christmas eve and morning | holiday highlights

I'm not sure what it was this year that made this Christmas extra magical, but I can't remember loving Christmas as much as I loved this one. Even though Adam was ill (that is less than ideal) and none of my siblings were in town, it was simply wonderful. I loved it.

Here are a few of the highlights.



CHRISTMAS EVE
-We always start the festivities with a birthday party for Austin.
-The kids shared their talents with the family before we opened gifts.
-When I look through the photos it sort of feels like an opening frenzy, but it was nice and calm (to a point, it is Christmas) and we all took our time watching each other open gifts. It's possible to do since our family is so small. I love it that way.
-It's always a highlight to watch Andrew (Adam's brother with down syndrome) open up his gifts. It's so hilarious to see him discard the clothes -- he has no interest.
-When Megan got the mini pillowpet pig from Landon she attacked him to say thank you. Not entirely sure he knew how to deal with it.
-Jill liked the earrings and necklace I made her.
-Good food was constantly around -- we never walk away empty.

-Whitney generously gave multiple stuff animals to all her girl cousins. My girls were loving it!



CHRISTMAS MORNING
-I heard the girls around 6am so I joined them downstairs and we hung out until 7am. I was trying to hold them off to give Adam a little more time to sleep. He was not feeling well.
-We spent time talking about and remembering all the little things we had done throughout the month to make it special. Loved that part.
-Once Bella opened up her ipod touch (adam's old iphone) we lost her for the rest of the morning. Good thing it was the last gift she opened.
-Tess, poor girl broke her little toe, and had a hard time getting on the Rollerblades. She eventually did though, sheer will power, and skated throughout the house.
-The girls gave me glasses and Adam got me an instant camera plus found me Polaroid film.
-Megan never does disappoint, she loves everything she is given. We did however, have some tears over her lost kitty. It's been six months and she's still talking about it.
-I am always a huge fan of the handmade gifts the girls make for us every year.
-I finally found that gift I had lost, it was under the tree wrapped. What a great surprise. I'm loosing it.
-We had a big Christmas breakfast and then went to church and continued our celebration of the holiday.
-We Skyped with my sister.
-I loved seeing my girls give to each other this year. It is the first year they really did it on their own. I have loved watching the three of them grow into the best of friends.

It is nice that we spent so much time throughout the month of December doing things for others and remembering what Christmas is really about because it seems like these two days are chock full of gifts and then I remind myself that even though we are getting, we are giving as well. I'll say it again, I loved Christmas and am really sad to see all the good cheer end -- but then again, I suppose it doesn't have to.

I hope it was a magical Christmas for all of you.

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

a tree decorated by the girls


a visit from santa


meandering through the lights


early family gatherings


friend and family greetings lining the walls of our family room


sugary holiday goodness


first gifts under the tree


more magical lights

live nativity

It was cold and we had to stand in line, but it was well worth it for the experience. My girls got to taste dates and flat bread and get an idea of what it could have been like back in Romans times, with camels and street venders, and shepherds abiding in the field. I personally am fond of the atmosphere down in the glen with nothing but candle light to guide our way.

This was our second year going to the live nativity and hope it will continue to be apart of our Christmas tradition.

Christmas tradition | advent

One of my girls most memorable holiday tradition is our advent calendar. I'm not sure if it's the daily candy, the fact that each one comes with a little note, or counting the days til Christmas. If it were me it would be the latter. When I was a kid I loved watching the days melt away and the Christmas season unfold.


The girl's job was to fill the bags with candy, and of course they decided eating the candy was part of the job description as well.




A couple years ago we introduced an activity associated with each day. Instead of merely just eating the candy we thought doing a little something each day would help us get in the holiday spirit. The days so far:

Day 01: read a Christmas book
Day 02: share your talent with a neighbor
Day 03: make someones bed

Adam was in charge of making the notes so I'm just as surprised as the girls each day when we dip into the bag.


The other tradition we're doing this year that's sort of advent-ish is our chain of service. Anytime we do something for someone else we write it down and chain them up together. We hope by the end of the month the chain fills our walls and will be a reminder throughout the month of the good that comes when we give. (i can totally see doing this all year long)

So far it's been the best thing. Each day the girls jump in the car after school and blurt out the times they did something helpful. Even in just the short time we've been doing it, it's created a great feeling around our home. Seems they wake up each day looking for a way to add another piece to the chain. We have loved it.

Do you have an advent or and advent-ish type tradition to celebrate the holiday season?

Our festivities

I'm not even sure what day it is. With so much going on the past few days time seems to mesh together & it feels like another week has gone by. My sister is in town & I guess that's just what happens when she comes. I don't really pay attention to days or times & just go from one thing to the next until she goes home. It's been nice having her here, even if just for a little while. She's going to be leaving on thursday so it was quick, but grateful they're willing to do the 24hr round trip drive in order to spend the holiday with us.

Our Christmas festivities started on Christmas Eve with Adam's family. It took us about 10 years to figure out the best way to work the holidays with both families in town, but have settled on Christmas Eve with adam's family (I think they like having a low key day at home Christmas day).


Christmas Eve started & ended with good food. Sometimes I wonder how I could ever be hungry after eating such a big meal hours before, of course it could of been the hours on the couch opening gifts that worked up my appetite. Before we did that though, we read verses from the New Testament. The kids were all pretty patient except for the youngest who kept asking when we'd be done.


Christmas morning was, as always, a huge hit and a lot of fun to finally watch the fruits of our labor be enjoyed. Later my whole family came over for breakfast. I love this tradition. It's the perfect accompaniment to christmas morning--all of us together in jammies enjoying the celebration. Couldn't have been better. My favorite part was when my mom cried when I gave her my gift. I was very uncertain of all the gifts I made this year & honestly can't be sure I'll do it next year, however seeing my mom get emotional made me think perhaps I'm not giving myself enough credit. All I know is, it was a sweet moment.

All & all it was a great Christmas. A wonderful end to all the anticipation from the last 6 weeks. It is crazy though, as it always is, to see Christmas come and go another year. As much as I enjoyed it I am looking forward to getting back to life. To clean my house room by room & declutter like mad--one of my favorite new years traditions.

I've sort of been off the grid for a while now so I hope you all had a fabulous holiday. Seriously can you believe it's come and gone?

xo
Amy Gretchen

My childhood Christmas' were simply put, magical. Family gatherings, winter activities, anticipation of gifts, believing in Santa Claus, constant treats being made and coming in, and of course I can't forget the decorations. All of it together made for a magical season. I didn't really know then how magical they were until I became an adult and creating the Christmas magic became part of my job. Admittedly, it took some time to get use to. I'm not too keen on Christmas being crazy busy and full of to dos so when it was all on me, I resisted and started begrudging the holidays--the same holidays I loved as a child.

That was not okay with me.

This year I decided to take a different approach summed up with one word--simplify. I cut out things that were not essential and found it left room for all the things we really wanted to do/see/experience. Don't get me wrong it was/is still busy. I mean, I think that's just part of this time of year, but the main difference was I embraced it. I knew going in what I was facing and appreciated it for what it was, knowing full well, that soon enough Christmas would be over and life would quickly go back to normal as it always does.

I think that's what I loved so much about Christmas as a kid--it was that one time during the year where life was anything but normal. It was festive, joyful, bright--it was magical.

**do you find the holidays to be stressful or do you embrace it and enjoy each moment?

xo
amy gretchen

holiday happenings

--We had a family party with my extended family and played musical chairs. Usually the little kids just play, but this year each generation had a turn. I'm thinking it was our parents that wanted to get a crack at it. Tess and my dad won and I got second place, lost to my cousin Nick. Man we were so close to sweeping it as a family.


--Megan and Bella had their annual Christmas violin performance last Tuesday night. Megan could not get her hat to agree with her. Each time she took a bow it would reposition in all sorts of crazy ways.

--I'm working on my 5th time through Pride and Prejudice in the last week. Don't judge me. I simply have not been able to get enough of it--it has kept me company while wrapping and folding laundry. It is good to laugh and swoon while doing work, no? One of my favorite lines, "i am not the sort of person to torment a respectable man. Please hear me when I say I cannot accept you." Tess, who was home from school Friday with pinkeye, got her first glimpse into the wonderful world of Jane Austen. I think I have managed to persuade her, although I'm quite sure she didn't follow it completely.


--Bella, who's the only experience violinist in her 5th grade orchestra, was able to play a solo at the school recital Wednesday. Though she has been quite modest about the whole thing I know she was thrilled to be able to do it. p.s. forgive my poor video capturing skills. I had to cut out the first few seconds because it was unwatchable. New years resolution--work on my video skills.


--Megan's dance class did a little demonstration for the parents Thursday after school--a little rendition of the nutcracker. I was quite impressed by her developing skills since the last time I saw her perform. If dancing is something she'd like to do, I dare say it will take her.

--It's snowed again last night after a warm weekend. My 80 year old neighbor told me he mowed his lawn for the first time ever in the month of December. Crazy. Hopefully it will be white for Christmas and then I'm all for 50 degree weather. Of course it's not the cold that gets me in the winter, it's the grayness.

--My studio is a disaster. So much so that it's difficult for me to come in here. Boxes, wrapping, filler, tags, ribbon, and all manner of packaging scattered about the room waiting to be used. It looks like Christmas is coming. Cannot believe it's less than a week away. Are you ready??

Happy Monday!
xo

live nativity

My brother's neighborhood puts this on every year. A tradition that sadly was not around when we lived there, but grateful my brother invited us. It was really cool to experience the nativity acted out as it might have been. My girls loved it, and particularly loved seeing all the different animals. I imagine this night was the beginning of a family tradition.

12of12 reminder

Today adam spent his time in the kitchen studying for an exam that will cause him to travel to Tennessee next week so I kept the girls occupied so neither of us would be tempted to talk to him (trust me for a quality time girl it's easier said than done). Our activity--wrapping. I thought it would be a good learning experience for the girls. I thought it would be fun. It turned out to be frustrating. I guess when there's a lot of gifts to wrap and three people asking different questions all at the same time, it appears to be easier to just do it yourself. They did manage to wrap their secret sister gifts and gifts for their cousins so I felt they had had enough practice for one day.

phew!

And of course I don't want to leave you without our very last reminder of the year. Tomorrow is the 12th so be ready to capture, what I image to be, a festive day. Have fun!


[December 2009]

all aglow

Our annual walk through Temple Square....



















We were pleasantly surprised this year that it wasn't as busy as it has been in the past. I think the ominous rain kept people away even though it really just sprinkled for a few minutes. Too bad it wasn't snowing--it's been strangely warm for this time of year. We couldn't have asked for a better night, or company, to roam around enjoying the lights.

**What are some of your holiday traditions?

only santa could get my husband to dance....

Later he would say his motivation was his girls, that he only did it because he thought they would love to see him interact with Santa. All the while not knowing, never dreaming it would be dancing--in a tutu and tiara no less when Santa called him out of the crowd.

Tess and Megan, who laughed themselves silly, especially loved it while Bella, unsure, leaned over and said, "I'm having mixed feelings. I don't know if should be embarrassed or having the time of my life."

Me, I was loving it. He had no rhythm and sort of clueless as to what to do, but he was cute and mine and brought the biggest smile to my face. Man he makes me happy.

friday miscellany

We had to dig ourselves out earlier this week. Crazy to think I heard so much about a holiday storm a week ago that turned out to be a complete dud while this storm raged on and I was none the wiser. Why do we let the media play with our emotions so? I remember the whole swine flu incident--how they stressed me out. While I would never say there wasn't some cause for concern, they could of told us all the facts, like how people die of the regular flu everyday. Hmm, why do I suddenly not feel any better by that. Ha!

Christmas shopping is still ago. Why was I thinking I could be done the week after Thanksgiving by the latest? It seems each and every time I think I'm close I remember someone else I'm missing.

Creative Wednesdays. Yes, I am still doing them though, this week I actually did a bit from my bed Tuesday instead of Wednesday. At any rate, I can't share my projects because they're gifts, but I will after the holidays. Funny, it's sounds like the gifts are something new and excited. While I assure you that's not the case, I've definitely enjoyed making them and hope they'll be received the same.


Our advent calendar is fully underway here counting down to Christmas. It's one of my kids very favorite traditions. It's the first thing they talk to me about in the morning and I haven't yet figured out if it's because I let them eat candy in the morning or because they're seeing the days peel away one by one til Christmas comes. I for one am happy with all the days leading up. Anticipation is key.

I stated playing racquetball while in St. George last weekend. Sounds like a stretch to say "played", more like I "tried". Adam was quite easy on me so I was please to walk out of there 0-4---never reaching over 3 or 4 points a game. There was even a game he gave me two points for every one point & I still lost. Really fun though. I'm thinking I need to find someone more at my level. Any takers? It actually is more of a workout than you'd realize. I was sore in places I never knew I had muscles.

After using NyQuil the day I was sick to help me sleep & Tess getting a clearer understanding of why i took it she said, "I wish they made stuff like that for kids". Little does she know there are a lot of parents who are wondering the same thing.

We received our first Christmas card in the mail yesterday, thanks Dani it is fabulous, and it's got me thinking, for the first time this season, that I need to do Christmas cards. What? How on earth have I not thought of this before now? I'm usually so on top of our Christmas card and excited to do it. Weird.

christmas epiphany

I admit, and am not proud of the fact, that often during the holiday season I feel a little bah humbug. It's not that I don't love Christmas, giving, or the reason we celebrate the holiday in the first place, it's that somewhere along the lines I get overwhelmed with gifts I want to buy when money is tight, my time is no longer mine with constant parties and gatherings, the traffic is incredible and not to mention when the snow falls it's tough to get around, there's the things I want to make or get to that I never have time for, so much snacking on holiday deliciousness makes my pants feel tight...

I started out this Christmas season with the best attitude. The best. I thought, this year will be magical. Then days slipped by and slowly I descended from the "this year will be magical" place and found myself overwhelmed as I've been before. It's so frustrating to find myself back there, especially when I was determined not to let it creep in. I put a smile on my face and told myself that all was well, it worked at times, the frustration lifted, and then at others times I was back in it. I couldn't really make sense of it and found myself on my knees asking why?

Then it happened. Earlier in the week I was looking through the pictures I took of my family Christmas party on Sunday and I saw this...


[dad & tess]

Something clicked inside my head and I remembered what Adam said during his Christmas message Sunday, "how we treat Christmas affects us". I think I've been focusing far too much on the list that needs checking off and forgetting all the things that make Christmas magical that can't be checked off a list...people. Christmas is the time of year that brings us together. It's as if Christmas is the beginning and the motivation to keep us together all year long. It's about family. Neighbors. Friends. What I remember about Christmas as a little girl is not what I received, it's the family gatherings and the traditions we had together each year that are etched in my memory and will never be forgotten.

The other thing I remember about Christmas as a child was the things I gave. I remember the gifts I made at school as a young girl, wrapping them my own special way and being as excited to give it as I was to get gifts from Santa Claus. Christmas is about giving. I've come to the conclusion this year after spending a 357 days thinking about giving (my word for 2009) that we give because we love. If you think about it whether you're buying something, making something, or giving yourself as an act of service, you've taken time out of your life to think about someone other than yourself....there is definitely a level of love shared. It's no wonder that we celebrate Christmas because of Jesus Christ who was the supreme example of love and giving.

So while I may have bobbled back and forth the last couple of weeks, this week Christmas just got sweeter. I'm feeling the magic. I finished wrapping all the gifts this morning and cannot wait to give them to my family the next two days. I'm excited about all the Christmas plans we have left with our families. I'm looking forward to all the many holiday treats I'll come in contact with...I can get back on track in January. When I'm out in the crowds I've been saying Merry Christmas to anyone who crosses my path. Slow roads because of the snow = a lot of Christmas carols in the car.

I hope you feel the magic too. Merry Christmas!

between now and then

dec 15 - Christmas violin concert



dec 16 - RS Christmas party & bookclub
dec 17 - bishopric party
dec 18 - begin celebrating anniversary (couples massage)
dec 19 - anniversary/nephew bday party
dec 20 - my family Christmas party
dec 21 - having missionaries over for fhe
dec 22 - my extended family Christmas party
dec 23 -
dec 24 - Christmas eve party
dec 25 - Christmas

Between now and Christmas I have an evening. Yes, one evening without a prior commitment. I feel strange mentioning it as if the universe will send something to fill it up. It's crazy, I don't remember my Christmas seasons of the past being so full.

My only question is what am i going to do on the one evening off?

so far...

We've been baking,


and they've been helping.


We've enjoy Christmas lights galore.


We've given Santa our Christmas list,


and been an angel in the nativity.


We've partied hard at classic skating [adam took this]


and spent good times with cousins wearing the pjs Nana made.


We've learned how quickly you can make reindeer antlers with panty hose and balloons (Adam's extended family Christmas party),


and squishing each other off the one remaining chair being the best way to win at musical chairs.


I've found subliminal messages from Megan on her board,


and a really cool arrangement of crayons thanks to Tess.


We've enjoyed making and counting down with our advent,


and the changing weather, or not. Man it's been bitter cold.


We've brought home classroom projects,


and a classroom pet...but you already knew that.

...it's been a good month.