{Merry Christmas to you!}

What a wonderful Christmas we had! No surprise there though. Christmas is so magical for kids at this age - which makes it all the more magical for their Mom and Dad.

We like to have our feast on Christmas Eve so that we can just relax and enjoy our Christmas day when it arrives instead of being busy in the kitchen. After feasting the kiddos opened gifts containing their new Christmas jammies and slippers. Dean got Spiderman, Eli got Thomas the Train, and Ava got Tinkerbell. We read some of our favorite Christmas books in our new jammies while we baked Santa's cookies and we even went on a Wise Men scavenger hunt and followed stars through our neighborhood to deliver a gift to a special family.


Sometime after the kids went to bed we heard some rustling and jingle-belling on the roof and woke them up to sneak a peak of Santa. They were so funny as they sleepily peered over the balcony as Santa put gifts under the tree. It was so much fun and they were very excited to recount their story to Grandpa (who was oddly missing during the event) the next morning when they awoke.


On Christmas morning, Dean was beyond thrilled to receive his Batman Trio set that he told at least three different Santas about, and Eli was equally thrilled to receieve the Imaginext Batcave he asked for. They also received an Imaginext Space Shuttle with all of the corresponding extras: space rover, moonwalker, alien and more; a Batmobile to go with the Imaginext Batcave, a basic Trio building set, Toothless and Gronkle dragons from the movie How to Train Your Dragon, knitted sweaters and animal shirts from Great Grandma and Great Grandpa, light-up Buzz Lightyear sneakers (Eli) and Ben 10 sneakers (Dean), a play tent/tunnel set, and a couple more little items like superhero silly bands, light-up Harry Potter wands, and electronic piggy banks.

Little Miss Ava received a new baby doll, a wooden highchair and wooden cradle set, play cell phone, animal magnets for her magnet board, musical microphone, a knitted sweater and new outfit from Great Grandma and Great Grandpa, and mini Madame Alexander-type dolls. She even got a giant pink Barbie Power Wheel - with an opening door - to ride in from her brothers because we found it at Goodwill for $15 a week ago and couldn't pass up such a deal.

Two of Mom and Dad's favorite surprises were a Peg Perego ride-on train and track system from Santa (which he found for $30 at a garage sale) that Ava has hardly left alone for a second since Christmas, and - DRUMROLL PLEASE - the play kitchen and table set that we made out of an old bench a neighbor gave us. The kitchen, hands down, has been Eli's favorite new toy (and Mommy's, too). He has been serving us meals and desserts constantly since Christmas morning.

As for Devin and I, we got the new XBox Kinect to share as a family gift. Dev got a new 511 Tactical jacket, an online gift card to pick out an android tablet (like an i-pad), a smoker, and a ton of grilling goodies. I got new boots, a photography studio with backdrops and lights, a circular polarizing lens for my camera, a fancy flip-style waffle maker, and a cute Downeast-Outfitters inspired flower necklace/scarf I've been eyeballing.


After opening our gifts, we made our gingerbread waffles (recipe HERE) - and they were delectible. After that we just played with our new toys and even went to see Disney's Tangled later in the evening - cute movie, by the way.

We had such a Merry Christmas with so much to be thankful for this year and big plans for another wonderful year to come. We hope you all had a wonderful day, too!

{Finally}

Finally...the leaves fell from our tree, that is. Mostly because we love making a big raked pile to jump in. And then we do the responsible thing. We rake it into another pile and jump again. And again.

Eventually we clean the cul de sac up, but first we make a total mess of the place. Really, our tree is a bit of a nuisance because it's leaves blow into all the neighboring yards until it's finally bald. But it is the most beautiful tree, so all is forgiven, especially once it blooms it's lovely white flowery blooms again in the Spring. (Which will be in a couple weeks here, seeing as it is still in the 70s in DECEMBER! Sheesh.)

{9 years and counting}

It's official. As of today (well, yesterday now) I have been a member of the church for nine whole years. I feel old. I can't believe it has been nine years since I was a senior in High School.

Anyway, earlier tonight I fell asleep on Devin's lap on the couch and eventually decided I should make my way up to bed for a more practical sleep. But then I got there and my brain turned on. I lay there on my stomach with the light from the window shining over my shoulder in just a way that it reminded me of how I used to lay in the same position - belly down with my arms folded under my chin - years and years ago late at night. In middle school and even in high school, that is how I would lay in bed as I pondered where my life would take me in the future.

Do all kids do that? Ponder their future in their beds at night? I wondered if and when I would marry or if I would have kids. Would I go to college? What would I do for a living and where would I live? What would the world be like? Many of the questions would vary night to night, but I remember always wondering if I would be happy. And I am.

As I lay in bed tonight I couldn't help but think of how blessed I am - how so many different things in my life could have gone so many different ways than they did. But they didn't, thankfully, and now here I am with everything I'd ever hoped for as a kid. Amazing husband (though I don't tell him enough, I'm sure) - check. Beautiful kids - check. A home - check. Happiness - check, check, check.

I remember one particular night in the winter - I was in middle school - and everyone else had already gone to bed. It was just starting to snow outside and I was awake for it because I was laying pondering instead of sleeping. It felt so magical and somehow I ended up outside beneath a sky that looked like something from a dream - bright white and mysteriously foggy, how it usually looks when it first starts to snow at night I suppose. I stood on our front lawn at almost 2 in the morning just looking at the sky and soaking up the quiet, still of the moment and thinking nothing but hopeful thoughts about where I would be years in the future. I still often remember that night. I'm not sure why, really, but it's always there in my mind when there are probably so many more remarkable moments in my past that I've nearly forgotten.

Tonight I still find myself hopeful about the future, a future which will never again be entirely mine because I have my sweet family to share it with now. But that makes me feel afraid, too. Everything feels so wonderful right now that I just want to freeze time and keep things just this way forever. I don't ever want the wonder that glimmers in my babies' eyes as we talk about Santa to disappear, or for them to outgrow snuggles on the couch with Mom, or even for them to leave home on missions or to college for years. Dean actually promised me today that he would never leave home and I told him that would be okay if he lived with me forever, but he'll change his mind someday. And someday soon if time keeps flying by as quickly as it always does. And it will.

I guess the lesson that Heavenly Father wants me to remember today - and always - is to cherish each moment because time does indeed fly by and though I am so blessed to have an eternal family, there are some moments in this life that I cannot get back. I love my little family and know I am so blessed to have all that I do. I am blessed to have someone wondering where I am if I am running late, to have my husband's shoulder if I've had a hard day, and to have little arms welcoming me home with a shower of hugs from even the shortest of errands (seriously, even when I take out the garbage sometimes).

I wish I knew then what I know now - that I will be SO happy. I probably would have gotten a lot more sleep long ago. I love you, my little family, and I love my Savior and the gosple for bringing you to me. Here's to hoping for an eternity more of this!

{Ward Santa}

Hooray for Santa! The boys can't get enough of the jolly big guy this time of year and were so delighted when he stopped by our Ward Christmas party. And look - Ava even sat on his lap long enough for a photo!

Merry Christmas, Santa!