The Spirit of Christmas

Peace to my Soul

Let me tell you a little personal story behind this video. This little film is extremely close to my heart. My dad filmed it.

As most of you know, my dad is a cinematographer and a very talented one at that. This film took him to the heart of Jerusalem when I was in the sixth grade. He was gone for nearly two months making this. The producers were very interested in bringing the reality of the birth of Christ to the hearts of mankind.

My dad tells stories of waiting all day long for the perfect light to film the camels walking across the dunes. He tells stories of how Israelis rebels would start shooting at the set during production. They would be trying to film the sweet tender moments of the dear Christ child only to have gun fire interrupt their scene and everyone would have to duck for cover.

My grandmother passed away during the making of this movie and my dad was unable to make it home for her funeral. I know that was hard for him. He loved her very much.

Every time I watch this, I think of all of the time, energy and sacrificing that went into its production and it makes my heart just that much more tender. Then, I think that those trials were no where near what Christ went through for all of us and it makes me very grateful for all that I have and all that I have been blessed with.

I know that I don't go into a lot of sentimental religious talk on my blog. However, I do want to take one small side step this time to really put my gratitude out there for the season and what it represents. It is little film clips like this that bring peace to my soul and let me know that I am loved. I know that I love my children more than words could ever express and I am so grateful that I have them here in my life with me.

I hope that we can all reach in our hearts this season and find the good in all that surrounds us. I am trying to do just that.

Toadally Toad

Today Toad and I ventured off to Hobby Lobby to do some fabric swatching and comparing (don't I sound so official.) After I gathered up what I needed in the fabric area, we wandered around for a bit.

To me, Hobby Lobby is a completely magical place full of trinkets and treasures and AMAZING deals. Their prices are to die for and they have such an amazing selection. They have fabrics, art supplies, home decor, doll house accessories, scrapbook paper, seasonal items, magazines, books... I could go on and on. If you are into hobbies or crafts at all, it is the Holy Grail of craft stores. Really, you should go.

Anyway, as we were wandering up and down those aisles and looking at all of their shiny, magical things, we came across a display of toads. Toad was actually the first one to see it and went running towards it screaming "Mommy, Look at the Toads!" He was fascinated. We had to stop and look at every single Toad on that display. There were several parent/child Toad sculptures and he kept saying, "That's Toad and Momma!" Oh good! I am now a Toad too!

We spent a good 20 minutes gazing at all of those cute little green guys and I loved every minute of it. I am going to have to go out and get one for him sometime.

Decorating The Tree... The Disaster

And this is how our evening started. I had started off the evening with, in my opinion, a great dinner. We had the house decorated and A Frank Sinatra Christmas playing in the background. However, it was 7:00 pm and that is when Toad checks out.

Nena is always the most excited about decorating the tree. Notice her matching PJ's and socks. She was bound and determined to get the most ornaments on the tree. She would have preferred if we all left the room and let her do this by herself.

Don't let this picture fool you. I took it because the boys look like they are working together. Only seconds after this picture was shot Toad turned around and kicked Bear and then threw a glass ornament across the room.

From that point on, he was restricted to only the cheap plastic ornaments. He didn't care... as long as they were balls. He was obsessed with the balls.

She made sure that she divvied up the ornaments according to whose name was on them. If there was no name, she claimed it.

Bear turned around and pushed Toad over because he was touching an ornament with his picture on it. However, doesn't this picture look so serene, picturesque and loving. Nope. It wasn't.

I love the matching PJ's here. Also, note the spagetti sauce on his cheeks!

Toad's final conquest before he bowed out for the evening.

Nena was actually rather helpful. She was so zoned into the tree that she was completely oblivious to the brother bickering going on behind her. She loved it.

This is how we ended the evening. Toad was quickly wisked off to bed and the older two were left to finish it up. The tree actually looks really pretty in person. Although the evening was a bit of a mellow drama with all three kids up past their bedtimes, we had a great time. Such fun, exhausting memories.

Some Of My Favorite Ornaments

Look! She had chubby cheeks! I love the picture ornaments. I made that dress for her that year and she loved it!

My father in law gave me this one the year that Kyra was born.

My grandpa gave me this the year that Kyra was born. I love it and it reminds me so much of him. He died two years later.

Kyra loves ballet and she loves to attend the Nutcracker. She ogled this ornament for weeks before we bought it.

I LOVE snowmen. My mom gave me this one last year and it has risen to the top of the list.
This one was another gift from my father in law. Believe it or not, my inlaws used to really like me. This one reminds me of those times.
Harvey bought this one for me when we were engaged. He had gone to Germany and bought me this. This reminds me of such good times.

This is Kyra's snowman. She was obsessed with snowmen that year. She takes after her mom.
This was Kaeson's second ornament. He loved shoes, socks, hats and gloves at this point. So, this one reminded me of his obsession.


Kyra wanted to learn to ice skate soooo badly. She got this one in hopes to learn. She then tried it and decided to never to do it again.

He had the shaggy hair style for a while.

This is Kyra's first ornament. It is only an inch tall. She was a tiny 4 pound preemie and this seemed to fit. A tiny angel for my tiny angel.

I thought this one was darling! Kaeson loved to sit on my lap and pull my car into the garage. This one looked so cute and vintage. I want a car like this sometime. Only larger and one that works.

This is Kelty's first ornament. It is cuter in person.

This Christmas

Christmas is a time for giving. Someone once said he couldn’t think of what to give for Christmas. The next day in the mail he received an anonymous list which read:

Give to your enemy forgiveness,
To your opponent tolerance,
To your friend your heart,
To all men charity, for the hands that help
are holier than lips that pray,
To every child a good example,
and to yourself—respect.

This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.

Christmas is a celebration, and there is no celebration that compares with the realization of its true meaning—with the sudden stirring of the heart that has extended itself unselfishly in the things that matter most.

Howard W. Hunter

My Craft Project for Today

My new art. Total for 6 pictures.... $2.00. If you are interested in how I did it, ask me! You will faint because it is so easy. Ok, that was a bit dramatic but, I think that it is really cool!

5 Minute Hat

I am obsessed with a blog that centers around making items using purchases from the dollar store. It is listed on my side bar near the bottom if you are interested. Now, I find myself going to the dollar store looking at things that could be transformed into something much better. I get a thrill out of it. Aren't I just a bit pathetic!

While at the store buying gift boxes for another project that I am doing, I saw these super soft micro fleece scarves. I picked one up and unfolded it to see that it was quite wide. Inspiration struck.

My friend had asked me to make sleeping caps for her boys. You know the long, old fashioned ones. I immediately put the two thoughts together and bought a couple of scarves just to try it out. You can't go wrong spending three dollars to try something out. Well, 5 minutes later... YES... 5 MINUTES LATER... I had this cute little sleeping cap. I have tweaked it a bit since I took the picture. However, the scarves I bought match my kiddos Christmas pajamas. So, I have 3 matching sleeping caps in under 15 minutes. Cool huh.

Now, I KNOW that my kids will wear these for about 5 minutes and then rip them off and lose them in the midst of Christmas morning. They will probably get tangled up in Christmas wrapping paper and thrown away BUT... they will make for a cute picture.

Oh, and in the picture, please don't mind that it was taken with my camera phone since my normal camera is MIA. Also, please use your imaginations and edit the laundry off the couch in the background. Thanks. I appreciate it.

Sweet Moment

My little Toad has such a strong personality that I so often miss the sweet things that he does. He is extremely independent and determined. He is very particular about when I get to hold him and what he wants at each and every moment.

In the mornings, while the older two are in school, it is just us. He shadows me most of the time as I clean or muddle about the house. He will occassionally find a toy or something to distract his attention momentarily but, for the most part, we hang out, play baseball and indulge his love for chocolate.

This morning, I was cleaning the kitchen and he wanted to be picked up. I told him to wait just a moment until I was finished. He looked up with those enormous eyes and pleaded, "Mommy, I hold you. Pease!" I secretly love that my kiddos say, "I hold you" because the mimic me saying, "Can I hold you?"

I dropped everything and picked up my little (30 pound) Toad and looked into those giant eyes sporting a smile from ear to ear. A soft Christmas song came over the radio at that moment and he put his head down on my shoulder and softly asked "Dance mommy. I dance with you."

With my eyes filling with tears, we slowly dance around the kitchen. I was so overcome. Toady never puts his head down on my shoulder anymore. Ever. In fact, he is such a daddy's and grandpa's boy lately that it hard for me to even coax a kiss and hug out of him. However, for that moment, I had him all to myself and he wanted to dance with ME!

We continued to dance around the kitchen for 2 song in a row. They were soft and sweet and so very calming. By the third song, he was done. He wanted down and started begging for the bottle of bleach on the counter top. I guess that is what Willy Nelson will do to you at Christmas time. However, I am just thrilled that I got to spend a whole 5 minutes having Toad all to myself. Another memory to tuck away and remember forever!

What A Weekend!

Can you believe it. Four posts in one day. I am getting back to my old self. YEAH!!!

First of all... I wish that I had documented more of this weekend in pictures but, I can't find my camera! I have a few shots of Thanksgiving and that is where it ends. So, once I find it, watch out. I am going through camera withdraw and I will be snapping pictures of anything that I see once it finds its way home.

Monday:
* Nena's gets flu and spends the rest of the week home from school

Wednesday:
* Bear's last day of school before break.
* Made cookies with the kiddos
* My cute brother flies in from Cali for the weekend.

Thursday:
* Lazy morning with my boys (Nena spent the night at Grandma's)
* Brunch at my family's house
* Football game and playing at the park with my dad, brothers and sisters (Jac from now on you will just be referred to as a sister instead of sister-in-law)
* Games and activities
* Thanksgiving dinner! What great food! It gets better each year!
* PIE!!!
* Kiddos off to visit Grandma and Grandpa Franco with dad
* (The rest of us) Christmas Vacation and Love Actually. Two of the best movies ever made.

Friday:
* 4:00 a.m. shopping Black Friday. Yep. I went. I was even up, dressed, with make-up and my high heeled boots and all. A decision that I later regretted. Leigh, Nikki and I hit Target, Walmart, Bath and Body works (my favorite,) Roberts, ShopKo, Smith's and Seagull Book! Be impressed. I finished every last ounce of my shopping!
* Attempted a nap while kiddos spent the afternoon with dad.
* Birthday party for a dear friend: Happy 50th Rick!
* Movie with the older kiddos and my family. Toad was sick and stayed home with dad. We saw "Fantastic Mr. Fox" Gotta say, the title says it all. Two thumbs up!

Saturday:
* Early morning pediatrician visit for Toad. Whew! No flu for Toad.
* Cleaned the house and got ready for the big game!
* U of U party with my family and the Banks! I have to say, it is fun to have such huge fans of both teams in the same room. It makes the game so much more fun! I loved it.
* Game night! We played "The Great Dalmudi" one of our family's favorite games! Loved every minute of it.
*CRASHED!!!

Sunday:
* Lazy Daisy morning with the kiddos.
* Kiddos off to church with Dad while I stayed home with a feverish Toad.
* Managed to break a table, a lamp, nearly break a mirror and spill an entire 20 oz bottle of red Crystal Light while cleaning and rearranging my room. See, I need to stop trying to organize. It is coming back to haunt me!
* Visit to my parents one last time to say goodbye to Uncle Dusty!

All in all... ONE FABULOUS WEEKEND! Are you jealous yet???

Gotta Love A Time Waster

A must for anyone who is bored, mad, sad, angry or other wise. Call the Nestle Crunch Hotline at 1-800-295-0051. When you are asked if you want to continue in English or Spanish, just wait *quietly* for about 10 seconds and you will smile. Promise!! (if you comment on this after listening, don't give away the surprise.........) keep going and press 4 it gets even better!

Soooo Stylish! NOT!

I came to a very disturbing realization today. I have no style! I have no sense of fashion. I really don't.

I have been looking through blogs over the past few days and seeing all of the amazing ways that people have decorated their homes for the holidays. People either have amazing creativity and style or amazing budgets. I just don't get it. Where did mine go? I wonder what line I was standing in when they were passing out style in the previous world!

One of these years (lifetimes) I want a home that looks like one of these at Christmas time. Now, I know that some of you are thinking that I just have home envy. That isn't the case. I actually love my home and plan on spending many more happy years here and dropping many more $$$$ into making it look nicer. Seriously though. How do people find, collect and arrange all of these beautiful things.

Oh well. At least my kiddos will be able to relate to Charlie Brown at Christmas.

Four Gifts of Christmas

This is not a new idea (surprise surprise) but, I loved it so much that I had to share. With the way of the world right now, I don't know a single person that isn't cutting back a little on Christmas. In my case, we are on a tighter budget than usual but, I have been trying my best to get them everything that I can within that budget. I am still amazed at what I was able to do on my budget. However, I look at it now and still think that I have over done it.

I think that my generation wants so badly to give everything to our children that we miss important lessons that we could be given to our little ones: charity, diligence, appreciation, gratitude and a sense of work. So, I am going to present this idea and say that this will be my goal for next year.

It is the Want. Need. Wear. Read plan. Four presents, one in (you guessed it) each of those categories. What a brilliant idea. Next year I am going to present those categories to my kiddos and let them think about what they would like in each of those four categories and call it good.

They get so many things from their grandparents, aunts and uncles that they barely notice what Santa leaves. I think by getting four things that they would really like would deepen their appreciation and gratitude which is something that is severely lacking at the Franco household this year.

The images are "clickable" and you can use them to download and label the packages that you give to your children.

Again, I think that it is a brilliant idea and I wish that I had thought or heard of it a month ago before I bought the things that I had.

Gratitude

Fairies * Bears * Toads * Greatest Parents of all Time * Amazing Brothers * Fabulous Sisters (and sister in law) * Best Friends in the World * Hot Water * Dish Washers * Tylenol * American Eagle Jeans * High Heeled Boots * Wedge Sandals * Candles * Scented Oils * Lavender Anything * Hope * Dyson Vacuums * Disneyland * Water Fountains * Diet Coke * Digital Cameras * Love Actually * Central Air and Heat * Minivans * Amazing Stylist * Treadmills * Bernina * Vacations * Inspiration * Down Comforters * Blogs * Motivation * Color * Nail Polish * Lip Gloss * Laptops * Facebook * Emails * Christmas Cards * Unexpected Packages * Toothpaste * Salad * Cheese Fries * Silky Pajamas * Fluffy Socks * Venus Embrace Razors * Scented Lotions * Bobby Pins * Pretty Inexpensive Jewelry * Orchids and Lilies * Beautiful Photographs * Cute Hats * Target * Avocados * Crystal Light * Reverse Osmosis * Flat Irons * Higher Education * Talents * Hobby Lobby * Twilight * Sudafed * Rain * Romance * Cell Phones * Texting * Perfect Black Dress * Random Compliments * Horoscopes * Chocolate * Bleach * Dreams * Trials * Sparkles * Charm Squares * Coffee Commercials * Wit * Clever Ideas * Afternoons Out * Wishing * Project Runway * Vitamins * Wipes * Personalized CD's * Chic Sunglasses * Mozzarella Cheese * Traditions * Brand New Socks * Good Deals * Thrift Shops * Thunder Storms * Boats * Handmade Gifts * Innocence * Humility * Music * Water Scenes * Bridges * Mist * Mystery * Fantasy * Clean Homes * Organization * Spontaneity * Quirky Decor * My Blessings

Two Free Patterns

If you are a crafter or would like to be Squiggly Twigs is offering two of her patterns for free for the next couple of days. They are her tiered skirt pattern and her peasant top pattern. The rest of her patterns are 50% off. Thought that you might like to take a look.