Christmas!

Christmas was so lovely! Today was perfectly restful and a time of reflection since last evening I was determined to get all decorations out and all Christmas wrappings away, and new toys in a place. This afternoon we sat down and recorded all our Christmas memories in my journal. There were funny quotes, a log of places we visited or things we did, favorite songs sung, silly things that happened, etc. We had fun reviewing it all and it just made me so thankful for all the time I've been able to spend with my family. I think about watching "The King Is Born" scripture video with the kids, seeing their little rocking chairs next to each other and watching Katherine as she put her head against her brother and said "I love you Carter Morrison." Matt and I were so struck by it. It's precious to see my children interact and for the most part they get along very well. I love that they have had countless games of hide and seek while Carter has been out of school and made up their own games as well. The most memorable is where Katherine is crawling on all fours barking and Carter says don't catch me rabid dog! When she catches him he get rabies and then starts chasing her. It's bizarre and hilarious and I have to laugh and be happy every time I see that they enjoy playing together. And it cracks me up that Katherine rarely calls Carter, Carter. She almost always calls him Carter Morrison. So cute!

We've had serious moments as we've read scriptures and researched doctrine. Carter spent a long time looking on lds.org searching scriptures for all references to where heaven is exactly. It was great to see him seeking answers. We've enjoyed listening to and singing along to Handel's Messiah, gone to a couple nativity open houses (one with a live nativity) and felt the spirit so strongly as we've talked about our Savior and his atoning sacrifice for us. We've also had lots of funny moments. For instance, Christmas Eve when it was time to open pajamas from grandma Matt was so excited to see his new pajamas. He ripped the tag off with such force the plastic tag flew straight into my eye! It was scary for a moment and then the absurdity of it all hit us and we had some good laughs (and I took an ibuprofen)! I guess now everyone knows how much Matt loves pajamas! Carter was so cute when he got his pajamas on he said "grandma always sends me the softest pajamas!" and made us touch how soft the fabric was. Katherine twirled in her very first nightgown (mickey and minnie on it so I think it won her over). Anyway, I won't bore you with more moments in our life but I do want to go on record giving thanks for the wonderful blessing of my family and being able to be with them. This month I didn't have to go to a BSA committee meeting, Cub committee meeting, 3 den meetings, pack meeting, updating info, or do any cub planning. I also didn't have to prepare Friday volunteer lessons for Carter's class or go give them nor did I have to schlep Carter to dance lessons once the performances were over for the month. There are probably other things I didn't have to do either that I just won't remember until I have to do them this upcoming month. It's overwhelming to think about how life is going to body slam me when we begin back to school/back to normal routines. I'm just feeling like I'm going in too many directions. I don't like that transition week at all and am hoping it goes as smoothly as possible and that I realize I can do it again.

Christmas Time

I am really enjoying this Christmas season. We are only 7 days in but have already done several of our Christmas time traditions. We have our chocolate advent calendars, a velcro one, and a really cool scripture one from The Friend magazine that has a question and you look up the scripture to get the answer for each day's question. It's really cute. I've already made a couple batches of carmelitas though the big push will be this weekend I think, seen the holiday lights and reindeer at Thanksgiving Point where we each take turns reading the boards describing the story of the birth of Jesus, and seen The Nutcracker (I loved that we went to Carter's friend's performance in November think no snow to drive through and a great way to start the season). A new tradition this year was going to the free Messiah Sing In at the American Fork Tabernacle. It was lovely! I brought Carter and a friend who sings alto along and so it was great fun! There's just something about singing Handel's Messiah and hearing the voices around you all singin' praises that makes me just so happy. The two hours just flew by and I can't wait to go again next year. My only complaint is that it drives me crazy when soloists change the music. Yes you can add your own style, go ahead and do some runs, but if the music shows you ending on a C then for heaven's sake hit it and don't just end on a different note because it's more comfortable! Handel wrote it for crying out loud.

Carter did his Irish Dance performance at the Festival of Trees and that was nice and overwhelming. So much to see, so many colors and sounds, and soooo many people. We only stayed a couple hours. I love that so many people volunteer and support such a great cause (Primary Childrens' Hospital). I think I just need to go on a less crowded day. Carter's piano recital is this Sunday. He is playing Edelweiss (makes me cry every time I hear it) and The First Noel (one of my absolute favorite Christmas songs). He is such a sweet good boy. I am so proud of all that he does.

I don't like Christmas trees in the house but compromised so we have a smaller tree this year that we swapped with a neighbor. Carter has cried for his old one back. Maybe next year, as long as it is on the porch. I just don't like all the space being taken up and glass balls just don't mean anything to me. To compromise I cut out colored paper circles and we wrote things that we are thankful for on them and hung them on the tree with ornament hangers. Seeing how blessed we are makes me not mind the tree quite as much as most years but I still think it's coming down Christmas day like the others in the past have.

We feel very blessed. We are so thankful for the basics and have tried to live more simply. On impulse or guilt or I don't know what we ended up getting Carter something for Christmas that was more than we've ever spent on a present before. I feel a bit guilty for spending the money but there's that part of my mother's heart that wants to surprise her child with something she knows he would never ask for because he knows we are careful with money. And it will be fine, I know we are blessed when we look for ways to share what we have with others and am grateful for those opportunities. We've been able to be a small part of a few holiday service projects and that has made us happy as we try to teach our kids to part with games, toys, books, and clothes. We've gotten rid of a lot of stuff this year that we had had for too many years. I am enjoying things being more organized and knowing that other people can use the things we gave away better than we did.

In other news I am determined to get a job, any job, at the NSA data center which is being built in Camp Williams just 10 minutes or so from my house. I have dusted off my portfolio to remember what my degree is (bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine, certification in Diversity, and Planning and Human Services) and a K-12 Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California which I never transferred to Utah. Hm... Well, maybe they can hire me for transcription or data entry or whatever. Ugh. How is it that 10 years ago a 4 year degree meant something and now it doesn't mean anything? Since that is the case shouldn't our college loans get forgiven? I know, I know, wishful thinking.

I'm sorry this is such a long post! I just also want to include that we were able to visit my family for Thanksgiving and tell you how wonderful it was. Not to brag, but it was perfect. My brother and his wonderful family was able to stay pretty much the whole time we were there and it was so great being all together. I loved every minute of it. We had a great visit and I loved pestering my brother as much now as I ever did. The kids got along so well except for when Katherine was tired and then she wasn't very good at sharing. Overall though she did so well. I was able to go to Sprinkles for the first time which was fun and we got family pictures done which was eventful (my brother accused Katherine of acting like something out of the movie poltergeist but in his defense she was really crazy). I saw the ocean and showed it to Katherine, we ate oranges right off the tree, and went to the local little pond and park to feed the ducks. We had a lovely feast which I later threw up in my mom's purse as she was driving her corvette 90 mph down the coast so that we could visit my uncle who was in the hospital. He loved seeing that I was green with nausea. I think seeing me like that is what actually made him get better and get released shortly thereafter. My mom was such a hero and didn't make me feel bad for ruining her purse and making her park in a bad area of town so I could run into the mexican market to buy a hoodie so that the hospital would let me in. We also visited with our dear friends whose son is Carter's age. They are best buddies and when together act like they've never been apart. We got to hear Kevin play us a violin solo that was incredible. We also met up with another friend who was just recently baptized and that was a wonderful visit as well. It was all just what I needed to make me feel like I can survive winter.