Christmas Eve

I love that Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday.  I actually really love when that happens.  I love going to church on Christmas, hearing beautiful music and remembering the meaning of Christmas is so nice.  I listened to the first presidency Christmas devotional that morning while getting ready for church.  We didn't listen to it live.  I always like to hear their messages about Christmas.  We attended church, just sacrament meeting and then came home.  We snapped a quick photo and gathered things to head to my dad's house. I took one of the poinsettias to my mom's grave.  I haven't been there in a long time.  I thought since we were out that way it would be nice to stop.  My dad had her grave decorated so nicely for winter.  She looked all warm and tucked in.  My dad was so excited to host Christmas at his home.  He got two hams and had them cooking all afternoon.  It smelled so yummy when we walked in the door.  I am glad that he was wanting to get back to Christmas the way it was for years.  I miss so many of our traditions around the holidays.  Without mom I feel like we are struggling to feel the magic of the holidays that she always brought.  We all helped bring some sides to go with the ham and dinner was delicious.  Christy made sugar cookies and frosting so we could make cookies for Santa.  I am so thankful she did that because all we had time to do was make cookie dough.  I didn't have any baked or frosting made.  We rolled out our dough and made cookies while kids got started decorating the already made cookies.  It was fun to see all the kids gathered decorating cookies.  I love seeing everyone happy, making new memories in that kitchen.  We did a white elephant gift exchange with everyone and then dad had some gift for us.  He has been going through the closets in the house and found a bunch of things mom had purchased.  He wanted to give them away to us, it was so fun.  Christy and I both got matching scarfs and gloves.  It was a nice gift pack from NY and CO.  We were probably with mom when she bought them.  Who knows how long they have been sitting in the closet.  Lucy got a nice blanket, and the boys got some books.  It was fun and I know dad enjoyed going through the closets and giving those things away.  We had a gift for dad.  Several of my sisters went in and we got dad some new clothes.  He needed a few new things and without a closet fairy he struggles to pick things out for himself.  He liked all the things we got him which I was happy about.  It was tricky to pick things out and know his sizes.  I also put together a stocking for him and Jordan helped me hide it so he could find it in the morning.  I felt bad we didn't stay long after the gifts.  We helped clean things up and then got ready to head home.  Dad seemed sad we weren't staying longer.  I know he had things he wanted to do with us all that we didn't have time to do.  It is hard when we have things to do at home.  It was such a busy day for us, rushing to church, rushing home from church and then rushing to his house.  We invited my dad to come home with us and spend the night and then spend the day with us.  He said he was fine, and he would join us at our house tomorrow.  He understood and said he remembers that is how it was when they would go to grandma's house.  He gets it now, he is lonely, and I know he is flooded with memories of Christmases when we were younger, and his house was filled with kids excited for the holidays.  I am glad we were able to be together and fill it for a little while that evening.             

 

Visiting Santa and main street

Saturday, we checked a few other things off our list of things to do at Christmas time.  We went to see Santa at Bass Pro Shop.  The older kids are good sports with putting up with me still wanting a picture of them all with Santa.  Nolan asked for a minibike with a full-face helmet.  Lucy asked for a kitten, which she knows she won't get because Garrett and I are allergic.  Garrett didn't know what he wanted, and Santa told him kids that don't know what they want end up with socks and underwear.  We were in and out pretty quick.  I love that you make appointments now.  We used to wait for hours to see Santa!  We made a quick stop at the fish and then headed to main street to walk around a little.  The weather was beautiful, so mild for this time of year and we love it.  We walked around for a little and went into a few stores.  I love walking down main street this time of year.  They closed off the street for cars which was nice.  It was so busy with the nice weather.  I love taking in the atmosphere there, everything is decorated so nicely.  I wasn't sure if we were squeezing to much in trying to do both but I'm glad we did.  Visting Santa didn't take long, and we didn't walk around for very long on main street.  I am thankful the older kids put up with a few things that make my Christmas season more memorable.      

Ice skating

I am glad that Lucy and I didn't need to make the trip to Madison.  That allowed us to start winter break together as a family.  With JJ off on Friday's we decided to do something fun together.  Lucy had to be at work that afternoon and evening, so we had an early lunch and headed ice skating.  We have gone with the youth the past few years.  Since JJ isn't in the bishopric anymore, we won't be attending with the youth.  It wasn't to busy and it was fun to skate around together.  Everyone did a great job skating.  I think Garrett was the only one that fell down once.  I know Garrett doesn't love to skate, but he was a good sport.  He did great!  It was nice to skate around with the kids and talk to them.  We didn't skate the whole session, our feet were tiered.  We all agree the skates need more cushion in them.  After skating we decided a treat would be fun.  We headed to pick out some donuts.  They were so yummy and hit the spot after some skating.       

 

The last week of school was full of silly dress up days and special visitors.  We had the superintendent and some of her staff come visit us.  It was during Nolans lunch, so I grabbed him for a picture with Santa.  We also had a day where we all wore green, like the grinch.  One of the noon duty guys dressed like the grinch.  All of the kids thought it was so fun! 

We headed to Target for our family gift shopping.  We drew names and did our shopping.  We upped the amount and time limit.  I helped Nolan pick something out for JJ.  Nolan was struggling and so I asked him what he knew dad liked to do.  We talked about things he liked and then thought about what we could find in our spending limit that would fit into some of the things he liked to do.  It was a good learning experience and I think doing something like this helps the kids be better gift givers.  We had a fun time shopping for each other and are looking forward to seeing what everyone picked out.   

Nolan made me an ornament at his class party.  I love homemade ornaments!

Garrett came home with a bob ross waffle iron from his seminary white elephant gift exchange.  He was so excited about it and made some waffles when he got home.  

Sunday afternoon I baked bread and made rolls.  We came home from the ward party with some cinnamon butter.  It was so yummy on the warm rolls.   

2 years

It's hard to believe it has been two years since mom has passed away.  It seems like yesterday and forever ago all at the same time.  I could feel the day approaching and felt a sadness for days.  The day before she passed is much harder for me.  It's the last day I saw her and the day I said goodbye.  I struggled all morning and even at work.  I thought about her all day.  A friend came to have lunch with her son, and I went over to give her a hug.  I teared up and told her how it was almost the anniversary of my mom passing.  I was thankful for her sweet words and hug.  I needed them maybe more then I realized.  Lucy came to be that night and was feeling sad as well.  It is hard on my kids to have grandma gone.  They have so many special memories with her.  I was looking forward to getting together with my dad and some of my siblings on the anniversary.  We meet and had dinner at Chipotle in Chesterfield.  It was nice to catch up with them and then head to the temple together.  I haven't been to the temple in a while, and it was so nice to be there.  We got there early and had plenty of time to sit in the chapel before our session.  It was a very nice session and especially nice to be in the celestial room together.  It was there that I felt peace.  All week I had a sadness over me and being in the temple took that away.  I know Lauren always has special experiences with mom in the temple.  I saw Lauren and knew that mom was with us.  I felt such peace and happiness for mom.  Lauren later told us that mom was so excited to be there with us and had been looking forward to us coming.  Lauren said that mom has been really busy doing a lot of teaching.  I am thankful that Lauren shares these special experiences with us.  I know this is a gift of hers to be able to feel and communicate with mom.  We stayed in the temple as long as we could.  We didn't want to leave, didn't want to leave moms presence.  We were the last to leave, they locked the doors behind us.  It reminded me that I need to be in the temple more, I need and want that peaceful feeling more often.  I am thankful I was able to be with mom and thankful for the peace I have about her passing.  It is still hard, especially around the holidays.  We miss her dearly.             

Winter Tournament

The past few days and over the weekend Lucy and her team have played in the Liberty Winter Tournament.  They have had some great games, and it has been fun to watch them play.  They took first place in the tournament and so did varsity.  Big wins for both teams!  Both teams are having a great season.  They are really playing well as a team, and it is good to see them build chemistry and work together.  Lucy is having a fun time playing and it's fun to watch her play and enjoy herself.  

 

I bought a gingerbread house kit and Nolan was so excited to do it.  No one else seemed interested so I let him do it by himself.  I helped him put the houses together and then let him do the rest himself.  He had a fun time and they were cute.  

Lucy is officially four months post op from her fat grafting procedure she had in August.  Dr. Siebert told us at four months we would know the permanent results.  It is nice to know we are there.  A lot had kept, and she looks great.  I am thankful it didn't melt away quickly.  We had an appointment to go up for some injections around her mouth.  I texted him and told him that we would see him in a week.  I asked him if he felt the injections were still needed and if they would benefit her.  He said no, not really and knowing we were coming back for our last surgery in March he told us not to come.  He said he could get better results in March.  I was thankful I asked and thankful that we were not going to need to make the trip up there.  I was willing to take her, but it was going to be stressful and a lot of driving for a very short appointment.  It is a busy time of year and not going freed up our schedule. He said the surgery in March should be very minor and we would be very pleased with our end results.  We already are, we think Lucy looks beautiful!  She has come a long way and although it hasn't been easy it has been worth it.