Let the Games begins...

Well... It has begun! The annual quest for the perfect Christmas!

Yikes! I don't love the countdown, the stress, the chaos of Christmas.

I am starting to decorate my house this week so it will be done when we return from Thanksgiving... I love to do it and how it turns out. My tree really brings me holiday joy.

I want this season to be about JOY!

Saturday Caylor and I went to the mall to do a few returns and pick up a few things...

We had the greatest lunch in a darling little ski restaurant and just sat there

watching it snow...

We talked about what we wanted for this holiday season-

I said that I wanted it to me more about the Christmas season instead

CHRISTMAS MORNING...

I don't want to be a recession scrooge... but it won't be the elaborate Christmases of the past.

I am doing a free online class with Jessica Sprague... Holidays in Hand and

she linked her site to this wonderful little chunk of Christmas Wisdom.

Organized Christmas...

So... to all my 5 friends in the blogosphere...

What do you do to make the Christmas season more memorable for your family?

I want my kids to remember events and feelings rather than presents and junk.

Help me... I have got a few ideas, but need your help.

The Holiday Boutique to end Holiday Boutiques...

Here is your chance to attend THE holiday boutique to end all holiday boutiques!

The creative girls at Over the Tipsy Top Design are hosting a holiday show this Thursday! I am also taking some stars, aprons, etc. I was over there today and am absolutely GOBSMACKED at the amazing things they have. All I can say is I have known Tonia for a long time and have seen alot of her fabulousness before...so it is hard for her to really blow me away. Today... I was blown away and it was not even done yet. If you live ANYWHERE along the Wasatch Front... you NEED To schedule a time to head to this show. You have all seen her house in party photos & loved it! It is worth the drive just to see it all done up for Christmas. You will be in AWE! Tonia and Marla are two talented little Divas that know how to go over the Tipsy Top for the Holidays! You owe it to yourself at the beginning of the holidays to get some of their amazing creations and start the season off right. You WON'T be disappointed!

For those of you that can't hop a plane to be here... leave them a comment and tell them to have an online boutique... like their own little private ETSY or something.

Yeah... The Fourth of July...

I love the 4th of July! When I was little the 4th was right up there next to Christmas... okay maybe not that great- but still great! St. George didn't really do anything too great, but we always got a new fourth of July outfit, always had some kind of bar-b-que, and ALWAYS went to my grandma's house ( which was across the street from where the fireworks were shot off) and watched the firework splendor with cousins and extended family. My sister and I would alwasy try to "call" the fireworks for our own. When my fanily lived in Boise we would always go to the Boise Hawks ( semi-pro) baseball game. It was fun to watch the game, have baseball food and treats, and then watch the huge fireworks display there. Now that we live in Utah... Mitch is involved with the Firecracker Baseball Tourny in Heber and Utah County. It is fun to go watch him play ball... and then come home, make homemade ice cream and sit on our deck and watch about 3-4 different fireworks displays. I got the kidsa new shirts ( I AM past the Old Navy $5.00 specials that we had to have every year when Mitch was little) and we are going to have some friends over for treats. It is a fun holiday and every year I always say I am going to have a big extravaganza and then Mitch gets on a comp baseball team and we end up at the ball park. Someday... but for right now I am happy with our 4th of July traditions. What are yours? Do share... living away from the most of our family I am always looking to steal some great new traditions!