All Things Christmas

I love Christmas. And now that Seth and Sam are older and have more understanding, it has been even more precious. I have felt the excitement of teaching my children of God sending His son to earth as a baby, and watched as they soak up the details of Jesus’ birth. We’ve delighted in counting down to Christmas with three different advent calendars (one Ben bought the boys in Germany, one my mom made me in college, and then a fun house ones where they get treats). December is packed full with traveling, visitors, decorating, activities, shopping, baking, wrapping. The pace of life is different—busier, but I’m trying to just embrace it with joy and the remembrance of the real reason for Christmas: our Savior has come!

Here’s some of what we’ve been up to:

We got our Christmas tree up decorated. It is actually a terribly tactful tree, not our usual enormous, over-the-top style. Darn. The lot didn’t have any HUGE trees (except for ones that cost $45 and were designated for hotel lobbies), so we had to tone it down a bit. Overall, it is beautiful. Notice the “clump” of ornaments at the bottom of the tree; it was so fun to have the boys help by putting ornaments on. I was torn between rearranging when they went to bed, and leaving as be. I left them, because every time I look at them, it makes me smile to think of the sincerity of Seth and Sam as they decorated.

  

I’ve been trying to do a few Christmas crafts with the boys. I braved finger painting last week and the boys had a blast. We added in glitter and made a complete mess. But it was lots of fun, and who doesn’t love have glitter strewn into every corner of their house?

  

Ben’s Grandma Luscombe lives in an assisted living home close to our house. The home had a breakfast with Santa that she invited us to. I was pretty leery of how Sam and Seth would react to a strange old man in a red suit who wanted them to sit on his lap (especially because the first time we read a book about Santa this year they keep calling him Noah). Overall, they did pretty good. Perhaps it was the candy and teddy bear that Santa gave them. There was NO WAY they were going to sit on his lap, but they did stand next to him long enough for us to get a picture. Good enough. And let’s be honest, all the people at the home think the boys are adorable regardless. The next day my sister Katie and her clan came up to our house and we decorated sugar cookies with the four oldest (Clara was taking a nap, which was probably best for all!) The kids did wonderful. Seth and Miriam were especially particular and careful on how they decorated their cookies. Every time Sam finished decorating a cookie, he’d ask, “Now I eat?” It’s always fun to do things with all the cousins—a little crazy, but fun!

Before the BIG mess was made (which I failed to get a picture of)

Aidah and Sam

 

Miriam and Seth

I’m so proud of myself: all my shopping and wrapping is done! Our house is decorated and now I can just sit back, listen to Christmas tunes and enjoy. I plan lots of visiting and visitors; doing lots of crafts and reading Christmas books with the boys; and baking lots, in order to give plates to people and do more visiting.

And our Christmas adventures are about to begin: this weekend my parents come to celebrate Ruda Christmas. Then Christmas Eve we’ll celebrate with Diane’s family, then Jeff’s family on Christmas day, then travel to Dufur to celebrate just our immediate Morris family on the day after Christmas. Whew. Busy huh?

A sunny afternoon lit up our living room quite nicely to show off decorations