Grateful for Christmas Traditions Part 3

Every Christmas evening while we visited or lived in Utah during my Grandma McClellan's lifetime, my family would gather at her home for the most wonderful Christmas celebration! She would make every grandchild one or more gifts - everything from dolls to quilts to monkeys- It was the best.

Now that I am grandma, I love to carry on this tradition of something made with love for my littles. These sock snakes were a major hit (literally and figuratively)!

Also, made a hooded towel, 6 sets of these potholders,

backpacks for the littles and 3 adorable nieces, 

3 blankets for those same nieces,

an apron and washcloths (an ongoing thing for Luke's family),

and blankets for the marrieds (and I am halfway done with one for myself!)

 Plus the neighborhood gifts...

At times it feels a bit crazy, but I do get great satisfaction in making things for others.

Also love this tradition of displaying all the love I feel from those around me this time of year! And keep it up through January (or even Valentines' Day) at least. I feel so grateful for friends and family every time I go past the door!

And nothing beats the tradition of gathering with family! (I just need to get better at getting more pictures to remember things by...)

And now our Ashtyn insists on sleeping at Grandma Dee's whenever her family comes to town- one of my most favorite new traditions!

Despite the surprised look caused by the camera flash, she really loves it too!

So grateful for traditions and this time of year!

Grateful for Christmas Traditions Part 2

I collect nativities...

mostly because I want to remember and my children to remember that Christmas is all about Christ! This is my Christ tree (at least for the past 8 years or so now). Everything on it represents Christ in some way. My wonderful sister inspired me to create this tree when she lovingly purchased a huge set of olive wood nativity ornaments on a trip to Jerusalem because she knew I collected nativities. I am so grateful for her decision that year! This tree is such a source of happiness and inspiration for me!

This is a hand painted, ceramic nativity given to me by one of my wonderful sisters- in-law. She gave me her very own nativity, one she had made for herself as a newlywed, out of her love for me! I treasure this gift and, leave it out all year to remind me of her love and Christ's love.

I also leave this one out all year... Charly and Jon, when they were younger and broke, bought these for me over a few years. I know that the money was a true sacrifice that they willingly spent because of their love for me. I treasure it!

This is probably my favorite nativity because it reminds me of growing up, acting out the nativity each Christmas Eve- and of my children following in that tradition. I love how Mary (and all of these children) is wearing tennis shoes! You also have to love that 'camel' with two such happy faces peering out! I am so grateful that my parents taught us about Christ's birth!

A few more from my collection, each has a special memory:

Another new tradition I started this year, reading the Book of Luke as an advent of sorts. It has been amazing to read about Christ's life each day of December as I read 1 chapter per day. Yes, Christmas is about Christ's birth. In reading Luke, although I have had a testimony of it my whole life, I have come to realize with even more conviction that Christmas is also very much about Christ's life, his atonement, and his resurrection. I am so grateful for his love for me!

And finally, one of my new favorite Christmas songs:

Grateful for Christmas Traditions Part 1

At the very top of this tree is an ornament (1 of 7) that brought us all to tears 22 Christmas-es ago...

You see, my mother had a tradition of getting an ornament for each grandchild each year. She made these snowman ornaments before her death. After they were opened, the kids discovered that by pressing the belly, their ornament would play 'Frosty, the Snowman'. The kids loved it, and although the adults all loved it too, we all cried! My mother made Christmas wonderful! (and I think at least one of those ornaments still plays all of these years later!)

And my own adorable grands are wearing one of my favorite traditions- Christmas dresses! I love looking for these while 'black shopping' with my Ash!- yet another great traditon!

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I am so blessed!

So Much to be Thankful For...

This year my birthday was a bit bittersweet: this year I am as old as my mother was when she passed into the next life. I miss her so much at times, but I am so blessed to be her daughter! I am thankful for her goodness and love every day. She was such an example of seeing the good deeds in others and then sending them a short thank you note. She was so often smiling!

My mother also LOVED being a grandmother!

And this year, I now have FIVE beautiful and precious granddaughters of my own!

Rylee Sue is such a blessing in the lives of us all!

For my birthday, I had all of my littles come to see me- so much fun!!!

And "black shopping" with these two (and their wonderful mother) is ALWAYS an adventure!

I am also so very thankful for the love and kindness of this man:

so thankful for his love for me!

Even with all of his health challenges, Luke works hard to be the best husband, father and grandfather- and he will always keep trying! What a blessing in my life!

Celebrating Rylee!

A bit late... But we had so much fun gathering to celebrate this precious one!

So blessed to have Rylee Sue!!!

She's Four!

Ash is now 4!!! She is such a creative, loving girl! And loves to 'fix' people's hair- hair is always "even cuter, Grandma Dee" with more clips!

She really LOVED her party this year . It had streamers and balloons!

And she so loves to have fun with her sisters!

Love you, Ashtyn Dee!

A Great Woman!

Sue is a great woman!

Our family was so fortunate that my father chose to marry Sue- and that she was willing to join in our family!

Sue has always been there at all of the fun times, challenging times, and just every day kind of times- and I know she always will be there!

She is such a great example to me of what a mother, grandmother, sister and wife should be... I am so blessed to have this great woman as a part of my life!

Baking my Call family recipe...

Stuffed Zuc! (Luke's favorite)

Stuffed Zucchini Call Style!

serves 6-8 with *large* squash (half: see directions)

*try some chili powder in it.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix together:

 chunks of cheese

 small chunks of onion (or "instant" minced)

 crumbled raw hamburger

 chunks or small slices tomato

 seasoning, *especially salt*, garlic salt, seasoned salt, etc

Split zucchini lengthwise, scoop seeds and pulp out of cavity:  
use half for 1 meal, save half to stuff another day.

Spoon mix into squash cavity.  Bake, wrapped and sealed in foil,
at 375 degrees for 1 - 1 1/2 hours.

*Deanne’s alternative  stuffing (vegetarian)

1 cup of leftover quinoa (spiced to taste)  

1 cup cooked and seasoned black beans

3 eggs, whisked

1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs

Chunks of cheese

Chunks or small slices of tomato

And of course leftover zucchini means Chocolate Zucchini Muffins... and making them with oat flour is divine!

4, 3, 2, 1..... New Little!

So this happened yesterday!

Our 5th granddaughter! And she is so precious!!!

SO we have a 4 year old,

a 3 year old,

a 2 year old,

a 1 year old,

and our new Rylee Sue!!!

We are so very blessed!!!