Christmas in a Cup

This weekend we took the family up to Temple Square to see the lights.

Prior to, we had everyone over for a Hot Chocolate Bar.

The spread with all the fixin's.

We tried homemade hot chocolate using  This recipe

It is super creamy and wonderful!

Carmel filled chocolates and shortbread star nibbles.

Add a white chocolate Lindor truffle to your mug, your taste buds will thank you!

For the proper consistency, you must have a good stirring device!

Take your pick:

Option one

Or Two

Oh the possibilities...

The perfect way to warm up - from the inside out!

We made cinnamon almonds for the road using This recipe

and pretzel cones for the non-sugar / nut eaters.

A tasty gingerbread person always goes well with hot cocoa.

The Taste-testing Crew.

All aboard the Hot Chocolate Express.

The lights were beautiful, the weather was winter perfect,

 the company was good and the pictures... well, we did our best!

 Some of the tunes we sang along to on the way up.

 This

 This

This  and  This

Snapshots of a Birthday Weekend

Every year for Kenny's birthday,

 tradition calls for a stay up in beautiful downtown Salt Lake City. 

Kenny and I take time off from our busy schedules,
to enjoy a day or two of time together.

 We walk around Temple Square, and the city streets
 enjoying the lights and winter weather.

We take in all the amazing architecture and old buildings, and reminisce on past stays.

 

We do a little Christmas shopping at the outdoor malls, and dine on delicious food.

 

And of course relax, sleep in and relish breakfast in bed!

 Then we head home to enjoy the kids

 and remember

 just how blessed we are to have such a wonderful family!

Happy Birthday Kenny!

Front Porch

This year our Christmas front porch decor is natural and simple.

 I used pine cones, red berries, burlap, and twine to create the cedar wreath for the front door.

 We hung garlands in the archways and attached rustic wooden stars to the boughs.

 

I have a fun project in mind for the neighborhood birds this year.

 Hopefully we can get around to it, I'll let you know if we do. 

For Beautiful Christmas Porch Inspiration visit Here

While listening to This or This 

Both are a surefire way to put you in a Cheery Christmas Mood!

 

Calling in the Elves

I think the number one, top of the list, most dreaded Christmas chore, has hands down got to be...

 Putting the lights on the tree.

 I'm sure that is why the pre-lit Christmas tree was invented!

 They are brilliant and beautiful -

 That is until the lights don't work anymore and you have to restring them. Oh my, what a mess!
 Throwing the whole tree, lights and all in the nearest dumpster never sounded better!

 Instead, for the sake of the budget and the fact they don't make my beloved spiral tree anymore -

 I called in the troops to help wrangle this job! 

Some Live Action Shots 

Taking the lights off  -
  Approximately 2 hours

Putting the light on -

  Approximately 5 hours including a trip to the store after running out of lights

Wound care -

 Approximately 15 minutes

Finally,

 Decorating the Tree -

??? Sometime into the wee hours of the night

Troops not pictured:

Gentri - Dinner pizza pickup

Kenisha - Midnight clean up

Bear and Kolby - Outside leaf duty