The "Minivan" Express

Wow it seems like forever since I have blogged.  I am starting to feel better and really wanted to share this new Tradition we started this year.

I have mentioned it many times before, but I love Pinterest.  I love that many of my friends use it too.  Thanks to my friend Crystal I was able to do this fun and memorable event with my kids.  It is called The "Minivan" express.  Yep just like the Polar Express.  Of course we don't own a train so our van became the polar express.  Here is what you will need to start this wonderful family tradition with your children next Christmas.

First you will need to print your tickets off.  I found mine over at Memories are the Scraps of Life. The actual link to the tickets can be found on her page or you can just go HERE.  I found some great gold paper at our local scrapbooking store.  You could print it off anywhere but the gold really gave it that special touch. 

While the kids were getting ready for bed with Daddy I made Hot Chocolate and Popcorn.  The kids could smell the popcorn so I had to tell them we were going to make popcorn balls the next day.  I hid their tickets under their covers for them to find when they climbed in.  Daddy saw and heard all the excitement of discovering the tickets, because I was outside in the car ready to great the kids. 

"All Aboard!"  Before entering the car they each had to show me their ticket to get it punched (just like in the movie).  Daddy came out and we were ready for the ride.  A little bit down the road the Hot Chocolate song came on and the kids discovered their Hot Cocoa and Popcorn bags.  Razy thought the ticket meant that we were going to go ride the real Polar Express.  After some explaining we told her she was in the Minivan Express and we were on our way to go see some pretty Christmas Lights.  Razy is NOT a fan of Santa.  So we had to assure her that we would not be stopping to see the big man in red.   We found some beautiful lights.  Here are a couple of our favorites. 

This was just a little house, but it had hundreds or lights. 

This next house was the whole reason we traveled 30 mins to the next town to see.  It was amazing.  I wish pictures did it justice.  We were first greeted by this giant snowman.  Then a sign that said "Drive Thru".  The owners let you drive their u shaped driveway to see the whole yard.

This is the entry to the driveway.  On the left is a carousel that spun and trees and bushes that were covered in lights.

The Nativity

Here was the landing dock for Santa and his sleigh.  You can even see Santa taking off in the distance.

And last but not least Santa in his big delivery truck.



After seeing the lights we headed home.  Of course we had to stop for an icecream treat.  When we got home we sent the kids upstairs to rebrush their teeth and get into bed.  This is where they found their last surprise.  On each of their pillows was a bell, that was left by Santa while we were gone.  They were so excited.  It was the perfect touch to the end of a wonderful night.  Just what I needed to help me get into the Christmas spirit.  

What are some of your family Chirstmas traditions?  New or Old?

Christmas Pickle

Christmas Eve when fast asleep

The Christmas Pickle plays hide and seek.

When you awake on Christmas Morn,

Before all the wrapping is wripped and torn.

Seek that Pickle and you shall be,

The first to open a gift from under the tree.

I am no poet, but here is the poem I came up with to explain the Christmas Pickle. 

JBody and I have heard many talk of the Christmas Pickle tradition this year and we searched for one of our own.  No such luck, so I came up with my own.

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1/2 water

Mix all ingredients together

Kneed for 10 mins.

Shape

Cook for 1 hour in the oven at 300 degrees

We added gel food color to our dough so they came out nice and green.  Then we painted them with Elmers glue and sprinkled LOTS of green glitter on them.  I have a feeling the glitter will rub off as time goes on, but hey everything I used to make this cute little ornament was already part of my crafting and kitchen supply!

Snowman Ornaments

This is the second year we have made these cute little snowman ornaments.  The first time we made them we used glass balls.  This year I found shatterproof balls and redid them.  We made extras to give out as teacher gifts too.  They are so cute and so easy to make.

To make you will need:

A Blue Ornament Ball

White Paint

Red Paint

Green Paint

Black Medium Point Sharpie

A Little Hand

1. Paint child's hand with white paint.

2.  Place hand around ornament

3. Let Dry

4.  Paint hats and scarves

5. With sharpie draw branch hands

6.  Write name and date on the the palm portion of handprint

7. Let Dry

8.  Enjoy!!

The Ledgend of the Christmas Spider

A tale from Germany

If you’ve ever gazed at the beautiful tinsel sparkling on your Christmas Tree and wondered who came up with idea of decorating the tree in this way, wonder no longer. According to German legend, it signifies a Christmas miracle from many years ago.

The day before Christmas, as the small house in Germany underwent its Christmas Eve cleaning, the resident spiders, not wanting to be swept up with the broom, hid in the attic. When nightfall came and all were settled into bed, the spiders crept downstairs. To their amazement, in the middle of the living room was a beautifully decorated Christmas Tree. They were so excited that they ran all over the tree. They scurried up the trunk and leapt from branch to branch. Unfortunately they had left their mark. A gray spider web now covered the whole tree.

When Weihnachtsmann, also known as Father Christmas, arrived he was amused to see the tree covered in spider webs. Now he faced a dilemma. The family would be disappointed to see their beautiful tree all wrapped in the webs, but the spiders were so pleased with their handiwork that he did not have the heart to take it down. What could he do?

He thought and thought and came up with a wonderful solution. He turned all the webs into beautiful shimmering silver strands. When the family awoke on Christmas Morning they ran to the living room and saw their tree sparking and glittering in the morning sun. Their delight was unsurpassed. They had never seen such a beautiful tree. Only the mother knew that a true Christmas miracle had occurred overnight.

 This weekend my sister in law taught us how to make these beautiful Christmas ornaments.  The one above is a larger version of the one she showed us how to make.  I finished it this afternoon and wanted to share it with you.

Christmas Snowflakes

I promised I would post another Christmas craft you can make using your cricut.  These were really easy to make and turned out so cute.  Because sheets of tile come as a 12x12 sheet, I was able to make over 20 gifts with 6 magnets a piece. 

On each of the bags there is a card that says:

"Those we love are the snowflakes of life.

None are the same, each is beautiful,

and all bring something special to our world."

~Martin Buber~

Merry Christmas and Happy Crafting!

Cookies and Milk for Santa

Somehow our Santa plate didn't make it into the Christmas box when all the decorations were put away.  So sadly both our santa plate and mug were broken over the course of the year.  However, they have been replaced with these super cute ones.  I went to the store...one in which will not be named because I really dislike this store, but it is the ONLY store of it's kind here in our small little town.  What makes this Santa plate so cute is...

It went from this

To this!

Isn't it cute?  It isn't exactly what I wanted, but I still think it turned out cute.  No the hearts aren't on the actual plate.  I had to cover them up for this reason.  I so do love my cricut.  It helps add that little personal touch to everything.  Stay tuned for a cute Christmas gift idea using the cricut. 

I am Thankful for My Savior Jesus Christ

I am so thankful for my Savior.  I know that he loves me and that he KNOWS me.  He knows my fears.  He knows my wants.  He knows my heart.  I know that my Savior lives!  I love Christmastime.  I love how it brings people together.  This year we really want to remind our children what Christmas really is. We have done a pretty good job in years past, but this year we want to give them an every day reminder that the Savior was born to bring peace and love.  We want them to remember that the greatest gift they have and ever will receive is that of everlasting life.  It is only through our Savior Jesus Christ that we may obtain it.  May we all remember this this Christmastime.  I know it is early, but may you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas surrounded by those you love most.