Holiday Happenings

This may very well be the longest post ever, but the holidays are such a busy and festive time. Yes, "it's the most wonderful time of the year." Well, I began the holiday season early this year. Last year I made a comment that I would be relieved when the holidays were over. Lloyd said that was the worst thing I could say. Lloyd adores the Christmas season and is in the best mood. I wanted to do everything I could to make the holidays stress-free and Christ-centered. We decided not to spend a lot on Christmas this year. What we did buy, we bought early. So here you have it, here's a description of all our holiday traditions and happenings this year.

*November 30 - Like I said, I started early this year so I worked on our cards and friends' gifts over Thanksgiving. I made 100 cards this year. I actually enjoy making the cards once I know what I'm doing. I used three different colors of paper so they cost more than I thought they would. I keep wondering if I should go digital, but I really like the homemade look. I did have around a dozen cards sent back for more postage because the bow was too fat. We'll see what I end up doing next year. I took a picture of all 100 cards. I love going to the mail box and receiving cards during this time of the year. We appreciate all those families we've been able to keep in touch with.

Every year we try to give our friends gifts that are homemade and Christ-centered. In the past we've given an FHE kit, an advent book full of stories and poems, a holiday CD, etc. It's getting hard to think of something new each year. I came across a scripture advent online so I decided to use that this year. We burned CDs of 24 songs to go with the 24 days of scriptures. I printed the advent scriptures on a Christ-centered holiday paper and laminated them. We also made one of my favorite treats - peanut blossom cookies (Hershey kiss in the middle of a peanut butter cookie) and attached a card saying "We wish you a Merry "Kiss"mas. We got a lot of positive remarks about our gifts. Our family enjoyed following the scripture advent each evening. It was a nice way to keep us on track during this busy season. We gave our neighbors and the kids' teachers mini poinsettia plants from Trader Joe's. I am really glad we got these gifts out early this year. We received a lot of gifts in return including lots of goodies, caramel corn, a "Fleece" Navidad blanket, a candle and Santa, a mini book by Neal A. Maxwell, Sprite, a bulb plant, cider, dish towels, nuts, and a friend who took me out to lunch at a favorite restaurant. Thank you for all the wonderful gifts! *December 6 - Katelyn, Kylie, and Cameron attended a Primary activity where they each got to make their own gingerbread house. They used these houses as decorations at our ward party. My friend Stacey handmade dozens of the gingerbread houses for the Primary children. It was definitely a labor of love that all the children loved.

*December 6 - Katelyn and Kylie joined other Primary children from out stake to sing at our stake Nativity Festival. I love Christmas Primary songs because they're so different from the traditional carols. It's always fun to see all the different Nativity sets on display. In this picture, Kylie is in front smiling for the camera and Katelyn is behind her to the left.

*December 4, 5, and December 11 - On all of these nights we attended the "Journey to Bethlehem" in Ceres. This is always a highlight of our Christmas season. This is an interactive walking tour from "Nazareth to Bethlehem" that is so well done by the Grace Community Church in Ceres. This event is very popular and all three nights we had to wait in line for around two hours. It is held outside and is always very cold. On December 4, Lloyd took all three of the girls. On December 5, Uncle Bryce and Chareen came down from Woodland and took Courtney and Katelyn. Lloyd and I went all by ourselves on December 11. It was a great date, and we even went out to dinner first. This experience is always very spiritual. The kids like it when the Roman soldiers yell at them. I love to see the live animals (camel, horses, lambs, chickens, etc). This year I had more time to reflect since it was just me and Lloyd. I was freezing cold even in my heavy coat, hood, sweater, and gloves. I thought a lot about Mary and Joseph, and I also thought about the cold weather the pioneers had to endure. I left feeling very grateful for my home, clothes, car, food, and hot water.

The journey lasts 45 minutes and is done in groups of 30 with family guides dressed in Bethlehem attire.The Romans and King Herod can be scary!

We love Journey to Bethlehem and always make it a priority to attend this marvelous event.

*December 12 -Of course, every year we attend our Ward Christmas party. I especially loved it this year because I wasn't in charge of anything! What a relief! After years of being involved or in charge, it was wonderful to enjoy the dinner with our family. The kids love seeing Santa (except Conner this year).

*December 17 - Kylie performed in a little holiday program along with the other second graders at her school. The entire second grade (four classes) recited the "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" with each individual child reciting a phrase. Kylie had to say "His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow," and she drew a picture depicting that phrase. They also sang "Up on the Housetop."

*December 17 - Cameron performed a little holiday program with his preschool. They were so adorable as they walked on stage and each of them waved to us. Cameron was really proud and so cute. His favorite number was one about snowflakes falling on different parts of the body. He keeps asking me when it will snow here. "Luckily, almost never." We'll have to take a trip to the snow some time this year.

Cameron bows after a sweet performance.

*December 18 - It's a tradition for us to take the kids to the dollar tree so they can buy presents for us and for each other. The kids love picking out the gifts they want to give. I think it's good for them to realize that Christmas isn't just about receiving gifts, it's also about giving. Later the kids wrap the gifts themselves and have the brightest faces as we open their gifts on Christmas morning.

*December 22 - A family in our ward, the Underwoods, asked us if we wanted to go Christmas caroling with them. We were excited about it, but warned them we aren't the most musical family. Luckily, another family, the Garietys, agreed to join us for the caroling. We had pizza first and then went caroling to a number of ward families to "spread the Christmas cheer." It was a fun Family Home Evening.

*December 26 - It has always been a tradition for us to go to Christmas in the Park in San Jose. I remember going there as a child, teenager, newlywed, and now a family. The entire park is decorated with Christmas displays. We made it there this year the day after Christmas with my family. Before heading to Christmas in the Park, we had a family white elephant gift exchange with my family and Chareen's family. This has become another tradition. We laugh so much during the white elephant exchange! Here's a couple favorite displays from Christmas in the Park. Of course, Cameron's favorite was the train. Kylie liked playing in the "snow" that blew out of the snow machine.

*December 27 - Every year we try to make it to the Oakland Temple to see the Christmas lights. I didn't think we'd make it this year, but we ended up being able to go on our way home from San Jose. Before walking around the temple grounds, we went to the Visitors' Center and got to see some amazing sculptures depicting the Savior's life. Cameron was so excited about going to the temple and cheered when he viewed it from the freeway.