Holiday Happenings

There's been a lot going on around here that I haven't posted about.  Each of these would have made a great post individually but instead, they're in one big blog post.

WHIPPLE FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY


Why yes, we always sit around and draw on paper plates that are on our heads.  Doesn't everyone?

Too bad I didn't get the full shot.  This is my nephew, Ben, doing his rendition of Nine Ladies Dancing.
You can read about the party here.  My sister was much better at documenting the event than I was.  Suffice it to say that there was a lot of laughs, games, delicious food, and maybe even a few tears shed.

Speaking of delicious food, check these out: 

 This was my go-to treat of the month.  Chocolate dipped oreos with crushed candy canes on top.  The white chocolate ones have sprinkles or chocolate drizzle.  I had these at a soup/sandwich place in Utah a few weeks ago and fell in love.  They were selling them in a box of 4 for $5.00.  SERIOUSLY!!!  So I did them myself and they have been a hit everywhere I have taken them.  (please ignore the dirty dishes in the dishwasher)

PINTEREST PROJECTS

 check out this cute tartan plaid infinity scarf that I found on Pinterest.  It is made from a pair of flannel pajamas.

Below is my version

 And see this cute knit scarf?  

Below is my version (crocheted and much smaller)  

Boy is it warm!

 

 

 Aren't these apothecaries darling?

I know mine looks nothing like them but they gave me the inspiration for this:

I also made white chocolate peppermint fudge (a Pinterest recipe) and easy apple dumplings using a surprise ingredient (another Pinterest recipe).  Sorry, no pictures but you can find them on Pinterest

At least I can say that the time I spend scrolling through ideas on Pinterest isn't a total waste!

MISSIONARY HOMECOMING
My nephew, Brady, returned last week from a two year mission for our church.  His family and extended family gathered at the airport to welcome him home. 

He served in Iowa (eye-oh-ahhh)

Doesn't this family look like they're glad to have their son/brother/grandson home???

Add to that, Christmas shopping, Christmas wrapping, preparing a lesson for church last Sunday, a trip to Ohio and one to Utah.  My oh my, this month has been a busy one!

Fa la la la la

I love, love, love decorating my home for Christmas time. The house always looks more inviting this time of the year! But it is quite a production to do. No matter how organized I try to be, it creates a HUGE mess before it looks good and it takes me days to get it all together... probably because I never do it the same way each year. Anyway, I present to you the Benson Christmas Home 2011:

This is on my sofa table...a simple Nativity and a framed statement about Jesus Christ

This is a throw I made several year ago...red velvet and fur. I wanted it to look like Santa could wrap himself up in it. The crocheted table topper was made for me by a special friend when I was Relief Society President in Corona years ago. I know you can't see it but the tree on the table is a cute little Charlie Brown Christmas tree

The next five are of my living room--simple but elegant.

My collection of Willow Tree angels. I took Katie's idea and found a bunch of red books (not necessarily Christmas books) and stacked them up for effect

Some of my favorite Christmas books along with a few pine cones I collected in my yard after the last windstorm

The family room Mantle

I used Christmas greenery and fruit (apples, oranges, and pomegranates)

Added to that were an eclectic collection of glass apothecary jars and a candle inside

In the kitchen

...more kitchen.

The cone trees are just rolled up scrapbook paper and placed on a candlestick

(with rickrack and pom poms added to the bottom)

I did something different with my bakers rack this year. I decided to go a little more whimsical with red and greens and really like the look. I added some things like cranberries and limes for a little more color. The bottom left photo is of a picture holder and each letter spells imagine. The Santa mugs were given to my by my grandmother but are replicates of mugs we used when we were children.

The Christmas Tree.

I have been adding to this for the past few years. It's gold and a few touches of green.

this is an ornament from my childhood

...belonged to my mother-in-law

a new addition this year purchased after Christmas last year

Another after Christmas sale item. Beautiful!

So there it is. I wish you could all come over for some hot chocolate and cookies and see it in person.

A few thoughts

I'm getting ready to post a few photos of my house all decked for Christmas but that might take a day or two. In the meantime, here are a few random happenings from the past few days.

1. I flew up to Utah last Thursday on the first flight of the morning--6:30 a.m (ugh). It was refreshing to see so many business men and women on the flight...they really classed up the plane. I love seeing a man in a suit and tie!

2. I have rented so many cars that I am at the point that I go out to the parking garage and my name is lit up on a board with the stall # of my rental car. When I got there that morning, this is what I found:

A Nissan Cube?! I felt like I belonged in a cartoon (think phenius and ferb). Trust me, there was no one checking me out on the freeway when I was driving this!

3. We took Michael to the movies on Friday. It is quite a production to find a service that can transport someone in a wheelchair but it was fun and he enjoyed it. We saw the Muppet movie.

4. White Christmas has been a favorite Christmas movie of mine since I was a young girl. When I began dating Kevin, he told me that they always watched it in their home too. I have to admit, I'm getting very tired of it and find myself fast forwarding through a lot of it these days but I HAVE to watch it every year. Michael and I watched it yesterday afternoon.

Earlier in the week, I went to ASU's Gammage to see the stage production and loved it. It had been adapted to the stage so there were some changes from the original but it was delightful!

5. I'm home for the next two weeks and have got a huge list of things to do! I was thinking that I was nearly done with Christmas gifts but realized I've got a lot to do, I must get busy!!!!

From bad to worse but a good time in the end

As a continuation of my precious post, here is what happened on the rest of my trip. I think every aspect of my trip to Columbus went awry. It felt like that scene in Home Alone where the mother is desperately trying to get home to her son and she ends getting home at the same time her family does.

1. Phoenix to Denver: Plane was delayed by an hour making me miss my connection to Columbus. Was put on a red eye that took off 7 hours later.

2. Called a friend to pick me up from the airport. What should have been a 15 minute trip turned into a 40 minute ride because of an accident on the freeway

3. Phoenix to Newark, NJ: Go figure...why would they send me further east to have to go west again? I was on the VERY last row of the airplane and was woken up by every person who needed to use the restroom. I think I slept for 3 hours.

4. Newark to Columbus: delayed by 2 hours, then 2 1/2 hours, then 3 hours. I finally followed the lead of a couple of businessmen and hopped on another flight because we didn't trust that the flight would ever leave.

5. Finally arrived in Columbus at 1:15. Katie dropped Grayden off at school and said she would be there in 10 minutes. Ten minutes turned into 30 due to road construction and freeway exits closed. I finally got to her house at 2:00. Ironically, had I just taken their suggestion and flown out the first flight of the day, I would have gotten there at the same time. Sigh!

Anyway, I had a BLAST! Katie and I were in the living room talking when Katie's friend dropped the kids off after school. Grayden peaked in the window and saw me and started shouting to his brothers that he could see Grandma. They were jumping up and down and so excited. How refreshing to have someone so excited to see me. Somehow I got a second wind from my lack of sleep and they showed me their school work, we jumped on the trampoline together for a while, and had dinner and bed time.

Katie is in a community choir and they were preforming at a local nursing home so I went with her so I could see her perform. It was fun to hear beautiful Christmas music and see her doing something she enjoys so much (even though they have to wear sequined scarves).

I got to spend more time with this guy than the other two because he just has afternoon school

Grayden is a cute, fun, and smart little guy. Although I am going to miss his school Christmas performance, he sang for me (many times) Santa Clause is coming to Town...actions and all.

I'm not sure why the kiddos are so familiar with "we are going to a Hukki Lau" but that song was sung over and over during my visit. Parker and Reid did the hula for me

Parker even did a magic show for us. He's quite the magician! I loved his "magic words." While most magicians use abacadabra, Parker used "Captain Underpants" and as luck would have it, changed a colored scarf into underwear!

Grayden even got in on the magic and even surprised himself when he could make it work

Friday night Katie and Spencer had an evening out on the town and I partied with the boys. It started with pizza and then we put on our PJ's and watched a movie (along with new Christmas pillowcases)

The movie was followed by a dessert of snowman ice cream (thanks Pinterest). The boys loved this and look how cute they turned out:

As always,the time went by WAY TOO FAST and it was soon time for me to come home. Grayden asked if I was coming back for Christmas. He told me I HAD to! I sure wish I could! But it was fun to be there during the Christmas season and see their house decorated for Christmas (including a tree in their bedroom), and feel their excitement.

I'm already planning my next trip to Ohio!