Christmas is finally complete. My dear friend Erin asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I told her a Nativity scene. We looked in quite a few places and they all seemed very expensive... I was about to change my mind, but she wanted to go look in Deseret Book, so I gave it one more shot.
They had quite a few different ones. Some really pricey and others in a rang I could actually look at without feeling like a huge jerk. I didn't want to Erin to buy me a super expensive one. Lucky for me, one of the cheaper ones was perfect!
I present to you, the Celtic Nativity!
This nativity is a replica of the stone figures that monks used to tell bible stories with. (the story about it is on the inner side of lid) So my first Nativity is like some of the first ever used to tell of Christ's Birth. Go figure! I LOVE IT! If anyone knows me, this wont seem too far fetched for me. I seemed to like things that aren't quite the norm. I showed the baby Jesus to my little niece Phynix, and asked her if she knew who it was... All she could say is that she thought it was creepy. LOL! After a good laugh I explained who they all were. Without a second thought she started trying to set it up on the arm of the couch, like my parent's Nativity on the table right near by. I guess, to her, Mary is supposed to stand on baby Jesus. Ha ha! So I explained the basic set up of the nativity to her. After it was all set up, she then put them back in the box. I think she thought the pieces were supposed to click in so she started to push them down hard in the box. (Can you tell, there was a lot of explaining in this adventure)
I'm so happy to have one now. Everyone needs a reminder sometimes of what this season is really supposed to be about. It's interesting to see how different parts of the world view it. They all look so different. Thank you Erin for getting this one for me.
This year I have tried quite a few things that I never have before. Such as: made my first Cherry Pie, finished my first quilt, and became a crazy crafter.
As for the new year. I have two goals, as of right now, that I have begun already. It's impossible to accomplish either in a year, but I'm starting them.... now. Ha ha! First off, you need some background on my thought process in attempting these goals. I have really enjoyed learning the new things I have this year and I plan to continue doing those things too. But I needed to start something that wont take me such a short time to learn. Once you know how to do something, it's just doing it after that. So.... My goals...
First off....
JAPANESE!
Yeah, totally nuts right..? I'm not in school so I can't just choose any language. I have a wonderful friend, Jessica Smith, who went on her mission to Japan. She offered to teach me awhile ago and I was not so sure I could ever figure it out. She said it's a beast to learn. I feel that if I really practice and take it seriously, it would be a BIG accomplishment to learn a new language, and who better to learn from than a friend that's crazy good at it. The other reason I decided to attempt this is that as of late I have been hearing Japanese about everyday. Houston has been watching a Japanese cartoon (anime) for a long time and he said I could give it a watch... Well... I really liked it. :) I'll give you taste with this video of one of my favortie characters....
Byakuya
Enjoy
Yeah, I'm a SUPER DORK, but I take that title gladly. :)
There's my first goal.
Second Goal
YOGA!
I'm not taking a class or anything, which probably a dumb idea, but we have a video of some pretty serious yoga. The reason I want to start this up is because I really want to get fit and let me tell you, from the very small amount of time I've spent doing it. It does the job very well. Ha ha! I want to be more flexible as well and it has that covered too. I think the most important is that my joints really start to hurt if I do weight lifting or running, this is easy on the joints. So, in a nut shell, it completes the TRIFECTA! I'm planning on doing it three times a week. I can't do the whole video (it's WAY too intense) so I just do as much as I can. Hopefully I will be able to do most of the video by this time next year. Not only that, do it well. The pose above isn't as easy as she makes it look. Not for me anyway.
I don't plan on those being my only two goals for next year, but it's a start.
Anyone else know some of their own New Years resolutions for next year..?
We made it to December 1st! I put out what little Christmas stuff we have. I really like the stuff we have, it's just not very much. So, to the treeless thing... We had a real tree last year. If we do get one it will probably be a little Charlie Brown tree. I don't really want to buy one. We don't want a fake tree either because I don't want another giant box crowding the basement with the rest of the boxes.
So! With that being said, I will show you our make sift tree as well as some of the other decorations we have.
This is our tree! It's actually a photo tree that I bought for our wedding. I didn't use it there, but it's been kicking around ever since. I just got all the ornaments we had from last year and attached to each clip. The little angel down by the countdown blocks is the only nativity we have as of yet. We will get a better one someday, but I figure it will do for now.
We can't put our stockings over the fireplace. It gets WAY too hot!
I found this stocking hanger last year at Target and LOVED it. I'm so proud, I felt like showing it off. :)
My mom bought this sign for us last year when we were in California.
The tree is Houston's stocking hanger and the polar bear and raccoon were something I bought along time ago when I worked at Roberts Crafts. They have little tea light holders inside, so when lit, the stars all light up.
That's about it. I do have a pine candle, so we can pretend there is a tree somewhere down there. I must say though that I decorated my parent's and Houston's parent's tree's so I have down my duty. :)
