Wednesday, December 7, 2016

"THERE'S 'SNOW' BODY LIKE YOU!!

Snowmen are my favorite!!  You can't look at a snowman and not smile!!
These snowmen were so fun and easy to make!   I just drew a snowman face and then photocopied them.  I added the little orange to the carrot and red to the checks by hand so I didn't have to pay for color copies.  For the hat you just hot glue or stitch a tube and then tie one end with yarn.  We tore the fabric into one inch strips for the scarves.  It would be really cute to use real buttons, but that wasn't in our budget ðŸ˜Š 
The snowmen looked so cute all together on the table and everyone loved taking a cute snowman home and eating the Pringle chips!!

We also had a Hershey bar made into a snowman for them to take home.  We made them just the same as the Pringles cans

We gave them water bottles with "MELTED SNOWMAN" water bottle labels on.  If you search "snowman water bottle labels" on Pinterest there are a lot of great printables for the water bottles.

You won't go wrong decorating with Snowmen!!

Monday, December 5, 2016

Elf Themed Christmas Centerpiece

Guest Post From Doris!

"HAVE YOUR "ELF" A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS"
Oh what a fun theme this was to decorate with!!  Elves are just magical and so whimsical!!

For our centerpiece I just bought green containers at Dollar Tree.  I put a fake bottom in them so it wouldn't take so much popcorn to fill them up and supported the legs better.  I made the elf legs out of wrapping paper tubes covered with cute wrapping paper and just glued the elf shoes together and slipped on the end of the wrapping paper tubes.  Using red and green melted chocolate I drizzled the popcorn so it looked more festive.  I also added red and green accents for color.  For the belt I found it easiest to use stick on vinyl and cut the buckle out with my Cricut machine!   The centerpieces made a great doorprize.
The elf napkin holders were so cute and colorful on the table.  I am glad I had a Cricut machine to cut the buckles out with however!!  Thanks for the idea here: http://diytotry.com/20-easy-cheap-diy-christmas-crafts/2/

We used some cute elf stationary to put up some signs around the room.     The Free Printable is here: http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2014/11/free-printable-elf-on-shelf-letterhead.html

For their favor to take home we gave them a bag of "Elf Kisses".   There are a lot of cute printable for this on Pinterest!!

I loved how bright and happy the room looked as everyone entered from the cold and snowy day!!

Friday, December 2, 2016

Light the World

I wanted some cute printables to hang up around my house to remind me of the #LIGHTtheWORLD initiative.  Only 2 days into it, and I am LOVING having this month focused on serving as Christ would serve.  To find out more about #LIGHTtheWORLD go HERE! 
8X10


8X10

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Fall Centerpiece

Guest Post From Doris!
These lanterns from IKEA are so versatile.  We loved using them this fall and putting the mini pumpkins inside and adding an orange bow for color.   Fall colors are so warm and inviting.




These darling turkey favor boxes added a lot of cuteness to the table and everyone loved taking one home.
They are available from Current Card Company here: 

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Winter Centerpiece

Guest Post From Doris
For a very inexpensive centerpiece, gather glass vases of varying sizes, add salt and bare tree limbs.  
Using blue tablecloth's made the room feel so calm and inviting when the guests arrived.

We love to sprinkle candies on the table if we don't give them a favor.  It's always fun to have 
some chocolate to savor while the program is going on.  


Tuesday, November 1, 2016

November- FREE PRINTABLE

I made this years ago, but it is still one of my favorites!
Happy Gratitude Month!!

4X6

Inspired from THIS talk

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

My Favorite Thanksgiving Activity/Decoration


Last year we made a giant Thanksgiving Tree in our entry way!  I LOVED it!  Super cheap to make, helped us reflect the whole month on our many blessings, and was such a conversation piece as people stopped by our home.

Stop by a school supply store or copy store and pick up some butcher paper!   You can make your tree as LARGE or as small as you want.  Cut a long piece of brown for the trunk.  Make it 3D, by crinkling it up and then tapping it like a semi-circle!  Then use more pieces of the brown to crinkle and create the branches.  (It's easier then you think!) Then use your favorite fall colors to cut our some leaves!!  Each day have your family members write down something they are thankful for that day.  Watch your tree fill up with blessings!

Monday, October 10, 2016

Halloween Growth Chart

The Halloween decoration I love most (as well as any visitors) is our Halloween "Growth Chart" 
For several years we have been painting feet ghosts, and spider hands and recording my kids ages on them.

Nothing more fun than to see how quickly they grow!

To make the spiders, simply place both of the child's hands in black paint (trying not to get the thumb) and then place it onto the paper! One on top of the other in opposite directions!  Add googly eyes, or use paint to make your own eyes!

For the ghost's, simply place child's foot in white paint, then onto the paper.  After it's dry, use googly eyes, or a marker to draw eyes for the final touch!

Do it for one year, and treasure the keepsake.  Of do it for several years!  So easy, yet so fun.  

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Autumn is HERE! Free Printables!

To celebrate the 1st day of Autumn, I wanted to share some free printables with you guys!  As always, if you need a different size, just leave a comment, or send me an email!

8x10

These are all the same quote, but I couldn't decide which one to share... so you are getting all of them to choose from!
5X7

5X7

8X10

4X6

Monday, September 19, 2016

3 New Printable Quotes

We had a wonderful Stake Conference this weekend.  Here are 3 of my favorite quotes that were shared! These are made to be 5X7 printables.  Enjoy! 



(Simply left click on the picture.  When it is big, right click on it and save it to your computer!  Print at your favorite place!)

Saturday, September 10, 2016

September 11th Memorial, in Kaysville Utah


This Sunday marks the 15th Anniversary of that horrible day, September 11th.  Did you know that Utah has its own 9/11 Memorial?  We do!  It is located in Kaysville, Utah at the Utah State Botanical Gardens.

920 South 50 West, Kaysville. 

This memorial is a perfect place to go and reflect.

A place to remember the horrible tragedy of that day, to remember those lives senselessly taken.


It's also a place to reflect and remember the many heroes of that day, and the days that followed.

It's a place to remember how neighbors, communities, and our whole country came together and placed "God Bless America" signs everywhere.  That amazing sense of unity we all felt.

It's a place to take your kids and teach them a bit of history.  Talk to them about where you were on 9/11, and what effect it has had on your life.

This memorial honors the lives of Utahan's lives who were taken that day, and in the days that followed fighting in the War on Terror.  Watching a mother show her small child the name of his Daddy, and say "See, that's your Daddy's name.  Your Daddy is a HERO!"  This memorial means so much to each of them.
While you are there, take a walk along the beautiful trails.  Hold your family close, and be thankful for all the blessing you have.
(Photo Cred: TheTrekPlanner)

Nearby in Farmington there is a perfect hike called "Flag Rock" to add to your reflection of 9/11.

From State Street to Flag Rock is the same height as the World Trade Center Towers. You can get all the details of the hike, and the history of the flag here;

http://thetrekplanner.com/flag-rock-farmington/

**I was personally involved in getting this memorial built.  If you visit, I would love for you to share a comment here on this post!

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Olympic Cousin Camp - Guest Post From Doris

Thank you to all the bloggers who have shared their Olympic party ideas in the past.  It made it so much easier to plan a party with their fun ideas.   Have you held an Olympic Party yet?    Go for it, you will have so much fun.  All the pins I used for inspiration are on my Olympics board at https://www.pinterest.com/dorisgarner/olympics/


A few weeks before a big family party, I like to send out an invitation.  It adds to the anticipation of the party

This quote fits perfectly with our Olympic Activity:
"If your parents ever measured you as a child, they had you stand against a wall, and made a little pencil mark on the wall to show your growth. They did not measure you against your brother, or the neighbor's kids, or kids on tv. When you measure your growth, make sure to only measure your today self by your past self. If you compare your relationships, your success, or your anything against anyone else, you are not being fair to you. Everyone has a different path, a different pace, and different challenges to face along the way!"  ( Doe Zantamata)

Pre-party events included:
Measuring the Olympic Athletes  (We measure the grandkids once a year on the wall)

We learned about the symbolism of the Rio Torch.   http://rio2016olympicswiki.com/rio-2016-olympic-torch-unveiled-photos-videos/126/  Then made our Rio Torches to use for the Opening Ceremonies the next day.  Every Olympics has their own style of torch so you need to research it.



We learned what the Olympic rings stand for and their colors then everyone made their own Olympic rings shirt.  Cups worked very well to make a circle on the shirts!!  Always remember to put cardboard in the shirt so the paint doesn’t bleed through on to the back of the shirt J




Some Random, easy  decorations to add to the atmosphere of the Olympic Party:






The morning of the Olympic Event we met for a simple BREAKFAST OF THE CHAMPIONS




After running the torch, singing the National Anthem and learning about Sportsmanship we did a team photo shoot

We did warm-ups to get ready for the Track and Field events
( which gave the adults time to set up the games)

LET THE GAMES BEGIN:




We chose to do Track and Field Events in the morning before it got too hot.    We competed in:
Long Jump, Shot Put, Discus Throw, hurdles, javelin throw, 50 yard dash and a relay!

Time for a “RIO” taco  lunch:
Oops, I forgot the “Blue” Chips for the blue ring



Olympic Ring Donuts
I wonder if the bakery realized why I wanted such random colors!!

In the afternoon we chose to do our events indoors because of the heat outside.  We headed to Fat Cat’s for .99c Bowling and Golf.   Bowling isn’t an Olympic event yet but is on the potential list.  This is the first year for Golf to be in the Olympics in over 100 years!!


The kids had a great time doing the SHOOTING EVENT with the Olympic rings as the target with their Nerf guns.
One thing I forget but need to remember,  is that the kids have great ideas and I should include them in the planning more.  This event was totally planned by the kids and they had a great time

We took some time for the Athlete’s to have some photo shoot’s
Oh I love these kids!!

Dinner was just Pizza….Pizza’s are round like the Olympic rings right?  J

It’s a tradition at our Cousin Camp to make “Tin Can Ice Cream”  Some of the kids considered it a Soccer Olympic event kicking it back and forth to each other.  All I know is… it was Olympic Quality Ice Cream!



I loved that the girls even made Olympic ring colors on their ice cream!!

Closing Ceremonies were held admonishing the Athletes to always remember how important they are and to be the best they can be in whatever they choose to do.  Then they all received Gold Medals because all my grandkids are Champions!!!


It was a full day of fun!!  I am grateful to my daughter and daughter in law for all the pictures, because you can’t run the activities  AND  take pictures J    Our Grandkids showed great stamina, superb sportsmanship and most of all created memories with their cousins that hopefully last forever.