Christmas Eve

Since we've lived in Texas we have celebrated Christmas eve by going out to dinner. This year we went with our friends from church and their two kids. After eating we went to the downtown light show tour.

Lucy loved looking at all the lights as we pointed out each grouping. At the end there was a nativity scene.

Going through the light tunnel.

After getting home we started a fire in the fireplace, Lucy opened up a present/her new pajamas, and we had family scripture time and read some Christmas books.

WPFYFC

One evening, when I was in high school, I was at a church youth activity. We were gathering canned food from homes, bringing them back to the church, and then assembling Thanksgiving care packages.

I was assigned to be on the team that stayed back at the church to sort and organize the piles of food. This was done quickly and the rest of the evening became a waiting game as other groups finally came trickling back to the building.

To ward off boredom several of my friends and I decided to write poems for each other. And thus, the WPFYFC was born.

"What is WPFYFC?" you ask?  Well, let me tell you.

It is the Write Poems For Your Friends Club. It had five easy rules which I will share below.

Enjoy.


Write Poems For Your Friends Club

1. To be in the WPFYFC you need to write a poem for a friend

2. You can write a poem for more than one friend

3. You can write more than one poem for any of your friends

4. This club meets in between life (such as: me explaining the club = a club meeting)

5. You have to give a copy of the poem to the person the poem is written about/for

Looking back on it now, rules 2 and 3 seem unnecessary. Even rule 4.
So, basically: write a poem for a friend and give them a copy!


Welcome to the club!

The outcome of this club surprised me as I started amassing quite a collection of poems that people wrote for me. I also loved writing poems for my friends. Most of them were ridiculous, but they still made me quite happy and made me laugh.

Via Pinterest

Feel free to post a copy of your poem in the comments below.

Church Christmas Party

Party like it's 1999!

Unfortunately, my camera died right after this picture was taken but we had a nice evening with friends.

Lucy dancing the night away.

2012: Final Goal Review

It has been twelve months since I made my list of goals for the year, and it is time to see where we are at on its progress and what I accomplished. 

1. Create a masterpiece: Still working on this one. I finally hung up the painting I bought (mostly to get it out of the way), but still haven't painted over it to create my own masterpiece. It's hard to decide what kind of piece I want to put on it. Not for lack of inspiration.

2. Frame old treasures:  I framed and hung many old treasures! I completed a gallery wall in Lucy's room and in the guest room/library. 

3. Downsize personal art collection: Heyo! I actually donated one of my (award-winning) Rose photographs for a service auction. (The award is one of the highlights of my artistic career.) Several people bid on it and eventually it went home with someone who really loved it. (Yay!) So, one piece down, about 200 to go... but Hey, I'll take it!

4. Execute some pins: Well done. See here, here, here, here, here, here, and here... etc.

5. Send letters: See here!

6. Family trip: We went to Alabama for Zach's graduation and enjoyed some time there with his parents. Not exactly the family trip I had envisioned, but still enjoyable. Lucy and I spent the month prior in Iowa staying with Zach's parents and really enjoyed spending time with Nana and Grandpa. It was great to have a break from home responsibilities for awhile. 

7. Have a party: Thanksgiving, baby. Also not the fancy event I dreamed of for my party goal, but still filled with good food and good people.

8. Draw: So done! Oh, it felt so good to do this one. See here. It still makes me so happy to look through this book and show it to others.

9.Portraits: Nope.

10. Braid: Heck yes! I love me some fishtail. See here.

So, 8/10. Not bad. 

As a reminder, these are things I actually wanted to do as opposed to "New Years Resolutions" that are usually things that you don't want to do, but resolve to do anyway. Usually in an effort to become a better "you". I'm not opposed to that, but this list isn't intended to do that. Rather, a way to encourage myself to actually do the things I long to do, but never seem to get around to.

I loved this list of goals and really enjoyed pursuing my interests and talents this year. I can't wait to make my new list for 2013!

How did your goals for the year come out? Did you accomplished any dreams this year?

Suggestions for my new list? Please leave them in the comments below!

DIY: Ornament

For this advent calendar activity Lucy made her own ornament. I used materials I already had on hand, and she loved making it, as well as pointing to it, touching it, and talking about it all week long.

Materials:
- Clear plastic ornament (Hobby Lobby)
- Pearl beads
- Jingle bells
- Paper hearts
- Leftover beads from gift packaging
- Snipped white feathers from boa


Directions:
1. Carefully take the silver top off the ornament

2. Fill ball with various decorations

3. Pop top back on and attach hook or string for hanging

4. Hang on Christmas tree!

Mr. Kruger's Christmas

For one of our Advent Calendar activities we popped popcorn and watched one of my favorite Christmas movies, Mr. Kruger's Christmas. I love Jimmy Stewart in this movie and am always brought to tears in the scene where he sees the baby Jesus and talks to him about their relationship.

If you haven't seen it already (or even if you have) I highly recommend it. It is a great movie to watch for a family night and really brings the Christmas spirit. 

Frontier Christmas Dance and Concert

We had another wonderful Christmas party with Zach's coworkers at the Frontier Christmas Dance and Concert.

All day Lucy was practicing her dancing and was eagerly looking forward to the "dance party" later that night.

This year Lucy decided that she wanted to be like mom and requested some curlers in her hair as well. I think we look like Princess Leia impersonators. 

Lucy happy as a clam.

Admiring her curls in the mirror.

I can't believe how long her hair has gotten!

The Queen made an appearance. She had some amazing jewels!

Dancing with Dad.