Nativity picture

Here it is....the final scene. I am so excited about this nativity picture. Last year, late summer, I started making costumes for my ten grandchildren. We were happily expecting Rory Anne, and I couldn't pass up the chance to have our own nativity with a brand new baby in the family. I made the costumes for the three wise (wo)men first, and flew to Boise to take the photos of Heidi and Ken's three girls, Kylie, Ashley, and Lizzie. Rory was born october 29th and was about 6 weeks old when this photo was taken in December. She made a beautiful baby Jesus and was so good while we took the pictures. Randy and Cheri's children, Danielle, and Braden, are the oldest and the perfect choice for Mary and Joseph. Danny and Becca, have a boy and girl, Olivia, and Cameron, and Jeff and Heather also have a boy and a girl, Cessna, and Lance, so between those two families, we had our two angels and two shepherds. The children were so cute, and the whole scene was so precious. It was taken December 16th and did not give us time to get corrections made, and the Kings added in before Christmas, so this year it was a priority to get the photo completed. Our nephew, Derek Ballard is a talented design artist, and he did the wonderful photoshop work on the photo. Everyone was delighted with it last night at our family Christmas party. All of the adults received a framed 11 X 14 picture, and the children each got their own 5 X 7's. The children, even 2 yr old Lance, were happy with their pictures. I am especially delighted with it. These children are so precious to me. I love them all so much! They are so patient with me, always photgraphing them. I just want to keep every moment. This was an especially nice one!

The Lights on Temple Square

Wednesday night, Ralph and I went downtown on TRAX to see the lights on temple square. It was cold outside and there was snow on the ground, but that just added to the beauty. This was my very first try with night photography, using all manual settings. I am thrilled with the results. I do not think I could have gotten more beautiful pictures. I'm so excited to keep learning more and more.

Naughty or Nice

What do you expect me to do anyway? I ran out of rawhide bones to chew on and the gophers in the back yard are sleeping for the winter. What is a girl to do in her spare time when she needs to dig and chew? I'm just doing what comes naturally. Did you hear the news? I am going to obedience school in January! I hope it will be fun.

Does this angelic face look like trouble?

This sweet little face was looking into mine yesterday about this time, and I was telling her how beautiful she is....how I am so happy to have her......how I couldn't possibly live without her....Why then, today, was I telling her that I really hope that she will like her new home....you know that one she will be going to if she does one more BAD thing.
Not to mention any names here, ( I must protect the innocent or in this case the guilty).....but there are a few reasons why you may want to think twice about getting a puppy, especially if you believe that they are well behaved after that first year.

1. Your little puppy friend could spread the bathroom garbage all over the house. That's perfectly understandable since she may just be looking for another pull-up like the one she found Sunday. Do you know what those things are like when they are wet, and shredded?

2. This same pup could chew up a wooden Christmas ornament that was meant for a grandchild.

3. Worse yet....she could mangle and twist up your new glasses.

4. I bet you didn't know that this sweet looking little thing could pee on your brothers foot when he comes to visit.

5. Opps! she could mistake a child's toy for her own, and pull off the eyes and get literally piles of stuffing out of that little hole.

6. The final straw.....who would believe that she would jump up on a chair in order to reach the paint bottles on the craft table. THEN....proceed to paint herself, the hardwood floor, one dog blanket, and a quilt on the bed? This was all accomplished within a 15 hour period, where 8 of which she was in a kennel for the night.

One last word about my dogs. Oscar is an angel, except for his exceptional barking skills.

I will forgive my little "criminal" but it may take me a couple of days.

Christmas Fudge

Tonight, I made my mother's famous fudge. My brother, Jerry, is visiting me tomorrow, and I wanted to send some home with him. I had a lot of tender memories as I worked on the candy. For ten years now, I have been some part of the process, and the last couple of years, mom needed help with the stirring and mixing and cutting. In my mind's eye I see her hands working with such love as she prepared it for all of the family and some special friends, and the young men who brought her the sacrament during the winter when she was shut in. She had such great love for everyone. It was truely a labor of love to make all of her goodies each year. I'm missing her a great deal presently, as her birthday approaches. I was actually in tears as I picked up all the ingredients tonight at the store, knowing that I was on my own for my first "solo flight" with the fudge. It appears to be right. She would be proud of me. I hope to carry on her traditions, so that part of her will live on in memory of the service she gave. Below, you will see pictures of mom teaching my daughters, Heidi, and Becky, how to make the fudge. Heidi has now become well known for the treasured recipe. I believe she said she makes eight double batches every year. People actually remind her about it and ask if they are receiving it again. Way to go Heidi!





One more thing.....the recipe:
GRANDMA SMITH'S FAMOUS FUDGE

4 1/2 Cups Sugar
9 ozs. marshmallow topping
1 square real butter
One pkg Baker's unsweetened baking chocolate broken up (8 pieces)
1 can Evaporated milk
2 Tbs vanilla
1 12 oz pkg. semi sweet chocolate chips
1 lb broken walnuts (optional)

In a large bowl, mix chocolate chips, marshmallow topping, and baking chocolate. Set aside.
Boil sugar, butter and evaporated milk in heavy saucepan for 5 full minutes , stirring constantly at a full boil. Pour this hot cooked mixture over ingredients in the bowl. Add vanilla. Stir until mixture is all melted and smooth. Add nuts if desired. Pour into a 9 X 13 inch lightly buttered pan and place in the frig overnight. Cut into squares with a sharp knife. Fudge is best when kept refrigerated and eaten cool.

NOTE: This recipe makes a dark semi-sweet fudge. I LOVE it this way but after tasteing it today, I remembered that mom always adjusted the recipe to how individuals like it. You can go with the semi sweet baking chocolate instead of unsweetened, or even take it a notch milder with milk chocolate. Also, nuts or no nuts, walnuts or pecans. Have fun deciding what you like best.

Christmas 1982

I love this photo of my six children. Nothing fancy for sure. They are basically all wrapped in fabric! Randy, at 14, was not real excited about this this, and I told him that no one would ever see it. Who knew then that there would be the World wide Web, and I would have to put the photo out there? Heidi enjoyed it. Brian was so excited to be a King and get to hold that plate with the cologne bottles and some costume jewelry. Sweet little faces on everyone. I miss the years when my children were young, but look at all these beautiful grandchildren. What fun we had with their nativity last year. That night was the best. Lot's of nice momories. I love my family soooo Much!!!

A few months before Christmas 2007, I started making nativity costumes for our ten grandchildren. On the 16th of December, we got together for dinner, and I was able to take the photos that you see here. My precious grandchildren are as follows: Joseph and Mary...Randy and Cheri's children, Danielle, and Braden. The three wisewomen... Heidi and Ken's children, Kylie, Ashley, and Lizzie. The two shepherds and the two angels are.... Danny and Becca's daughter, Olivia, and Son Cameron, and Jeff and Heather's daughter, Cessna, and son, Lance. Baby Jesus....Becky and Ryan's daughter, Rory.

Grandchildren's Nativity