Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve

The children have been bouncing off the walls today. This is not surprising, but it is supremely difficult to deal with gracefully. We made it through the day and drove up to South Jordan to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a family Christmas Eve dinner.

Kim and Steve, Lauren and Davin, and the boys were there, too, and it was a lovely (and especially delicious) dinner. The kids got to play with cousins, there were presents (new pajamas! Thanks, Grandma!) to unwrap, the Nativity to perform (Zee and Em were Joseph and Mary, Gee and Hebs were the cutest little shepherds you ever did see), and the Luke 2 movie from the church to watch. Not to mention the yummy dessert and plentiful candy scattered around. We had a very merry time.

Eventually, though, it was time to make our way back down home. Because the kids all napped on the way up to Grandma's, they were full of energy and fun and sugar and excitement. We tracked Santa on Norad's website all the way home. The trouble was that the parental energy level was inversely proportional to the children's energy level, and we were about 2/3 of the way home when my patience snapped and I demanded requested quiet time. "Think about Santa--I mean, think about Jesus, and how we celebrate His birthday tomorrow," I begged.

"But MOM-ma, I want to think about Santa, instead!" Zee whined.

"Whatever, Zee. Think about Santa. I don't care. Just please please be quiet!"

We made it home, finally, finished Advent, and put out cookies and carrots for Santa. We then hung our stockings in the bathroom. (What? That's where the chimney is!) (It really is. We don't have a fireplace, but we do have a chimney that leads from where the coal burning furnace used to be in the basement, up through the now-bathroom, and through the roof. So we hung our stockings there.) Finally, blessedly, the kids went to bed!

Now Santa has already put out the presents, filled the stockings, and is going to following the example of the sweet slumbering children, dreaming of sugar plums.

Merry, Merry Christmas!
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Advent Day 25: Jesus Christ is our Savior. Through His Atonement we are redeemed from the Fall. He lives, and love us. From the Living Christ: Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

My Little Shepherd and Angels

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Advent Day 24: That very night there was no darkness, and all the people in the Western Hemisphere knew that Jesus was born. 3 Nephi 1:15 And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.

Kindergarten Program

Today was the last day of school before Christmas break, and also the kindergarten program. Both afternoon kindergarten classes have been practicing for days to sing Christmas songs like "Jingle Bells", "Frosty the Snowman", and "All I Want For Christmas is my Two Front Teeth". (The last is particularly appropriate for kindergarteners, with at least a fourth of them missing their two front teeth.)


When they sang "Frosty", Zee came out of stage right wearing the Frosty costume. He danced and played and did all the things his classmates sang. It was so adorable I just about busted wide open. I had the hardest time holding still and quiet so the video recording wasn't ruined. And, because I love you, I'm not going to make you watch the entire 2.5 minute video. You can look at screen shots instead.

"And the children say he could laugh and play just the same as you and me..."

"Frosty the SNOWman, was alive as he could BE!"

Daddy, Gee, Hebs, and Em, watching the show.

The Little Elf Party, right before the performance.

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Advent Day 23: The prophet Nephi prays that the Lord will keep the righteous safe, and finds out that tomorrow would be the day that baby Jesus would be born. 3 Nephi 1:12-13 And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:

13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

Santa

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Advent Day 19: Wise men from the east saw the star and knew that Jesus was born. They traveled to Jerusalem and asked King Herod where they might find the baby Jesus. Matthew 2: 1-2 "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."

Advent Day 20: When the wise men found the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, they knelt and worshipped him. They gave him wonderful gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:9-11 "When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."

Advent Day 21: On the American continents, clear around the other side of the world, the Lamanites and Nephites were preparing for Christ's birth, too. A mighty Lamanite prophet named Samuel came to the Nephites to tell them to repent. The wicked Nephites didn't want to listen, so Samuel had to stand on a wall to tell them that in five years, there would be a night without darkness. This was the sign that would tell them that the baby Jesus was born on the other side of the world. Helaman 14: 2-4 " And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.

3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.

4 Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born."

Advent Day 22: Many wicked Nephites decided that after five years, they would put the believers to death if the sign did not appear. This made the people who believed and followed God's commandments very sad and scared. 3 Nephi 1:9-10 "Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.

10 Now it came to pass that when Nephi, the son of Nephi, saw this wickedness of his people, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful."

I Got Nothing...

(Warning: Extreme Dullness Ahead. Don't say I didn't warn you.)

So, today I...um...

Yeah. Didn't do much today. After my crazy day yesterday (watched my sister's kids in the morning, had Gee's last physical therapy, watched my friend's kids in the afternoon, went to the Primary Christmas party, went Christmas caroling, drove though the Festival of Lights), it was nice to just sit and relax today.

I did volunteer in Zee's classroom today, though. And I did birthday visits for Relief Society. So that's something.

And tomorrow's going to be a fun day, but busy again. At least I'll have more to write about!

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Advent Day 18: After the angel told the shepherds where to find the baby Jesus, suddenly in the sky there were many angels, all of them singing and thanking Heavenly Father for sending Jesus down to save us. Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Christmas Caroling

Of all the traditions in my family, my absolute number-one favorite was Christmas caroling. Every Sunday, Monday, and Saturday night (as well as most Fridays) in December was reserved for Christmas caroling.

We would start by bundling up--hats, scarves, mittens, coats. (Living now in Utah County, where it actually does get cold, I laugh at the memory.) We'd begin with our neighbors in our own little cul-de-sac, and then branch out: Ward members. Family. Friends. Teachers. Daddy's clients. (Many to whom we would deliver his annual Christmas gift of a box of oranges. Which is another story altogether--I'll have to remember to write a post about those blessed, blasted oranges.)

Some Decembers we managed more houses, some less. To maximize our time, we had the routine down to a science.

• Get out of the van in order--closest to the door in the first bench seat out first, then the rest of the front bench, then the back bench.
• Quietly hurry up to the door. Don't ring the doorbell until the last person (usually Mema or Daddy) is at the porch.
• Start singing as soon as the doorbell is rung.
• Three songs. No more, no less. And the last song is always the chorus of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", and it is always followed by "Merry Christmas!"
• Smile, and start back the car. Any invitations (with a few notable suggestions) to enter the house were politely declined by Daddy, with the excuse that we had many other houses to visit.
• Usually any offers of candy were also declined. (Which I always thought was the biggest bummer.)
• Back to the van, and enter in reverse order. No pushing or shoving allowed.
• And onto the next house!

In this way we could visit around 10 different houses in an evening, depending on how far apart they were. We sang to everyone's schoolteacher (as long as said schoolteacher was willing to give his/her address), and sometimes that would take us all over the city. Daddy had particular clients who looked forward to our visits every year, and of course we would sing at Grandma and Grandpa's. Other than that, though, we were pretty flexible. We'd be in a neighborhood for a specific person, and someone would say, "Hey, doesn't so-and-so live over here?" and we would go sing to them, too.
In the car between stops, we'd sing all the Christmas songs we could think up. Sometimes our voices would get tired, and then it would be quiet, with everyone looking outside at the Christmas lights on the houses. When we got home, if it wasn't too late, we'd sometimes have hot chocolate or hot lemonade (don't knock 'till you've tried it), to "warm" us up.

Some of my fondest Christmas memories are Christmas caroling with my family. When we were young, the songs were simple hymns and children's songs. My mother taught us to play steel pipe chimes--she'd stand behind us and tap our heads when it was our turn to play. As we got older, we learned more complex songs, with parts--always short, but pretty and fun to sing.

Well, tonight I got one of my fondest dreams for my little family. We went Christmas caroling to Zee's teacher. She lives right here in Spanish Fork, so it was easy. We've been practicing our songs (Jingle Bells, Christmas Bells are Ringing, and (of course) We Wish You a Merry Christmas), and I was so proud of my two oldest for singing so well. Gee didn't sing, but Hebs led the music in his sweet crazy way. Zee's teacher really enjoyed it, and we had a marvelous time.

I hope we can do this again and again, though the many Decembers until my kids are grown. I want them to have the same types of wonderful memories as I do.

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Advent Day 17: The angel of the Lord told the shepherds not to be afraid, because something wonderful just happened. The Savior of all the world had been born! They could find him in a stable in Bethlehem. Luke 2:10-12 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.