For the last couple of years, we’ve had a Fall Break tradition that I’m really (REALLY) missing right now. We’d drive down to St. George and meet up with some of our favorite people for a few days to mostly do two things: eat good food (SEA SALT CARAMEL TRUFFLE ICE CREAM!!) and play games….
Missionary Christmas: Tips & Ideas
What are you sending your missionary for Christmas? One friend is mailing her son in Ghana a soft roll of toilet paper (among other things, haha). My daughter loved getting church vocal music and Wingers amazing sauce. We recently received this instruction from our son’s mission: “We encourage you, if possible, to please send your…
How to Make a Family Cookbook
Last year, the girls and I had what we thought was a pretty rockin’ idea for mom’s Christmas gift. We would put together a family cookbook-a compilation of the classics-the things we eat at Christmas and on birthdays-the recipes handed down with love (and vague instructions) from great grandmas. But maybe our biggest motivation was just…
DIY: Nativity Costumes
We have been dressing up Nativity-style for years. Wearing bathrobes and sheets was just standard operating procedure here. And the angel always wore a slip on her head. This year while we were dressing up the grand kids, mom had a flash of brilliance. Wait. There’s one thing you should know about this little lady…
Making Santa Magic: Santa Footprints & Reindeer Food
My secret is out. You might have guessed from Trisha’s storybook countdown post-correctly so-that I was the sister who believed (whole-heartedly, Polar Express style) in Santa for well over a decade. It’s true. I defended the jolly old man for years. A big part of that was The Story of Santa Claus book (written by…
The Jesus Gift
“Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps, means a little bit more.” I love those famous Grinch words – Christmas IS so much more!
Grandma Ada’s Sugar Cookies & Frosting
WARNING: I need to be totally upfront with you from the beginning. This cookie dough needs to be refrigerated for several hours (ideally overnight) before you bake. For cookie dough fanatics like me, that can be delicious…problematic. That’s it. Consider yourself warned. I never knew Grandma Ada. I’ve been told she was tall. I did…
A Cookie Party
It was November of my 9th grade year. I was walking through the halls with my best friend Kim when she turned to me and said, “So, who are you inviting this year?” Confused I asked, “What are you talking about?” And in some exasperated tone she replied, “Who are you inviting to the cookie…