We enjoyed watching Sunday night’s Christmas devotional with the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If any of you want to read The Mansion, one of the stories that President Monson recommended, it’s free on the Internet. Find the link under “free classic read alouds” above. Of course, if you want the pretty pictures, you’ll have to buy the book. But you can see three of the illustrations here (click on the thumbnail images below the image of the book cover) http://deseretbook.com/Mansion-Henry-Van-Dyke/i/5063024

I think it’s cool that the LDS church has created new Bible videos on the Savior’s life, as announced at the devotional. Go here to view them http://lds.org/bible-videos/?lang=eng. I heard that Mary is babywearing Jesus in the Flight into Egypt video, between four and five minutes into it.

Saturday was day for homemade Christmas presents. Every year my friend KeeNan does “Emma’s Holiday Marketplace” for her daughter’s December birthday celebration. It’s always the first Saturday in December. Usually we can’t go because of the Focus on the Founders competition the same day, but this year FOF was in November. Since I postponed my conference, we got to go to the marketplace. Of course I didn’t decide to go for sure until the day before. The ticket to getting in is that you have to bring 10 homemade gifts, per child. The idea is that each child gets 20 dollars of play money for the ten gifts he she bring and then they can spend the money on the gifts that the other kids bring. Since I wanted to bring three kids, that meant 30 gifts. Hmmm, what could we make that wouldn’t cost a ton and that is easy? I know! Duct tape wallets, using this pattern http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/fathers-day-wallet-664865/

Well, here’s what I found out:

1. Duct tape wallets are not that easy to make if you have cheap, dollar store duct tape. I spent half the time unsticking my fingers from the tape and the tape from the tape as well. The Family Fun article had a comment below saying someone made them with her Cub Scout troop. The thought of 10 eight year old boys with duct tape and scissors, and constant “It’s sticking to me again! and, “What do I do now” made me shudder with fright.

2. I should have planned for this a lot earlier.

3. I should have believed the instructions when it said that making one wallet would take an hour.

4. I can see that I am not as organized as I think I am and I want to be more organized for next year.

After two hours on Saturday morning of not quite finishing two wallets, I did the math and cut my losses. It was 10 30 and the party was at one, in Huntsville. I had a forty five minute drive and lunch to still fix, plus a snack to prepare to bring and share. Yikes! Definitely not one of my organized mother moments. So… I went shopping! I got some Christmas mugs, three for a dollar at Deseret Industries, and some hot cocoa, not at Deseret Industries. We put some cocoa in ziploc bags and stevia, enough for one serving, in each mug, and then put a recipe for Sugar Free cocoa in each one as well. Plus I decided to just bring 10 gifts and have the three kids split the 20 dollars. With a meager lunch to eat in the car, food to finish fixing in the car to share, we took off. After a lot of yelling and bossing on my part and frustration. We got there twenty minutes late, but with time to still shop.

I didn’t get any cute pictures because I had to spend all my time manning our “store” while the oldest child in tow helped the younger two shop. And I am too lazy to go take pictures of the duct tape wallets I almost finished. So I am posting pictures from other days.

The most popular gift by far was the homemade PVC bow and the dowel arrow. We got there too late to get one, (fortunately Cowboy didn’t notice them in peoples bags or under tables) but I Googled it and here’s one that looks just like the ones we saw http://youcraftmeup.blogspot.com/2010/07/pvc-pipe-bow-and-arrows.html It uses a saw, so this one would need help from adults.

For sugar free cocoa with a Christmas mug, get one at a thrift store. Then the recipe is 2 T cocoa, one cup hot milk or water, and 3/8 tsp stevia.

pvc pipe marshmallow shooters http://raisingolives.com/2010/11/marshmallow-gun-tutorial/

duct tape wallets http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/fathers-day-wallet-664865/

crocheted baby hats http://raisingolives.com/2010/03/crocheted-baby-hat-with-flower-pattern/

magnetic photo frames http://familyfun.go.com/sitesearch/results/q=magnetic%2520photo%2520frames/

flower clips http://lifewiththree.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-make-cute-hair-clips-with.html. Since this uses a hot glue gun, it’s one of those “mom does most of the work and child helps a bit.”

Here are some ideas from Mothering.com http://mothering.com/green-living/ten-frugal-gift-ideas?page=0,0

KeeNan ‘s family made playsilks to sell, I am so impressed she managed to produce these at 38 weeks pregnant! http://raisingolives.com/2009/05/make-your-own-playsilks/

One year for Christmas a relative made us the scripture flannelboard stories published in the Friend. Cocoa over at chocolateonmycranium has them compiled here http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/2007/11/flannel-board-stories.html

And here are more ideas http://raisingolives.com/2010/11/homemade-christmas-gifts/

if you (of your children) aren’t technically challenged, you could probably burn CDs with mp3 files of Christmas classic songs or stories in the public domain. Go to the “cool audios” tab above to get you started.

here’s a video with directions on how to make natural lip balm.