Christmas Decorations Day 6

Today started off pretty normally. Mark took the day off since his classes were cancelled due to a field trip. So we dropped a couple of items off at Erin's (and caught up after their NY trip!) and took some papers to Brian. Then we went to finish our Christmas shopping. We have one gift card left to get and then we're DONE!! Yea! Now to get them all wrapped....UGH!

Here are today's decoration entries....


These were some fun ornaments to make. Erin and I were both working in Relief Society that year and we made about 150 of them! They're cute and not too difficult to mass produce. And the best part is that they're unbreakable. The grandkids like to play with the tree ornaments, and this is one of the "safe" ones.

I love this nativity. It's made by Jim Shore. I like that's it's so colorful and rustic looking. It was designed to be a set of ornaments, but I've never put it on the tree. I'm afraid they would get "lost" on the tree, so I set them out on a table or a shelf.

This ornaments holds a ton of memories for me. My Grandma Mortensen used to always carry a cloth hanky in her purse. She was a true lady. Anyway, when Grandma passed away, she had a box full of hankies she'd accumulated over the years. Well, Mom got possession of them and one year she made all of us a hanky ornament made from one of Grandma's hankies. They're so simple...they have a styrofoam ball for the head, tied at the neck with a ribbon and embellished with a little strand of faux pearls and a rose bud. Every hanky was different, so no two angels are alike. Luckily for Erin and Emali....they got the hankies that were monogrammed with Grandma's initial...E for Emma!

Mark surprised me one year with the simple nativity. It was made by the shop teacher at the school where I worked. I love it!

This is one of our "newer" nativities. Last year we had six of the grandkids over for a sleepover before Christmas. Besides making gingerbread houses with them, we made these nativities. They're made with turned wood pieces. Each of the grandkids went home with one and I've seen them out this year as part of their Christmas decorations.

I think I have enough left for one more decorations post....

Christmas Decorations Day 5

Today was a busy day. I started out going by Becky's to pick up my Christmas cards. She'd made a bulk order and she let me order through her. I found out that you have to pay attention to get through the security gate. It only took three times, but I did it!! Yea. My next stop was Brian's room to swap papers with him and meet Abigail. They needed a place for her since it was early release today. Erin also needed her girls picked up today, we Abby and I went and got them. Then we met Mark for lunch! It was so much fun. While we were at Paradise Bakery eating, they brought by a couple of yummy samples. We tried their warm caramel apple cider and some cute gingerbread man cookies. The girls really enjoyed being together, giggling and shopping afterwards. We went Christmas shopping for Mark and looking for shoes for Abby. She needed Sunday shoes and since her feet are so skinny, it was difficult to find some that fit. But we did, and they're cute, too! Then we dropped Eliza and Libby off at home. I met Brian in Surprise to drop Abby off. Then it was back home for paper grading and some sewing.

Here's today's installment of Christmas decorations...


The first year or so after Kamille joined our family, she gave this ornament to Mark. I think she thought he did all the cooking around here on Sundays because it seemed we barbecued a lot and that was his "job". Anyway, it's a cute ornament.

This lovely ornament is courtesy of Dan. It's become a family "joke" because he made it in third grade (I think) and it hasn't broken, and as a result, has adorned our tree every year since. It's basically a glass bulb ornament that's been dipped in paint. The hanger is a red pipe cleaner. Dan was better at the academic subjects than the arts! Love you, Dan!!

We got this ornament to commemorate our sealing in the Provo Temple in 1974.

These adorable clothespin horses are Deb's creation. Back in our boutiquing days, she had Skip cut the clothespins to the right lengths and she did the rest. The saddles are ultrasuede. They are very detailed and took a lot of work. Some were made with tiny flat, old-fashioned clothespins and others were made with the large, round, old-fashioned clothespins. I'm so glad she made them. They've lasted MANY years. I especially like that they sit on top of the branch rather than hanging below. It adds interest to the tree.


Three years ago we went to Orlando to Disney World with Erin, Brian and their girls. We got these ornaments so we could remember our fun trip there. It was a week we'll never forget. We opened and closed the parks every day we were there. We all had a wonderful time. I would suggest, though, that if you're considering going there, don't go in August. It's so HUMID!!!

More tomorrow.

Christmas Decorations Day 4

Today was a Visiting Teaching day. My visiting teachers came this morning and I went visiting teaching this afternoon. I have the BEST visiting teachers. They are always so prompt...they come early every month. And they're a ton of fun to visit with. The ladies I visit are also great! For the first time in my life, I have all active ladies to visit and an active partner. It makes visiting teaching such a pleasure and a treat for me. My partner couldn't go with me today....her dad had a heart attack last night. He's doing pretty well today. They caught it in time to stop the attack before it did much damage to his heart. What a relief! She'll be back next month. Between my VTs coming and me going out, I graded papers. And I graded some more after I got home. Just finished. Whew! I'll return them tomorrow and probably pick up a few more. Oh, the life of teachers. They should be admired for all of their hard work and dedication. I sometimes wonder how they do it all and still maintain a family, church and social life! Kudos to them all.

Here is another installment of Christmas decorations....


This is a copper replica of a Nauvoo angel. It resembles the one that "flew" atop the original Nauvoo temple. I found this ornament at the Church Museum in Salt Lake one year. It reminds me of the time Mom and Dad spent in Nauvoo as missionaries at the many historical sites. Someday (soon!) I hope to go back to Nauvoo for a visit. We haven't been since 1993.


This cute little mouse in a basket was a gift from Leslie Locklear. Back in the day...before going to work....I used to volunteer a LOT in the kids' school classrooms. Mrs. Locklear was the boys' second grade teacher. She was a wonderful teacher. She gave me this one year as a thank you for helping her out. Can you believe how old this ornament is? If I'm figuring correctly, it's at least 27 years old. Actually, I'm surprised it's still intact after all those years.

This is our Christmas Nail. I saw this idea several years ago, and when I was teaching Relief Society many moons ago, I made it as a handout for a lesson I gave about the atonement of Christ. The purpose is to make us remember that Christ was born at Christmas time, but that he atoned for us and that should be our focus...his sacrifice and atonement for our sins, critical for our salvation. The size of the nail makes it a little more real and makes an impact on us.

Many years ago Mom and Dad took a trip to Hawaii. They brought home a gazillion beautiful shells. Mom and I made them into Christmas ornaments that they could give to all of us as a remembrance of their trip. Somehow I wish they'd taken me!!

Several years ago, when the kids were all teenagers, we took a Christmas trip to Disneyland for our Christmas celebration. It was one of those quick trips. We flew over early one morning, spent the day at Disneyland, and returned home that evening on a red-eye flight. What a fun time we had! No luggage, no hotels! Just a fun, fun, memorable trip. We bought several Christmas ornaments that year so we could remember the fun time we had. It was especially fun because the kids were all old enough to go on all of the rides and we didn't have a stroller, diapers or any of baby/toddler things. It was the first time we spent Christmas at Disneyland, but not the last!

Christmas Decorations Day 3

Today was a busy day. After finished my morning "chores" I went to work making corn bags for Erin's Activity Day girls for Christmas. I got 16 done! Yea! Then I headed out for my Tuesday shuttle service for Dallin and Luke. They're such fun, good boys! We started watching Madeline, but when their dad arrived that ended. We had dinner and got Brian off to his last class this semester! Yea. One down, three to go!! Go, Brian!! Tonight I have an Enrichment committee meeting.

Here's day three of our Christmas decorations...

The Christmases the boys were on their missions were tough
emotionally. They each sent me a missionary tag to hang on the tree.

This was a Relief Society project. I made about 150 of these for a Christmas Homemaking event. I never make just one or two of anything!


A couple of years before Mom died, she made stockings for all of us. They’re made from a crazy-patch quilt that Grandma Mortensen made.

I got this nativity a few years ago at Kirkland Home. I got it just because I liked it!
More again tomorrow...

Christmas Decorations Day 2

Today started off with us taking Dad and Aunt Dovetta to the airport. They're going to Alabama (?) to visit with her son, Phil and his wife, Donna. My job was taxi to the airport....I don't remember for sure where they went! Bad me! But I do they're in the south somewhere and going to Nashville while they're there. By the way, Mark didn't have any classes today, so he decided to take the day off so we could get a little more of our shopping done.
Here's day 2 of our Christmas decorations.

This candy cane horse is one of Deb's creations. Years ago, we used to host our own holiday boutique in my home, then we ventured out and joined with others. We used to make things by the gazillion in an effort to earn some extra Christmas money. We may not have made a lot of money, but we had gifts to give and we had things to trade with other crafters!

I saved a pair of each of the kids' baby shoes and we've hung them on the tree every year. It brings back fond memories and reminds us how quickly kids grow up!

I made this nativity at Aunt Marian’s ceramic shop in Holbrook. It’s plain and simple, but it’s graced our home since we were married.

I found this nativity banner pattern and knew I needed one of these! The next year I taught a Super Saturday class. In order not to violate any copyright laws, I cut out all of the pieces for each person in the class (instead of copying the pattern!). I think there were 25 ladies who made a nativity banner. I have probably made 20 or more over the years to give as gifts!

More tomorrow....

Christmas Decorations

Tonight we had dinner with Brian, Kamille and their kids. They came here so we could watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. It was really good, as usual. We ate hamburgers and hot dogs....not my favorite, bit Mark did the cooking, so it's a trade-off. It was a fun, relaxing dinner while we watched.

A couple of years ago I created an album for 7gypsies. It documents many of our Christmas ornaments and nativities. I have always planned to recreate it so I can have a copy, but I haven't done it yet. And since I don't have an exciting life, I thought I'd document some of them here over the next few days. If I do 3-4 a day, it may get me through a few days, at least. So here goes....

I'll start at the top of the tree. This funky little angel has sat atop our Christmas trees for many years. I like that she seems so joyful and shows it in her pose!

This nativity was my parents' when they first got married. It was in our home all of the years as I was growing up. When Mark and I got married, my parents gave it to us. It's very old, but very precious to me.

One year, one of the Crouses gave Mark this policeman
ornament. Fitting, don’t you think?

This puzzle has brought hours of
pleasure/frustration over the years. The kids like to dump it out, but aren’t so willing to stick around when it’s time to put it back together.
More tomorrow.

New Home Construction

We started (and finished) a new home construction today. The Trimble girls came over before Libby's soccer game to make their gingerbread house. There was once a day when all three of our kids and their families gathered on the same day and we made three houses, but those days are gone, it seems. Everyone is so busy that this year we're doing each family individually. But that has its perks, too. Less chaos, no competition, more personal time with each family. So that works, too. Anyway, as soon as the girls came in the house, we got started. Eliza and Libby eagerly talked and planned what they wanted to do, while Hattie and Ellie ate candy as fast as their little hands could put it into their mouths! I'm surprised neither of them got sick. It was so funny to watch. We'd encourage them to put something on the house, but no, they'd plop it into their mouths! Eliza and Libby nibbled a bit, but they got really creative with their house. I can sure tell that they're maturing and letting their creative juices flow.

We'll be making Brian and Kamille's family house next Saturday! So it's two down, one to go! It's a tradition that we've done since Matthew was a year or two old and he's nine now, so it's been around a while. In the beginning, the parents did most of the decorating, but not any more. They mostly sit aside and the kids go to town with the houses. I'm so glad of that.

After the construction project, the Trimbles headed out to Libby's soccer game, and no, she didn't play. She won't even step a foot across the sideline into the field. She has a great time at practice, but she says that there are too many people "watching" during the games, so she's yet to play. Oh, well.

Mark and I took off for the east valley. We picked up Hattie's Christmas present from a lady I met on etsy.com. She (and her mom) make quiet books and that's what Hattie (and Erin) wanted for Christmas. It's pretty cute. Then we went looking for a few other gifts we needed to find. We had a little luck, but still have a couple more items to complete our shopping.

Jan and I worked HARD yesterday/last night on a new project that we'll be teaching at Scrap Happy Sisters in February. It's a book that could be used for Valentine's Day, an anniversary, or just because. It's about the love story of a husband and wife. It's really going to be cute. We have everything cut and planned out, but we still need to finalize pictures, embellishments, etc. I'll post some pics when we finish.

This week will be another busy one....taking Dad and Aunt Dovetta to the airport, an Enrichment Meeting, shuttling Dallin and Luke, picking up Eliza, Libby and Abigail after their early release day (we'll have to do lunch or something!!), Eliza's chorus program and gingerbread house with the Surprise Mabees. Whew! I'd better get some sleep!