Christmas 2011

 A few years ago back when Emma was our only child Les and I started a tradition in our family of opening one gift on Christmas Eve.  However, it isn't just any gift.  We have given our children pajamas every year as their Christmas Eve gift.  There is just something wonderful about getting something new that you get to wear all night and have it on when Christmas morning arrives. 
I don't remember doing this when I was a child and had heard of others doing it when I was in high school. Up until now it has only been something we do for the kids.  As you can see from the pictures to the left the kids loved their pajamas.  This year with my expanding waistline and lack of any maternity clothing from previous years I was in serious need of some pjs.

 Although I knew Les would be fine without getting some as well I could hear voices (who shall not be named) in my head that would inevitably comment about how insensitive it was of me to exclude him or the general unfairness of it all.  Yes there are people in my life who can't help themselves from sticking their nose in where it does not belong.  So to save myself from tears (pregnant emotions what they are) I decided to avoid this whole problem by buying Les a set of pjs too.

 So that folk is how our Christmas Eve started.  Of course, that night we also did a family chat with my parents and siblings on google+.  In the middle those who were at my parent's house ate Christmas Eve dinner together.  After they ate was to be the reading of the Christmas story.  I must not have been paying attention well enough because when I noticed that they were back online I got on and had missed the story. 
So Les and I gathered our children and read the story to them and sang Christmas songs.  Then we were quick to get them into bed so "Santa" could get to work and still make it to bed early as to make it up in time to get ready for our early Christmas sacrament meeting.  By the way if you ask our kids who santa is they will tell you it is Daddy.  We are trying to get them away from belief in a old fat man in a suit so they can focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

Oh almost forgot!  As part of our focus on Christ for Christmas the girls asked if we could make a cake for "Jesus' Birthday."  Les and I thought it was a great idea.  Later on when I was talking with Emma about the cake I asked her what she thought Jesus would like to have the cake decorated like.  She told me that since it was winter the ckae should be white like snow and have snowflakes falling into it from the sky.  This definitely took some thought to be able to do.  To the left is the picture that shows the results.  I divided my cake mix into two cakes.  Mostly because with my waistline rapidly expanding I didn't feel that I needed the help making it go faster.  So by making two smaller cakes we would be helping me out and we would be able to share with another family.  Our girls choose to give our second cake to the Bishop's family.  So on Christmas Eve we drove over and left the cake with family members who were there visiting.  The Bishop and his family were out caroling when we got there.  Later when they returned home they called to thank us for it and said they would be speaking to us about it at church in the morning.  Turns out they were going to save the cake until we could share it with them.  I tried to protest since we had our own cake still to eat but my objections were over ruled.  So to take my revenge I brought along our cake when we went to their house and left it for them to eat.
Christmas morning shone bright and clear.  This made for one upset girl.  Emma had expected snow to be on the ground when we got up.  White Christmas' are very important to her.  We had to get ready for church right away.  I took a little extra time to make sure everything looked great since we would be getting up in front of the congregation to sing.  The song could have gone better but we recieved so many compliments on how well the girls did that it doesn't matter that everything seemed to go wrong.  Then we headed home with three little girls getting very impatient to open their gifts.

 When we got home I gave them the option of changing back into their new pjs or opening presents in their Christmas dresses.  They choose (I am sure since it would get them to their presents sooner) to stay in their dresses.  So I didn't get a picture of them in the pjs, sorry.  Pictured above are the girls in their dresses and Sammi with her stocking.

 Here are Emma and Khloe going through their stockings.  Behind each girl is actually the first present they got of the day.  They got large pillows in their colors and disney characters on them.

We opened presents from grandparents first.  Here are Emma and Samantha in the hat and scarf their Grandma Mounteer made for them.  It is hard to tell by the picture but Sammi's is purple.

Here is Khloe with her hat and scarf fro Grandma Mounteer.  The other picture is her blue bubble bath from Grandma and Grandpa Perkins. 

 Here are Sammi and Emma showing off the purple and pink bubble bath they got from Grandma and Grandpa Perkins. 

The first pic is of Emma with the gift that Les' Grandma Cheney sent.  Each girl got a set for their hair that had princesses.  I put up only one pic because I learned while looking at the pictures to put on that this is the only one with a girl being lady like in her dress.  The next pic is the gift from Les and I.  Emma got Cinderella with her horse.

 Here is Khloe with Snow White and horse and Samantha with Belle and her horse.

Here are the girls with the group gift we got them.  They got a bunch of wooden puzzles with disney characters (yes including the princesses) on them.

 This is a gift Les spontaniously bought a few days before Christmas.  It is a cotton candy machine.  The reason he bought it is because you can use a few pieces of any hard candy to make the cotton candy.  It doesn't require the special sugar.  So that was the big family present we got this year.  I almost forgot to mention we got a package from Les' sister after Christmas for the girls.  They got a playdough set.  Not only is there playdough but it comes with an ice cream parlor to make ice cream and toppings out of the playdough.  The kids loved it.

 Les took over the camera for this one.  It is the present he and the girls got for me.  It is the Nook.  I love to read.  Les was tempted to get me an Ipad but I told him I have a computer so I don't need an Ipad.  What I love about the Nook is that I can buy ebooks for it.  Ebooks are much cheaper than other books.  I will probably still buy the actual books that I love.  Les put a lot of the classic books on here for me.  Since the copyright on them is expired there are websites that have scanned them in and have them for free.  Since Christmas I have read "The Three Musketeers," "The Scarlet Letter," and have started on "Great Expectations."  I LOVE my present.  Oh not pictured was my gift from my parents.  They sent me a necklace, 3 bracelets (matching the necklace), and 3 sets of earrings (also matching the necklace).  I can wear the first items.  The thrid will have to wait until it get my ears repierced.  I stopped wearing earrings with young kids around.  I had been comtemplating on getting my ears pierced again so the earrings might help me get it done sooner rather than later.

Les didn't want any presents.  However, I love Christmas and cannot in good conscience let him go without a present on Christmas day.  So to make him feel better about the gifts he got I tried to go practical.  I got him a couple pairs of pants for work since he has so few that qualify as business casual.  The girls got him a lunch bag with a water bottle.  Oh I forgot he got himself (yes this is not only allowed apparently but it is the only way he is good about getting gifts) a chinese movie and Kung Fu Panda 2.  Oh but I did make sure his stocking had plenty of candy in it.  Oh and he got a nice pair of leather gloves from my parents. 

Another post for New Years will be done when ever I get up the time and energy to do it.  As it is this post was worked on and off for two days.  We will see if I get it done.  Of course, I didn't take any pictures so I might not take a long.  Hope you all enjoyed your Christmas.

Great and Terrible Day

Today was just as the heading suggests. It was great because I went to a Stake Women's Conference. Anita Stansfield was the guest speaker. She talked a lot about following the spirit. She gave experiences from her own life where she has prayed for guidance and through faith received the help she has needed. After she finished we split into two groups for workshops. Both workshops (by the way the theme was "be as one") the speakers talked about their marriage and the things they have learned. In the first workshop the speakers were the bishop of the USU 5th ward and his wife. In 2000 their family made a resolution to read their scriptures together everyday. While preparing for this talk they asked their children what they remember the most about what their family did together. Three out of the four (the youngest is like 6) replied that it was studying the scriptures as a family. After the workshops we headed to the gym for lunch. It was wonderful. Everything about it was a great opportunity. I am grateful that I had that chance and took advantage of it.

The terrible part comes as we as a worldwide church bury our Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. There is still the joy in knowing that he has been reunited with his eternal companion. But actually having him put in the ground really brings it home. It makes it real. I knew that this day would happen. At the same time something inside of me hoped that it wouldn't. I wouldn't have minded if he had lived forever. I know, I know he would have. Of course he will live forever. First in our hearts. Second he will live for eternity in the life to come. A roommate of mine once said that she loved Pres. Hinckley because he was a cute little man that reminded her of a grandpa. I think that sums up how I feel about him. Even though I never met him he was the kind of person that you felt like you knew on a personal level. He really did feel like a grandfather to me. I love him as such. I only wish that Emma would have been able to get to know him. There will be others for her to know. Of course, I love Pres. Monson. I love listening to him speak. Not only is his voice calming but his talks always bring us a little more into his life. He shares his personal experiences for the benefit of all. The church will move forward. It is another test of our faith. Our testimonies are of Christ and his gospel not just of our current prophet. Les and I were discussing how when the Prophet Joseph Smith died that many of the saints fell away. Their testimonies were of Joseph Smith not of the church of Christ. I hope that I can raise Emma in a way that she will have a strong testimony of Christ, his teachings, and his servants.

I know that Jesus Christ is my Redeemer. I know that he came to the earth to show us the way back to Heavenly Father by example. His precious blood was spilt to save us from ourselves. His selfless sacrifice was the ultimate show of love. He allowed himself to suffer, bleed, and die on Calvery. I know that as we follow his teachings that we will have true joy and it will put us on the path to exaltation and eternal life. I know that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration. I know that as a boy of 14 he knelt in prayer in a grove of trees. I know that because he had the faith to pray he saw and talked to God the Father and his son Jesus Christ. I know that through him the gospel was restored. I know that Heavenly Father has called other righteous men to head our great church. I know that each of those men spent the majority of their lives being prepared by the hand of God. I know that those who ask Heavenly Father in the name of his Son Jesus Christ if these things are true that they will receive an answer. Heavenly Father has not cut us off. He still wants to communicate with us but he will not force us to. If we have the faith to ask he will answer us through the still small voice of the Holy Ghost. I know these things are true. I know that Heavenly Father loves me and I love him. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.