Christmas came, and was wonderful. Then it went. That is the story of my life... everything seems to whiz by. I will try to give a synopsis of our season.
It all officially started with getting our Christmas Tree. We couldn't believe how warm it was. Normally we are choosing the tree dressed up like Eskimos to keep warm in the snow. It was kind of nice to run around without coats on!
Our good friend Lacey was there to help us, as always! We think this is the 9th year we have gone there, aside from last year's adventure in the mountains.
The same day, while I was lighting the tree, Mike was lighting the house. Again it was amazing that he was so warm!
After dinner we were finally ready to do the decorating.
Not sure where Maddie was... she was there, but must've been out of the camera view.
When we were done we set up the train and spent some magical time watching it go around and around!
The next day after church the family advent stocking said write letters to Santa.
Monday morning we woke up to some snow! Finally! The kids were so excited I let them play in it before school, and good thing because it melted by noon.
Later that night, to participate in the #LighttheWorld campaign, we went to the Beehive Home in Provo with our friends the Ott's, and sang to the residents there. Jake sweetly sat on a lady's lap and let her hug and pet him. Jake and Ty sang "Jingle Bells" while Ella played it on the piano, and Maddie played "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" on the piano.
Another day the advent activity was making gingerbread cookies!
That Saturday was our Ward breakfast, and Santa came to visit.
Back to Sunday again, we visited our friends the Wilkin's and Ott's in Payson for our annual friend dinner. This is the only good photo I got!
And this one is upside down, but we enjoyed making snowflakes one afternoon.
Maddie and Maycee were in the school choir, directed by Mrs. Johnson, the principal. They did a beautiful job. We are going to miss her next year when she retires.
One night we had our own musical concert, playing Dad's trumpet. Everybody got a turn, and then Dad played all the Christmas hymns.
Jake made a cute Santa beard at preschool. It created some fun times pretending to be Santa Claus and filling all the stockings with toys.
Kate also tried to be Santa Claus, sneakily getting into the Eucerin while Mom was in the shower. In the same morning, she also found markers.... #sendhelp.
She is a busy little toddler, but still so sweet!
Jake wrote another letter to Santa and wanted to send it by North pole Express in the cool red mailbox at the UPS store.
The Meadow Christmas Sing was fun to watch. The kids always sing their hearts out.
This year I was able to help in both Ty and Ella's class parties. The 1st grade hall was decked out as the North Pole, and the kids went room to room doing Christmas around the World activities. I was in Ty's room as Germany, making gingerbread cookie ornaments.
Haven got a better shot of it, hope she doesn't mind that I took a screenshot of her's!
I am Ella's class mom, and we had a "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" themed party. They decorated waffle cones like trees for the treat.
We had a tree decorating station, but the catch was you had to toss the ornaments on.
The streamer tree station was fun, but we ran out of streamers quick so they reused them over and over.
The other two station were crafts (one too many, truthfully). The yarn ornaments and paper tree cards turned out cute, but required a lot of adult help.
Ty made the cutest snow globe ornament for me and Daddy. Maddie had a party too, but her room mom isn't very festive and they just did some games. She joined in on our crafting and treats after we got home.
For neighbors this year, we gave flashlights and gingersnaps. Actually, on our ward side we did a service project and donated food for refugee food bags, in lieu of gifts. On the other side of the neighborhood we still did deliveries, which the kids enjoy.
The Friday before Christmas we finally made time to go to Temple Square. It also happened to be the free day for UTA, so it was the busiest day of the year!!! We stopped at the candy windows at Macy's on the way.
We invited the Sherwoods to come with us, which made it more fun. It was tricky to stay together in the crowds, but the Temple and lights are so beautiful.
We went into the JSMB for a hot chocolate break, and were hoping to use the #LightTheWorld vending machine, but the line was waaaaaay too long.
Our favorite part was the nativities from all parts of the world, up near the Church Office Building. We also waved at President Monson's window... not knowing of course that he would pass away on January 2nd. We sure loved him, and he has been the only prophet our kids have ever known.
The next day we kept up the busy pace and went swimming for our family advent. Kate was beyond excited about it! It's always a favorite tradition with the kids.
Christmas Eve was on a Sunday, which we loved. We started by watching Music and the Spoken Word and thinking about the baby Jesus. It was sweet to have church that day (just sacrament meeting) and focus the whole program on Christmas. Mike and the other counselor narrated and the choir and congregation sang hymns (also of note, the week before Mike gave a wonderful talk about Handel's Messiah. I also gave the RS lesson about the Atonement, and it was a very spiritual experience for me and contributed to my appreciation of Christmas).
After church we stayed in our dress clothes until Daddy came home for a family picture.
For Christmas Eve the Andrews family gathering was at Grandma Osmond's house. For dinner we had a fiesta theme, including tamales, bean dip, salsa, guacamole, chips, and Brazilian lemonade. It was certainly different, but delicious! Mike, Rachel, and Grandma played music, as well as Ella and Maddie on the piano. Then we did the family favorite tradition of chimes. Kate thought it was pretty fun!
Back at home, we did some of our own family traditions. We started with the Nativity acted our by puppets. Then we did our gifts to Christ for the year, putting our slips of paper in the gold Christ stocking.
Next was the mini picnic with cheese and crackers and sparkling cider. The kids couldn't wait to open their pajamas.
My favorite part of Christmas might be when my kids buy gifts for each other. They exchange names, use their own money to buy something they think their sibling will love. They are always so excited to see the reaction, and there are hugs all around. I missed snapping some of the reactions, but they were sweet.
We ended the night reading our new book (A Nephite Christmas story) and putting out cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. The kids slept together in the playroom under the kids Christmas tree.
We woke up Christmas morning to Maddie yelling that Ty's tooth was bloody. Sure enough it was dangling and he let me pull it out!
They patiently waited for Mom & Dad to get dressed and get the camera rolling for the big reveal.
It's always so much fun to watch the kids' excitement on Christmas morning!
I surprised Mike (with my parent's help) with a frame for his hammock. It was a long time coming, including a false alarm (wrong size) for Father's Day last year.
And he surprised the family with a ping pong table!
That evening we had both the Sherwood's and the Andrews family over for Christmas dinner. It was the quickest Christmas clean-up we've ever had!
Yummmmmmmmmmmm!
We had a funny white elephant gift exchange, especially Mike's contribution from the garage, including our trailer hitch, WD-40, and a butternut squash. Chris thought it was hilarious!
The next few days were glorious, possibly my favorite days of the season. The hype and hoopla is over, and the relaxation and enjoyment can begin.
It was a wonderful Christmas, and we feel incredibly blessed to have a healthy, happy family, our Savior Jesus Christ, and so many wonderful temporal blessings to enjoy.
