Decorating the Christmas Tree

This year we decided to put our Christmas tree upstairs this year.  I like it for the most part, but it doesn't feel Christmasy in the rest of the house.  I guess it would help if I would decorate, too. :)  I have simplified everything in my life this fall/winter and I've gone back to basics.  I'm kind of done with fluff right now.  

There are a couple things about this picture, though.  When I went with the kids to Utah before Thanksgiving, Charlie decided to paint the loft.  In Madison's birthday pictures you can see the paint spots from sample paint that I picked up in October.  Charlie was tired of looking at them and wanted darker green.  I was thinking a little darker than what I had picked out, but the same tone of green.  These pictures don't really do it justice, but it's a pretty dark apple green.  I'm fine with it just because I didn't have to do the painting. 

The Sunday after we put up the Christmas tree I was having a Relief Society Board Meeting at our house and we were about to start when I heard the tree crash.  I was expecting Matthew to be in it, but no, it was Ally.  We basically had to start from scratch decorating.  It's way more fun the first time!  

Now, there are no ornaments on the bottom two feet of the tree but I"m letting it be.  We have a long time to go until Christmas.

Madison's Birthday

The decorations:  They were more fun looking when you were standing under the streamers.  Charlie also made an X out of crepe paper that she had to break through to get through her door.  She loved it!

Fuzzy Socks from Emily:

 The one thing that Madison really wanted was a Scotty McCreery cd.  She was so excited to open what she thought was the cd only to be really, really disappointed that it was a George Strait.  The poor girl opened the wrong cd first!  I thought it was funny, though.

This girly loves carrot cake! 

Madison is a sweet girl and makes every day a joy.  She tries so hard to be helpful and to do her best in school.  She is such a sweetheart.

Emily's Birthday

For Emily's birthday this year we did a family pajama party.  She was so excited to turn 5!

 Decorations:

Fun in the Sun

I finally finished a scrapbook layout tonight.  I love this one!

Sister Beck

Last night I was able to hear Sister Beck speak.  She was in another building and it was broadcast to all the stake centers in the valley.  It was so, so good and I left feeling full and renewed.

Here are some highlights from what Sister Beck talked about.  

Sister Beck talked a lot about the new book "Daughters in My Kingdom" and that it is a recipe book to live our lives and we are to read it and reread it.  

The war chapters and Moroni teaches us 3 things and what it means to us: 1) Prepare the minds of the people to be faithful--prepare ourselves and our families.  2)The needed to build small forts--We need to prepare our homes and not let the enemy in. 3)Build resorts--Go to church and get strength from other people.  Also, go to who needs the most help.

Things to do first thing every day, as soon as you wake up and as fast as you can.

1) Get on knees and pray.

2) Read scriptures, even if it is just one.

3) Make your bed as a signal that you aren't getting back in.

4) Get dressed.

We also need to have a meeting between ourselves and the Lord and take the things that you are worried about to him.  We need to categorize our priorities to 3 columns.

1) The essentials--What are the things I need to do every day that I have to do to return to Heavenly Father.  This includes 1,2,3,4.

2) The necessary--What are the things that if I don't do, things start to fall apart a bit.  This includes taking care of the house and family ...

3) The nice--These are the hobbies.

We need to do them in this order and then when we get to the nice, we will appreciate it more and our lives will be better.  We also need to manage our time, health, and body.  We can't help others if we are exhausted and sick.

Scripture knowledge is cumulative and we need to spend time every day in the scriptures.  Keep scriptures everywhere in your home so that you can pick them up at any time.  Seek to feel the spirit.  Put a T by each verse that has something to do with the temple and you will be surprised at how many there are and how important they are.

She also spoke for a great deal about visiting teaching and knowing the spiritual and temporal well-being of your sisters.  Count the ministry and not the lesson.

On page 151 of Daughters in my Kingdom," it tells the story of Hyrum's family coming west and being faithful.  We need to be this kind of faithful.

She also talked in depth about the purpose of Relief Society and Relief Society Meetings.  Sometimes I feel like if I don't get a ton of sisters to a weekday meeting then I am not doing my calling well, but Sister Beck made it very clear that is not true.  She said (again) that we are not in the entertainment business but in the business of salvation.  The meetings are to strengthen the sisters in their faith, their families, and provide relief.  If there are 5-10 sisters less who come to a meeting because it isn't full of fluff, that is okay.

Umatilla, Oregon

We left the Oregon coast a day early so we could go camping in Umatilla.  It may not be everybody's vacation destination but we had a good time and were able to see Cindy and Frank.  It was a really nice park that we stayed at and it was a fun couple of days.

I want this sign:

Playing in the water at the camping spot:

McHary Dam:

Oregon

This is a little (or a lot) picture heavy, but we had a really fun week in Oregon.  We were happy to come home when it was all over, but we really loved playing in the sand and seeing the ocean.