Greeting Cards Have All Been Sent, The Christmas Rushes Through

Christmas 2013 went by in such a blur! With all the responsibility, mixed with an equal amount of good times; I could barely remember everything until photographs jogged my memory. I sent out Christmas cards with a summation of our year, but I wanted to put some of this year’s Christmas memories here so we won’t forget entirely.

Christmas recital: I laughed, cried, loved it! Jonathan started the whole thing off with a perfect rendition of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Jeffrey was particularly hilarious during his performance. He is completely un-phased when it comes to being on stage. MK’s skirt sparkled under the stage lights. She looked and played like an angel.

Annual Neighborhood bonfire: We were sparse in numbers this year due to a change of date, but those who attended enjoyed the blaze, hot chocolate and good company. We’ve done this long enough now that my kids don’t think it’s Christmas until they’ve spent a cold night outside with the neighbors and come home smelling like camp fire. I have such great neighbors!

Alpine Pediatrics' Christmas Party: Sundance Resort is such a great place to enjoy winter loveliness. I always enjoy this night away with my husband. He works for a good company. For that we are so grateful.

 
Mom and Dad’s for Christmas Eve: My parents do a lovely job of keeping up the family traditions that are important to us all. On Christmas Eve we went to “Frozen” in the afternoon and then reconvened at Mom and Dad’s for a lovely evening of Christmas Eve tradition…

 
I’ve had this meal (Italian Spaghetti and Meatballs) every Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember. Hats off to Mom and Dad this year particularly. I do believe the meatballs were better than ever before!

Along with traditional carol singing with the Lewis family, and the opening of grandparent gifts; my brother Jeff brought this game and I finally learned to play! Now I don’t feel like such a misfit anymore. Too bad I can’t find anyone to play it with me at home. (I learned how to play Ticket to Ride too, and I’m hooked for life!)

New Christmas Eve PJ’s: Cozy in new PJ’s, the kids all went down and crammed into MK’s bed to try and get some sleep as they waited for Santa to come…

…he came…

(I always like to note the time on the clock when I take this traditional photo. We got to bed before midnight this year. Success!)

The big boxes on the right, in the picture above, contained two new canine family members. They are at every family event now! They take up a lot of space too! The boys are in love, but I’m thinking maybe I made a mistake giving them these monstrous puppies.

Of course we had our traditional Christmas morning, Albleskiver breakfast (hate making those things but love eating them); and then we headed up to Logan for some extra cold temperatures and a lovely dinner at the Dickey’s. The next day we invaded Uncle Brad and Aunt Rosie’s house and had a lovely visit with them. We got to see the Searcys there too, which was a treat. (Thanks for the pancakes and sandwiches Johnsons!)

The rest of our Christmas break was pretty low key (thankfully). I spent a fair amount of time begging people to play Ticket to Ride with me (not much luck) and Mike took lots of time off to accompany Jeffrey and Mary Kate to the ski resort. He reports they are getting pretty good on the slopes. (FYI: Jonathan is still convinced that the ski lift will lead to his early death so he stays home with me.)

It was a jammed packed season. Some other choice favorites this year include going to the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas concert with my friend Heidi and Mary Kate, reading Christmas stories each night with my kids (I shamelessly sobbed during the reading of this one, it just really got me), and eating the delicious almond toffee that my friend Angie brings me every year.

Although Christmas tends to be the craziest time of year (kinda hate that aspect of it), I’m thankful for it nevertheless. It brings good things with it… most particularly…a renewed focus on my Savior, my love for Him and His love for me…and much needed time with the people I love the most!

Speaking of people I love…

…this year (New Year’s Eve to be exact) marked the one year anniversary of the passing of my beautiful friend Belinda. She was on my mind every day. She really knew how to celebrate Christmas with her focus on all the right things. She has inspired me from above this entire year. Thank you friend!