Thursday, December 5, 2013

Gateway Canyon Thanksgiving Getaway, Story in Pictures


We've started a "newish" Thanksgiving tradition to sneak off on peaceful getaways.  No aprons or dishes or shining the floors. This homemaker checks out! ;)

  Last year we visited Sorrel River Ranch in Moab, Utah.   These late fall escapes have been so refreshing for our spirits.  I'm all about tradition and holidays but I'm also all about slowing down and finding quiet.  The first time we vacationed for Thanksgiving was a couple of years ago to Gateway Canyons, Colorado.  To this day, it was one of our family's FAVORITE trips and experiences we've ever done together!  It was truly perfect in every way.  This year, we wanted to experience it all over again.  My parents and brother joined us for a big family Thanksgiving getaway.



I've said before...Gateway is a secret whisper, tucked into a quiet canyon, full of majesty and oozing with PEACE!

Gateway Canyons is glorious.  It celebrates the natural beauty of the solitary outdoors.  Gateway is a unique resort found in the middle of mighty red canyons, with views of majestic Colorado mountains.



Gateway embraces peace, giving us time to connect to each other and to find our center.  We race circles in the everyday life, so making time to escape for a weekend stretch nourishes our souls.


Our rooms were spacious yet cozy!  We were so excited to snuggle up by the fire after playing in the jacuzzi.

Private hot tubs at each room!







Midafternoon on Thanksgiving Day, we all bundled up and walked our hungry tummies down to the big buffet feast. 


my brother, parents, and Chris

Mmmmm, line up!
Turkey, ham, chicken, and roast beef


The most adorable thing about this buffet is the special kids' buffet line.  Silver platter chicken strips, mac & cheese, and corn dogs, RIGHT at a child's level.  Super cute!


Happy Thanksgiving,
let's dig in!


"Come Lord Jesus, be our guest, and let this food to Thee be blessed."
-Amen


The hot chocolate with swirls of whipped cream was our favorite part.



Food
and
Family,
my 
Favorites



After our giant meal, we went on a short hike in the beautiful outside! We spent time exploring and walking on the property trails.


Blurred turkey speedwalk...



We also did some fireplace hanging...




And some tree climbing...
Can you spy three lil boys?


During our stay we toured the amazing car museum, which is so pristine and beautiful.



 After dark...
we made ourselves at home in the big gameroom.



We had a cozy late night in our room
 doing our traditional Thanksgiving gift game (see past Thanksgiving posts)
and just being together.




photo via @mooreminutes instagram


And our private room hot tub was JUST RIGHT in the cold early mornings...




Rise n' Shine...it's mornin' time!


Breakfast at Gateway



Some vacations allow us to slow down,
leaving our souls wide open.  
Ready to just be.

Family Pictures 2013!


I am in love with my family! They have my hearts, for always.


It was always you...
The guys,
the ones who make this life possible for us,
thank you.

and

The girls,
the ones who bring the extra bit of
 comfy and pretty to it all.



Happy Thanksgivings
are stopping to connect with family
savoring every single bite of good food,
capturing each beautiful sight,
and

reflecting on our blessings...
as we really-truly allow ourselves to feel blessed.
Because it is a beautiful life if we are grateful within.


If you are in need of a dreamy place to get away and vacation tp, this may be the place for you, Gateway Canyons!

Moore Thanksgiving Getaways


*The government makes me say that I was compensated for this post.  However, all thoughts and opinions are my own and always will be.

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Sunday, December 1, 2013

12 Days of Christmas Photo Envelope Countdown for Grandparents...and an entire collection of other advent calendar ideas



December is here and that makes me extra happy!  Yep, I'm one of "those".  
Bring it all on, 
like donkey kong.

This blog post is packed with advent and Christmas Countdown ideas! It's not all about kids.  I even have sexy holiday
countdowns to do for couples.  Our countdowns have ranged from historic trivia, to acts of service, to fun surprises.  This year, I'm sharing ideas that also include the grandparents!


Chris makes me advent calendars too, which I like love a LOT!  
This is what he brought out to me last night...romantic countdown 2013!!

to me,
from him


photo via @mooreminutes instagram


On today's post, I want to share with you all a fun 
12 Days of Christmas Photo Countdown Envelopes 
we made for grandparents and great grandparents last Christmas.  

What better way to involve grandparents in the exciting fun of counting the days until Christmas than with photos of grandkids? ;) 



This photo countdown is easy to make.  

You'll need:

- 12 manila envelopes
- 12 fun stickers that you can write numbers on
- 12 adorable photos of your kids


Simply add one photo (and a little note if desired) in each envelope.  Press number stickers on the envelopes, stack and seal!  

That's it!  The envelope stack is ready to be mailed to the grandparents.    

They will open one envelope each day until Christmas. These daily surprises will bring lots of smiles. They'll have a small collection of cute snapshots at the end too!  











Counting down the days until Christmas has stirred exciting emotion in my spirit since I was probably a baby girl. I have memories of disappointing letdown when I realized there were still 20-something days left until the big day.  I also remember making paper chains and looking forward to when the chain became super short!  The wait was long and stretched my impatient little self.  I have collections of memories and I've taken those feelings of fun anticipation and passed them onto my own boys through the years.  

The boys with their paper chains 2009


Our entire family is big fans of the holidays and we're all crazy about advent calendars.
Through the years, I've made a lot of different Countdown THEMES:

Christmas Facts and Trivia Countdown

Sexy 12 days of Christmas for your lover

Acts of Service advent calendar

Kids notes to Daddy countdown

Romantic countdown

Traditional Advent Wreath

Surprise Fun Ticket Countdown

Holiday ADVENTures

and more!


Past advent calendars to check out 
on Moore Minutes:

2012

and more!


This year, the boys have a Star Wars LEGO calendar.  Easy choice for this mama! ;)

What's your advent traditions?



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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

ALL THINGS THANKSGIVING: menus, table settings, traditions, ideas for kids

*this is an updated re-post to keep MooreMinute's Thanksgiving Collection current


Happy Thanksgiving Time!  I grabbed a bunch of Thanksgiving prep ideas and put them into one little-big post!


Tie your apron on, 
work hard for a bit 
(because it's good to work hard!) ;) 
Live in beauty, 
gather with family, 
taste your blessings, 
and appreciate our abundance. 

Focusing on just a few details
creates unforgettable holidays,
wrapped with lots of love of course.



I put all the Thanksgiving ideas from my blog in one place...


THE MENUS

A collection of traditional Thanksgiving food, full of homemade goodness.






 This menu is a healthy alternative for Thanksgiving!





This is the speedy, quick, halfway homemade menu.
This menu is ideal for kids helping in the kitchen!










A Thanksgiving Leftover menu,
Smashed Turkey Dinner Paninis




THE KIDS

Don't forget the sweet little people with ideas here and here!
-placecards
- kid's centerpiece and place settings
- kid's crafts
- Mayflower Bread Boats
-Turkey cups
-and more!





Turkey Cups


Visit the library to check out special Thanksgiving books to read!


TRADITIONS

 We are starting a Thankful book,
one we can continue to add to each year
until we have all the pages filled over the years.

THE TABLES

Setting the table for Thanksgiving is one of my favorite parts of this holiday!  Ever since I could remember I've gone crazy decorating tables.  I'm thankful that the world of blogging has helped me document them in photos now!


2009
This past table is lined with white pumpkins and muted tones to add peace and lots of texture for the colder months.

 

2010
This Thanksgiving table variation is accented with deep plum, the under-used color of fall.  The mustard colored plates are lined with farmhouse chicken wire chargers for a cozy, homey warmth.



2011
This Thanksgiving table  included all the earthy, natural colors of the fall season: burnt rust, creams, and shades of browns.  I took a light plaid wool throw and used it as a table runner and then lined the table with wood dishes and wheat.  Our cozy plaid and wood harvest table !


2012
Our Thanksgiving table last year was playful and kid-friendly because our entire family cooked the dinner together and set the table together.  This table had a kraft paper table cloth to write fun notes about what we were thankful for that year.



2013
This year's bright and happy table!





I baked some yummy little pumpkin cream cheese squared muffins for Thanksgiving time treats this year too!






THE MEMORIES

A couple years ago, our family five took a short vacation to Gateway, Colorado, through Thanksgiving.  It was truly, truly was one of our very favorite vacations we've ever done!  It topped even the big fancy VACAs.  The short Thanksgiving weekend we spent there was incredible.  Even the boys list it on their top favorite lists! 

You can read about our 
Thanksgiving R & R by clikcing here.
2011 getaway


And, because we had such an incredible time making a getaway out of Thanksgiving holiday,

 we did it last year too!  Last year we visited Sorrel River Ranch in Moab, Utah.



UPDATE!  We celebrated Thanksgiving 2013 in Gateway
ONCE AGAIN.




Do you ever gather up your family and take off to relax for the holidays?  I'd love to hear where you go and how much you love it! :)  We are doing it again this Thanksgiving!  I'll be sharing details soon...


Enjoy this Thanksgiving IDEA collection!
I hope you celebrate 
warmth, 
grateful hearts, 
and the minutes of gathering together.




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