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. 

Laughter and Light

Lenora Faye had a birthday a few weeks ago and is now TEN YEARS OLD! This sweet girl is a light and a joy wherever she goes. She used to be SO shy, but now she's a ball of silly and fun. Seriously, she can coax a laugh from the most tense situations and people. I love that about her! 

Case and point - today after church. She looked so cute with her dress and crimpy hair. Knowing I wanted to blog about her birthday this evening I tried to get some cute pictures of her. Instead I got these...

She doesn't do this in an argumentative or disobedient way - she does it in an "I'm going to bring laughter and fun to your day whether your adult brain thinks you need it or not" sort of way. I love her for reminding me what's truly important and helping me slow down. I did finally laugh at all her antics and she gave me one cute shot. Which she followed up with "I'll delete it and you can keep the silly ones." And she did. Little did she know deleted photos stay in the trash for 30 days. I win this one you cute thing! 

It's no surprise she LOVES Walter and he ADORES her back. Babies are so ready to laugh and smile at everything, so these two have so much fun together. She had this little boy cracking up this morning at breakfast...

Another day she dressed him in a Build-a-Bear shirt and we were all dying at his little belly sticking out from his crop top! 

Awe Lenora - thanks for always reminding us that life is meant to be enjoyed, that there's beauty in slowing down and taking the time to be silly, and most of all that laughter is often the best medicine . 

Lenora isn't all silliness and giggles though, she takes care to work diligently as well. She wanted to make her birthday cake all on her own including shapes out of melted chocolate, and she nailed it! 

She's on the Bronze gymnastics team this year and has been working SO hard! Yesterday was her first true competition and she rocked it! Michael took her and said she was confident in her performances. Hard work pays off, and she did really well - even placing first in bars. 

Lenora's also committed herself to reading the entire Book of Mormon on her own this year and just finished 1 Nephi.

The name Lenora means "shining light," and she certainly fits her name. We love you sweet girl! Keep shining your light, and please keep making us laugh!

COVID Thanksgiving (Take 2)

We were all ready to go to California for Thanksgiving. Bags were packed, kids were in bed, and I was about to start loading the car for an early morning departure when Michael, who hadn't been feel at all well, took a COVID test. It came back positive and ground our plans to a screeching halt. When the kids woke up the next day and realised we weren't going to visit Grandma and Grandpa after all, they were devastated. 

Determined to make the best of it, I quickly headed to the store to buy a turkey and stock the fridge. It was a good thing I did because I started feel sick that night too. Michael and I were both pretty sick Wednesday, but by Thursday we had enough energy to prep Thanksgiving dinner. The girls were a HUGE help and made some amazing pies. 

Dinner was pretty yummy for a very last minute preparation. 

Walter got to try whipped cream and LOVED it! 

While missing our visit wasn't ideal, it ended up being a really great week. It was so nice not to go ANYWHERE after a crazy busy few months. We relaxed, we played games, we decorated for Christmas, watched cheesy-Christmas movies, and more. We also got to enjoy the only snow we've had so far this winter. 

One of the sweet Young Women in our ward brought us gingerbread houses and candy to decorate them so we made this adorable village. Thanks Molly! 

Determined to still go visit Grandma and Grandpa before Christmas, we spent the week before Christmas in California. Lots of sun, sand, sea creatures, and great times with family! 

Walter LOVED the beach! He kept dragging Hazel and I closer to the waves and ended up soaked and so happy. 

Digging for Sand Crabs

Grateful for bodies that heal, unexpected chances to slow down, and opportunities to be flexible. In the end, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving AND a lovely trip (just not at the same time).