It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

The week we set up Christmas my friend Lindsey asked me to take some photos because she loves to see how people decorate.

So I did. It was so fun to walk around and photograph the things that are important to us each year as this special time rolls around.

Our tree is simple. It is not real. We bought it after Christmas the first year we were married. it was $10 at Walmart. It stands about 6ft tall. Tiny in our living room with vaulted ceilings. Still, it is ours and we keep it.

Colored lights. I prefer white, but Hubbs and the kids love color. This year I decided to add some colorful glass balls to fill in and add depth. These are in addition to the ornaments we collect each year to honor or commemorate something that happened in the year before. We each get one. For instance, this year Joth is getting a Curious George ornament. George is reading a book, this will remind us of the year that Joth learned to read. I love looking at it.

The angel on top is a gift from my mother. She purchased this angel and one that I am not sure she has anymore when I was a little girl. I had always loved them and was so thankful when she gave it to me the first year Hubbs and I were married.

Ever since I was 11 years old, we have had a photo of Christ on our tree. I got the idea from my primary teacher. My mom loved the idea and I carried it over into our little family. I decided that I preferred this photo of the baby Jesus. It holds a very special place in my heart for a few reasons. Ones I hold dear and sacred.

Each year I try to add one new decoration or Christmas themed toy to our house. this year it was the cookie tray advent calendar. Not only was I sick of the kids fighting over the one below, I also adore them and always wanted one when I was little. Next year I will venture out and find one more so that when Millz gets in on the action they can all have their own, or rotate each day doing a different one. Smartest investment ever.

This was our first countdown. I got it at Hallmark. I love all of their Christmas for Kids items.

I joke with the kids that this nutcracker is as old as I am. Truth is, he probably is. They love to touch it and I let them, but cringe a little when they do.

Another item from my childhood.

Our homemade stockings. I made two more last night. I wish I had a photo of those two. I feel I get better each time I make one. I made the first two, mine and Hubbs' a year after we were married. I got the pattern at some ward craft thingy. I don't love shabby crafty things so much, but these I love. Everyone loves having their very own.

Hubbs has the tree, I have a star, Joth a car, Memms a doll, Peanut a mitten, and Millz a gingerbread boy, er uh girl?

Our toy box of Christmas only toys. It is full of finger puppets, Fisher Price Nativity sets, and ornaments to decorate the tree on the left. (Also from Hallmark.)

My favorite piece.

I hope you are all having a Merry Christmas. Get out your cameras this week, and show me your favorite holiday things, and what is special to you this time of year. Then link them to me so I can oogle them and be jealous your stuff is so much better than mine.

Happy Holidays.

Heber Valley Railroad North Pole Express

Last week my family and I had and amazing opportunity to drive to Heber to ride the North Pole Express.

We eagerly arrived at 15 minutes to spare before the train boarded. I didn't tell the kids where we were going. I think childhood needs to be FULL of surprises. When we arrived the kids were ecstatic and over joyed to be in such a magical place.

We sat in the very front of our car. I wished later that we had been more toward the middle, as I felt like that is where all of the action was.

The train was decorated beautifully for the Christmas holiday. We were given cookies and hot cocoa (that was THE perfect temperature, even Millz was able to partake). Our hostess was such a delight. She led us in singing Christmas songs. The classics. Like, "Up on the Housetop" and "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer". There were stories like T'was the Night Before Christmas and funny elf jokes. Even Hubbs got in on the action.

Mrs. Claus even made an appearance. She sat down with my kids and gave us her secret special recipe for Christmas cookies.

Then the big moment arrived. We stopped at the North Pole. My kids, along with about 7 other kids piled into one seat to catch a glimpse of Santa. During the huge pile I hear someone exclaim, "Ew! Someone farted!" After which the seat cleared out to about 3 kids. I'm guessing the farter stayed, because, my kids were still sitting near the window waving at Santa. Yes, it was my kid. My oldest kid if you must know. (On the way back he shared his goodness as he was sitting next to me.) Sigh.

Santa boarded the train and we were off. He sang some songs to the kids, ran up and down the isle (but didn't quite make it to us). Then he took time to talk to each girl and boy. He didn't ask my kids what they wanted, but we did get to take a photo with him, which was so so so fun for Joth and Memms. Millz was a little freaked out, which is completely normal at her age.

Santa gave each child a wooden top. Which Millz promptly put in her mouth.

We arrived safely back to the station. The kids were on cloud nine. The Christmas spirit had bitten them. We finished up the night with a visit to Dairy Keen, where the train whooshed around above our heads reminding us of the train ride that night.

Want to give your kids the magical experience of the North Pole Express? Here's how.

Families Experience a Magical Holiday Journey Aboard The North Pole Express

Heber Valley Railroad’s “North Pole Express” Gives a New Twist to a Family Tradition

HEBER CITY, Utah — Heber Valley Railroad’s “North Pole Express” is a magical journey Utah families will treasure this holiday season. As a new twist on an old tradition, the North Pole Express will feature a live reading of “The Night Before Christmas,” a classic holiday favorite that will come to life as families enjoy a festive ride to the North Pole.

Guests aboard the North Pole Express will enjoy singing carols, sipping hot chocolate and eating cookies while reading along or listening to the “The Night Before Christmas.” Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas for the ride. Upon arrival at the North Pole, Santa and his sleigh will greet the children and give each child a special Christmas gift.

Tickets are now on sale for this popular holiday train, which is a long-standing tradition for thousands of Utah families. First class service is available most weekends during the North Pole Express schedule. Due to the high demand for tickets, the Heber Valley Railroad is offering two matinee excursions on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 23-24, 2010.

The North Pole Express will depart every Monday through Saturday through December 24, 2010.

Nightly Excursions

• Depart 5 p.m.; return 6:30 p.m.
• Depart 7:30 p.m.; return 9 p.m.

Matinee Excursions (December 23-24 only)

• Depart 2 p.m.; return 3:30 p.m.

Schedule and Fares

Family Night: December 1, 2, 6, 13

• $29 adult, $26 senior (ages 60 and above), $18 child (ages 3-12)

Coach: December 3, 4, 7-11, 14-18, 20-23

• $32 adult, $29 senior (ages 60 and above), $21 child (ages 3-12)

First Class: December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 20-23

• $47 adult, $44 senior (ages 60 and above), $36 child (ages 3-12)

Matinee: December 23, 24

• $29 adult, $26 senior (ages 60 and above), $18 child (ages 3-12)

Tickets can be purchased by calling SmithsTix at 800-888-TIXX, by calling the railroad at 435-654-5601, online at www.HeberValleyRailroad.org, or at the Heber Valley Depot, 450 South 600 West, Heber City. For more information and directions, contact the Heber Valley Railroad at 435-654-5601 or visitwww.HeberValleyRailroad.org.

**Full disclosure: My family was given free tickets to ride the train. This post and the opinions contained herein are my own.**

The winner of the Thanksgiving Point Annual Pass is:

according to www.random.org the winner of 93 comments is commenter #46:

The Snellie's said...

I am a follower now!!! Still crossing my fingers!!!

Wednesday, December 08, 2010 5:03:00 PM

Thanks so much for all of the fun comments and ideas of things to do at Thanksgiving Point. I wish I had a pass for everyone to have the opportunity.

Have some Happy Holidays everyone!

Them's Fightin' Words

Giant Snowstorm.

Karate chop action.

Quite possibly my favorite photo of all time. For the moment.

Please note Hubb's Spencer W. Kimball glasses. His latest nickname is "Spence".

My favorite photo of all time. For now.

The realization that my daughter needed waterproof gloves. I got some the next day.

Mis-matched. Good thing these are in black and white.

Her eyelashes are TDF. Who am I kidding? All of her is TDF.

Batman.

A few weeks back we got a heaping amount of snow. As in DUMPED on with snow. I have not seen snow of this magnitude since I was 8 years old.

Of course a fight ensued between Hubbs and Joth.

Love these people more than anything in this life.

Truly, truly, the luckiest girl in the world.

Thanksgiving Point 2011 Annual Pass Giveaway

Due to being censored for the next 29.5 days (completely looking forward to that birthday present), you may enter this giveaway HERE.

All previous entries and comments are still in affect. Thank you!

Fayette, New York: Peter Whitmer Cabin

I thought I would resume the sharing of our vacation photos. These were all shot on a Nikon N80 with Fuji 400h. I am amazed at how much I have grown in photography in just the past three months. I am thankful for how confident film is making me. I do love these photos so very much. I was in the mood to play with the sun, and rimming. Very pleased with the results. (SO geek I know.)

Anyway, I loved it here. LOVED. The Peter Whitmer Cabin. This is where the LDS church was organized. The land and surrounding areas are so beautiful. Fields and trees as far as the eye can see. Breathtaking. My kids loved running around in the grass, the log fences were TDF. Sigh. I long to go back. I would move to upstate New York in an instant. Truly, I would. Especially since my BFF Bec now lives there. T'would be a double bonus.

Wow, a family photo! Truly. We were lucky to get a handful of these on our trip. VERY fun.

Please note I am 12, YES 12 lbs thinner NOW than in this photo, and my hair is super long. I regretfully inform you that those 12lbs were lost from one place...my boobs. :(

Uhm, this melts me.

I need to get Hubbs into some flip flops. I love this man.

Picking grass. A childhood pastime.

Me trying to get a perfect 'one year old' photo.

I think I got one.

Hope you are enjoying your holidays, and that everything is merry and bright. They are here.

xo

Funk.

I hate to say that I am in a funk.
Truth is?

I am kind of in a funk.

I can tell you exactly what started it even.
The problem?

I don't really want to share why.

It is silly, it is not important to anyone but me. Still, it started this enormous wave of self-doubt, it brought back great and painful feelings of loss, and really, I would just like to forget it, jump over it, and continue onward. I am not to that point, I don't have the ability as much as I long for it. So, I am treading through, praying, hitting my knees, longing for the answer that won't come and I am heartbroken because of it all.

Sigh.
Deep. Breath.
Sigh.

Other than that? My kids are growing so fast. Can you believe how ginormous she is?

I wish she didn't feel the need to act like she is 20. She is getting so big, and so smart, and SO funny. She brings us all so much joy. I am still so amazed that her brother and sister can have so much love for her. I am so pleased with them. There has not been one single moment of jealousy toward her. She came into their lives and she was loved from the very moment. I am not sure how many parents can say the same, but the dynamic between them all has tears spilling over.

My life is good. Truly, truly, truly good. Funk and all. It is good, and I realize that, and that is what is going to get me to the other side.

How do you de-funkify?

Happy Halloween, er uh...Thanksgiving!

So, I have had these photos for a few weeks, but with the busy season lots of things have been neglected, things like my own photos, my blog, and the dishes. (Although I don't care much about the dishes.)

This year we got to go trick or treating on Mr. J's birthday. He was super adorable in his racecar driver costume. He was so excited about wearing it, in fact he did for a few weeks before the big day. Memmy chose to be a witch again. She was a witch when she was 2. I always hope they will choose something new and exciting, but I also love for them to choose for themselves, so a witch she was. A cute and adorable witch at that. Zilly was Little Bo Peep. Oh my goodness, I just want to kiss on her all day long. That little face of hers. Gah.

We went and visited grandparents that day, and went trick or treating at the mall. Where are those photos you ask? Well, I only brought the Polaroid and my lens broke after the first photo I took. I was SO bummed but super thankful that I had taken these shots before leaving.

When we got home that night all prepped to make Jobb's cake, but he got sick...SUPER sick for a few days and we weren't able to make his 'cake' (really brownies that he chooses every year...) until a few days later.

Here he is feeling MUCH better and ready to blow out his seven candles:

Love you buddy. Hope this is one of your best years yet.

Winners, winners, WINNERS!

Random.org selected two winners for the Palmyra, New York prints:

Commenter #18:

"Barb @ getupandplay said...

Oh, Kim, I was already mentally "shopping" as I read this post before I even saw the giveaway part!!"

Commenter # 40:

"Cheyenne and Seth and Co. said...

Oh Kim! So beautiful!!! Crossing my fingers and wishing on stars that I could have the stunning picture of the Sacred Grove. I love you!!"

As always, SO thankful I don't have to choose the winners. Thank goodness for random number generators.

Due to the overwhelming response to the giveaway and so many of you requesting the ability to purchase a print for yourselves, I have set up on my proofing site for you to purchase these prints and a tremendous discount.

Please visit: http://kimorlandini.instaproofs.com/enterEvent.php?id=306592

And using the code: 50off Enjoy 50% off any print order from this event.

That is it! Easy as pie.

Love you all, and thank you for making this post and giveaway such a fun, fun, fun one.

xoxo