Well since it has slowed down around our house some, I decided to sit down and write about some of our holiday. We had a blast but I was VERY busy! But who isn't right? We had our Relief Society Enrichment night on the Wed. before and since I am now the Enrichment Leader, we were really busy cooking a turkey and setting up and getting food ready, music and making sure things go well. It turned out really well and the spirit was strong. I was glad it went so well. Lots of workers to make it flow so good! I am beginning to appreciate those who put so much time into things!! So that ended and then I had to begin to think about what I was going to do when family came and get the house ready and Christmas ready, neighborhood gifts and shopping done. Christmas always seems sooo busy and I always say that next year I am going to start earlier so that I don't have all the craziness but here we are in the same spot.
Last year I was watching the kids open their presents and had this realization that I didn't like how it felt. The kids were going from one thing to the next and I knew I had over done it. I knew I wanted to have a different sort of Christmas next year and so this year I really tried hard to make it centered around Christ. I really like the feeling that was in our home and it wasn't perfect but it was soooo much better. We hung a stocking for Jesus and I watched good things that were being done or said the whole last month and wrote them down and put them in the stocking and then Christmas eve Tucker and dad took turns reading them. It was good to remember them and that was our gifts to the Savior. Christmas Eve before all of that we went to Temple Sqaure and listened to Luke 2 and to see the manger scene. The boys love to do that and that really sets the tone for Christmas Eve I think. We came home and my sister and her fiance' had fixed us a really yummy dinner and my mom had come with us to see the lights. Next we did Jesus's stocking thing. Then the kids open their presents which is always PJs and this year I gave them a framed picture of Jesus praying with a child to go along with their PJs. Then they got in their PJ's and we read the story Christmas Oranges. Then sent them to bed. It was such a better feeling then last year. We also told the kids that this year they were getting three gifts just like Jesus got. So that made shopping sooo much easier. I still went overboard on stocking stuff but it was so much better this way!! It was so much simpler and it brought Christ back into our Christmas!! I loved the feeling that was in our home! I knew I had done better because of the way I felt! I know I can do better next year and we will continue with these traditions!! Santa brought their big gift and then they received one gift from each of their brothers and then there was one from us as their parents together. So three within our home and it was so nice!! We had mom and Colleen and Ben here and that was nice also. Later that evening Nick and Tanys with their three children came and we had a good ham dinner with potatoes and then the day after Christmas my other brother Cody came with his wife Megan and their three kids. I fixed a turkey and it was delicious. We then had our little family party with singing and opening presents then talked about the book I am making of my dad for everyone and got opinions and thoughts. It was a really fun evening. We played the game Apples to Apples and that was fun. The next day we took the kids on a sled ride with the 4 wheeler. They loved it and had sooo much fun!! Everyone started leaving Sunday afternoon and Tanys left Monday morning. So we had a house full but it was soo much fun!! I love Christmas and the feeling you get when dropping off a secret gift or taking treats around or thinking about how we can bring Christ back into Christmas!! I just love it all! We hope all of you had a wonderful Season and a Spirit of Christmas also!!
