The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I cannot believe how long it's been since I posted!! Time seems to slip by way too fast! I do love this time of year. I love the crispness that is in the air (not sub-zero temperatures, mind you). I love the Christ centered thoughts and actions all around. I love the mysteries of the gifts. I love thinking of what I'm going to get loved ones. I love shopping for them, wrapping them and seeing them open them. I love the excitement in my childrens' eyes. I love the decorating. I love other people's decor. I love the yummy food. I just love this time of year. I don't love, however, the impatient, grouchy, irritable people that I seem to run into. I don't like the parking lot brawls that people get into over a parking space. I don't like the lines we must stand in! I don't like what all the delicious food does for my figure!
I also like reflecting on the past year. It seems so much has happened, yet I cannot recall any 1 monumental thing. Just a lot of little things. It seems since school started we cannot be rid of illness. It seems 1 of us has been sick for months now. Buddy started it with his "allergic cough." That boy coughed for a month straight! Then I had a raging case of tonsillitis. Then Buddy again. Then Lewlew, then all of us. Right now Lewlew is very sick. We just got back from the doctor and he is 90% sure she has a U.T.I. But we were unable to get a urine sample so he's not 100% sure.We're hoping to get a sample tonight and start her on meds right after that. Buddy just moves from one sickness to the next. He's seeing his doctor on Thursday and hopefully we can get some answers. But we've not had anything extremely serious and for that I am very grateful! I am grateful we've not had any major, expenses this year. I'm grateful we are happy! I am so thankful for my great family and awesome friends. I am very grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ - for His atoning sacrifice. I'm grateful for this season to remember Him more intently. (is that correct grammar???)
I also like this time of year to set goals for next year. Not "new year's resolutions." Just goals - or things I'd like to work on and/or accomplish in the coming year.
It's a busy time of year and it doesn't matter what you didn't finish today, it will be there tomorrow or the next day or the day after that. And it doesn't matter if we're ready or not, Christmas will be on December 25 and New Year's on January 1.
On that note - Merry Christmas!!

She's thoughtful!

I was laying in bed yesterday morning and Noodle came in and asked me to "draw" a name out of her bowl. So I did. I drew Lewlew's name. At breakfast Noodle told us we all had to make "something homemade" for the person we drew. I have NO idea where she came up with that idea, but I love it! Interesting enough, the kids each drew and adult and an adult each drew a kid. It worked out evenly - since we have 3 of each living here. But Noodle quickly informed me that she didn't include Maggie because she didn't think Maggie would make anything. Not could make anything, "would" make anything.:) She cracks me up.

Merry Christmas!

Here is our Christmas card to all of you who won't be getting one in the mail!

Colorado Christmas

One thing I miss about Colorado is the snow. It was different than here. When it snowed in my hometown, it stayed on the ground until late spring - because it was so freakishly cold. I don't miss that kind of cold, but because the snow lasted so long we almost always had a white Christmas. So even though this song is set in California, it's still one of my favorites.

Lookin’ out this window of this Hollywood hotel,
You’d never know that it was Christmas Eve.
The billboards and the neon took the place of silver bells,
And the temperature is 84 degrees.
I can hear the traffic on the crowded strip below,
As the palm trees poke their heads above the scene.
But there’s not a single reindeer and it hardly ever snows
And Santa drives a Roles Royce Limousine.
But all along the Rockies you can feel it in the air.
From Telluride to Boulder down below.
The closest thing to heaven on this planet anywhere,
Is a quiet Christmas morning in the Colorado snow.
I remember Christmases when I was just a boy,
In the morning I would run and see the tree.
And the carolers on the hillside sing their songs of Christmas joy.
Well I always thought they sang them just for me.
Now the sun is setting in the California sky,
And I can’t find the spirit anywhere.
So I think it’s time for me to tell Los Angelas good-bye.
I’m going back home to look for Christmas there.
But all along the Rockies you can feel it in the air,
From Telluride to Boulder down below
The closest thing to heaven on this planet anywhere,
Is a quiet Christmas morning in the Colorado snow.
It’s a quiet Christmas morning in the Colorado snow.

Christmas Memories...

I am inviting everyone who wants to (this means those of you who ALWAYS read and never post a comment), to post in the comments of this post, their favorite Christmas memory(ies) and or traditions. Here are just a few of mine:

When I was young - before any of my generation got married or moved - we always went to Grandma and Grandpa's. We had a pinata and starting with the younges first we lined up to take a couple swings at it. We always had hot cocoa and some sort of food (sandwiches, chili, chicken noodle soup). We drew names earlier in the year, so we exchanged gifts and got to open that gift. Then we got to open the gift from Grandma and Grandpa. Then we all went to our homes and went to bed.

As we got older the pinata and gifts were done away with and we started giving food storage as gifts.

When Bret and I were first married, we spent Christmas Eve with his parents and sisters and nephew and nieces. At first it was nice. Then when we had kids, it got to be too much. So we spend the odd years with his parents on Christmas Eve and the even years at home. When we spend it with Grandma and Grandpa, there are 15 people so there are tons of gifts. Then we have some sort of waffle concoctions for breakfast. A few years we've gone to a movie Christmas afternoon. Some years we've gone over to Great Grandma's. At some point in the season, Bret's extended family has a progressive dinner where we go to 4 or 5 families home for some part of a meal.

When we spend Christmas at home, we build a fire on Christmas Eve and light lots of candles and read the Christmas Story from the bible while eating something and drinking hot cocoa. Sometimes we let the kids open 1 gift - usually jammies. Then Christmas morning, we open gifts and just sorta hang out for a couple hours and then we head over to Bret's parents. Almost every year during the season, we go to Temple Square to see the lights. That hasn't got old yet! It's one of our favorite traditions.

We also like to do the 12 days of Christmas for someone or a Secret Santa. Also every year, we take the kids shopping. They pick out something they want, we buy it and have the kids donate it to Toys 4 Tots. We all really like doing that.

Christmas is a really great time to focus on Christ and all of our blessings. I try to bring Christ in more and more every year. I hope to impress on my kids' minds that Santa is the spirit of giving. That Christmas is about Christ and giving, NOT recieving. It's hard when they're so young. But hopefully it will sink in.

I hope we all enjoy this magical season and keep the spirit of Jesus and giving in our hearts.