Christmas Morning, a day early.

(Don't mind my small change: strings -----> bows.)

I just have to take a moment to say...Mom and Elaine and Em and Lisa...you inspire me with your creativity! Your gift wrapping is no exception. You've made it an art, seriously. WOW. I couldn't help but take pictures of my presents before I unwrapped them :0)

My family is big into stockings. Growing up it was often in our stockings where we'd find our smallest yet most expensive gifts. Over the years my Mom has been in charge of filling the stockings, and has always found the perfect things. This year, however, she decided that we should all draw names...she would give us a spending limit, and we would be in charge of filling that person's stocking. I thought it was a GREAT idea! It was so fun being an elf for my Mom :0) Anyway, Rach had my stocking and she found the cutest things. Thanks Pook!...

(Sidenote: I had Tim, Rach had me, Bry had Rach, Em had Bry,
Tim had Dad, Mom had Em, and Dad had Mom.)

But no one can compete with a certain stocking last year...

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

(The nurses brought Brie to me in a Christmas stocking.
How cute is that?)

So this year we decided to bring Brie upstairs in her stocking.
That petite little peanut still fit in it :0)

Aunt Elaine (Grauntie) & Uncle Bob (Gruncle) have also been a part of our Christmas morning tradition for the last several years. It is SO fun and special having them join us.

She actually HAS toys now! Bry and I have just been using household items to keep her occupied--toilet paper roll, cassette tape case, baby clothes hangers, old boxes, etc.

Whatever works :0)

It was SO fun having Brie with us for Christmas. She was only a few weeks old last year, so it was fun to watch her get excited about the wrapping paper, candy canes, and new toys.

She is the best bundle of joy we could ever ask for!

After we finished opening presents we sat down for a delicious Christmas breakfast--Em's casserole, orange rolls (thanks to Elaine) and orange juice. Yum.

This year I started to realize that the true presents I could give my family were not things that could be wrapped up. That when it came down to it, the most meaningful and long-lasting gifts would be my gifts of time, of love, of service. Christmas would seem so empty without those gifts, ya know?....But I won't lie, there is something special and magical about Christmas morning and the gifts that we give...and I love that I get to share those moments with my loved ones each year. Yay for Christmas traditions!

Thank you Pops & Biscus, Bem, Pook, Timmers, Bry, and Elaine & Bob for your thoughtfulness and generosity. I so enjoyed spending Christmas with all of you!

**Up next, Christmas with the Gradens :0)**

Christmas Eve-Eve.

Since Rach had to work (and my Parents and Tim were going on vacation) on Christmas day, we decided to celebrate with my family a day early. It was great being able to fully celebrate Christmas with both sides of the family.For the last several years (I'm not good at remembering specific dates, time periods...you could maybe go as far as saying decade.), my family has had the tradition of doing a Bethlehemesque meal for Christmas Eve dinner.

It usually consists of pita bread, crackers, hummus, dates, figs, grapes, crab salad, cheese, sparkling cider...and whatever else we're wanting to add. This year I made a cheese ball for the first time. Simple and yummy. It was a nice addition.

After dinner we got to talk to Elder Sheets who is currently on loan to the Romanian mission in Moldova :0) YAY! We sure love that guy, and were so happy to hear his voice and talk to him for a little bit. Crazy that he's already been gone over a year.

Before we headed downstairs to watch a Christmas movie and hit the hay with the siblings, Bryan and I gave each other our presents. It was quiet and peaceful, and the beautiful glow from the Christmas tree added a romantic touch ;0)

Ahead of time we had decided to ask for a spouse specific wish list...things that we would appreciate getting from our spouse. I've been wanting to spruce up my wardrobe, so I told Bry that I thought something like jewellry, clothes or pajamas would be fun, and specifically something that he thought would be cute on me. After all, it's so much more fun wearing something when you know your spouse likes it on you. True? :0) So...all that to say that he picked me out a shirt, some earrings and some bracelets. I was very impressed. Way to go Bry!

(us trying to take a "long arm shot" with a
semi heavy and awkward DSLR.)

We were going to have a big party/sleepover with my siblings, but it was already past midnight and I was way tired, so I did like I've always done...played party pooper and fell asleep :0)

Christmastime Sneakiness :0)

If this doesn't make you laugh, I don't know what will :0)

A killer whale, a pig and a poodle?!

About a week and 1/2 before Christmas, my family's Christmas tree was still bare. All of us were too busy to pull out the usual decorations to decorate it.

One night my mom was wrapping away*, I was finally putting away the decorations from Brie's birthday party, when...my Mom decided to stick Olivia in the Christmas tree and voilà! Within a few minutes the rest of the decorations found their way into the pine's branches, a few Ikea ornaments and candy canes were hung and the tree was decorated.

And the best part was that my Mom and Dad had enjoyed the process! I think we're onto something here :0)

*She had previously been placing the lighter wrapped presents in the tree as she finished wrapping them.

Lame gift givers, no more.

For those of you who didn't know me in my childhood and teenage years...let's just say, I wasn't known for giving the best gifts. One year I found rocks, painted yellow smiley faces on them and gave them as prayer rocks. That same year I found a round, flat log, painted a rainbow on it and gave it as a gift to my family (this was when I had a fetish for smiley faces and rainbows!). What did I expect them to do with it?! Who really knows :0)

Bryan's and my first Christmas together we realized that we had BOTH been notorious for lame gifts. Oh great! We decided to take on the challenge of becoming better gift givers (I think it's an art.). In any case, this year I decided to put a little more thought, time and energy into my gifts.

My sister-in-law, Julie, had the great idea of making calendars for Dad and Julia's offices. She helped me collect pictures and then my good pal Photoshop and I put the calendar together. Here's the picture for January...


With the Gradens, each person has one sibling for Christmas. It's fun and simplifies things! This year I had Jon. I wasn't sure what to do for his present, but after attending his Hapkido 2nd black belt test I decided it'd be fun to do a few things to honor such an important happening. In any case, I put together a little 12 page book and then made this 11x14 collage...

(I've posted a few other pictures on my photo blog.
You can check them out here.)

A few other "homemade" gifts were for my Aunt Elaine. She asked if I'd come and take pictures of her Christmas decorations and some of her gift wrapping...she is VERY gifted at making things look BEAUTIFUL! Anyway, I of course was happy to take a few pictures and decided to group them into mini "collages" and print them off for a photo album.

A little peek at a few of her Christmas decorations.
Their home is especially festive and beautiful at this time of year!

Lastly, Elaine is the Queen of Thank you cards...sending them, that is. She has always been thoughtful that way. In any case, thank you cards were on her wish list, but instead of buying premade cards (they can be so expensive and all look the same), I decided to make some. It was a lot of fun! Here are a few of them...

Anyway, it was fun making more of the gifts this year. And plus, I may not have a lot of money, but I do have some skills and some time. Yay for homemade gifts!

All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth.

There is something about being a mom that brings out the songwriter in me. The other night, I found myself making up songs for brushing teeth and changing diapers :0) Do any of you find yourself doing that?

During the Summer our dentist gave Brie a mini toothbrush and advised us to start getting her in the habit of using a toothbrush. I thought it was a great idea, so since then we've made "tooth brushing" a part of Brie's morning and night time routines.

Speaking of teeth...Brie was super fussy last week and we couldn't quite figure it out. Thankfully while spending Christmas with the Gradens, Heather realized that Brie's two front teeth were coming in! Poor Brie, that's got to hurt! But, I couldn't help but think of the good ol' classic, "All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth!" :0)

a Party for a Precocious Little Piglet .

The story goes that my Dad asked Brie how old she was and this was her reply. Staged or not, it's cute nonetheless :0)

I was going to do an animal theme for Brie's birthday (kind of like I did for Julie's baby shower) and just use stuffed animals from around the house. While brainstorming with Em about all of the details we thought of theming it on Olivia--an adorable children's book. Olivia is known as the "precocious little piglet" who sings loudly, is always on the go and wears people out. Hmm, it reminded me of a little someone that I know ;0)

Here I am flipping through one of my favorite Olivia books, explaining how Brie is our precocious little piglet. All the while she was singing and talking...LOUDLY, it was perfect :0)

Anyway, as many of you know I really enjoy decorating, photography, design, colors...all that good stuff. I had a great time brainstorming inexpensive ways to pull off our Olivia theme. I ended up only purchasing a few things (the red gerbera daisy, streamers and a few prints of Brie). Not too shabby, eh? The rest of the things were around the house. (Among many things, my Mom let me use her hutch. I told Bryan after the party that we need to get ourselves a "holiday hutch." Someday :0)) Now Miss Olivia the Pig, on the other hand, was a gift from Brie's Grauntie! :0) Thank you Elaine.

Note: If ever you need to pull together an inexpensive party, pick a few colors and then search your house for items. It's amazing what things you find once you have your theme in mind.

And here is the sweet Birthday Girl :0)...

(Throughout the pictures you'll notice this adorable "1" onesie. My very talented and creative friend made it. She has her own etsy shop where she sells similarly CUTE and crafty things.
Click here to check it out online, All Things Crafty!)


Natalie and Logan DeVore were some of the first guests to arrive.
And that little Logan sure got a kick out of Brie and her tutu.

Logan loved the tutu and Brie loved the attention. Win-win.

Brie with Aunt Ashley & Uncle Ben AND
the adorable mouse they gave her.


Brie LOVES this little music maker.
Thank you Grandpa & Nana Julz!!

Everyone hanging out, til the big moment arrived...
.
.
.
.
.

I wondered how she'd react to her cake.
She just dove right in and by the end was covered with cake and frosting! (I just may have to devote another post to Brie and her cake. My Dad snapped some priceless shots :0))

Next came the opening of the presents...

Natalie, thanks for the adorable bear and the lotion.
You can tell she was very excited about her lotion :0)

Alan & Liz, thanks for the hooded towel.
Not only did it provide great birthday party entertainment,
but it's been great for bath times!

Cousin Lilli "helping" Brie open her present ;0)
Julie & Walt, thank you for "What's Wrong Little Pookie."
We love it! What is there not to love about Sandra Boynton's books. Winners!

I think by this point Brie had the present opening down :0)
Thank you, Elaine & Bob, for the ADORABLE gingerbread outfit.
Too, TOO cute!

After opening all of her presents, Brie took the party into her own hands and played peek-a-boo with her new towel. That little girl, what a cutie patootie!


The gang. Well most everyone
(Julie, Natalie (& Logan) and Em had already left).

Our little birthday girl :0)

Although Em wasn't wanting to be in any pictures I had to sneak a few with her, the birthday girl, and the beautiful cupcake she made. It turned out SO cute! Thanks Schmemmie!!

Brie saying goodbye to her Grauntie.

As party favors, Em and I made cake pops. They were a hit! At the end of the evening Em had Brie eat the last one. You would have thought that she had reached her sugar limit, but no...she popped that thing right off the stick and shoved it in her mouth :0)

THANKS EVERYONE for making Brie's birthday party so FUN!!

A day in the life of a birthday girl.

1st Birthday, just begun.

Finishing off her first piece of streusel cake.

Sporting her new moccasins (Thanks Mom) with Mémé.

Opening her first birthday present---adorable little Christmas Trumpette socks. (Note: St. Jude is where Timmy was treated for cancer. Their gift shop sells all sorts of fun things.) Thanks again Mom!

Oops, just realized that I jumped the gun with the socks. She got them after her...

...bath! YAY for bath time, especially on birthdays.
It's so cute how much Brie loves her baths :0)

I decided that the day would be hers to do whatever her little one year old self wanted. It was rather humorous following her around the house.


Brie "playing" the piano. She loves to play and even turns the pages of the hymn book. Any talent she got must be from her Dad!

Chasing after a battery-operated hamster.

Playing with a flower.

Heading up the stairs...

...and into the loft.



Opening an adorable Olivia doll from her Grauntie!

And then presents from Aunt Rachie...

(Rach made up a little poem/song to accompany her gift. Too cute, Pook! Click on the image to enlarge it.)

Looking all schnazzy in her Adidas jogging outfit...
you know since Toddlers are known for their jogging :0)
Thanks Pook!

Nana Julz dropping in to share in the birthday fun.

Pulling out the tissue paper to find a beautiful dress and fun NOAH's Ark book
from Nana Julz and Grandpa.



Daddy's home! Look at those smiles...she LOVES her Dada :0)

After finishing...well, more like polishing off a plate of delicious shepherd's pie for dinner.


Reading ADORABLE Peek-a-Boo books from Aunt Emmie.

And we finished off the day by opening a card that Uncle Matt (Elder Sheets) had left before leaving on his mission. Now THAT is foresight and thoughtfulness!

And there you have it. Brie's first birthday in a nutshell...
well actually, in an over-the-toply documented post :0)

Thank you everyone who contributed to such a special day for Brie...with emails, facebook messages, hugs, gifts, visits and so on!

Next up: Brie's Birthday Party.