~OUR CHRISTMAS WAS... WONDERFUL~

Grandma Julie and sweet baby Claire, the youngest grand child.

Having breakfast before going off to church Christmas morning.

We has Sticky Bread..hot chocolate..and poached eggs.

Sophia and Caleb, all ready for church.

It just worked out that we were all wearing lots of red.

Ella and Sophia with their balance bikes.

Sophia enjoyed opening her gifts!

Caleb is crazy about super heroes, he loved his Spider man mask.

And what does a kid love most? That noisy toy that drives the adults crazy!

Loving some of my nice gifts.

Ella loved her doll cradle!

There was a loud knock at the door! The kids ran to answer it and
guess who it was? The pajama elf, and he left Christmas Eve pajamas
for all the kids, who promptly put them on.

We had a really nice Christmas Eve dinner at our daughter Tiffany's home.

She played and we sang Christmas carols around the piano, I love doing that.

Ella was so happy that she got her Rapunzel doll.

Our daughter Lisa loves being aunt to the little ones.

We had 2 small turkeys, a ham, potato casserole, veggies, rolls and pies!

It was so fun to be gathered at Tiffany and Isaac's home.
The 3 gals on your right in this picture are our daughters.

All ready to go to church...here with 4 of our 22 grand children.
Sophia..Caleb..Ella and Claire

Our daughter Lindsey and her little family.

And last but not least....

Our little "Santa Baby Claire"...the newest grand child.

I loved these pictures of Claire, I don't know about you but they
certainly brought out the Christmas spirit in me!
***

This year I simplified everything! A few have asked
me to tell about how I did that, so here goes.

We put our tree up the day before Thanksgiving, with no ornaments,
just the tree and lights. We loved it plain and my husband said to me,
"why decorate it, I like it just like this?!" So, we left it just like that!

I didn't do Christmas cards this year! First time for that in 40 years.
I usually send out 75-100 of them, all personally addressed, it was nice!

I didn't do one bit of Christmas baking this year! I usually do Chocolate
Bundt cakes... (20 of them)... all wrapped up beautifully and given to
all the neighbors and others. I did make 2 doz. cookies for the ward party.

We didn't do individual gifts for every (22) grandchild this year. Less money
spent. We just bought a family gift for each 8 families. Less time at the malls!

I didn't enter any blog parties, tried to go and wish all my dear blog friends
a Very Merry Christmas but blogged a bit less and focused on CHRISTmas.

I spent more time in the scriptures, listened to Christmas music, read. I just let
Christmas, the real one come into my heart. It was the best Christmas I have
had since I was a child!

I hope you had your best Christmas ever...
Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

LOVE TO ALL

JULIE

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS....

There once was a shining Christmas tree standing out where all could see.
It's brilliance captured every eye and seemed to cheer each passerby.

"The lights are so bright", they would say and hesitate to walk away.
The tree stood proud ablaze with light, for every light was burning bright.

Then one bulb was heard to say; "I'm tired of burning night and day, I
think I'll just go out and rest, for I'm too tired to do my best, besides, I
am so very small, I doubt if I'd be missed at all."

Then a child lovingly touched the light, "Look mother, this one shines so
very bright. I think of all the lights upon the tree, this one looks the best to me."

"Oh my goodness," said the light, "I almost dimmed right out of sight.
I thought perhaps no one would care if I failed to shine my share."
With that, a glorious brilliance came, for every light had felt the same.

The Gospel, like this Christmas tree, with little lights which are you and me,
We each have a space that we must fill with love, and lessons and good will.

Let's keep our tree ablaze with light, with testimonies burning bright.
For the Gospel is a living tree, that lights the way to Eternity.

*****

This little story also makes me think of each of you...
Each of you hold out a very special light to each one of
us here in blog-land. Each has something "special" to offer,
keep shining YOUR light, it may be just what someone else is
needing and looking for. We each carry gifts... to bless others!

HOLIDAY DRESSING

About 2-3 days before,
break into pieces, 1 loaf of
Italian bread. Lay it out to
dry on a big cookie sheet,
stirring it all now and then.

Morning of, brown together:
1 lb. Italian sausage
1 onion, diced
2 cups celery, diced
add:
a little parsley
1 tsp. Poultry seasoning
1 1/2 tsp. sage
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Cook all til done and tender

Fold in: 1 package fresh mushrooms
1 package of Craisins

Mix together:
1 cup melted butter
2 eggs, beaten
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 can of water (or) Chicken broth
Mix all together

Pour the above mixture, along with the
sausage and veggie mix, over your dried
Italian bread crumbs, in a big bowl, mix together.

Place all in a foil lined 9x13 pan, pour a bit of water
under the foil. Cover dressing with foil and bake at
325' -350' for 1 hour, taking foil off so top can brown
the last 15 minutes. Serve in a big bowl or dish.

I have stopped cooking a turkey, I now cook a big turkey breast.
These come from Utah's Norbest turkey farms. They are called
Sweetheart Turkey Breasts, and they are SO moist and So filled
with flavor. I like not having to carve a turkey, and I like having
lots of good meat and not so much bone. They are 10 lbs. and I
usually do 2 of them at a time for a big dinner.

Sending all of you... my sweet friends and family, ALL MY LOVE for
Christmas! I simplified everything this year, and am enjoying it all
so much more. I hope you are also...let the love of our Savior FILL
your heart...the spirit of Christmas after all is...Christ.
***

It has been said that Christmas is for children; but as the years of childhood fancy pass away and an understanding maturity takes their place, the simple teachings of the Savior that; "it is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35) becomes a reality. The evolution from a pagan holiday transformed into a Christian festival, to the birth of Christ in men's lives, is another form of maturity that comes to one who has been touched by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(Howard W. Hunter)


MERRY CHRISTMAS
from little me to all of you!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING...and a RECIPE.

EASY BISQUICK TURKEY POT PIE

2 cans of cream of chicken soup
2 cups chopped turkey (or chicken)
2 bags frozen vegetables
Combine all of this and pour into a
9x13 pan

Stir together:
2 1/2 cup Bisquick
1 1/4 cup milk
2 eggs
Pour over ingredients in pan.
Bake at 400' for 45 minutes.

You can half this recipe and put it
into a 9" pie plate also.

This is a real easy recipe, we love to make
it 2 days after Thanksgiving or any time, it
is just a good hot, home cooked meal.

Our darling little grand daughter Ella

And our handsome Caleb

Our daughter Tiffany and her very cute little family

I think Ella is as crazy over cats as her grandma Julie is!

Oh oh...this is what happens while mommy is busy with
the baby upstairs! Amazing what messes kids can get into in just
a few minutes! See Caleb's very sad, repentant eyes...it's because he
thinks the elves are going to tell Santa what he has been up to! ;D

Beautiful baby Claire...looking so sweet!
(picture taken by her aunt Tara)

I have been gone for a few days...my husband was attending
a school in Calif. for his work, so I got to go play with some of
my littles.
Here Ella is doing a dentist visit...I wouldn't mind going to this
dentist, notice the ear phones while she watches a movie overhead.

Sweet little Sophia and her broken arm...she is doing real good.
While I was there, she just up and pulled the cast off...me and her
mommy about died! Her daddy was braver than us and he got the
cast back on. Next morning she had a visit to the doctor and it is
healing just fine and will wear the cast for another couple of weeks.

Ella with her best buddy Ollie hiding under the Christmas tree.

Remember how fun it was to play under the Christmas tree? I do!

All three...Caleb, Ella and Sophia watching a Christmas special in TV.

Two little lambs...one is my little grand Sophia.

Ella getting X-rays at the dentist, not too scary

if you get to hold a stuffed fish while it is done!

I went to a church Christmas program with my daughter Lindsey
and her family, and as always, the children's part is the most enjoyable.

My Sage...she is getting so big!
I found her way out in a field as I was on a morning walk.
She was so tiny she fit in the palm of my hand. My big golden
had heard something and went into a ditch to check it out. I noticed
him sitting very still and not coming when I called, so I went to see what
what was going on. He wasn't moving so I moved him...he was sitting on
this tiny black kitten and she was hissing with everything she had! I had
gloves on so I picked her up and put her in my coat and brought her home.
I fed her from a dropper for a week, now she is bonded to only me.

Her and the two little dogs just love to sleep all day in the sunshine.

I took this looking though my Christmas tree at the sunset.

Sophia loves Jesus...here she is kissing his feet..love that.

Don't forget to visit Santa Clause as I did here. I don't know
if I was really such a fatty or if my mom just had me all
bundled up warm! I do remember that I was always wearing
a scarf over my ears because I was always getting ear aches.

I hope you are getting your lists all crossed off so you can have
time to just sit back and let Christmas come in. Have a great week!


LOVE TO ALL

A RECIPE...SOME CUTIES...AND A GIFT.

Some of you have asked for this recipe, so here it is.

STRAWBERRY PRETZEL JELLO

2-3 cups crushed pretzels (place in a plastic
zip lock bag and crush with a rolling pin)
3 T. sugar
3/4 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 350' (250 for glass pan)
Mix crushed pretzels with the sugar and butter
and spread in a greased 9x13 pan. Bake for 10 min./cool

1 8-ounce package cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1 12-ounce Cool Whip topping

Mix softened and 1 cup sugar until smooth.
Fold in whipped cream. Spread over the cooled
pretzels, set aside.

1 large box of strawberry Jell-O
2 cups boiling water
1 16-ounce packages frozen
sliced strawberries.

Dissolve Jell-O in the hot water in a bowl.
Add strawberries. Mix well and put in the
fridge until thickened (about 5 min.)
Take out and pour over the cream cheese layer.
Refrigerate until firm and ready to serve.

Serve topped with a dab Cool Whip

This Jell-O is a family favorite...SO good!

Sweet baby Claire and her warming smile...doesn't her
smile just make you feel good? It does me!

Something sad...this little birdie fell off the couch and broke her wing!
Her mommy cried many a tear over her sweet baby.

Babies have many falls but this one hit just right and broke
her arm at the top. She has to have a cast on it for a few weeks.

See this sweet handsome boy...he LOVES his bear SO much,
he has about loved him to death, just like the story of the
Velveteen Rabbit.

He and Tricky are almost always together...

This is the same boy when he was a baby...I bought this big soft bear
for him back then...makes me so happy that he has loved it so much.

Look what a I won...a lovely, kind and generous give a way
from Misha my friend. I love, love it all...thank you Misha!

Go visit her ladies, she loves her horses, dogs and cats
just like I love mine. Her blog is called;
From My Front Porch In The Mountains
http://frommyfrontporchinthemountains.blogspot.com

We are getting some of that strong wind that is hitting
everyone and snow...it is indeed starting to look a lot
like Christmas! Got our tree up and the gifts bought,
wrapped and under the tree...now to sit back and let the
sweet spirit of Christmas come...love this special time!


~WITH SO MUCH LOVE~