Bundle Up Children....

I just got done dressing my children up to look like this so they could go ride on a tube on the back of the snowmobile.  One of the great things about living in the country is all the open spaces to play!!  I think it took me an hour to get them all bundled for the cold but what a small price to pay for a little quiet time in the house with me and some hot cocoa!!  Hope you are having a fun holiday week.  My hubby has all week off so we are enjoying the no travel, no fax, no email downtime.....it is heaven!!  Looking forward to the new year!

Santa Phone Calls....

It's Almost Here!!  I love the magic of Christmas.  You can feel the excitement on Christmas Eve when you have little children in your home. You can stir up even a  little more excitement with a personalized phone call from Santa himself!!  Go here to sign up.for a free phone call.  http://www.holidayphonecalls.com/  Merry Christmas!!

Help for Christmas Projects....

If you spray alot of your projects with spray paint you need to add this little contraption to your christmas list.  You slip this over your spray can and it has a spray trigger for you to pull, Yeah!! No more Painted fingers and scraping paint from under your finger nails.  I picked this one up from Home Depot for around $6.00 !!  They do have a slightly cheaper option as well.

                               This may be a fun gift for the crafty ladies in your life!!

ShOpPiNg fOr BaBy....

One of the best things about having girls is all the GirLY sTuFf !!  I have been shopping for our new little one and found some fun finds on eTsY!!  They always have the most unique items.

This little hat is from Bit O'Whimsy.

Another cutie from Lovely Knits.

And hair bows, can you ever really have too many?? ....These are from Banner Boutique.  Oh , my poor husband....with all these girls he is going to need to get an extra job or 2. Do you have a favorite Baby boutique to shop for gifts for baby??  I am also looking for a baby sling if anyone has an idea I would love to hear it!

The Hottest Toy this Year!!

If you have been searching for Zhu Zhu pets like me you are in luck of you Hurry!!  Shopko has this Starter set complete with one pet for $$ 29.99  I have seen this same set on amazon and elsewhere for $$99.00!!  So if you need one for Christmas don't delay.....as of this morning they are still in stock and limited to 1 per customer.  Go here http://www.shopko.com/   Good Luck!! UPDATE:Shopko also has in stock the Zhu Zhu pets with a limit of 4 per customer while supplies last. They are $11.99 if anyone is interested you better HURRY!! Happy Shopping!!

The ELF is Watching!!!

WOW !!  I had no idea the fringe benefits that came along with having "Willie" the elf lurking about the house!!  Each time sibling rivalry rears it's ugly head at our house just a simple reminder of who's "Watching" can get things turned around quickly!!   If you didn't pick one up yet I can't tell you how much you NEED one!!  My kids jump out of bed each morning to go in search of "Willie".  He has been found in some pretty interesting places.   My six year old even came up with a little song about Willie on the shelf watching her!  Too Funny...... So now if you don't have an elf "Watching" at your house you better hurry....Christmas is almost here!!

Decking the Halls....

Warning: Major Picture Overload.....Big Post.....Enjoy!
We have been decorating up a storm at the Wagstaff's,  I thought I would share with you some of our holiday Tree decor. 

                           Oh, La La Paris Tree

Our Little Princess's Tree and Wreath......

Office Tree

Yes, Even the Office gets some holiday decor.  Simple, homemade ornaments and doll.

Foyer Tree

Family Room Tree

Next week I will share more of some crafty wreath ideas.........Hope you are decking the Halls at your Home too!  Happy Holidays!!

Story TiMe.....

We LoVe books at our house so as a fun tradition we read a new christmas story each night til christmas to get us into the christmas spirit.  I have heard of families doing this same tradition only wrapping each book so it is a surprise waiting each night.  That would be fun too!  I thought I would share some of the Books we have collected over the years......we add more each year usually from the day after christmas sale at Deseret Book.(That is when they are all usually 50% off)  Do you and your family enjoy this tradition??  What are some of your favorite Christmas stories??  Do share.....

HaPpY hOLIdAy Reading........

Cooking, Cleaning, Decorating.....

My Weekend was filled with a little cooking, cleaning and decorating!!  I made some YUMMY soft Caramel Popcorn. I love this treat this time of year!

I also brewed up some homemade Minestrone soup for my family since the weather has been so cold outside.  It is always so comforting to have the fire on and some hot soup on the stove.  If you are interested in this Yummy recipe it came from one of my favorite recipe sites http://www.realmomkitchen.com/

Soft YUMMY Caramel Popcorn

1C. butter or margarine

2C. brown sugar

1C. Karo Syrup

1Can sweetened condensed milk

1tsp. Vanilla

2-3 bags of microwave popcorn

On high heat place butter, karo and brown sugar in a stockpot with tall sides.  Start cooking on high and bring to a boil.  Stir in sweetened cond. milk, and reduce heat to medium.  Continue stirring often until just reaches soft ball stage.  Stir in Vanilla and remove from heat.  Stir in popcorn and coat all pieces.  Spread out on cookie sheet or cool to eat or make popcorn balls. EnJoY!!

As for my Decorating more on that to come......Let's just say I am on a wreath kick right now.  I also got the little girls christmas tree's up in thier rooms so I will share those as well.  Lots to post this week.  Making up for my lack of posting last week.  Hope you are Making Your Holidays Merry......

Happy Festivus!!

Remember this episode of Seinfeld.......I loved that show!!  Just a little idea of what you could give the person who has everything!!  Ha Ha!!

Today I gave the kids off school so we can sneak away to the movies......we are going to go see Disney's A Christmas Carol in 3-D

They were extra excited when I got them up this morning and told them we are going to the movies instead of school.  It's fun to be the MOM and be able to bend the rules sometimes.

Put out the Wooden Shoes....

Time to put out the Klompens(wooden shoes) to celebrate the coming of Sinter Klaas.  My father's family is from Holland and so to teach my children a little history of their ancestors I have made sure to incorporate some fun traditions that their great grandparents have grown up with.  One of the fun things we celebrate as Dutch people is the tradition of putting out the wooden shoes to be filled with treats and presents.  

Mid-November marks the start of the Sinterklaas or St. Nicholas season in the Netherlands. It begins with preparations for the parade on the last Sunday in November. Sinterklaas, with his white horse Schimmel and helper, Zwarte Piet arrive by boat and lead a merry parade throughout the town.



The feast day of Sinterklaas is December 6th. This is a time for exchanging gifts and making good-natured fun of each other. Throughout the Netherlands, the eve of his feast day, December 5th is celebrated nationwide by young and old. Most places of business close a bit earlier than normal. The Dutch head home to a table laden with traditional sweets and baked goods.



Large chocolate letters - the first initial of each person present - is a part of each place setting. These treats share the table with large gingerbread (Tai Tai) men and women.

Early in the evening sweets are eaten while those gathered take turns unwrapping their gifts. Traditionally this is the evening that Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet ride across the rooftops of Holland looking for and rewarding good children with small gifts and candies.



In anticipation of the visit, children place carrots and oats for Sinterklaas’ white horse Schimmel, in their wooden shoes by the door.The following morning, gifts from Sinterklaas, many with hilarious poems attached, are opened and the poems read aloud.



A day of feasting follows. This tradition of a St. Nicholas celebration is credited with being the basis of our Santa Claus tradition here in the United States.