Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year!! I couldn't get our Christmas card to upload, but here are some of the pictures we used- my sister-in-law Chelsea did a great job.

We had an eventful week leading up to Christmas. On monday Brooklyn had her sing-a-long at school. She was so excited for this. She had a speaking part in it and nailed it!! They were all wearing headbands to look like Rudolph. She took this very seriously!

On Christmas Eve day we had planned to go to Sean's grandparents house in Stone, ID. But due to Brooklyn and I waking up in the middle of the night sick- we decided to stay at home and rest for our big party that night. Luckily, it passed quickly and we were able to have a great time. On my mom's side of the family, every Christmas Eve we get together with my Great-Aunt Venice's family and have a party. For the last several years, it is held at the Wellsville Tabernacle. We have a delicious meal, a program (Brooklyn sang "Tap, Tap" a song from her sing-a-long), the Nativity scene is acted act- costumes and all, we sing the "12 Days of Christmas" song, and conclude with a gift exchange. I have to say that this was one of the better parties I can remember having. When I was little we were the ones acting out the Nativity and this year it was so fun to see the "second generation" acting it out. Brooklyn was Mary and Gracie was an Angel. (I am sad because we didn't get a picture of the whole group.) My Grandma Ila and Aunt Venice would have been so happy to see those cute great-grandkids up there!!

All along when we asked Brooklyn what she wanted for Christmas she would say she wanted Santa to surprise her. So I decided what we were going to get her and was going to get it. That morning she wakes up and tells me that she has decided what she wants Santa to bring her- a doll house and a couple of dolls. This was 2 weeks before Christmas. So I started looking around and decided that I didn't want a cheap plastic one and I didn't love the ones I saw in stores. I had seen on KSL the one that I wanted. I decided that we could make it- no problem. Sean kept reminding me that neither he or I had the craftsmanship it would take to build it. However, my amazingly talented brother-in-law Derk does. He said he would help me and we started it the Friday night before Christmas. We didn't work on it on Saturday or Sunday and started back up on Monday- working I think 6 hours that night. Tuesday we had a good 10 hour day. And Wednesday a good 12 hours. I had to finish it that night because we were to be going to Stone early Thursday morning. With the help of my dad and Nat were we able to get it done! It turned out just as I hoped it would. The sad thing is is that Brooklyn will never know (or at least for a long time) she won't know all th time that Derk, Sean, my dad, Nat, and I put into it. (Also my mom for watching the gals.)

The finished product

This picture is classic- and of course my camcorder wasn't working to capture her reaction, but Sean got this picture

We had a great Christmas morning at home. Gracie really got into opening the presents and was so excited. Then we headed to my parents house for a delicious breakfast and then went to Sean's parents for a yummy dinner.

The gals were excited when we finally got home and they got to enjoy their toys. The next day Grammie and Pops came down to play Barbies and the gals had a blast. Then we made on unexpected trip to Stone to visit with Sean's Grandparents and his aunt and uncle. We had a great time out there.

On Monday, we got together with my cousins Tara and Ashleigh and their kids. My cousin Tara recently adopted a little girl and this was the first time we got to see her. Brooklyn was in Heaven and could have held her all night. She is even more excited for Nat's baby to get here. She is going to be a big help!

To top our Christmas week off- on Sunday night when we were driving home from my parents house we hit a deer! Yes that is fur still in the car- I am not going to touch it. We are lucky this is all the damage that was done. On our car we have a thermometer on the rear-view mirror and Brooklyn had said it is 4 degrees and Sean points to it and says that it is actually -4 degrees. At this point, I look up from the mirror and see 2 deer in the middle of the road about 5 feet in front of us. I yell, "SEAN!!!" He looks up and sees them- we missed the one and clipped the other. We weren't sure what we were supposed to do about getting the deer off the road so I called my parents and they got in their car to come and help us. So we turn around and see that the deer is laying at the side of the road alive. We sat watching it waiting for my dad to get there. After 5 minutes the deer hopped up and hopped into the field. So I guess it is ok. My parents got there and then 7 other deer crossed the road. So if you drive to Newton by way of Wellsville, be careful coming up right after the bridge- that is where they were.

I just love this time of year!! I am always sad when it is over. I love the music, the sounds, the food, everything about it. I especially love that for those few weeks, more people are turned to the Savior. The real reason for the season. What a miracle his birth was- I remember 2 years ago at Christmastime when I was 9 months pregnant and miserable. I thought of poor Mary and how daunting it must have been to have to leave home and get upon a donkey and travel. And then to get close and know the baby was coming and hoping that they would make it to the town. And to get to the town and find that there is no place for them to stay. How would it have been to know that you are about to deliver the Son of God. And then in the most humble of circumstances to have him in a barn. I love my Savior and am so thankful for him. Let's keep him in our hearts and be more like him this whole year to come and not just these weeks in December!