Random December thoughts,happenings, and traditions

The month of December always seems to makes me reflect more on others and puts into prospective the things that really matter most to me. I TRY to keep the same feelings year round but they seem to fade away as the months go by. I LOVE my kids. They are amazing. Are they perfect? No....after all they have me as there Mother and teacher poor things. But I do LOVE them. I tend to feel sorry for myself sometimes because we are still living with my in-laws. I love them and appreciate them letting us stay as long as we have, but mostly I just worry and feel bad for my kids. I fell sad that they don't have a cute little house with there own rooms where we can just sit and enjoy each other. But I'm always amazed that when we stop thinking of ourselves and our own challenges we realize how much we have. One of my cousins used to work for a preschool that the state offers to low income families. She still has some connections there and asked all the cousins if we would be willing to help this year with a Sub for Santa. I was so excited to do this and to have my kids be part of it. I told Brighton that there was a little boy about Landon's age who's parents didn't have enough money to get him some Christmas presents this year. My eyes were watery when I asked if he thought we could help them by buying some gifts for him. He could tell I was emotional and put his little arms around me and said "Yes, Marc lets help them. I took the boys with me to help pick out the gifts. Of coarse they wanted to keep the toys until I reminded them of the little boy who needed them. It really wasn't much a few toys and some clothes but it touched me. Mostly because I realize that I could go almost any day of the week and buy the same things for my kids who really don't need anything. I'm so glad for little reminders like this in my life and I hope that we can make this a yearly family tradition.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is putting up the Tree. Our Tree's are in the storage shed along with all our ornaments. But I was able to get to our kids tree. It's not large or elegant but it is beautiful to me because two cute little stinkers decorated it all by them selves. They wanted Blue lights because that's Brighton's favorite color and the used the ornaments that they get to pick each year to decorate it.

They loved all the snow we got last week and got all bundled up just for 15 minuets of playing in it.

Landon was so excited on his birthday. I can't believe how aware he was of what was happening.
He wanted a "Ball" party and a Football cake(cupcakes). He has been talking about his ball party sense September. He loved having his cousins there and eating his cake.

We went to the lights at Temple Square and the boys kept asking where the "square" was. Halle was with us but snug inside her car seat.

One of my EARLIEST childhood memories is going to see the lights at Temple Square. We have a family picture similar to this one of us with my whole family. I would have been 3 1/2 at the time and I remember so much about it. I vividly remember standing in front of the Nativity and listening to the CHRISTmas story being told. I also remember going to Crown burger after for dinner where we saw President Monson.

My sister and her husband came with us which was really fun. The kids love having them around. We hope they will come with us for years to come.

I hope that my kids will have the same type of memories of Christmas as I do. But mostly I hope they learn the true spirit and reason for the season, to give to others and that there was one who gave the ultimate gift...... his life and that was our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.