12 Days of Christmas 2011 ~ Day 12

OH, MY GOSH!!!!! I'M TOTALLY IN SHOCK RIGHT NOW AND DON'T KNOW IF I CAN FINISH THIS POST I AM SO SPEECHLESS!!!!!! WHAT IN THE WORLD!

Day 12 ~ Twelve Drummers Drumming

Ringo Rockstar!

And now, I present to you.....Drumroll please...

RINGO ROCKSTAR

Thank you, Thank you,

There's only one thing I love more than making an entrance - Christmas. See rock & roll is always in season, but Christmas? Christmas only comes once a year, making it special. So in celebration of my favorite time of the year I'd like to Rock out with you and help you all find your inner Rockstar- after all inside each of us a little Rockstar just dying to get out. I've included a few tools to help you get started inside of this package - and some of my music (of course), and a picture of myself for you to hang on your wall - warm up those fingers, get ready to rap those feet and thrash those pans, and most importantly to capture every moment!

Keep on keepin on,

Ringo Rockstar

The gold drum kit is the ornament and the other drum kit is actually a finger drum set! It is so fun! Even Ben loved playing it!

Now we know why there were picture frames in every gift this year...

There was a card that went with this package but it has someones phone number and said to call if there were any concerns or questions, but it has been our experience that people get in trouble when they try to answer the questions that we have! Haha! Sorry Meghan Albert for getting you in trouble! We love you! AAAAAAAGGHHHHHH!!!!!! Honestly I was speechless (an extremely hard thing to do!) for about 10 minutes! Look how insane this is! That camera is a Nikon D90! It can film a movie! It can shoot pictures so fast that you can play them back to back to make a movie! It...it...it is so AMAZING and I'm completely in awe of this incredible gift! You guys, whoever you are, are so wonderful! Thank you so much for this amazing experience! Thank you for entering into our family's life and being part of our holiday season for 12 years! You are wonderful beautiful people and we hope and pray that God blesses you ten fold for this magical gift!

Thank you so much! We promise to enjoy the amazing gifts you have blessed us with for years to come!

12 Days of Christmas 2011 ~ Day 11

Day 11 ~ Eleven Pipers Piping

The Pied Piper

Dearest Hawkins Family,

What a joy this pied pipers' had to be your friend,

now we're almost to the end,

my tunes are running low,

my breath is out of blow.

Please have no fear,

for the pied peper is near,

Piping your favorite tunes throughout the coming year!

I love the little sweater outfit for Ben!!!! So fun!

12 Days of Christmas 2011 ~ Day 10

Day 10 ~ Ten Lord's a Leaping

Mr. Toad (and his wild ride!)

Turn your legs on...to hop mode...and all that Jazz!

Keep on Leapin...no such sleepin- Mr. Toad and His Wild Ride

Holy Cow! Did I ever mention how much I LOVE frogs!!!! Can you see the basketball in this picture? It's signed!!!!! Can you believe it! So cool!

12 Days of Christmas 2011 ~ Day 9

Day 9 ~ Nine Ladies Dancing

Clara

To my little budding ballerina Bronwynn! Your performance this last May was magical. You looked absolutely beautiful! Dancing is a huge passion of mine that makes me feel very happy. I hope that you feel the same way as you continue to dance. Keep being the sweet & adorable girl that you are.

Love Clara

On of the picture frames is a ballerina and the other is a tap dancer. Last year Clara treated Bronwynn to a full season of ballet and tap lessons! She loved it!

Kitchen Remodel - December 2011

I promised to post before and after pictures of our kitchen remodel so here they are!!!!

Before

After

We added cabinets above the existing ones and one on the other side of the window, added glass to give it a modern look, painted the walls and cabinets, added a movable island, and of course granite (venetian gold) from my brother Jared!!!!!

Before

After

We put in more cabinet space by adding a bench and even more cabinet space by adding cabinets above the bench.

Before

After
We added a decorative shelf above the fridge and made some of the glass frosted with a swirl design.

New sink & Faucet...I love the stripe! Jared put these in for us December 10 and I still walk into my kitchen and gasp! I love it! Thanks Jared for making this happen! We love you!

Close up of the granite!!!! There are tons of colors in here that tie everything all together and give us lots of options for when we repaint...not that that will happen anytime soon!

Shelf above the fridge.

We've been super blessed in being able to do our kitchen make-over. The sink, faucet, and butcher block were free from KSL and from a job Jared did earlier in the year. The granite we got as a killer deal from Jared & Andrea (my brother & Sister in law) and my grandparents on my Mom's side. Thanks Everyone!!!! Now it's on to the bedrooms!!!!

12 Days of Christmas 2011 ~ Day 8

Day 8 ~ Eight Maids A Milking

Beautiful Bessy

"Hellooo My Little Darlings!

It's that time again!!!

How quickly the months roll by...

I have been informed by my agent that this is my final chance to spoil you. He tells me I am much tooo busy and must simplify my social schedule, the demands on my time are many.

But my heart is breaking as I prepare tooo bid you farewell...

I have wonderful gifts for yooou my dear friends sooo you will remember me always.

I have searched the wold over for these exquisite trinkets.

I hope that they will comfort yooou for years tooo come when yooou are missing me.

Oooooh I can't bear tooo think of it.

For my handsome young man Elijah and my beautiful sweet Miss Bronwynn.

I have these special flash lights tooo help yooou always see clearly in the dark. I have included my booook mark sooo that we can read together. For yooou Gretchen dear I have this lovely pin, presented tooo me after I took the Gold Meadoooow award for downhill in the last winter cooowlympics. It is certain tooo up class any outfit tooo the height of fashion. Josh I have this lovely ornament tooo hang on your tree tooo always keep me with yooou every Christmas season. For the family I have this lovely puzzle for yooou tooo put together on those long winter nights when yooou are missing me sooo. I not only modeled for this puzzle I had them add my two favorite children in the photo. Yes that is Elijah up in the hay loft and Bronwynn feeding my friends belooow. And last but not least...wait for it...I have included a copy of my best selling CD staring myself of course, my newest love, and many of my dearest friends performing our favorite songs. Of course, we had tooo use stage names tooo protect us from the paparazzi. Yooou just can't imagine hooow they make life difficult. I know it all tooo well. I am alsoooo giving yooou this yoooutube link for a glimpse of hooow I became interested in the music world, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XKDu6cdXLl (I tried the link but it said it wasn't there...perhaps I am reading it wrong...sorry!)

Yooou might say it was the beginning of a wonderful career for me and alsooo lead me tooo my true love toooday.

Farewell my Darlings!

Think of me often as I will be thinking of yooou...

Forever yours, BB

Beautiful Bessie

Sooo fun! Thank you Bessie we will miss you!

12 Days of Christmas 2011 ~ Day 7

Day 7 ~ Seven Swans a Swimming

Odette

This is one of B's Favorite Days because it is usually just for her!

Inside the card says...

"I hope you enjoy the Barbie and DVD. A beautiful story of joy and hope, which are my wishes for you as well. I have loved sharing this season with you in recent years, and am sure you will continue to find beauty in these holidays for many years to come."

12 Days of Christmas 2011 ~ Day 6

Day 6 ~ Six Geese-A-Laying

Mother

"It's puzzling...Little Jack Horner sat in a corner eating his Christmas pie. He put in his thumb and pulled out a drum(stick) and said , 'It's time to say good bye'.

Sigh...Sigh...

Don't you cry.

Love,

Mother

The jeweled egg plays "I'll be home for Christmas" and has a picture frame in that spins in the middle. Ben LOVES the duck teething toy and fun book!

Curious that every gift so far has had picture frames and ornaments! Too fun!

12 Days of Christmas 2011 ~ Day 5

Day 5 ~ Five Gold Rings
Frodo Baggins "Ring Bearer"

Greetings from Valinor, the undying lands. Manwe the ruler of the Valar (Beings of great power) and his lady Varda, called Elbereth by the elves who hold her highest in reverence and love, have given me one last chance to help you celebrate Christmas. When Sauron gave out the rings of power, he gave3 to the elves. These the elves hid from him until he lost the ruling ring and then used them to bring great beauty into the earth. There were 3 other rings that were used to bind a golden book which had great value. Not because of the gold but for the wonderful and beautiful messages and teachings written upon the plates of gold! That book was also hidden for a long time until the earth was ready to receive it. My gifts to you this year reflect on those rings and the golden treasure they held. For Elijah I have a special gift and request. If you do not already have your own special Book of Mormon use the gift card towards getting your own copy of the translated book of gold. Read it, Study it, make it a life long companion. It is filled with great heroes who contended against evil men to bring light, life and beauty into the earth. These prophets saw you and your day. This book is their gift to you from out of the dust. Enjoy Christmas, have a wonderful time, live in a way that will earn for you your own undying lands.
All my love and blessings; Frodo Baggins "Ring Bearer"

The Gold Plates is a Puzzle, then there is a Book of Mormon board book for Ben (which he is really into right now), 5 golden picture frames, and $55.00 gift card for Deseret Book! Elijah already has a nice set of scriptures (we give them engraved scriptures for their 8th Bday)...but Bronwynn has been asking for a larger set to take to church (right now she has a blue hardback Book of Mormon for our family scripture study). Hooray!

What a perfect thing to focus on for the 5 golden rings! Each year before school starts in August we begin reading the Book of Mormon. This year we decided to focus on how many times it mentions God or Jesus Christ by highlighting it in our books. Then we decided to keep a running total as we read along. We are on page 247 and so far have counted 2,057 references!

Bronwynn (age 5) has picked up on how to spell God, Jesus Christ, and Son of God so that she can pick them out of the scriptures herself.

Once news broke out about various political people claiming Mitt Romney was not Christian we were able to pull out our Books of Mormon and talk about what it really means to be a Christian and that one way is to study the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. With over 2,000 references and not being half way through the Book of Mormon I think it is safe to say we are Christian. This has also given us a wonderful way to search for other names that Jesus Christ is called. Some examples have been Lord our God, Only Begotten Son, Christ the Son, etc. Hooray for the Book of Mormon!

12 Days of Christmas 2011 ~ Day 4

Day 4 ~ Four Calling Birds

Bird Brain

" Dear Hawkins Family - The weather down here in southern California is starting to have a little chill in the air...I'm preparing to head a little further south here soon! Please use your new set of Binoc's to watch for me, as I may stop by on my way to visit Grandma Bird. She lives in a log cabin birdhouse that just oozes the holiday spirit! Also be awaiting an annual bird call! Enjoy this Christmas Season!

Love Awlays"

Bird Brain

Lots to open!!!!

There really were binoculars in there! Along with Lenox salt and pepper shakers, stained glass photo frames, and a bird puzzle!

12 Days of Christmas 2011 ~ Day 3

Day 3 ~ Three French Hens

Pierre, Rostierre, & Yves

This is one of my favorites because these characters are hilarious!

"Hope you can read my chicken scratch"

"Dear Hawkins

We finally got our reception documented with fabulous pictures - see for yourself!

We want you to know, since Gretchen flaked out on us getting our photos developed, we went to snap fish & created our wedding album. I am sending a copy of it. Hope you enjoy. I have also included two other pictures for your liking. We had so much fun taking them.

Gretchen, you can fill our photography needs in the future. Yves think s you're cute. He begged us to give you one last 'shot' at it. Get it shot? I crack myself up.

By the way Yves is still in jail. He wants to 'frame' someone else for his wrong doing.

We may chicken out in future Christmas's, but we still want you in our coupe anytime. Its been a great 12 years (sniffle sniffle).

Pierre, Rosteirre & Yves

It might be a bit hard to see but the pillow says "My other house is in France"
The three chicks on wheels are ornaments and then there is a rooster picture frame in silver and one in wood. The best part is the book in the back called "Extraordinary Chicken"! It is hilarious because that is their wedding album! They put little sticky notes throughout the book (I'll post pictures of it later) pointing out family members, nieces & nephews, etc.

We had no idea there were so many kings of chickens! It took Josh back to his childhood in Salmon Idaho!

Here's our ornament collection so far! The third chick was captured by a teething 6 month old! Thank you guys so much! We love you and wish you the best!

12 Days of Christmas 2011 ~ Day 2

Day 2~Two Turtle Doves

Mr. & Mrs. Dove (Fowler & Birdee)

Dearest Hawkins Family,

I hope that Tooele sits well with you now and that you feel quite at home. It's nice having you as a neighbor. The people here are wonderful...much nicer than those "Sandy Snobs"! Of course, we don't want to ruffle their feathers with our fowl comments. Things are hectic this time of year, especially since Mr. Dove got his promotion -- Chief Pigeon Master of the Carrier's Office. Of course it's only a title - because they still pay him chicken feed.



After 12 years, we will still be "dropping" on you from time to time. So don't look up-- we'll find you!

With Love,

Mr. & Mrs. Dove

(Fowler & Birdee)





See what I mean about cleaver! Mr. & Mrs. Dove you are welcome to "drop" on us anytime...as you're not so fowl with my Sandy Folks! They are wonderful birds of a feather!

I'm so excited that we are getting ornaments this year! We've been looking for a way to incorporate the 12 days into our Christmas tree! See how inspired you all are! Thank you so much! B claimed the heart shaped picture frame for herself, we're just waiting to see whose picture she puts in it!

12 Days of Christmas 2011 ~ Day 1

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!!

We hoped to see our dear "Phantom" friends deliver year 12 of the 12 days of Christmas....and they did! We will update the blog each day to share the clever cards and amazing gifts of Christmas each day so be sure to check back to share the wonder of it all with us!

To whomever is doing this...THANK YOU!!!! You are amazing and have for the past 12 years provided us with so much warmth, love, and generosity! You have become part of our holiday tradition and we love you for it! Here is...

Day 1~A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Here are all 12 days! It is truly an amazing site!

Hooray for the Pear Tree Phantom!!!


Just in case you can't read my blurry picture it says

"Do you get the 'Picture'?

"It took me 12 years to get myself put together but now we have all the players. I love you 'peary' much" the Pear Tree Phantom & Ringo




Love the packages!

Pear Tree Ornament!!!!

Picture Frame!

This will go perfect in my kitchen with my platter from Lisa!