Christmas 2023

We enjoyed such a beautiful Christmas season this year. Of course there were Christmas parties and concerts along with plenty of hustle and bustle to prepare gifts and treats. 

But my favorite moments were easily the ones we spent together as a family as we counted down to Christmas with our traditional advent. This year, we focused on our relationship with Christ. We read stories about times he interacted with individuals and what we can learn about who He is from these encounters. 

Each of us selected a picture we love of the Savior, adhered it to a sheet of paper, and recorded what we learned every day. By the end of the month, we'd created a touching, visual reminder of who He is and how much He truly loves us. 

Our Christmas was also made extra special this year by a visitor from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day. Han is a deaf student from Japan, and a friend of another sister in our ward. She's currently in the US studying at a university in Washington while learning ASL and English. She wanted to visit Utah and experience Christmas, so we jumped at the opportunity to host her in our home for a few days and share our Christmas traditions with her. 

Han in turn treated us to some wonderful conversations and cultural education, beautiful origami flowers, and delicious Japanese treats. Han, it was wonderful to meet you, and we are so thankful you joined us for Christmas! 

Christmas Eve we attended church then headed to our family Christmas dinner. This year for the nativity, Eliza decided to make Walter a wooly sheep costume. It was the best! 

The nativity was a hit especially with Henry the wild inn-guest and Walter the rouge sheep trying to poke baby Jesus in the eye. In all seriousness, the kids did a great job and each year the retelling gets a little more polished and sacred. 

Another highlight this year was playing Christmas songs with boom-wackers (sort of like handbells but made of plastic tubes). This will need to become a new tradition because it was a blast!

Christmas morning was magical as always. All the kids enjoyed watching Walter experience Christmas for the first time. 

Our gift to the kids this year is an evening and a day of skiing. I can't wait to get them all up together! Jamie helped me make these adorable ski ornaments for them to unwrap, and they turned out SO perfectly! 

We spent all of Christmas day relaxing and playing games with Alicia and Han. What a beautiful, slow day as a family. As an adult, this is the magic of Christmas to me.