Cupcake Christmas Tree

Sunday we hosted an activity at our house for the youth of our church.  And since it's close to Christmas, I decided to make a Christmas themed treat.  Here is my version of a mini cupcake Christmas Tree.

Of course I got my inspiration from Pinterest, and naturally my version isn't nearly as Pintastic as the ones below, but hey, at least you could tell it was a Christmas tree and it tasted good.  

source

I didn't get nearly as fancy with my tree decorating, mostly because I only had sprinkles on hand to decorate with.  I did use the spray can of frosting with the different tips so that made icing the cupcakes easier.

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For the past couple of years the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has done a Light The World initiative at Christmas time.  

I love this idea, as it helps put the focus on Christ this Christmas season.  It helps us to remember Him, how He served and loved others, and how we can do the same.  

This year, each week in December is focused on a different way to serve. 

Week 1:  Light the World - Jesus’s love knew no bounds. Discover ways to help someone in another part of the world.

Week 2:  Light your community - Needs exist all around us – some are just a little closer to home. Make the world a better place, starting in your own community.

Week 3:  Light your family - At the busiest time of the year, fill your home with light by serving those closest to you.

Week 4:  Light your faith - By following the Light of the World, your faith in Jesus Christ will grow brighter and brighter.

Click on each week's link to watch a short video and find out ways you can #LightTheWorld.


Merry Christmas!

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A Savior Is Born

I can't believe Christmas is just days away.  I love this time of year.  Places look so festive, people are happier and there is excitement in the air.  Now I know most of that excitement is because the kids can't wait to open presents.  I'm excited to watch them open presents.  I'm also excited to give gifts.  I love the act of giving as well as finding meaningful or fun presents to give.  

The most meaningful of all gifts, was given on the very first Christmas.  God gave His Son to all of us, to be our Savior and Redeemer.  What an incredible act of love.

Last year the church put out videos about the birth of our Savior with the theme "He Is The Gift" and the message:  "The first gift of Christmas was a simple gift given by a father to all his children, to us. He gave us His son, the Christ. He is the gift. This Christmas season, how will you share the gift?"

You can watch that video HERE.

They are doing a similar thing this year with the theme "A Savior Is Born".

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given . . . and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). 

Each Christmas season we celebrate the birth of our Savior—the Son of God, who can save us from sin and sadness. Remember Him, love Him, and follow Him. 

The "A Savior Is Born" video below, is a great way to remember Christ this Christmas season.  He was born for ALL of us.

To find out why we need a Savior, just watch this video:




In case you missed my post the other day with the 12 Days of Social Christmas Videos, just click HERE to see them all.  We have watched them all with our kids and they love them.  The music really brings the spirit into our home.

#ASaviorIsBorn

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12 Days of Social - Christmas Videos

As much as I love Christmas decorations, buying Christmas presents and doing all kinds of crafty Christmas stuff, the real meaning of Christmas is much simpler.  It doesn't need to be drug out of a box each year and hung up just right.  It doesn't need to be looked for from store to store or break the bank to get it.  It doesn't involve glue or glitter.  It's about the birth of our Savior.  This is something we talk about and can celebrate all year long.  Christmas time is chance to share this gift with others.

The church has put out several videos called "The 12 Days of Social".  We have been watching almost one a night since the beginning of December.  It is a great way to feel the spirit and look forward to Christmas without the commercialization of it all.  Having children of differing ages and attention spans can make it difficult to read Christmas stories and have a spiritual discussion about our Savior's birth.  These videos (most of which are music videos) capture the children's attention and bring the spirit into our home.  Seriously, our house is peaceful and calm when the kids are watching these.  Now that is a Christmas miracle.  I totally recommend watching these videos with your family and sharing with your friends.  You can go to https://www.mormon.org/christmas to click on the videos and find out more.  For your convenience I've also linked all the videos below.

 What a talented bunch of sisters.

 This girl has such a sweet voice, can't believe she's only 13. 

 What a fun and cheerful song.




Link found here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VzprYCxPBQ


 What a great gift of service.

 Love this song. Just beautiful

 More great performers.   So powerful.
Link here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DRLmrboGK4




Some clean comedy

Many of the above performers get together for some awesome Christmas caroling.
I would love it if they stopped by my house to sing.
Link found here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxZ2sScEPWE&feature=youtu.be

To see how other people from different cultures and religions are giving back based on this initiative, check out this video:

#ASaviorIsBorn

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Handmade Religious Christmas Ornaments

I've acquired lots of handmade Christmas ornaments over the years.  There's the ones the kids make at school or church.  Then there are the ones that are given to me by dear friends or family members.  Handmade ornaments are the best.  Every year when we put up the tree and place one of those special ornaments on the branches, it tells a story or brings back a memory.

And since Christmas is really about the birth of our Savior, I thought I'd share the religious handmade ornaments I've gotten over the years.  They all are pretty simple to make if you are in a pinch and still need to get some Christmas gifts.   They would make great hostess gifts, neighbor gifts, teacher gifts, or toppers for presents.

Let's start with the one I received this year.  It's a key and the words "Let Him In".  On the back it says: "This key is a special symbol to let Him in.  Hang it outside your front door on Christmas Eve and it tells the Savior you'd like Him to come into your home.  Use it all year long whenever you need Christ near."

Several years ago, the kids got these ornaments from their Primary leaders at church.  Red bulbs with gold vinyl that says "I am a child of God".  A simple reminder of the divine potential within all of us.

Another year, the Primary leaders gave the kids these wooden ornaments with the picture of Christ on the front.  On the back the kids wrote something they'd like to give the Savior for Christmas.

A gold star paired with a scripture to remind us of the birth of our Savior that was announced with the Christmas star.

Another wooden ornament the kids received through Primary.  This has the "Choose the Right" theme mod podged onto the wood.

OK, so this next one isn't an ornament but it would still make a great gift.  It's a plain white dish towel with the word "Service" embroidered on it.  A printout of "The Christmas Towel" story is attached.

What special ornaments have you received?

I think my tree is about half special ornaments and half store bought.  I'm sure once my two youngest start school, the handmade ornaments will outnumber the store bought ones.  Maybe I should get another tree, one for just the kids' handmade ornaments.  Anyone else do that?

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Primary Talent Show

Wow, it's November already.  This year is flying by.  Before you know it, Christmas will be here.  And yes, I've already started my Christmas shopping.  I shop year round because when I find a good sale I buy it and pack it away for Christmas.  But before I talk about holiday stuff, I'd like to share something we did way back in May.  Our church Primary (the children's organization of our church) hosted a talent show.  

One end of the gym was a stage, complete with red carpet, curtains and lights.  On the other end were tables for food and various displays.  Not every child performed a talent such as singing, dancing or playing an instrument.  Some children had their artwork, poems, or Lego creations on display.  I thought that was a great idea because it allowed every child to participate. 

My older daughter played the flute, and my younger daughter who was 4 at the time, did her own interpretive dance to the song "Flight of the Bumblebee".  

 

The song is about 3 minutes long, and yes, she spun in a circle the entire time.  I don't know how she didn't get so dizzy and fall over.  Below is a short video clip of the performance.  It's shaky because I was juggling a baby on my hip, so sorry about that.   Also, you can't see the funny part at the end, so I'll just have to explain it.

 The idea for this 'dance' came from this ad for Raid that my mother in law saw on line.

So at the beginning of the performance, the sheet music to "Flight of the Bumblebee" was projected onto the screen.  At the very end of the performance, the image changes to the Raid ad and my older daughter comes out with a huge can of Raid causing my little bumblebee to flee the stage.

As for how we made the huge can of Raid, it was two oatmeal canisters taped together and spray painted blue.  I cut the letters out using my Silhouette and taped them onto the 'bottle'.  I added a water balloon filler-upper-top that I found in our garage.

Have your kids ever been involved in a talent show?  What were some unusual talents that were presented?

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Pioneer Day Fun

Friday was Pioneer Day, the day the first Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley back in 1847.  

We celebrated with a fun pioneer activity put on by our church primary.  

There were pioneer stories and butter making...

sack races...

a sunflower seed spitting competition...

and tin can stilts.

The kids had so much fun but I think the tin can stilts were the favorite.  My 10 year old didn't want to get off them.

We also held a Pioneer Day Family Home Evening on Sunday.

We used the song, thought, lesson and treasure hunt ideas found HERE.

I also included this "I Am A Pioneer" video which lead to a discussion of modern day pioneers, and how we can be a pioneer.

As for the treat, we made covered wagon cakes.  They sort of look like a covered wagon, right?  The kids didn't care.  It was chocolate, cookies and marshmallows so they loved it.

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Christ Centered Easter Activities

A friend shared THIS IDEA she found for focusing on the Savior during the week prior to Easter.  Be sure to click HERE to go over to the Mercy River blog and read all about celebrating Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter). 

You'll find a bunch of activities to do each day during Holy Week.

There are videos, songs, crafts, and activities.  My kids ages 12, 10 and 4 (I didn't count the baby) were all able to participate and understand what was going on.  It's a great way to focus on Christ and the true meaning of Easter.

We started it today and the kids really enjoyed making the palm leaves and reenacting Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

I'm looking forward to doing the other activities throughout the rest of this week.

Oh, and if you haven't seen the new Easter video from Mormon.org, you've got to check it out - it's so powerful, I just love it.  It makes me even more grateful for a loving Savior and all he has done for me.

How do you focus on Christ during the Easter season?

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Conference Notebooks

Twice a year our church holds General Conference.  It's broadcast via TV, internet and at our church buildings throughout the world.  There are 2 sessions on Saturday and 2 sessions on Sunday where various church leaders inspire and counsel us.  If you'd like to hear for yourself you can check out all the sessions HERE or watch the highlights HERE.

Sitting through a 2 hour session can be hard for little kids.  Let's face it, it can be hard for older kids and adults too.  So to make conference more meaningful for the kids (and to keep them quiet so us adults can listen) I came up with the idea to make conference notebooks.  Now I'm sure someone else on Pinterest has thought of this idea and it's nothing new, but it was the first time we did it.

For the supplies I gathered up the following:

some old Friend Magazines (that is our church magazine for kids)

construction paper of various colors

scissors

glue

crayons, colored pencils, markers

The idea was to listen to a talk, pick out a word (or more) and find that object in the Friend magazine.  Then to cut it out and glue it onto the construction paper.  After conference we'd attach the papers together to form a book that would include what was talked about in conference. 

We did this on the floor in the office so we could watch Conference on the computer.  I also put down a plastic tablecloth for my 4 year old to color on top of to protect the carpet.

Now that was the idea.  

In reality, the girls loved making books, they just didn't make conference books.  I found some stencils and added them to the mix at the last minute and those were a big hit.  The girls used the stencils to make all kinds of designs and scenes.  

So while this didn't make conference any more meaningful for the kids, it did keep them busy and quiet so the adults could enjoy the messages and feel the Spirit.

Anyone else have any great ideas on how to get kids involved in General Conference?  We've tried Conference Bingo and giving out sweets for hearing various words but have found that becomes a bit distracting. 

I know this post is after the fact, our baby boy decided to make his arrival on conference Sunday.  So be sure to PIN this idea for next conference.

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Because of Him

Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer.  Because of Him, death is 

not the end, and life takes on new meaning.  We can change, we can start 

over – and we can live again with God.  This Easter, celebrate His life and 

discover all that’s possible because of Him.

It was unthinkable

Impossible

Unfathomable

Unprecedented

A single act

That changed history

Possibility

Destiny

He was a carpenter

A teacher

An outcast

A leader

Yet he did

What no carpenter

Teacher

Outcaste

Leader had ever done before

Like all who preceded him

He lived

And he died

But unlike all who preceded him

He rose from the dead

He lived again

He lives

And because he lives

You

you

and you

and she

and he

and they

and we

all

will live again

Because of him

Death has no sting

The grave no victory

We can start again

And again

And again

Because of him

Guilt become peace

Regret becomes relief

Despair becomes hope

Because of him

We have second chances

Clean slates

New beginnings

There is no such thing

As the end

Because of Him

Discover what’s possible because of Him

Visit mormon.org/BecauseofHim

2014 "Meet Your Teacher" Primary Breakfast

The kids at our church attend Primary.  A new year means they go into a new class, and most of the time get a new teacher.

To help with this transition, we hold a "Meet Your Teacher Breakfast" at the beginning of each year.

Last year, we did an owl theme asking  "Whoooo's your new primary teacher?"  You can read all about that HERE.  We've also done the "Primary Awards" (a spin on the Academy Awards), and a dress up your teacher theme.  

This year we kept it simple and fun.  Because the 2014 Primary theme is Families Are Forever, we got together as a family and enjoyed a fun game of Pictionary.

But first we had breakfast.  The kids sat at the table with their teachers and got to know each other better.  As far as food we had:  scrambled eggs, French toast sticks and bananas.  Very simple to cook, serve and clean up.  We didn't even do any decorations other than the colorful table cloths.  

After breakfast, we went into the next section of the cultural hall and divided the kids up into junior primary and senior primary.   There were couches and a chalkboard or easel so the kids could have a fun family game of Pictionary.  Some of the teachers even played too.

The words/clues for the kids to draw included some of the teachers favorite things such as launching rockets, baseball, cats, pie....

When the kids guessed the picture, we'd announce which teacher it went with so they'd get to know even more about their teachers.  The kids had such a fun time drawing and guessing that they didn't want to stop when it was time to end.

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