December

December brought the usual amount of pure joy, excitement and craziness. The smiles on the kids faces as they were off in dreamland wondering what Santa would bring them. Making wish lists so long that we had to try and pare them down to three-five items which they thought was pure torture. The fresh smell of pine as you walk into the house ( we have yet to cave to the artificial tree). Trying to get all the school reports and projects done before the end of the term. Attending choir and orchestra concerts. Enjoying the myriad plates of goodies that were dropped off at the door.... the list goes on and on for all of us. The whirlwind of activities is part of the excitement of the month and the season, but sometimes even when trying to cut back and enjoy the real reason of the celebration, it still gets a little blurred.

Matthew had his eighth birthdy a week before Christmas. And as the calendar fell this year, his baptism was the following day. Our stake does baptisms on the third Saturday. As many of you know in our church children are baptized when they are eight, not at birth. At first when I realized we would be doing birthday celebrations, baptism and Christmas with Grandparents coming to visit it would be absolutely nuts. As I look back it was one of the most special Christmas' we could have had. There was a peace and a calm in our home. We were able to witness Matthew's baptism and reflect on our own testimonies of the gospel, realizing the great gift we have been given through the birth of our Savior and his atoning sacrifice. Also, as I read many Christmas cards and looked at our own family I was struck again at the tender mercies the Lord has blessed us with. I was again grateful for the hand of the Lord in our lives, as well as our family and friends. Even though we are all faced with different trials, the Savior states his hand will always be outstretched and how thankful I am for that. The real meaning of Christmas was felt in our home and was not lost- that was a real gift for me.

Of course, we enjoyed Christmas morning. Matthew said he woke up at 4 am and couldn't go back to sleep, oh the magic of Christmas morning! My parents stayed for Christmas so we enjoyed having them with us

A few of the other highlights of the month:

- Visiting the Air and Space Musuem in Tucson and seeing a Blackbird, B-29 and B-52 and, then on the way home driving through a dust storm that forced us to pull over to the side of the road and wait for half an hour. This experience is worthy of its own post- let's just say this was a real life application of listening to the spirit and in the end everyone is safe.

- Eating pizza while listening to a Wurlitzer Organ- glossy jet black wth gilded gold- quite a sight and played by a masterful organist!

- taking the kids skiing- the only thing we have found that makes our kids sleep in past the sunrise!

This is Matthew trying to snowboard on the sled.

Brandon and Matthew

Zach fell asleep

Andrew cruising down the mountain

Zach finally decides snow isn't so bad and spends the entire time trying to eat it!

I had to put these next two pictures in because they were so funny ( plus I forgot to put the Halloween one in an earlier post)

Andrew decided I was taking way too long to put up the Christmas decorations, so he decided to take matters into his own hands.... Although I was a bit displeased he did this himself, I am impressed he got all the houses up, plugged in and working.

This is for all of you who wonder what life is like having boys... you try and put up some sort of holiday decoration (or any decoration for that matter)and it just turns into a new play place for legos and army men and it makes you say Why??? :) I love my boys!!!