Jocelyn's List of the Best Christmas Books for Young Children 2011

I have so enjoyed Jocelyn's List of books from past few years and have made it a tradition in our family to read books with the kids each night, even my older kids have enjoyed this. We have added to our collection each year, it has been so so fun. Thank you Jocelyn.

Jocelyn's List 

of the 

Best Christmas Books for Young Children

2011

Christmas is Here (Words from the King James Bible), Illustrated by Lauren Castillo

The Last Chimney of Christmas Eve by Linda Oatman High

A Shepherd's Whisper (A Christmas Classic)

The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans

Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect by Richard H. Schneider

A Small Miracle by Peter Collington

The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell

The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy by Jane Thayer

Who is Coming to Our House by Joseph Slate

The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado

The Christmas Orange (I like the version shared here best.)

This is the Stable by Cynthia Cotten

Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. More

Mary's First Christmas by Walter Wangerin Jr.

The Animals' Christmas Eve by Gale Wiersum

My First Story of the First Christmas by Deanna Draper Buck

We Were There: A Nativity Story by Eve Bunting

The Donkey's Dream by Barbara Helen Berger

A Christmas Dress for Ellen by Thomas S. Monson

Humphrey's First Christmas by Carol Heyer

The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs 

(We love the wordless DVD with its amazingly peaceful soundtrack!)

Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon

Santa and the Christ Child by Nicholas Bakewell

Morris's Disappearing Bag by Rosemary Wells

From her blog:
We Talk of Christ We Rejoice in Christ

CLICK HERE TO READ THE 2010 CHRISTMAS BOOK and CRAFT LIST

AND THE 2009 CHRISTMAS BOOK  and CRAFT LIST!

A Gift to the World

Halloween JibJab

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

My kids have so much fun doing these on JibJab. Shelby put this one together.

Taco Soup

Taco Soup

2 lbs hamburger meat

1 medium chopped onion (can use dehydrated onions)

2 cans kidney beans

2 cans black beans or pinto beans, rinsed and drained

2 cans whole kernel corn

2 large cans stewed diced tomatoes (can use Mexican style)

2 small cans tomato sauce or 1 large

1 package taco seasoning mix (optional)

1 can black olives, sliced or quartered

Brown hamburger and onion in large soup pot or crock pot

    

Add all the other ingredients, do not drain the vegetables

     

Simmer for an hour or two

Serve over Fritos corn chip or crushed tortilla chips

with shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa on the side

Recipe freezes well

The Family: A Proclamation to the World - Celebrate the Family - Our Family Photo Essay

The Family: A Proclamation to the World was given in 1995 to the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and to the World as a guide to help all of us understand the importance of the family and how to have a happy family in this life and the next. 

As I put together this photo essay; it has given me time to reflect on the eternal nature of families and to see how truly blessed I am. This past year has been a hard one on me, with Donny working away a good amount of time, my health, cancer scare and surgery and with just the craziness of everyday life of a large family and all its demands. I am very grateful for my knowledge of the gospel and the blessings it bring into my life. 

To read the Proclamation in its entirety, click on the link below.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

"Family is central to the Creator’s plan for 

the eternal destiny of His children."

"All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny." 

"'Children are an heritage of the Lord'(Psalm 127:3)."

"Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, 

to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, 

and to teach them to love and serve one another"

"Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan."

"Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ." 

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

"By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families 

in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide

 the necessities of life and protection for their families."

"Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children."

"The family is ordained of God."

We will never forget

Alan Jackson - "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?" 

A song in remembrance of the terrorist attacks against the 

United States of America on September 11, 2001.

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin' against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?

Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out with pride for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doin' what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?

[Chorus:]

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell
You the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?

Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Or go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Did you stand in line and give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love?

[Chorus x2]

And the greatest is love.
And the greatest is love.

Wisdom

An Ensign to the Nations by Jeffrey R. Holland

Want to listen to what prophets of God are saying in our day? Just watch the latest  General Conference.

Mom's Zucchini Bread

adapted from allrecipes.com
~
Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour (you can do 1/2 whole wheat)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup butter 
• 1/2 cup of light olive oil or vegetable oil
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 1/4 cups of brown sugar
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated zucchini (do not drain)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Grease and flour 4 - 5 x 3 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Mix flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
3. Beat eggs, oil, butter, vanilla, and sugars together in a large bowl. Add mixed ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
4. Bake for 40 mins,or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

THINK

Happy 4th of July !!!

1. More Quilts, 2. Patriotism Then And Now, 3. Summer Slices, 4. Red, White & Blue Berries - Macro Monday 05/07/2010, 5. The Post, 6. patriotic bike, 7. Americana Quilt (Detail), 8. It's Red, and I'll Take It, 9. Jasper Johns @ MOMA, 10. red, white, and blue, 11. Red, White & Blue., 12. Red, White and Blue Jeans (Explored #18, 07/04/10), 13. American Flag, 14. '49 Jimmy - Americana Style, 15. red door, white lace, 16. LeMoyne star detail

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Post from pleasant-home.com

He will

Les Miserables

May, 26, 2011

Les Miserables is on the 25th anniversary production on a US tour, with glorious new staging and re-imagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. We took TRAX to Salt Lake City, enjoyed the amazing show, with it's inspiring music and story of redemption. Then walked to temple square, It was a great day!!

How Do I Say Thank you

I don't even know where to start. With my long recovery and Donny gone working out of town. I was in need, and my family and ward offered so much service. Extended need for meals, sisters who came and scrubbed my house and for the brotheren who mowed my lawns.


I don't even know how to say Thank you and is Thank you enough. I can only ask the Lord to bless you. 

The Last Concert

So many years our life has been full of ballroom dance. As Alissa is finishing up at BYU she is saying goodbye to being on the Tour Team. So much has come to her through this experience. Dance has paid for school, she has made life long friends, traveled the world and most important she meet and married Trevor. 

BYU Ballroom Dance in Concert "Imagine" 4/8/11 - 4/9/11

Alissa and her hubby Trevor