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I hope you enjoyed my appearance today on GTU.  I had a great time on the show.  The ladies are so nice and I’ve been on enough lately that it’s like I’m getting together with some of my friends.

With your help, I came up with this list of “can’t miss” photo suggestions:

1. Advent Calendar
2. Book a Day (25 wrapped books)
3. Carrots for the Reindeer
4. Children dress up
5. Christmas Cards
6. Cookies for Santa
7. Cooking Day
8. Decorations
9. Family on the Stairs
10. Favorite Meal
11. Gingerbread Houses/Train
12. Kids Walking in the Room
13. Letters to Santa & from Santa (or his “Helpers”)
14. Newborn Baby:  Resting in Santa’s hand & in a Stocking
15. Pajamas
16. Pinata (Packer tradition)
17. Reading Stories
18. Singing Songs (Mele Kalikimaka and the 12 Days of Christmas – Hawaiian Style)
19. The Mess
20. Tree before and after presents

I’m sure you’re not going to be working on your album today, so I’m going to have all the information up on Wednesday. 

Merry Christmas!  Amber

Acknowledgements:

• paper & jumbo ribbon:  Apron Strings Holiday Collection, www.littledreamerdesigns.com
• photo edge:  French Laundry Photo Edge, www.twopeasinabucket.com 
• photo edge:  Snapshop frames by Rhonna Farrer, www.twopeasinabucket.com
• hope & ornament:  Make a Wish elements, www.scrapbookgraphics.com
• photo frame:  multiphoto horizontal frames, www.the-lilypad.com

p.s.  I almost used these really cute papers that my friend Heidi designed: http://www.littledreamerdesigns.com/shoppe/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1320

Dear Friends,

I’m composing a list of "must take" Christmas photos for Good Things Utah.

Will you email me (or make a comment on my blog) your favorite traditions or "must take" pics?

Thanks!  Amber

We’ve been “elf”ed!  Do you want to see something funny?  Follow this link.  

I was on Layle Koncar‘s blog yesterday and she had “elf”ed her two boys.  I thought my boys would like it, so I did it too.  The boys were laughing so hard.  Riley doesn’t think that’s him.  He thinks it’s his cousin Ellie (one of the 4 Frickets).  Neal laughed and then told me it was weird (trying to be cool?)

I want to see yours!  “Elf” your family and add it to your comment on my blog so we can all see!  (thanks Office Max)  Amber

Coming tomorrow:  A new year, a new tree! 

Coming later:  Christmas cards, will I really send them out!?

I’m going to send everyone an email also, but I thought you’d like to know that I just got home with the wood letters you ordered.  *A*

They’ve tried their best, improved each game and they’re 1 & 6.  Just one win.  My brother (shown at left) blames himself.  He needs to not do that.  He’s averaging 19.7 points, and 6.9 rebounds per game.  Not to mention all the other things he does that don’t show up in the stats.  He just dwells on the missed opportunities.

I wish he would look at the positives that he does instead of dwelling on the negatives.  There is no one who works harder than he does.  He is a great husband (correct me if I’m wrong, Jill!), uncle, son, brother and friend.  The rest will take care of its self.  Do your best, little bro., it’s good enough.  And, as your team starts league play tonight, your team has an opportunity for a new beginning!  Go T-birds!

We’re all like this.  Let’s commit to each other that we’ll focus on the good things we do.  Especially at this time of year when it’s so easy to feel inadequate!  hugs and have a good day!  *A*

p.s.  thanks to Richard Payson (aka Peter Parker, I guess) at the SUU Journal for the fabulous photo.

“The gift that keeps on giving” … that’s what my sweet mother-in-law calls gifts that aren’t complete when they are given and will be finished later.  They are always beautiful & made with love.

That’s also how I would describe this blanket that my mom and dad gave us for Christmas last year.  It’s a custom made 50″ x 60″ woven throw blanket by Woven Moments. 

How do you order it?  Purchase a “kit” from Things Remembered.  Using the codes in the gift box, email them a large photo or a collage of photos (see photo below), and receive your throw in the mail.  It only took 2 1/2 weeks from the time I ordered mine until I received it.  So, there is a possibility you could have a throw by Christmas if you order it now, but I wouldn’t worry about that.  I’d order the kit, wrap the box and let them choose the photo or photos they’d like on their throw.  (If it’s for your parents, you may want to complete the order for them depending on how computer-savvy they are!)

The throw is big enough you could also do a collage of photos.  Here is the throw my dad did for my mom.  He used 14 photos.

It’s so hard to buy for you parents.  I don’t know if yours are like mine, but they always say something like:  “we don’t want anything.  Just bring the grandkids over” … or my grandpa “all I want is a picture of your family”.

I hope this helps!  Amber

This morning Riley really wanted to go outside and play in the snow ~ the first snow of the season.  I am NOT a snow person!  It’s too cold.  I like snow because it melts and fills up the lakes and reservoirs so I can water ski!  Give me a beach any day!  I didn’t want to be cold (is that a whine!?), I have a deadline I need to meet today and the kitchen floor desperately needs to be cleaned. 

Then it happened … the little mom voice in my head that said “is that all more important than he is?”  (I like that voice, it reminds me of the things that are most important to me)  So I put on my Crocs, grabbed my camera and went out in the cold with my little one.  He had a fun time and certainly wasn’t ready to stop when it was time. 

And, hey, Bryan doesn’t have to shovel the grass when he comes home!

ENJOY!

(p.s.  The Scenic Route Rockland paper will look totally cute with these photos!)

As it’s the day of thanks, I wanted to say that this is also how I feel about my life!

It’s So Good!  So Good!  So Good!

Do I have a perfect life?  no.  Do I have trials?  yes.  Do I enjoy my life more because of my trials?  yes.

I hope your life is “So Good, So Good, So Good” also! 

Thank you for blessing mine!  Amber____________________________

If you’ve ever been to a Neil Diamond concert, you know exactly what I’m talking about in the title.  If not, watch the clip below.  During most concerts, Neil sings Sweet Caroline.  In between phrases, he pauses and the audience sings …

• Neil:  “Sweet Caroline” 
• Audience:  bom, bom, bom 
• Neil:  “Good times never seemed so good”
• Audience:  So good!  So good!  So good! 
• Neil:  “I’ve been inclined” 
• Audience:  bom, bom, bom 
• Neil:  “to believe they never would”

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I ran across this article explaining who the inspiration is for the hit song Sweet Caroline and thought all my fellow “Diamond Gals” and “Diamond Guys” out there would like it.

p.s.  If you are a U2 fan as well, you’ll enjoy this.  During the U2 Pop Mart Tour, the band did a karaoke song with the audience every night.  This is the Edge performing Sweet Caroline.

Are we really this politically correct!?  Read this

On this note … I’m sorry to all I may have offended with this layout I designed for November’s Project of the Month!  wink!

Have a great weekend!

Go SUU!