Fantastic Mr. Fox

Hi! I haven't completely vanished. Just busy playing with new toys, figuring out the Wii, eating lots of evil food and watching movies with the family.I took the kids to see this movie today. It is playing at our local discount theater which we adore, movie, popcorn and a drink for four bucks. Happy, happy me. However, I think I would actually have been happy to pay full price for this one. It was just so fascinating to watch the animation, I loved that it looked so different from your usual kid movie. And I think George Clooney must have a really unusual, dry humor in real life because that he seems to deliver that in all the movies I like him in, he is the voice of Mr. Fox by the way. I told my mom for some bizarre reason this movie made me think of his O Brother Where Art Thou. Maybe it was just the same sort of quirky soundtrack. So if you are looking for a fun movie that is probably at your discount theater I would highly recommend this one. I might even buy it, I'm sure it will be out on DVD soon! Hope you are all enjoying this holiday week!

Matthew's Special Chest

So here it is, William's magnificent creation for Matthew's room. He is in our bonus room right now so there isn't a closet. He has been sharing with Josh but his dad decided it would be fun to add to the car theme we had going in there. This is one side.

This is the other. There are shelves with baskets on one side an hooks on the other. Didn't it turn out great? Now we just need a small army to help carry it up the stairs!

Our Best Christmas Ever

We say that every year. But they really do just get more and more fun every year. I live in fear of the year that the kids don't want toys anymore.

But it definitely wasn't this year!

Santa was really good to us this year, everyone got just what they wanted. Plus Santa helped us into the technological age and we received a Wii. So far I am a fan, it enabled me to have a nap yesterday, so I could I help but like it?

I am so afraid this might be our last year with Thomas. I love Thomas the Train. Because I love scenes like this one. My crafty boy finally got the Bendaroos he has been wanting for the last year.

And Brittany keeps creating gorgeous gown after gorgeous gown.

But the big surprise was the awesome project Dad created for Matthew with the license plates we have been gathering. This is a really crummy picture but I love their faces. I will post better ones later.

Merry, Merry Christmas!

This original Brittany paper cut is here as our Christmas card to you. We hope you all have a wonderful day full of love, magic and great memories!

All Systems Go!

The last things on the list have been checked off.

Finally went to see the big guy. Just in time.
Great attention was paid to the details. Not any skepticism there do you think? The last cookies have been baked.

Now if the elves would just stop by while I am sleeping to clean the house.

Let the wild rumpus begin!

Temple Square 2009

Last night we made our annual pilgrimage to Temple Square in Salt Lake. It just never disappoints. This year we have an inversion going on so the was lots of fog for special effects.

They have nativities from all over the world. That is fog, not some stray ghost of some kind.

This is my favorite nativity. It is hard to tell in the picture but it is in a reflecting pool in front of the temple.

This is the very spot that William asked me to marry him on Christmas Eve almost 18 years ago. How can that possibly be? We thought it appropriate to document the result of that crazy question. They are nutty but they are ours, forever.

Tiny Baby Jesus-A Tutorial

My mom and I decided to make tiny little baby Jesus dolls for our sunbeams, the class of three year-olds we each teach at church. They turned out so cute I thought I would post a quick tutorial in case any one is crazy like me and still taking on projects. Plus next year when I can't remember how I did I can look it up.

First I made a little template that fit in my "manger" which was found at Michael.

Then I traced it 15 times, that is how many we needed. Then I sewed right on top of the line. Cut them out about 1/4" away from the stitching.

Turn and stuff. They look like a bunch of severed fingers don't they?

Then I used a square of white flannel for the swaddling. Fold down the top corner. Wrap around his head. Anchor with hot glue.

Fold up the bottom.

Fold one side in. More hot glue.

Wrap the last side around and even more hot glue.

I used a sharpie for the faces. Why do this many in a row just look so cute to me?

We had to try making these snowflakes last week. Can't remember whose blog they were on but they originated with Martha. Lucky for us we had Borax left over from our slime adventure and anything you can do with Borax is bound to be fun. It was a great project. We made our snowflakes before bedtime and had awesome snowflakes by morning!

Not great pictures but you get the idea. Let it snow!

Christmas Doll Swap

This is an exceptionally crazy time of year to even think about a swap but when I saw this one for an altered doll swap it was more than I could resist. I cheated a bit and altered one of my own dolls. She was left over from my big-eye stage I went through a couple of years ago. She got a new crown and a Christmas tree to hug.

My partner, the amazing Viv made me this little Snow girl. Isn't she the most darling thing you have ever seen? When I found out Viv was my partner I was so excited, she makes amazing tiny things. I love her so much! I even tried to use this same idea on a little doll I had but of course she isn't finished and she has been relegated to the list of things to work on after the holidays. Lucky for me I have this sweety to make me happy, she sits in my kitchen window and fits in perfectly with the snow outside. Thanks Viv!

A Mouse in the House

It is candy making week. Yesterday I made our favorite mint fudge, green fudge as it is known. The recipe is here.

Unfortunately this is what it looked like after I came home from taking Brittany to ballet. Apparently we were visited by a little mouse while Dad was out in the shop.

Meet our mouse. Cute isn't he? Let's just say it is a good thing he is cute or you could look for him on Ebay.

If you need a laugh as badly as I did go over here to my friend Circe's blog. Guaranteed giggle.

Glitter Flowers

Just in case you are looking for a quick idea for little girl friends here is one we did that worked really well. They are the silk flowers little (and big) girls wear in their hair a lot around here. They are just hot glued to a clip but the thing we did that was fun was to spray them with a clear spray paint and then shake glitter over the top. Then I coated them once more with clear spray. I had some little rhinestone gems so we used them for the middles. You can never have too much glitter right?

Snow Day

We had lots of fluffy snow today. More than my kids can resist.The whining and the begging got to me and I agreed to take them sledding on the hill near my parents if they would leave me alone during nap time to work on Christmas projects. I got ripped off. Oh well, that is what the wee hours of the night are for right?



At least they had fun.



You wouldn't believe this was just a little hill in a retention pond would you?



The kids there had built a little jump so you could get some lift to your ride.



It turned into a day of putting all the snow clothes on, then into the dryer, then on again then into the dryer. My dryer is tired and I am a little grumpy.


Hard to grump at two faces like this. I did manage to find a way though.

Their snow men are getting a little taller as Brittany gets taller.


Sort of feel like this myself.

Need Help!

We are collecting license plates from different states (we have lots of California and Utah) for a secret project. If you happen to have one laying around that you would like to contribute it would help so much! So if you do and you wouldn't mind sending it I will send a surprise back your way in the mail. Thanks so much!

Super Yummy Crispy Treats

It is the time of year that we are all looking for good treats for the neighbors, teachers and friends. So I thought I would share this one, I will be making this for teachers I think this year. I had this at a chocolate shop at The Gateway in the fall and thought it couldn't be that hard to make and it isn't.

First I made up a batch of Rice Crispy Treats just the way it says on the box. Only I spread it thinner on a cookie sheet so that it was about an inch thick. I let that cool while I melted a whole package of Kraft caramels plus two teaspoons of water. I spread that over the top of the crispies. Then melted one cup of white chocolate chips, drizzled that. Then melted one cup of milk chocolate chips and drizzled that. Let the whole thing cool and then cut big slabs, about 6X6 inches. They look really pretty in a cellophane bag. What are you giving to teachers and neighbors?

Gingerbread Houses

It is funny, when someone asks me for our Christmas traditions I sometimes have a hard time coming up with some. But this time of year it all comes back to me. We did one of the kids favorites this weekend. Every year we decorate a gingerbread house together.

I always buy a kit that comes with everything. It can get ugly as a lot of collaboration is required and we are not always good at that. Well this year I found a way for us all to be happy and work together.

The gingerbread village! I love the Wilson people and their kits. These houses were tiny but there were just the right amount for us each to have our own. Although unless you are going to eat the month old gingerbread when the holidays are over I recommend using your glue gun to stick all the pieces together instead of frosting. Then the frosting is just for decorating and candy application.

I could not believe how great three year old Josh was at decorating his little house. Look at the concentration.

The finished product.

Brittany's house

Matthew's house