Our Christmas

The fun and joys of Christmas morning ... "Look what Santa brought us!"Later we spent Christmas at Grandma's. These pictures were taken on Sunday, December 27.Grandma and Grandpa with their nine grandchildren.

Christmas Traditions

For Christmas 2009, we have continued with many of the holiday traditions we have come to love... *I made 100 Christmas cards and sent our annual newsletter out with them. We tried to keep the cards simple this year!

*For friend gifts we gave out children's books about "The First Christmas" and chocolate covered peppermint sticks. I looked all over town for the peppermint sticks and finally just ordered them online this year!
*A tradition we've had for years is to dress the kids in coordinating Christmas outfits. The girls have outgrown the matching dresses, but I still got to match the boys this year (these adorable vests were hand me downs from a good friend).

*Every year the kids look forward to going to "Journey to Bethlehem" at the Grace Community Church in Ceres. This year Grandpa Jay came along. You really have to bundle up because it's quite chilly in the cold December night. I opted to stay home with Conner this year (actually I was truly being a wimp about the cold).
*Every year we attend the Ward Christmas Party. I especially love going now that I'm no longer in charge of it.
The Young Women sang "The Twelve Days of Christmas" at the ward party. The younger kids sat on Santa's lap - Conner didn't love it!

*We love to drive around and look at all the lights around town. This home was featured in the newspaper so we decided to check it out. All the lights are synchronized with Christmas music played on your car radio; it was pretty amazing!

*We always take the kids Christmas shopping for each other and Mom and Dad at the Dollar Tree. The kids love picking out gifts and giving them to each other. I was able to get this picture in the Dollar Tree this year. The girls thought it was pretty embarrassing, but I think it's cute.

*We always have a block party on Christmas Eve and decorate our street with these luminaries. We call it "Santa's runway."

*We try to make it up to Temple Hill at least once during the holidays. The lights are fun to see, sometimes we watch a concert, and we take the kids to the Visitors' Center.

We are glad we are creating holiday traditions. We really look forward to them every year!

Photos with Santa

We added another Santa photo to the collection. At age 14, Courtney decided to sit this one out. My mom made me take a photo every year with Santa every year until I was 17. I guess I'm just trying to keep the tradition alive. I love seeing how the kids have grown throughout the years. We've had a few crying photos, but Katleyn by far was the most terrified of Santa. We cherish the memories!

Holiday Performances

The holiday season is the "most wonderful time of the year." This year we were able to watch three different holiday performances that our children were involved in. Courtney performed three different dances at her high school winter dance presentation. The first dance was a warm up that demonstrated various exercises and stretches the dancers do to warm up each day. The second dance she performed was to a Grease medley. This was Courtney's favorite. All the girls looked cute with their scarfs and their hair in pony tails.
The final dance Courtney performed was to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." The dancers looked very festive in their Santa hats. We loved watching Courtney perform her dances. She is such a sporty girl, I especially enjoyed seeing her do something a little more "girly."
Cameron performed a holiday program at his preschool. He was very animated and very proud of himself. We loved seeing his huge smile.

Cameron LOVED the Polar Express train his class made. His class consists of eight boys and they all loved the train.Katelyn, Kylie, and Cameron all performed with other Primary children from our stake at the Stake Nativity Festival. The children were wonderful. The power went out in the middle of their performance, but they just kept on singing in the dark.

These holiday performances were precious to watch and helped set the mood for a glorious Christmas season.

Family Photos 2009

It's an annual tradition for us to take a family portrait every year. We have one for every year since Courtney was a baby. It's fun to compare the photos and see how much we've changed throughout the years. Most of them are more formal so it was nice that this year's was more casual. We've been going to a place called Lee Photo since 2004. We always go out to eat at Fresh Choice, which is right next door, while we wait for the proofs to be developed. I thought this year's photos came out pretty good considering there are seven of us. Another year to add to the collection.

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving was a little different this year. Lloyd and my mom both had to work on Thanksgiving Day, and Chareen was having knee surgery the day before Thanksgiving. We decided we would celebrate early on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Lloyd was still in Utah so he couldn't be there. The five kids and I enjoyed a tremendous feast. Bryce and Chareen like to cook so they helped my mom and Jay out a lot. I didn't do a thing, but help clean up a little after dinner. It was a real treat! On Thanksgiving Day we celebrated with just the seven of us. It was very relaxed. Lloyd loves to cook too and made the entire dinner except the acini de pepe salad I made the night before. I am so lucky to have a husband that loves to cook. He was especially proud of the very moist, twenty-four pound turkey he made. Yes, we had a twenty-four pound turkey just for our family. We froze a lot of the leftover meat and Lloyd also made turkey soup.
We feel so grateful for the many blessings we share as a family.
The Sunday after church I spoke in sacrament meeting. I asked if it would be okay if I spoke about gratitude. I love Thanksgiving and not just because I love to eat. I love remembering the pilgrims and thinking about how thankful I am for all my blessings. Below I would like to share a little bit of my talk:

When I taught second and third grade, I always enjoyed teaching my students about the Pilgrims and our country’s first Thanksgiving. My students were amazed that the Pilgrims did not have the same religious freedoms we have today. They had to leave England and come to America so they could worship in the way they wanted. My students were so enthralled when I described for them what life was like for the 102 passengers on the Mayflower. During their 66 day voyage they endured overcrowding, seasickness, noise, storms, boredom, lice, and homesickness. Often all they had to eat was salted meat and hard, dry biscuits. When they reached the New World on November 11, 1620, many more challenges still lay ahead for them. During their first winter, half of the pilgrims died because of exposure or sickness. Despite these hardships, not one of the Pilgrims wanted to go back to England when the Mayflower left. In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims held a celebration or harvest festival. They wanted to show gratitude for their first harvest and for their new settlement. They had endured and sacrificed much, but they were also grateful. The Native Americans had helped them to survive their first winter. To express their gratitude, the Pilgrims invited the Native Americans to the feast. The first Thanksgiving lasted for several days and was a time of rejoicing and gratitude.

On lds.org there is a gratitude topic page where some questions about gratitude are answered:

*What is gratitude?
Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness for blessings or benefits we have received. Grateful people are quick to acknowledge the kindness and help they receive from our Heavenly Father and others around them. Where there is gratitude, there is courtesy; there is a concern for the happiness and well-being of others.

*How will developing a deeper level of gratitude affect my life?
A grateful heart is the beginning of greatness. Gratitude builds humility as we recognize an act of kindness, service, or caring from someone else. True gratitude is a foundation for faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being. Being grateful leads us to look outside ourselves and turn to the bestower of the blessings. As we regularly express our gratitude to our Heavenly Father, we cultivate an uplifting attitude. The Savior has promised, “He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious” (D&C 78:19). Bitterness, resentful feelings, or mean-spiritedness cannot exist in a grateful heart. Greater happiness is achieved as deeper gratitude is developed.

*How did Jesus Christ show gratitude?
The Savior, Jesus Christ, lived a life of gratitude. He expressed gratitude to His Heavenly Father in prayer when performing miracles (see John 11:41) and for earthly things such as food (see Matthew 15:36), and He gave credit to Heavenly Father for giving us all things (see Matthew 11:27). The Savior did not seek His own will, but showed gratitude and appreciation to His Heavenly Father through obedience to all He was commanded to do. We too can show this kind of gratitude to our Heavenly Father by living “in thanksgiving daily” (Alma 34:38) and keeping the commandments.

In the Book of Mormon, Amulek taught us the importance of showing gratitude unto the Lord. In Alma 34:38 it reads: “That ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.” It is important that we acknowledge the Lord and all that he has given us. In D&C 59:21 we are warned of the sin of ingratitude: “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.” President Joseph F. Smith also stated: “One of the greatest sins of which the inhabitants of the earth are guilty to-day, is the sin of ingratitude”

When I think of ingratitude these are some of the things that come to mind: pride, selfishness, a feeling of entitlement, covetous, and greed. I will admit as natural men and women, it is so easy to compare ourselves to other and covet what others have. We may covet their possessions and think, “I wish I had a nice, large house like they do.” We may covet their physical characteristics and think “I wish I had beautiful, thick hair like she does.” Or we may covet their talents and think, “I wish I had a beautiful singing voice like he does.” When we say or think these things we are showing ingratitude. We need to be grateful for the life, the things, the bodies, and the characteristics the Lord has blessed us with.

It is so easy to focus on what is wrong with our life. However, if we cultivate an “Attitude of Gratitude” it can be just as easy to remember what is wonderful about our life. I love the hymn “Count Your Blessings” because it reminds me that when I am feeling discouraged or sorry for myself, I simply need to take a time out and count my many blessings. Let me just share the first verse of this song: “When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged thinking all is lost, Count your many blessing; name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”

We have all heard the phrase, an “Attitude of Gratitude,” but have you thought about how our attitudes can really affect our outlook on life. It goes back to the question is the glass half full or half empty? One evening I was talking on the phone to my mother and explaining to her how discouraged I was because I had so much laundry to do. I wanted her sympathy and understanding, but instead she said in a sweet voice, “I guess you could just be grateful you have so many clothes to wear.” I wanted to roll my eyes at her, but I paused for a moment and realized she was right. I’ve thought about other things in my life and how I have the power to choose what kind of an attitude I will have:
-I can complain that my MID bill is too high or I can be grateful I have electricity.
-I can be discouraged that my home never stays clean or I can be grateful that I have five children that bless my life.
-I can complain that my husband has to commute four hours a day or I can be grateful he has a job to provide for our family.
-I can complain that there are no good parking spots at the mall or I can be grateful that I am healthy enough to walk.
If we choose to have an “Attitude of Gratitude” we will be more content, happy, peaceful, righteous, and faithful.

I then shared a quote from President Monson that reminds us that "thank you" are the two most important words in the English language. I also shared the story of the "Ten Lepers" from the Bible. Then I closed my talk.

Let us all reflect upon our lives and think are we more like the nine lepers who didn’t give thanks or are we like the one who “turned back, and with a loud voice gloried God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks.” Do we cultivate an “Attitude of Gratitude” not only at thanksgiving, but all year long? Do we “Think to Thank?” I know that as we learn to feel and express more gratitude in our lives, we will be blessed with happiness and peace.

No one loves to speak in church, but I was grateful to give this talk because preparing it was such a blessing for me. I hope I can have an "Attitude of Gratitude" all year long.

Lloyd's Trip to Utah

Lloyd spent the weekend of November 20-23 in Utah. We felt he needed to go out and see his family. After all, I spent a lot of money on all of my triathlons this past year, now it was Lloyd's turn to do something for himself. He got to spend the weekend catching up with his dad and his brother's family. They went out to eat, had a mini Thanksgiving dinner, and even went to a Jazz game.

The Utah weather didn't disappoint Lloyd. He even got to experience a snow fall while he was there. It's not a great picture, but you can get the idea.On Monday, Lloyd and his dad got to do a temple session at the Salt Lake Temple. His dad works a couple times a week at the Jordan River temple.
The Conference Center and Temple downtown make Salt Lake City truly a beautiful city. We're happy Lloyd had a good time, but we missed him and are glad to have him back.

New Moon - The Tradition Continues

On Thursday, November 19 the "Twilight Moms" of Modesto couldn't resist going to the midnight showing of "New Moon." We decided we needed to get together before the big show. Well, since there aren't many restaurants open late on Thursday nights we were so grateful that our friend Ashleigh agreed to host a "Cafe Rio" dinner at her home. Lauri made all the food assignments. It all tasted so delicious. Ashleigh made the special Cafe Rio pork and tamatillo dressing. We also had tortillas, rice, tortilla strips, pico de gallo, guacamole, etc. The chocolate chip cookie sundaes were also the best! Ashleigh had the table decorated with "Team Edward" and "Team Jacob" place cards. I sat at a "Team Edward." She had "Twilight" playing on the T.V. Quotes from "New Moon" also decorated the table. Ashleigh is quite the party planner and really made it fun for all of us. After our late dinner we headed to the theater. We had to wait in the theater parking lot for hours. We really didn't even get inside the theater until after 11:30. It was very cold waiting out there for so long. I was glad I had one of my favorite pumpkin steamers from Starbucks to keep my hands warm.

I think we all loved the movie. We all agreed that it was much better than Twilight. Jacob is so much more endearing in this movie. I am a Team Edward all the way because of the books, but Taylor Lautner did a fabulous job making me reconsider. The corniest part of the movie had to be when they show Bella as a vampire in the future and she and Edward are skipping through a meadow. Other than that, I can't complain much. "Eclipse" is suppose to be out in June. The tradition of the midnight showings may just have to continue. At least it won't be so cold waiting outside in June. I am so lucky I have friends who are willing to be as crazy as me.