent it off with a family picture and i just adored it all.
i have a print of the picture on the far right, the one with all three of them with wide sugar plum eyes. it will be up every year, even when they are old with kids of their own.

have a happy weekend.
xo

last year of his 20s

it was my hunnys birthday yesterday. he is 29!

{photo by ashley madsen}

i love this guy so much.

he is so selfless,

so supportive,

so loving,

so encouraging,

so helpful,

so positive,

so perfect for me.

i love you babe.