Christmas 2011

Our yearly "Santa Picture".  Sure is a lot less work than it has been in the past.  We usually take a picture of each child but around the age of 12 or 13 we stop doing that...so that only left Claire and Kade with personal pictures with Santa.

Claire

Kade

This year instead of a certain "color" we went for "scarves" as the matching item of clothing.  What a fun Christmas Vacation we had.  All the girls from BYU came home and spent several days with us.  We sure enjoyed having them here.  Too bad we can't freeze time and keep them all gathered in our home.  Pretty soon they will be married and we will be sharing Christmas with their own families and the in-laws.  Sure do love all my children and being their mom!

Oh, You Better Watch Out....More Santa Photo's

  

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 1999

The above photo is the first taken in Idaho.  We moved here the second week in December.  I bought the matching dresses from Gymboree, with the little baby boy coordinating outfit.  We wore these to church often as we lived out of suitcases for the first few months in Idaho, until we figured out where we were going to live permanently.  I had purchased a bunch of cute gingham red fabric in Seattle, to one day make Christmas jumpers...I still have the fabric :).  I left my sewing days in Seattle.  Recently my sister in law Carol was here sewing her teenage daughters some cute skirts and purses.  My daughter Hannah, asked me why I don't sew like that....I thought quickly, I will just let her go on thinking I don't sew...  :) and so replied, "I don't know?"  She doesn't remember the days of matching homemade Christmas and Easter outfits...sigh...

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 2000

These yellow dresses were ordered online.  All children still taking individual photos with Santa and then the group photo also. 

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 2001

This was the year of messy buns, the casual look with the clothing...reds and jeans.  Claire was added to the photo.

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 2002

We tried a Santa closer to where we lived.  The other Santa was in Boise, an hour away.  This Santa was in Nampa a half an hour away.  Little Kade was induced on December 17th, we stayed in the hospital a couple extra days.  While in the hospital I painted teacher gifts, in my hospital bed.  We were home on the 20th and took the picture on the 21st.  Matching velvet dresses from Old Navy for all the girls, with a cute matching boys Christmas outfits from Gymboree.

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 2003

Matching shirts again from Gymboree.  I think 8 were taking the individual photos at this time. 

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 2004

Plain white shirts...

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 2005

We went back to Boise (the Santa was a little cuter!)

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 2006

Now we started dropping in numbers of individual pictures, only 5 this year!
 

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 2007

Kaitlin met us at the mall, coming home from BYU in Provo!  Just in time for the Santa Photo! 

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 2008

Kaitlin met us literally while we were in line.  We let people go ahead of us as she wasn't quite there when it was our turn!  She had to change into her shirt also! 

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 2009

Kaitlin and Joslin home from BYU.

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 2010

Only 2 did individual photos this year, Kade and Claire!  So sad...at least we still have 10 in the group shot!  Kaitlin and Joslin home from BYU! 

Christmas Photos with Santa

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 2010

We have a tradition of doing Santa Photos each year!  2010 being the most recent!  We do individual pictures of each child with Santa until they are 13 years old, but they all do a group shot, no matter the age.  So when they were younger, people weren't so excited that they were behind us in line.  The way I figure it is, each child in line wants and earns time with Santa right?  And we are fast as a group posing for the family photo!  You have to at least read about 1992! See below!

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 1989

This was the first photo, the sad thing is, Kaitlin was born on December 23 and forever we will regret not getting a day old picture with her!  Shoot what were we thinking!  So we missed 1988!

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 1990

First picture with Joslin and Kaitlin together.  Velvet Christmas dresses.

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 1991

I made these two matching green corduroy dresses, Joslin's was made without a pattern! 

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 1992

This is the absolute best photo ever.  The story goes...Poor Santa at Nordstrom.  They took a picture of each child alone with Santa first, then gave Santa all 3 babies at once.  The babies began to cry and flail their arms the way newer babies do.  Their little hands were getting caught in his beard.  Joslin kept standing up in front of Santa.  He finally got irritated and said "sit down" in a firm tone and grabbed her between his knees and held her.  Look at his eyes and his crooked glasses.  Only wish I had it on video!

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 1993

This year the triplets still weren't sold on this Santa thing.  Lauren is in the middle and particularly not happy.  Their dresses I bought and then applied Christmas appliques on them and the good ole' fabric glitter glue around the edges.

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 1994

This year I made all their little plaid jumpers out of a Christmas flannel, with a large matching floppy hat.

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 1995

This year we took our pictures in downtown Seattle where dad worked.  Big mistake!  We were in line to take pictures at the Bon Marche for 2 hours with all these little kids.  We had the huge triplet stroller and were weaving back and forth in this roped off line to get up to Santa.  This was the time that there was a man behind us that got annoyed that we were taking individual pictures, shoot after waiting in line that long they each deserved time with Santa!  I made their dresses from black velvet and had purchased the fancy lace for these dresses, only problem after a few times wearing them at that age, the lace got stepped on and ripped.   

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 1996

We went to Seattle again for this photo, but not the Bon.  The girls dresses were made from coordinating fabrics, for instance the triplets all had the same upper part of their dress but each skirt was different.  Then they all had scrunchies made out of the fabric.  There were 3 colors of turtlenecks.

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 1997

Seven girls now!  I made all the bottom part of the dresses from the same fabric and found seven colors of solid "Fall" colors for the tops.  I covered buttons, for the front of the top, in the skirt fabric.  Sponge curled their hair and placed coordinating headbands.

Farmer's Dozen - Santa Photo 1998

This year, pajamas, no sewing involved!  They all wore them to the mall (Alderwood mall, center court) bringing their favorite stuffed bear!  Our first little boy joined the group.  This was our last Santa photo in Washington.  Still doing individual pictures of each child and then a group shot!  

Stay tune for more...Heck we are only at 1998!

Christmas Idea "Luke II" Video with "Breath of Heaven"

Each year we watch the VHS video "Luke II", that you can get free from the LDS missionaries.  (You can get the DVD "The Nativity" and that works too.) The Luke II Video and "The Nativity"  were produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church). We then take the CD of Amy Grant, "Home for Christmas" using the song "Breath of Heaven" while playing the video "Luke II" and you have the best Christmas lesson ever!  We have been doing this for at least 12 years!  We have done it in Young Women's, Seminary, FHE and every year for Christmas Eve.  You have to wait until the first scene before you begin the music, when you see the green grassy hills then start the music!  It fits PERFECTLY with the video.  You mute the video so you only hear the CD playing the song.  It is very touching.  So now you can get this on You Tube.  I listened to a few and this one done by mormon102 is the best that I saw, as far as the two going together perfectly.  Enjoy!

Christmas Music

Christmas Music is an important part of Christmas for me.  Some of the songs that are listened to and loved by our family year after year, are ones that others might not be familiar with.  Listen to these and I hope you will fall in love with them like we have.

Gotta listen to this song over and over.  I discovered this on the local Seattle T.V. show "Northwest in the Afternoon" back in 1993.  Carnie and Wendy Wilson were on and sang this song.  I had to get a copy.  The babysitters..."the Farrars", would play this song and when the girls were little, the triplets, Kaitlin and Joslin for some reason would run around in circles singing this song?  It has been a yearly favorite and really is part of our family Christmas..."Hey Santa!" 

 

We buy the Christmas in the Northwest CD's often.  They come out yearly and have great music from an variety of artists benefiting Children's Hospital.  Our favorite is number 9 .  A great song that also is a song we play over and over, from cd number 9, is: "How Many Angels" by Catherine Hessler

 

"Christmas in the Northwest" by Brenda White is another song that is a song we have loved since we moved from Seattle (the great northwest) 11 years ago, to Idaho.  This is a video someone made using the song, but the music quality is good.  I can't find an original of the song.

 

Christmas songs, they are the best!  We also love the Northwest Boys Choir...

What are some of your favorites?