Christmas

We just returned from our visit home for Christmas. We had a wonderful week that was, as holidays seem to go, a little too short. We had a bit of everything: loud and busy surrounded by lots of people and quiet and introspective with a few loved ones. It was a lot of fun.

I feel like we used our vacation time more efficiently this visit. Obviously it's hard to divvy up so short a time amongst so many family members, but we did our best. And the time we did spend was spent well. We tried not to be frazzled and rushed. We tried to enjoy whatever we were doing while we were doing it. I think it worked. At least I felt more relaxed.

All of Brad's siblings were in town and his parents had some fun things planned for us. We made gingerbread houses, stained-glass ornaments, and held a not-to-be-forgotten Christmas Eve program that included 4 Mary's and 3 Baby Jesus' (I was the pregnant Mary, then handed the role off to the three new mom's with their three new babies). Good memories.

Brad's master plan for our gingerbread house - a hobbit hole

My family was all in town too, but not for long. My sister and her family moved to Alaska two days after Christmas. Still, we had some fun together holding Nazareth Night, going to a cabin for a couple of days, seeing Les Miserables, and finally sending Hayley, Justin, and baby Jocelyn off at the airport. Good memories there too.

Each of our families had family pictures taken while everyone was in town. That is always awesome when you're pregnant, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right? No, it was actually fun to see everyone looking snazzy (even if Leah did ruin the Hansen's pictures by throwing a tantrum and laying on the floor).

All in all, we had a wonderful Christmas break. I don't know when we'll all be together again with us having a baby soon then moving across the country. Our goodbye's were a little more bittersweet this time around. Darn family. It would be easier if we didn't like them so much! At least we have some good memories to hold us over for a while.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Wish

I haven't been able to sleep well lately. My mind has been full of too many things: pregnancy, Christmas planning, worrying about moving in six months (silly), Mormon women wearing pants to church on Sunday (also a bit silly), and of course Newtown.

After hearing the initial reports of the shooting (while my kindergartner was at school), I turned the news off feeling overwhelmed and devastated. I didn't want to hear people trying to make sense out of an act that was utterly senseless. I've largely kept the news off since then, but it's been on my mind. And every once in a while I come across a picture of a beautiful child - one that reminds me too much of mine - or a picture of young parents like Brad and me, and I cry for them and their grieving families. I feel like they deserve my tears and my prayers. Like maybe tears from a stranger help somehow.

I came across this quote in a blog the other day. It rings true with me: "(My son) is developing in warp speed these days. I am so aware of him. His little self fills a room. I owe him the world. I am responsible for giving it to him. This little sliver of his life, it is mine to improve. And it is awe inspiring and overwhelming and comforting even, in a strange way...We are responsible for each other and we do our best. Together we can make the world go away."

Tomorrow we begin our drive home to Rexburg for what will probably be our last Christmas home for the foreseeable future. We'll spend the week with the people we love most in the world. What a blessing.

So this year my Christmas wish is that I will spend my time improving the sweet lives around me. Maybe I can't protect them from the awful, tragic things in the world but I can love them and treasure them. I can make home a safe and separate place. I know my efforts are sometimes clumsy and distracted, but I'll try my best.

Hopefully we'll remember what an incredible opportunity we have at this time of year: to celebrate the life of the One who will heal all the hurts and pains we endure in this life. And maybe, with that knowledge and a lot of love, we can make the world go away for a while.

I hope you have a Merry Christmas!

North Pole Cruise

Early in December we booked a cruise to the North Pole via Lake Coeur d'Alene. The ship was run by elves. It was totally fun.

There were light displays all over the lake.

When we got to the North Pole, Santa was there to greet us (with his helper Pepper Mint)! He even read us his Nice List and guess who was on it? Both Alaina and Leah.

Lainy told me later that she was surprised she was on the nice list because she'd been throwing a fit in the car on the way to the cruise... Good thing Santa is quick to forgive!

On the way back to Coeur d'Alene we noticed that there was a young boy throwing lawn chairs off the back of the boat... It was kind of hilarious until we told the captain and the boy got in trouble. His mom didn't act very surprised. I wonder if he was on the nice list?

The girls had a great time and so did we. We wish we could be around for a repeat next year. Hopefully Boston at Christmas-time is magical too!

Letters to Santa

Last weekend we went to Macy's where they have a cute little letter-writing center set up. The girls each sat at the desk and crafted their letters to Santa.

Then they put the letters in the mailbox.

Leah asked for a Belle doll with a blue dress.

Lainy asked for a remote control car and a talking Jessie doll.

After a visit with Santa, they might just get their Christmas wishes!

We also stopped at an old hotel downtown to see the Christmas decorations. The girls found a real ballroom with marble floors and walls lined with mirrors. Brad and I were admiring some paintings and turned around to find this:

Who can resists twirling and dancing in a real ballroom?! Girls are so fun.