Christmas Eve

Awe, Christmas Eve... Always built up in my head to be something that HAS to be spectacular. This year we were trying a new thing and having our own evening with just our little family. A little weird after years of lots of cousins, but still fun.

I think we spent $50 on food for the evening. We had shrimp, crackers and cheese ball, yummy sandwiches with all the fixings, eggnog, chex mix...I'm getting sick just thinking about it. Brent and I were stuffed--the kids didn't really touch anything. Note to self: Don't splurge on food for kids who are too excited to want to eat anything!

WHAT do you do to fill the time? We made gingerbread housesWe tried to have a movie and fire, but the kids were too anxious to get in bed to enjoy it. They kept getting up to check the Norad Santa Tracker to make sure they were still safe! Do you know how fast Santa can get from the tip of Europe across the ocean and down to the very tip of South America? Less than 20 minutes. The second the movie was over, my kids jumped up and were in bed and asleep before an elf had the chance to knock a warning on their windows! Brent and I were both amazed.

Here is the tree right after Santa left. Everyone had a wrapping present theme this year which worked out well. Lots of fun--but lots of pressure! We may opt for a few cousins next year! :)

Family Christmas Party!

Who doesn't love a good party? Lots of yummy desserts and a couple new twists that kept things interesting. First: Elder & Sister V were with us via Skype--definitely the highlight of the evening.Second: We added a new tradition with the talent show. I think this tradition will take off and make for years of fun. We will be working a little harder on our talents in the coming year, but for this year we settled with a rousing family rendition of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer! We finished the evening off with the classic Nativity reenactment, but things were made interesting when we couldn't find Grandmas costume box and had to come up with our own...we miss you Grandma & Grandpa. Gavin was Joseph, Kesley was an Angel and Jenna was a Shepherd.

Seeking: Chubby extras

Brent's sister runs a dance studio. Every year they put on a huge production of the Nutcracker. Some of you may remember Kesley as a cute little gumdrop a few years ago. Anyway, Gavin saw his cousin Mckay perform last year in the opening number as a boy at the party and has been asking to be in it ever since. The closer Christmas was getting, the more he was asking. Brent called Tami and she was nice enough to squeeze him in--she even made a part as Drosselmeyers nephew just for him. He followed Drosselmeyer around and had a few moments where all the attention was on him. He really felt like the star of the show! Nobody was more shocked or proud of him than Brent and I were. He was a little nervous, but still went out there and did it every night.

...And did I mention that in doing us this favor, Tami called in a favor and asked Me & Brent to be parents in the party seen?... We had to dance and mingle--it was HILARIOUS! Brent was actually more nervous than Gavin on the opening night! We had a blast and made some great memories--but we will NEVER be doing this again...

Remember 2 months ago?

Gavin was baptized two months ago on October 31, 2010. His dad was baptized the same day, 29 years earlier. The day was made even bigger and better when we added Olivia Gillespie & Jane Shumways baby blessings and then topped the evening off with Gavin's favorite Haystack dinner. I forgot my camera, so I don't have pictures of most of the night, but Aunt Amber took a few.
Gavin and Brent both did great. The tension was building throughout the day and at one point we weren't sure if we could get the font filled (isn't that how it always seemed to happen as a missionary!), but all in all, it went pretty smooth. I told Brent the only thing I wanted to request was that he pause while they were in the water and let Gavin look up and see all the people--really let that moment be ingrained in his memory and not rush things. He did the right thing and completely ignored my request when he saw Gavin starting to loose it because of all the attention on him just walking down into the font. He said he got a good laugh when it was over and they had just closed the curtains and, as he was reaching down to pull the plug, Gavin took a graceful leap off the stairs and back into the font for a final little swim around! Little stinker, but I guess he had to let off some steam somehow.

I got my chuckle when I went into the dressing room to see if I could help Gavin get dressed for his confirmation and I overheard Gavin--as he was just shivering from cold--asking Brent, "S-s-so n-n-now d-do I have th- the P-P-Priesthood?!" Seriously, we devoted AT LEAST 5 FHE lessons to this big event--where did he come up with that? :)

We had a good crowd. Great Grandpa Smith & Betty were able to be there and Grandpa Smith & Great Grandpa were the witnesses. We had most of Brents family, all but Elder & Sister V from my side and some Shumway & Gillespie inlaws. We also had Brother & Sister Peterson and their grandson, Michael who are favorite neighbors of my kids.

Great day.

Making memories--of what?

Here are my kids reliving one of my childhood memories: Standing under a full tree of lights on Temple Square and looking up. I remember always feeling like I was in space, surrounded by stars. I want them to grow up with the same magical memories--but I'm not sure they appreciate the little things like I did--or think I did anyway.

This year I really wanted to make things special. I opted out of buying the cheap...what's the name...you know, the calendars where you count down to Christmas by opening up a window with a little chocolate in it...uck--I hate my mind. Anyway, Instead, I bought a wooden sleigh that had little doors that I thought I would fill with all sorts of fun things we could DO.

The first week was awesome. We decorated the tree, read Christmas books, drove around and looked at Christmas lights whilst munching a yummy Christmas blizzard from Dairy Queen, walked around the Festival of Trees, drank hot chocolate by the fire and watched a Christmas movie, and made Christmas ornaments for the Grandparents (act surprised when you open them).

The second week wasn't quite so awesome. I found myself putting off the opening until bedtime and then sending them off on a quick errand like teeth brushing while I madly scribbled something lame like, "pick 3 favorite Christmas songs" and trying to cram it in the sleigh before they were back. I was wishing I had opted for the stale chocolate calendar.

Tonight we tried to spruce things up again. We headed up to Temple Square for an evening of lights. Remember how magical that was as a kid? I captured this cute picture right when we got there and 2 seconds later everyone was fighting and whining and complaining. I thought I could change the mood by forcing them to watch the nativity....not so much. Anyway, I think pictures lie. Most pictures make it look like everything is just..so...great, when really it is a one snapshot taken in the midst of HELL.