Christmas Holidays 2011

Getting ready for Christmas this last year was crazy. I think this year I will have to start in July if I want to get everything done. on top of working to finish decorating the boys rooms we did the following.

I was Santa's elf this year and made a fold up airport.

sorry the picture quality is bad I used my phone.

made my mom a bulletin board with old patterns, sewing stuff, and button push pins.

made my Nephew a science kit. with lab coat and science experiments in the book.

 I never took a picture of the gift i made my dad this year. it was wooden blocks painted black, with B&W pictures of each of the grand-kids and a letter on each block that spelled out "We love Grandpa"

went through ALL of the boys toys before Christmas this year. Was starting to wonder if I should give them any more for Christmas!?

Hosted Christmas Eve dinner with Rob's family.

 We also went to a rest home and sang carols one night with Rob's family.

made a ginger bread manger scene at our annual Ginger bread making with my family.

this was Dean's creation.

went out to eat and Temple square with my family, just like old times. This is all of my family except my Brother Matt who is serving a mission right now.

All the Grand-kids on my side of the family. first time they were all together!

Hosted New years party. second annual Steiner cousin party. what a bunch of crazies!

Things I love about Fall

photo source

I was talking to my neighbor the other day and we got on the subject of football. I told her that we are not into football at our house (we are not anti-football). She seemed surprised and asked "if your not into football then what are you into?" later in the conversation the subject of the Fall season came up. I said something about it being my favorite time of year. she again was surprised and asked why I would like fall if I don't like football? I really didn't have much to say due to my surprise that someone's life could rotate so much around a sport that they could not see what other things there are to enjoy. Here are my reasons I love Autumn:

1. cooler days
2. leaves changing
3. gardens being harvested
4. my birthday
5. making costumes
6. dressing up for Halloween
7. apple cider
8. caramel popcorn
9. everything pumpkin
10. warm soup
11. decorating my house
12. family togetherness
13. The Thanksgiving turkey run (5K)
14. Thanksgiving dinner
15. wrapping up in warm blankets
16. getting ready for Christmas
17. The giving spirit in the air
18. making gifts for others
19. canning (even if I don't do it, yet. It still reminds me of Fall)
20. wearing big sweatshirts

What are some of the things you love about fall?

Happy Fall Equinox! started today at 5:05 EDT