Hand made tresures and Christmas!

Ok so this post has a THEME! every single photo in this post has something hand made in it. My family did a hand made Christmas this year and it made me start noticing that so much in my life is hand made.  One of my non member friends teased me because mormon girls learn cooking, sewing and other really useful skills very young.... at first I thought is was funny and laughed along but the more I think about it I not only think it is AWESOME that we learn these skills that the rest of the world is leaving behind, I am so GRATEFUL that I was raised this way... No I was not a pro seamstress or chef or anything for that matter but I've known how to cook a good meal, sew a button or pillow or ya know those kinds of things. for a long time. The world thinks that it's weird that we teach our children these things but you know what....?..... some of my faith in god girls don't have dads and have moms that work full time, and are gone a lot!  what a blessing for these girls to know how to make something as simple as pizza to eat!

So as the post goes on I will point out things that are hand made  by me or people I love!

This is Grandma and Grandpa Cranmer sometimes Brett and I call them Cranpa and Cranma!

Do you see all those boxes some are wrapped the others are white waiting to be wrapped. Well some of you may recognise those boxes, they are the treasured hand made, hand dipped and hand boxed Cranmer chocolates. Grandpa and Grandma start these the day after Thanksgiving, they make all different kinds and this is a valued family tradition that has been going on for probably half a century! They make home made caramel, peanut clusters, lemon, turtles, mints, cherry chocolates, orange, straberry and rasberry and maybe more. They are so beautful and there is SO much work put into making these for the people they love!

We were lucky enough to get to help box the chocolates, it took about an hour with all four of us and we packed 80 boxes. I couldn't believe when Granpa told us that they normally box ten boxes and then take a ten minute break... that would take all day! I am glad we were there to help! We kept sneaking mints behind granmas back... I think she knew but never said anything.... THEY ARE JUST SOOO GOOD!

 This is a fleece tie blanket that I made for Kyle for Christmas this year. We had his name and I thought he would like this and a camo scarf I tied too. It took me about a month to make and I finished the top (the part you see) on the plane to SLC. It was a little embarrasing when the big wig sports authority president (or somehting like that) got up to get off the plane and he had hunter orange fuzzies all over him... he was so nice though and didn't seem to care... after all he was wearing a camo hat and had complimented me on the blanket.... Kyle seemed to like the blanket on Christmas because within ten minutes of opening it he was passed out under it!

 This is a headboard I claim to have made....I pulled it out of the garbage after Thanksgiving and thought I could make it beautiful! I wish now I would have taken a before photo... it was looking pretty sad... the fabric part was added and before it was only the dark wood, behind the fabric there is a large gap where there were some metal dowels that  had been broken out and busted up... so I punched them all out so I had a huge rectangle gap and made the padded part out of cardboard, batting, fabric, buttons, stapler,gorilla glue, tape and needle and thread... I am very proud of the way it turned out. I have wanted a head board for a long time but we just can't afford one.... I am thankful I found this one by the dumpster! I really felt Heavenly father was blessing me when I found this... and I still think he was.

This was a simple one, I didn't make them but we did decorate them... our first stockings!

This is a wreath I made from left over branches of our Christmas tree! I worked on it for about 2 hours although you can't tell... I love it though! it reminds me of when I was younger mom would always do this.

This advent Calendar is my favorite Christmas decoration/gift. My aunt Georgie made this for us and gave it to me when I was home in October. Everything is hand sewn all the tiny sequense and stitching... this must have taken her a long time and I really really appreciate and love it so much! I have such good memories of racing to be the first kind up at home to put the next thing on the calendar that Georgie had made my mom... now I have one of my own!

 This is our Christmas tree this year! Brett cut it down two days after Thanksgiving and I couldn't wait to put it up! The hand made thing in this photo is the ornament at the very top just beneath the bow, it is a picture of Brett when he was a baby attached to a handmade pillow with lace around it. Grandma Burtenshaw made this a long time ago and use to put one of every grandchild on the tree. It was fun to go through them and see Bretts brothers and sisters too.  I love it so much and that is why it's at the top of the tree! Under the tree also is Grandma Burtenshaw's Christmas present to us, it's a collection of poems she has written over the last year, we read Where Is Christ... one of our favorite poemsof at our Christmas eve dinner, everyone loved it just as much as we do!

 These three things above our TV are hand made from some Trash that our friends were throwing out. I took there card board added batting, fabric, ribbon and buttons and wala!!! art that we can add pictures or in this case Christmas cards too!

 This was our table for Christmas eve dinner. There are three hand made things in this photo, over on top of the A/C untit (top right) is one of my most favorite house hold decor pieces. My brother Matt made these two matching containers they are green and bronze slab pots, he is really good at pottery and I would love if he made me some more! hint hint!

 The picture of Jesus was hand painted for Brett by an investigator in Germany. The quilted table runner was hand made by Grandma Checketts. She gave it to me a while ago but I can't remember if it was for a birthday or something... I don't use it as a table cloth usually just as a decoration cause I am afraid it will get ruined but it fit so beautifully on the table with all the other green and red decor that I had to use it!  Grandma is so talented at Quilting! The vase to the right of Jesus was made for me by Linda Hoffman my boss at Hoffman cleaners in South Ogden, she was such a nice lady!

The only home made things in this photo are James the Westbrooke's baby and Kaili the Hobel's baby... Kaili is in Tori's belly behind my head!

For Christmas mom made me this flannel nighty and Brett those matching pj pants. Kyle is SO good at leather work and made Brett a really awesome wallet  with his inititals on it that he will probably start using immediatly and he made me one to with roses and my initials on them... everyone we show can't believe my 16 year old brother made these!!!! I really can't either they are really nice! Thanks Kyle!

This is a hand made MESS!

My next project, a big ol B to go above our bed.

I am so grateful to have been raised by family who taught me to use my hands to create beautiful things for my family and others.  It was a wonderful Christmas, Brett and I stayed in the house all day and had a rock band session! the day flew by but we didn't do much of anything besides just be together and it was SO FUN!  I hope you all had as great a Christmas as we did!

why this month was the best!

So this month has been my favorite so far this year! here is why:
1. studied my tail off and felt confident in my finals
2. finished all projects early so we could leave to go to Utah
3. Surprised our families when we randomly showed up unexpected!
4.got to spend quality time with family and especially grandma and grandpa Checketts cause we stayed with them
5. Learned the basics of crochet from grandma
6. helped grandma and grandpa Cranmer with their christmas tradition of chocolate boxes
7. got to spend good time with my parents and brothers
8. learned how to crack wheat
9. saw tangled with Mandy and Debbie
10. got to go to dance with mom twice
11. got to eat at Cafe Rio
12. got to spend a night at Brad and Kelly's so fun staying up late and visiting
13. Got to wrestle with Paige, Quin and Sadie
14.  got A's in 6 classes and a B+ in Math
15. ate breakfast everyday with grandma and granpa checketts
16. Went through the Timpanogas temple with Mandy for her first time ( very special)
17. Got to eat at Olive Garden after the temple, had fun talking with Katie and Keith... the only people who can down more diet coke than me.... talented!
18. got to give our presents to Brandon and Michelles family.
19. got to see Brandon and Michelles new house! and had such a nice time visiting with them
20. got to see Matt's baby alpacha Nini
21. Got to go to lunch with matt
22. Got to visit  Georgie and again over lunch at El Matador!
23. Got to pull Kennans tooth that has been hanging for a year and she was too scared to pull it or let anyone touch it!
24. got to go to a movie with mom and the boys
25.  got to make Grandma fruit crepes for her birthday!
26. got to spend all my free time with Brett
27. made a headboard
28. got to eat at Tacanos with Steve and Nicole and their son Greyson
29. the snow
30. got to visit with Grandma Burtenshaw and Aunt Dalmar and got to take home the cutest ornament of Brett when he was a baby... it's now at the top of our tree.
31. time to relax
32. mom made me a beautiful new temple dress... I think it's the prettiest one out there... and it's warm with secret pockets!
33. went to Breakfast at Jerimiahs with mom, dad, matt and Kyle.
34. got to see cousins, aunts and uncles...
35. going to see Wicked
36. Heather is coming to visit next week
The list really could go forever... my favorites of December though have been all the time we were able to spend with our family.... we really valued the time we had in Utah with you all.... and the other favorite was the temple with Mandy.... it was such a great experience and that temple is so beautiful!

Merry Christmas everyone!

new family photos

So After two years of marriage we got our family photos done... it was fun and seemed a little like engagement photos! But who says you need to wait to have kids to get your family photos done!!! 

Jennacole photography did these for us.

more fun in Chi-town

Ok there is a story here. I have been doing pretty much nothing lately except studying for tests... I like to be comfy and warm so this is what I end up looking like... Brett thinks it's really funny.... anyway  I was coming out of the bathroom and Brett was standing right there to scare me...anyway it worked and I had pretty much a heart attack.... so I of course chased him and he ran into the kitchen where I followed and because of these awesome socks... I biffed it pretty bad right there on the kitchen floor... so while I was down Brett tackled me ... of course! I was laughing SO hard and was so angry at the same time and my knee hurt and I was being tackled and he was laughing... so he tried to help me up but I kept sliding on these dang cute socks.... finally I made it up and one minute later i was getting a drink and I don't know how hw does it he snuck up behind me and scared me again....!!!!!!!!! so I dropped my water bottle and screamed.... Anyway  I seriously love our marriage and our life together!  Everyday just gets better and better...

We did a trade with a professional photographer Jenna cole of Jenna cole photography  She is awesome We babysit her adorable son while she has sessions and in return we work off hours so we can get our family done as well!  We think we scored big because we could never afford her any other way and besides her son is so cute and fun!

Brett found this alley and we loved taking pics there... He is such a good sport!

Out on the town!

When Lisa and Jenny Pierce visited B&T they took us to this awesome steak house! mmmm. mouth watering.

Brett's first day of Internal med rotation. He did 4 weeks with Dr. Husane, 4 weeks at 4:30 am every single day....with Dr. Kumar (the one who invited us to the benefit dinner) and now is in 4 weeks with Dr. Suh.  He has really learned a lot and is getting smarter and smarter all the time! :)

Navy Pier in Chicago. Date day!  you can eat lunch or dinner in that hot air balloon!

Brett has a big mouth!

Date night off to see Shrek the musical... We had ok seats but right before we went inside a woman offered her WAY better and more expensive tickets for FREE!!! her daughter canceled on her at the last minute and she didn't want to go anymore... so we called B&T and gave them our ok tickets and sat up front it was a blast!!!!! Brett really liked it!!!

Yeah we're having a blast here in Chicago!!!

It's getting cold though we'll see what we think about winter!

fun in Chicago

So we have been in Chicago since August 2010. We really are loving it here!  Brett is so close to finishing his internal medicine rotation!  He has been working with the Doctors from a hospital close by our house called Jackson Park hospital. The actual hospital is kind off in the ghetto but where we live is really nice and a block away from the beach of Lake Michigan! I have been SO busy with school taking 18 credits including a math class that takes up most of my time. In three weeks I will be done with Math FOREVER! hurray!
In the last while I have visited Utah in October to see family and take a developing team leadership class required for my major of Technical Sales. I also visited California with my friend Tori for her baby shower. Tori's family let me stay with them and we had a blast of a weekend having the shower, shopping, and just getting to know her family and hometown. While I was gone Brett and Brandon Tori's hubby went to a Chicago Bulls game and they had a blast as well!   Well we have found a custard place to replace Neilson's in Bountiful  it's called Scooters and we LOVE it! it is the destination of many of our dates!  We were called to be the activities people for the ward a few weeks before Halloween and then last sunday we were released, I guess the church is disolving the activities committees.  Brett is starting to study for CS (clinical science) part of step 2 he will take it in February crazy that we are already to step 2!
This weekend we have our firs dress up medical dinner.... I don't really know what to call it. Brett was invited by the last doctor he worked with, to go to this dinner and lucky me I get to go too! I guess it's a benefit dinner for the Medical association of American and Indian doctors... I probably got that wrong...
here are some pics highlighting our time here so far!

Chicago style pizza at Giradanos! date night!

At Octoberfest!

Brett at the Bulls game!

The do not pass sign in front of President Obamas house. The sign says that if you walk past the sign you and anything you are wearing or carrying will be searched!  There are Secret Service everywhere! If Obama was a Mormon he would be in our ward! ha ha!

Obama's house through the trees.

fun at the museum of science!