Can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread-Mom

The Christmas season is one that hits most moms on the head with quite a pressure she didn't expect. I learned a few years ago to make things a lot simpler (as I recently shared) by eliminating things that cause unnecessary stress....

things like decorating gingerbread houses. Yes, I was pretty satisfied with myself until one day when Alyssa came home from a friends house and asked me to buy graham crackers and m&ms the next time I went to the store. When I forgot, she tearfully reminded me that she had asked and was expecting the items to be purchased so that she could build a gingerbread house like the ones (they apparently) made in school. I was rather impressed, so the next time I went to the grocery store, I took her with me so she could pick out what she wanted on her house.

*Nice little tid-bit: The wonderful thing about the stress free holiday mentality is that this was after Christmas, so the candy was 50% off. Next year I'll have to hold out another week for the 75% off sale. ;) 

I must say that even though I thought I had barely grazed by Christmas without doing the dreaded gingerbread senario, I'm glad I didn't get away with it. 

  This turned out to be a wonderfully fun activity from shopping for supplies, to making and finishing the houses and  it helped me to pull away from all my other "to-do's" and enjoy my littles...

                               
                                   ...while they're still little. Something I need to do more often.

What they say Wednesday

Plopping himself into a kitchen chair after playing in the flour while making sugar cookie cutouts, Justin said with realization:

"Making a mess can actually be fun."

Mommy tip Tuesday and: It's Not too Late to Give

A couple years ago Steve and I decided that we needed to do whatever we could to ease the stress that inevitably accompanies the Christmas season. We omitted some unnecessary traditions and tweaked some, and planned to go on a family trip just before Christmas Eve (details later). These simple, yet significant, changes have really helped me to enjoy things a lot more, and as a consequence, helped my family as well. One of those "traditions" is the treat plates. Steve loves to give them to his home teaching families, and I to my close friends, not to mention how much I love to bake. But this year needed to have things ready a lot sooner so that I could have the children packed and ready for a longer trip to Utah to see one of our Nephews get married. I knew I couldn't get stressed and that there wouldn't be time to fit everything in, so we decided to make goodies AFTER Christmas. I started to rationalize that people would probably appreciate this more since they could take their goodies to a party they were attending if they didn't want to eat all of it themselves. 

So our Sunday activity was making Grammy Buxton's sugar cookies (recipe HERE) and for family home evening we frosted some for treat. {I'm all for efficiency.} ;)

  These particular cookies are loaded with fond memories for me and my siblings, doesn't need to be chilled before handling, and turn out perfect every time. I've also found a very valuable solutions over the years when making them. So for mommy tip Tuesday, that's what I'm sharing today! Ready for the big, yet simple, secret? Here goes:

*drum roll please*

*MOMMY TIP

 When rolling out the dough and you find you (or some little helpers) added too much flour, put the dough back into the mixing bowl, add softened butter, and remix. I was thrilled when I tried this and it worked! What do you have to lose? Crumbly dough is no good to you, is it? In the end, this will save your efforts. Win-win!

 Meanwhile, we are going to deliver the rest of our goodies.

 Happy New year!

Another Lost Tooth

Early in her kindergarten year, Alyssa was playing on the monkey bars at recess when she slipped and cut her lower lip with her teeth. As a result her upper tooth was loose and turned a grey color from the damage of the impact. Her adult tooth has long since grown in and she has been bumping one tooth at a time since.

As her adult teeth grow in I'm getting increasingly concerned that she will keep falling and knocking her teeth loose. It has become a constant prayer that she can keep them to a ripe old age. 

A Clown at Family Scripture Study

Every night we get together as a family and read scriptures together. I'd like to say that it is always full of spirituality and great inspirational focus, but the truth of the matter is, it's not. There are always things going on. The sad truth is, while it should be a great time of focus and serious reflection on important eternal principles, one could be quite amused...even amused. Such was the case this one evening when I found it quite difficult to keep a straight face.

 Our sweet and subtle 7 year old, Justin, innocently walks in. Sits down. And starts to read when it is his turn.

 All while wearing this silly wig from our Halloween costume box. 

Perfectly true to his adorable personality!

What they Say Wednesday

Alyssa, guess what my name is.

Alyssa: Huh?

Amy: Princess Luna

Justin: oh, that's a good name!

Alyssa: laughing continually.

Mom: Laughing at Alyssa laughing

Alyssa: Luna-tic?! (continuing to laugh)

I didn't know she knew that word!(?)

Wake-up Call

I've found at different times in my life that it is necessary to experience trials so that we can gain strength. These trials don't always come at the most convenient times. They don't come at the most expected times. But they come at the most necessary times. I, as everyone, have experienced a great many of these experiences, some of them big, some small. But the one thing I've come to really understand is the blessings that can be found through them. They are the meat for which our spirits are strengthened because they cause us to rely on our Savior. They help us to see that not only can we not endure them by ourselves, but we were never meant to. I'm finding a great deal of comfort in knowing this. I know that it isn't an empty faith and a wish that somebody will be there to pick us up and carry us through the roughest of our journey, but that they really are. I know this because it is a feeling of peace and a strength when all of my own have run out. When there is truly nothing left within myself and I know that I am completely in the hands of a loving Father that is just wanting to teach me what I need to learn with open arms all the while.

Source

July 25th I was scheduled to have a colonoscopy due to bleeding in my bowels. There was a very large tumor found, which upon testing proved to be cancerous. At the time there was no more to tell other than that I had cancer. A very difficult thing to say, to digest, to accept. During the days of waiting for further testing so that we could know the extent, there were many things that were realized between my incredibly supportive and loving spouse and myself. For me it was a wake-up call. A realization that maybe the way I spend my time and what I focus on isn't always what it should be. That there is so much more that could be done and so many more important things to do, such as serving others. I looked around me and discovered the blessings that the Lord has been placing in my life all through the years. I discovered some things I already recognized, yet didn't realize to what depth I knew them. Things like how much I love my children. How important their welfare is to me and how badly I want to be a part of every moment of their successes and be there to hold them up when they fall. I discovered who I wanted to share my news with, such as those that mean the most to me besides my husband and my children, those wonderful best friends of mine that are my siblings, my mother, my father. All of these were the main concern of my thoughts bringing me much sorrow to think I might possibly not be able to enjoy them again as I have throughout the years. I began to realize how important it would be to adequately express my love to them and gratitude that they are such an influential part of me and the reasons I value the things I do.

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I realized how well I have chosen my friends and who I choose to surround myself with every day. People who love the Savior and exemplify Him through their daily actions. I know this has been because of the influence of the Holy Ghost, the best friend of all.

Source

In the past I have recognized that even though trials may be difficult, they are necessary in forming our character and helping us to become who the Lord knows we can be. I'm grateful for the wake-up call. It has shown me how much I love and value life on a whole.