Christmas is Here

Christmas Eve: pajamas for the kids to wear all day, baking and cooking, Rhys attempts to be a red nosed reindeer by pressing nose to simmering pot on stove but fails, major blow up over the amount of naan (Indian flatbread) for dinner (really about our pride and poor communication as a couple), apologies, visit from Oma and Opa, longest Uno game on earth, dinner, gifts, sweets, goodies for Santa and reindeer, family prayer, timely reminder from Rhys to move the coffee table out of the way so fireplace won't be blocked for Santa, bedtime, chatting with Oma and Opa, goodbyes, all presents out, eat Santa's goodies (Mmmm), bedtime, get out of bed to rearrange/remove reindeer treats, sleep.

Christmas Day: 7am Sophie tiptoes into living room, hastily tiptoes into brother's room, two sets of tiptoeings back to living room, loud, whispered announcement in mom's ear that Santa ate the brownies (you bet he did), kids take stocking to their rooms to explore, we rouse ourselves and get dressed, viewing of Nativity video, family prayer, Neal makes amazing Nutella and banana crepes, open presents/pictures, kitchen tidying, pie baking, and dangerous removal of razor sharp plastic package of various toys (packaging is the devil--taped, wired, tied, and sealed), reading of much instructions and loading of many batteries, play, lunch of various tamales, rice and salad, more play, parents crash--take nap, kids continue to play/watch superhero show, calls to family, more tidying, trip to park to play and exercise, pie dinner to undo exercise, scripture study, family prayer, bedtime, blogging for Keri, hot bath for Neal, Goodnight!

Merry Christmas to all!  We thank all who helped us celebrate.  We love you! 

Stop Spot

They never seem to stop so when they do, I eat that stuff up.

Seasonal Weekend Fun

First of all, HOORAY for a healthy family once more!  Neal only dipped down for a day or two and the kids, after 6 days are themselves!  They missed all their school fun like the holiday sing-along, pajama day, and of course the class parties.  We did do a little party for them at home and they liked it but we all know it wasn't the same. There awesome teachers sent them messages via email and Facebook and sent a wrapped gift (books) home to each.

This morning, I set out for the first Mom's That Get Around 5K.  It was an unofficial 5K and there were no drink stops or medals but we had fun getting together and burning off some of the holiday treats we've been consuming.  At least 15 showed up. I ran it in an unofficial 36ish minutes, with jingle bells on my shoes and headband. My running partner and I said Merry Christmas to nearly every person we passed by.

After a shower, the whole family was off to NorthPark Center, which describes itself as "high fashion and luxury shopping" and lives up to it.  We, however, went in for the wonderful toy train display they have to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House.  I thought it would take 20 minutes tops with the attention span of my children but we were there much longer.  It was fun to see how the display had hidden things like a robot, Superman, a dinosaur, Rudolph the reindeer, and so forth tucked away here and there in places to have the joy of finding.

After we left, the parking was so bad. Like you will never find a parking place in an hour or two bad. I was so glad we were leaving and not coming. 

Later that night we braved the crowds on this last weekend to shop before Christmas with our kids and helped the kids buy gifts for each other and the other parent.  No problem parking at all. No major traffic anything.  I still go nuts helping my daughter buy something for the receiver rather than herself.  Sometimes I'm a bit disgusted by it and other times it makes me laugh on the inside. 

Looking forward to cruising with Oma and Opa tomorrow night to see all the Christmas light displays.  Another reason it's nice to have a minivan.

Tis the Season

It just wouldn't be Christmas without family wide illness...and Jesus.

Church Christmas Party

Hooray for Christian women of the world!  A friend and I delivered 11 pans filled with ingredients to women who had volunteered to make the heart attack potato casserole for the church's Christmas Dinner and Social.  Another leader delivered hams to a whole other army of women who volunteered to warm and slice them.  Others brought in salads and desserts.  The awesome men of our church set up all the tables and chairs and stacked them when the party was done. A few other women set up and decorated.  Stations for crafts and storytelling were supervised by women. Women served food, cleaned dishes people brought, and packaged leftovers for families in need. Men took out trash, vacuumed, and locked up. 

I am so proud to be part of a people that values serving and hard work because it makes for light work and good times for all. 

Neal reenacting the Santa terror he felt as a child

We enjoyed the party. The kids got to visit Santa, again.  We contacted our friend, Dave, who has really super good connections with the man in red to see if he could come for a visit.  Dave could not make it, but his wife, Liz, who is also on super good terms with Santa, accompanied him to our church's party.  After photos and gift requests, the kids made Christmas tree onaments. 

We sat down to dinner, well, 3 of we 4 but I joined them soon after serving the masses. My kids love ham and there was plenty.  I took a tiny spoonful of heart attack potato casserole because I don't have a gall bladder to deal with that much wrongness but it tasted oh so good.

We had a sing along and learned to sing Silent Night in Italian thanks to a sister missionary that just returned from there this week. Neal was great to be with the kids while Kari clean up the serving area and set out the desserts. Our bishop showed a couple videos about Christmas.  I really like the one entitled He is the Gift which is put out by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and can be found on YouTube.

Another tradition that our bishop encourages is decorating a Christmas tree with ornaments filled with a rolled up paper with a family name from our congregation.  One of our children gets to choose an ornament which we open later at home.  We get to think it over and decide how we can best show love to that family.  Will it be making treats for them, helping them with kids, washing their car, sitting next to them and getting to know them better on a regular basis?  We will see and we are looking forward to it.

Sadly, today Sophie woke with a low fever so we are going to keep her as still as we can so she can be better come Monday.  I don't want her missing all the festivities at school and just the general elevated hyperness (new word) and excitement of children the week before she gets out for vacation.

I did slip out and get a pedicure though, this morning.  My toes are glittery emerald green.  Feeling festive!

Ornament Exchange

Today I experimented and made peanut brittle for the first time.  It was easy as can be.  Fun even. It turned out great. I love how the holidays are such a wonderful excuse to make all things naughty. Made a batch for the family and one to share at the ornament exchange I attended.  Good times!

Christmas Concert

Surprised Neal with tickets to see Millennial Chior & Orchestra at the Meyerson in Dallas.  They performed All the Bells on Earth Shall Ring which was pretty awesome.  A few of Neal's buddies from the church choir he is in, were in this performance.  Great date for us both.

Remembering

Added a new ornament to the tree today to honor a wonderful woman, mother, and grandma. Love you and miss you!

Awesome Sunday

Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting at church.  This is a special Sabbath set aside as the first of the month in which members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints go without food and drink voluntarily for a certain period of time. We believe fasting combined with sincere prayer can strengthen us spiritually, bring us closer to God, and help us prepare ourselves and others to receive His blessings.  The money we would have spent on meals for our family on that day, is given to provide for those in need in our congregation.  This is called a fast offering.

Anyhow, on this selected Sunday, we also have the opportunity, once the sacrament has been passed for us to renew our covenants or promises to God, for us to share our testimonies as prompted by the Holy Ghost.  Yesterday was the first time Sophie mentioned that she wanted to share her testimony.  She told me she felt good about baptism and wanted to share her belief in this ordinance.  Upon standing at the podium, she decided that she felt too shy.

I am so pleased with her--that she recognized the Spirit witnessing to her, that she had the desire to share her testimony, and that she had the courage to approach the microphone.  I know the words will come in time and she and her Heavenly Father will be pleased that she shared her own witness, not prompted by her parents.

Her silence gave me the opportunity to share my testimony of Jesus Christ, that he works with us wherever we are in our journey in life, that he loves us, and that as we obey His commandments and lean into the Savior, we are better able to receive the blessings He is already showering down on us.

The day came to a beautiful close as we were able to view The First Presidency's Christmas Devotional by fireside and with our first mugs of hot cocoa of the season.  We enjoyed their pertinent and uplifting messages about our Savior and the lovely singing by the choir.

I liked when President Eyring quoted Doctrine and Covenants 11:12-13.

12 And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.

13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;

That is how I feel as I make efforts to live more like Christ, repent, try again, strive.  Even though I am not perfect and won't be in this lifetime, I am filled, I feel joy.  Even when really hard things happen in life, it is doable and I still feel loved. I hope we can all feel an extra measure of that Spirit, especially at Christmas.

Christmas Tree Lighting

Another of our traditions is to go to our city's Christmas Tree Lighting.  Lots of churches and business join in the festivities and provide lots of family fun--face painting, crafts, cotton candy, musical and dance numbers, and a photo op with Santa and Mrs. Claus.  They do a good job as our mayor and the crowds countdown to the lighting and accompanying pyrotechnics. It was great this year because the weather was so mild.

Snowflake with glitter for Sophie's face painting job.

Acceptable amount of face painting for Rhys -- a nose.

2014 Nativity

This year I was asked back at the end of September or the beginning of October, if I would serve as the Inventory Chair for our community's Nativity Exhibit provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  After a discussion with my husband, because it would require a lot of support from him while I fulfilled my duties, I gave a quick, "YES!"  I love being part of the Nativity Exhibit.  I had served as an inventory committee member for a few years and last year I was able to be the inventory chair's assistant.  I was so pleased that Stephanie (pictured below with a white turtleneck) said yes as well.  She worked as my co-chair and is amazing.  With our two brains we were able to improve the system quite a bit this year. We trained over 20 women to inventory nativities and decor.

Over the span of 4 days the gym in our church morphs from a basketball court to a gorgeous display including lights and music.  This year the head of Nativity reduced the amount of displayed nativities to approximately 350 (down 200 from last year) and increased the seating area to view the musical performances and the rare bible collection.  Both draw a lot of people in because groups and churches throughout the community are encouraged to perform and the bibles are so unique and interesting.

I put in 34 hours during just this week.  More over the previous months but it has been a pleasure to be part of something bigger than any one person. My daughter's favorite part was the live nativity.  She liked how Joseph held the baby too.  My son liked the nativity done in little puppy figures.  Neal and I both enjoyed the bible display most.  The owner was on hand and answered questions, told stories, and handled them so we could see what was unique about them and even let our children hold a finger bible, a complete one--with all the New and Old Testament, along with it's case which included a magnifying glass built in the lid.  Want to see me sweat?  Just place a valuable, rare object in the hands of my children.

First time I had seen Joseph Smith's signature in person.  This has excerpts of the Bible only.

First Edition, King James Bible (1611)

Paintings on the edges of this bible are only visible when it is opened.

This handwritten Bible page is from about 1250.  There are 12 lines per inch and it would take one day to complete on column, 3 years to complete one Bible.

One of my favorite's because my husband's paternal grandmother was named after this Marie Antoinette, and later when she found out her demise, she asked her mother why she would name her that?  Her mother said she didn't know Marie Antoinette's history.  She just thought it was a pretty name.

Reid Moon, the collector and owner of the books, also had a bible owned by King George III, who was king of England at the time of the American Revolution. It was from 1770.  There were several others but those listed above really caught our eye.

During this young lady's musical performance, her young sister sidled up to her and "played" her miniature toy violin along side her big sister.  So cute though it didn't make a sound!

Again, one of my favorite ways to begin the Christmas season.  I love that the kids are a little older and appreciate the nativities, especially the live one, and the musical numbers.  And I am thankful for a husband that picks up the slack at home while I tend to my Nativity related duties.  Hope you have or find a tradition that elevates the spirit of the season for you too.