Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone! We had a great Christmas Day and hope you all did too.

I woke at nearly 8 AM. Not a single child was in the room, nor had any been in earlier and threatened that we would not open presents if I saw them again before an acceptable hour. In fact, when I went out to the family room there was only Melanie, playing a game of Tetris on her computer, and the boys were all still in bed.

After waking the boys we began opening presents. It was a good Christmas, and everyone got what they wanted. There were new piano books to play from, new clothes to wear, new LEGO sets to build, new books to read, new movies to watch, and new IPODs to listen to (after we downloaded a bunch of songs onto them, of course). It was a wonderful haul...Thanks Santa and everyone!

After getting ready for the day we headed to Craig's parents house for a yummy meal and presents from Grandparents and cousins. There was plenty of food (is there ever NOT plenty of food at a family function?) and it was fun to see everyone and share in the Christmas spirit.

One of the fun tradition that the grandparents (on both sides) have is to give the kids a Christmas ornament each year. My parents give random Christmas themed ornaments, and Craig's parents give ornaments that are specifically geared towards something that happened with the kids this year. So, for example, Bradley's ornament this year was a police car, as he got his first speeding ticket. Jacob's ornament was a kid bowling, as he and Grandpa went bowling together one time when Craig and I were out of town. Giving Christmas ornaments is a tradition my grandma did as well, and it's fun to see the ornaments she gave me each year when we put up the tree.

After the Christmas festivities, we set out to take Melanie back to Logan. It was sad to send her back so soon, but she had to get back to her aide job for a lady with MS. Before we left, Craig was able to give Melanie a father's blessing. I'm thankful for a righteous husband who holds the priesthood, and for the daughter that gives him a chance to bless her. Mel is spending the next two months in California with the family she works for. Although a sunny winter sounds nice (I can't wait to visit!), she will be leaving her friends and schooling behind for that time, and I think that's a little nerve-wracking for her.

What a wonderful day Christmas is. It's a time to be thankful for friends, family, and our many blessings, but most importantly a time to be thankful for the wonderful gift of the Savior, our GREATEST blessing.

Christmas/December Musings

*I have decided that online Christmas shopping is the way to go! Very often I can get exactly what I want online, whereas at the store it seems that they have just what I want...in the wrong size or color. I may not have to pay tax online (which feels like a 6.5% discount), and I may get a screaming deal with a promo code. I don't have to fight crowds or weather either! All in all, shopping online just seems to help with the Christmas feeling because it helps me avoid the bah-humbuggie feeling I often get when I go out shopping at the stores. So hooray for online shopping!

*What is it that makes poinsettia plants die within just a few short weeks of being in my home? I don't kill my normal houseplants off, yet nearly as soon as I place a few of those beautiful red flowers around my home the leaves start turning yellow and curling up and falling off. Do I overwater them? Underwater them? Is it the air in my house being too cold for them? I have no idea. But suffice it to say, if you've got a poinsettia that you want to live, you just better not give it to me.

*This week we went to Kajsa and McKay's wedding in the Draper temple. It was a fairly sentimental day for me. First of all, Kajsa is the same age as Melanie, and having her get married made me realize just how soon it could be before Melanie could be getting married herself! Plus, it reminded me of the late December day 21 years ago when Craig and I got married, which was not as breezy, but definitely as cold as Kajsa and McKay's day! Anyway, thanks for 21 great years, sweetie. I think I probably got the better end of the bargain in that deal.

*This year our Christmas letter had a graphic on it that was a Christmas tree made up of pictures of each of us in our childhood. The caption with it said "May Christmas bring out the Child in you." Christmas is still bringing out the child in my youngest. Even though he's old enough to know all about STUFF, he asked me the other day if we were still having Santa bring presents, having them all lined up, wrapped in special paper. Hmmm. I hadn't planned on it, but I may need to rethink that strategy since it seems it means a lot to him. If only I hadn't wrapped almost all the presents already...

*Merry Christmas, Everyone! May you experience true joy and happiness this season. Take time to remember the real meaning of the season, and the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ. What a wonderful Christmas present! Unlike most presents, it's perfect! We can't say that we already have one, for there is no other Savior for us. We can't say it's the wrong size, for the atonement of Christ is infinite, and pays the price for ALL. The tiny baby, born in a stable so many years ago, is truly, truly the greatest Christmas gift of all.