Christmas is such a weird time of year; I mean that in the best way possible. I love the charitable spirit in the air. I love the music, the lights, the presents. I just don't know which Christmas traditions are worth continuing, and which should be thrown out like last years broken lights.
We made mitten ornaments and book marks on Wednesday. The kids did a great job, and had a lot of fun. They turned out really cute!
Each year, our family has tried to do something charitable. This year, money is really tight... I didn't know what to do. We tried something new; acts of charity for each other. It was great! The kids learned how to tie quilts yesterday, and we spent all afternoon and into the evening tying quilts for each other. We ended up finishing all three!
As far as Christmas foods, they are killing my diet plans. I can turn down a big serving of dinner, but get me around the cookies and snacks, and I'm done. It'll be a miracle if I don't pack on the pounds I've lost this year over the next week or two! So far I've made: orange cranberry bread, gingerbread cookies, gingerbread houses, "Grinch" fudge, suckers, regular fudge, caramel popcorn, sugar cookies, kisses, and peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate. We won't even mention the chocolates that are starring me in the face... Yikes!
Now if I could only get on the ball enough to get the kids to see Santa, that'd be a Christmas miracle!
Dot and Wakko, on the other hand, love to jump off the top of the piles of snow created by the snow plow. 
Dad's finally thinking that a snow blower would be a wise investment.
We had an adventure yesterday that was loads of fun... we visited the newly remodled Utah State Capitol Building. 
On Saturday, I had three of my buddies and their families over for a Christmas Party. It was such a blast! Our kids got along together just great, and made such a MESS! Oh, well! That's the holiday season for you!
After cooking way too much chili, chicken noodle soup, and breadsticks, it was awesome to be able to sit back and relax with my friends. Let me clarify; these are my friends from "way back when". It was great.
