YW Lesson Handouts

I bought these piggy banks about 3 months ago at Target in the Dollar Spot section. They are so cute and I knew that I would have to teach something about financial responsibility in the next few months, so I bought a bunch of them for the future lesson.

Well, it appears that the lesson on financial responsibility falls on the sunday I am out of town during Christmas break. I was totally bummed that it worked that way, but I decided to make the piggy banks anyway and give them to the subbing teacher, so she could use them for the lesson. (I would hate for those cute little things to go to waste). So, here is what I put together.

Also, another cute idea as a handout is to wrap a roll of dimes or pennies (or if you are really nice... quarters).

Another homemade Christmas gift

I made another gift for my sister this year. She had commented about these cute bowls from Pottery Barn (which I can't find on the website anymore). We talked about how easy they would be to make if you had a pottery painting store in your town. So, that is exactly what I did. I went to Color Me Mine and painted her some cute popcorn (or anything really) bowls for my nephew and the family.

Instead of spending the $110 Pottery Barn was charging for both bowls, I spent significantly less.

NOTE: I thought I used so much paint on these bowls that it would end up as red as the PB picture, but I didn't use two coats and I think they would have turned out much better with 2 coats. So, just in case you decide to do this... You can learn from my trial and error and for sure do 2 coats of paint.

First Family Photo Shoot

I had my first official family photo shoot and it was a lot of fun. I was a little nervous, but it went well and I think I got some really fun and cute pictures of the family. Here is just a little bit of what I got. Thanks W family for letting me take your picture!

Do you know your family?

For Christmas this year, I made this great board game titled "Who's Your Family?" for brother-in-law and his family. I got the idea from Family Fun. It is a board game that is built around your family's memories. It is a combination of Monopoly, Sorry and Trivial Pursuit. It was pretty easy to make and I love the way it turned out. I had to share because I am just so excited about this gift!

Loud and Proud

Last week Hannah had her preschool Christmas program. She had been learning a new song in school for weeks and could be heard around the house singing it. She told me several times "Teacher Vivian says to sing loud so the parents can hear" and that is exactly what she did. She was right in front of the microphone and she belted out this song. She knew every word and sang it loud and proud. It was so funny. I was in the front row and just crying with laughter. She wasn't shy at all and just sang her heart out.

We weren't able to video tape it, but I am trying to get a copy and when I do, you can be sure it will be up on the blog!

Maybe Next Year

Each year I think I will get some cute coordinated picture of the family dressed up in some fun holiday gear (hat, outfits, Pjs), but it never happens. I requires too much planning ahead and I worrying about it in October doesn't work for me.

So this year I settled for just a good family photo. Here is the Christmas card we sent out this year in the form of a postcard. But maybe next year we will do something cute like this picture. I love the coordinated but different color striped pajamas so much. Yes, even Chris would be dressed up in his striped pjs. I don't know if it is worth $120, but maybe I can find a cheaper option.

Merry Christmas!

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas day with family and friends and that we all remember why we have this day to celebrate! Painting by Simon Dewey

Interesting....

I came across an entry on this blog called Oneity (really cute kids clothes, by the way) about the different foods and amount of food people eat in one week during the holidays. It is interesting to see what different people eat throughout the world and how mcuh, but it also reminds me about how blessed I am to have so much while others throughout the world have so little (for good or for bad). just thought I would share this.

And They gave gifts

This year there were a lot of gifts to give. Now with Hannah in preschool, we had to add teachers to the list. So, beside the normal family gift, I made some homemade treats for friends and then these homemade gifts for Hannah's teachers.

The friend gifts I made with felt and adorable felts tags I got at Michaels (3 for $1.00) and then filled them up with Chocolate Caramel Pecan Turtles and a little silver bell and candy cane.

The teacher gifts are Christmas Oatmeal Chippers (my favorite cookie recipe) in these adorable glass jars I found at Target. They have a cute penguin printed on the glass.

These gifts were fun to make and inexpensive.

Have you tried?

I wish I had found this sooner.. I probably would have included it in my friends and family gifts somehow. But just the other day, I found Jones Candy Cane Soda. They had a bunch of different holiday flavors (Christmas Cocoa, Turkey and Gravy and Eggnog), but I had to try this one. I have to say, it taste just like a candy cane (but not as minty). It is super sweet and one swig will do you, but last night Chris and I tried it and thought this would be fun to give to all his employees, so he went and bought the store out and I decorated them and wa-la! Cute. Festive. Unique. And Fun. If you are up for trying something different.. try and get your hands on this.

Holiday Pics

While we were in Kentucky, I had my dad take some family photos of us. I had bought coordinated Christmas outfits for the girls and then dressed mom and dad to match. Although I didn't love the way our dressy pictures turned out (mostly how I looked), I did love how the pictures of the girls turned out!

I posted two pictures of the girls. One is them looking as cute as ever. And one is Ella showing us her love for her tongue. She can be found constantly like this. Her tongue sticking out of her mouth touching her upper lip. Not quite sure why she does this, but I had to capture is for her the record.

At the last minute, I decided to get some of us in our casual clothes and I am glad I did, because I ended up like those a lot. And ended up using them for this year's Christmas card.

I also wanted to share our big Brimhall Family photo just for fun. We are off to SLC for the holidays. I will post periodically (I have a lot of stuff to share, once Christmas has passed), so keep checking back in and have a great Christmas!

Have you been elfed?

My sister-in-law Wendy "elfed" the whole family. It is so funny. I don't know what it is about these little dancing elves, but it is worth watching... so click and see the Williams Elves dance away!

Countdown for next year

This year I found a ton of adorable Christmas Advent calendar ideas. Our family hasn't counted down Christmas yet, but I think next year we will start. I am going to do three different countdowns with my one calendar. The countdown to Christmas will include candy, reading the nativity story and a wonderful idea of reading a Christmas book each day with an activity that goes with it.

So, here they are so great ones in case you want to start a similar tradition.

1) LDS Scripture/Activity Countdown from A Thousand Words blog

2) Candy Countdown from My Words blog

3) Baby Stockings Countdown from Martha Stewart

4) Christmas Book and Activity Countdown from Bella Dia blog

Next year I will share what I have put together that combines all my ideas and these great ideas.

Oh, Christmas Tree

For the last 4 Christmas' we have had the simplest of Christmas trees. It would consist of tinsel, lights and red and white bows out of ribbon. It was super easy, cheap and it looked halfway decent. But this year, I finally have a Christmas tree I can be proud of. And one that I love.

Most of the decorations are from Denmark (from our several trips there over the last 3 years). We have a Royal Copenhagen ornament (we consider that the gem of the tree). We also have these beautiful red glass stars. We also got a lot of metal ornaments of different variety like a bell, rocking horse and little Danish boys and girls. We bought these delicate red cut-out balls that I just love and of course to add some shine: cheap silver balls and red bows.

One more think I love about my tree are these little circle and square frame ornaments I got from Target. Pottery Barn sold them for $12 a piece and I loved the idea of adding frame ornaments each year and keeping pictures in them of Christmas' past. But I wasn't going to spend that much. But of course, leave it to wonderful Target to have cuter ones for more than half the price. Perfect, it made the tree that much better. Also, not pictured in my tree are about 12 elegant silver glitter snowflakes I picked up at Target too. Four for $.99. They add even more sparkle to our tree!

So, there you have it... a tour of our Christmas tree! Hope you enjoyed it!

Tis the Season...

...to make gingerbread houses. During our trip to KY for Thanksgiving, Grandma and Hannah had a great time decorating this adorable gingerbread house. They spent a lot of time on it and it was great bonding time for the two of them. Hannah was pretty good not to eat all the candy (she at least asked each time she wanted to eat them). Overall, it was a great start to the season as we are starting to get closer to the end.

Young Women Lesson #47 - Participating in the Cultural Arts

Write on the chalkboard the words CULTURAL ARTS and post a drawing from my 3 year old.

Ask the girls to say what comes to mind when they see these words.

Explain that the cultural arts include such things as literature, drama, classical music, dance, sculpture, and painting.

Explain that the cultural arts have a powerful effect on our minds and spirits. They can touch our spirits as words alone sometimes cannot do, and their effect is often long-lasting.

Ask the young women to share some experiences they have had with the cultural arts. Why did you pursue them?

Explain that cultural arts of high quality can bring a refining influence into our lives. They fulfill a basic human need to enjoy and participate in the beauty around us and in our cultural heritage.

I wouldn’t consider myself a person that is drawn to the cultural arts (naturally). But I do take the opportunity to participate in them whenever I can. Whenever I travel, I make sure I see the local arts of that area. (For instance… examples…

• Travel for business I would be sure to go to the MET, MOMA or Art Institute of Chicago.
• Travel around the world for sure the Louvre, Uffizi, Cairo Musuem, etc)
• Bernini sculpture, Nutcraker in as many places as I can (even my YW production), Shakespear in the Park.

Seeing these places makes me feel more well-rounded, refined as a person and smarter because of the things I have seen. I would encourage you to take every opportunity to see the arts when you travel (it might not be as fun as some other they things you will do on vacation, but you will be better off because of it).

LET’s EXPERIENCE THE ARTS TODAY:
• Listen to Puccini (la Boheme).
• Show Carl Bloc painting
• Watch a clip from Much Ado about Nothing
• Read a Poem

Ask the girls how they felt after each piece?

Read 13th Article of Faith

President Spencer W. Kimball said: “Each member [of the Church] should develop talents, read good literature, be engaged in quality cultural pursuits” (Ensign, May 1978, p. 101).

Ask the young women to help compile a list in which they can seek to enrich their lives with the cultural arts and prepare to enrich the lives of their children and others. Some ideas might include the following:

• Go to the library and select a classic work of literature to read alone or with a friend.
• Read a favorite poem or share a piece of music with your family and tell why you like it (maybe for FHE).
• Write a poem yourself or lyrics for a piece of music.
• Write a dramatization of a scriptural story for your class or family.
• Look through your music and books and eliminate those that are not uplifting.
• Begin or add to your collection of quality music or books.
• Frame some beautiful artwork for your room.
• Try sketching, caligraphy, drawing, or some other form of art.
• Study a play, piece of music, or opera before attending a performance.
• Be selective about television viewing and watch for educational and cultural programs.

In the book “If Talent Were A Pizza, You'd Be A Supreme” by Jack Weyland, he talks about how when we were in kindergarten we all got our artwork put up on the wall. Then as we got older, only the best artwork went up. Then we started to get graded. Pretty soon, we gave up on trying because we didn't want to fail. Failing is okay - some of the best things I've seen are a result of failure. Even if you just aren't good, you gain an appreciation for those who can.

In my youth, I tried all mediums of the arts. Share what I did for sculpture, drawing (entered state fair), singing (jerusalem), music (piano for 8 years), dance, writing (book). I wasn’t good at all of them, but I tried and had fun while doing them. This experimentation helped me develop my talents and figure out where my special gifts lie.

Encourage them to do the same and end with testimony about the arts.

Give them the candy cane handout.

Weekly Dinner Menu #6

Here is our weekly dinner menu this week. Hope you are enjoying them!

Sunday - Chicken Noodle Soup (bought from Costco. It is sooo good).*****

Monday - Indian Spiced Chicken and Spinach served with jasmine rice. *** I cooked the chicken for over an hour (to make sure it was moist and not tough. I think that made it a lot better. Also, I didn't use the jalapenos (the measurements are wrong) and the salt is only 1 1/2 tsp (not 12). Also, I didn't drain the tomatoes.

Tuesday - Chicken Fajitas (followed recipe on the back of the spice pack). ****

Thursday - Pressed Mozzarella Sandwiches and Tomato Basil Soup (from Progressive). ****

Little Pieces of Cheer

I wasn't sure if I was going to decorate for Christmas this year. With us leaving for the holidays and it being such a huge task, I was leaning towards not doing it. But with the help of Hannah getting very excited about the holidays and feeling better after a week of being sick, I decided to bite the bullet and get it done. And boy am I glad I did. It just feels more festive and cheery now! So, here are just a few little pieces we have around our house that help make our season that much brighter.

Oh, and I also got a new 50mm lens, which I was practicing with. Once, I learn how to really use it, I know it will be great fun and add a lot more to some of my pictures.