Christmas Time

Christmas Time is a favorite time of the year. Today, I'll start by reflecting on this Christmas and the fun we had throughout the season. We kicked off the season with our Annual Gingerbread making festivities. Every year I have a Gingerbread House Party typically the day after Thanksgiving. We love this. Everyone that comes brings some candy to share and we all decorate or eat the candy until we're sick. Some bring homemade gingerbread forms, some bring Wilson Gingerbread forms, and others make them from graham crackers, but no matter what we have a lot of fun (making ourselves sick). This year we started a "new" tradition. Meagan wanted to have an "Elf" party and decided post gingerbread making would be a great time for the party. She worked for weeks prior planning the party and solicited all her siblings help to make paper rings, snowflakes, and gumdrops for the party. Then about a week before the party she decided she and her elft helpers needed Elf Outfits. With very little guidance from her mother (just a phone call that was very vague) she picked out an elf pattern (that she thought was simple, but Simplicity brand doesn't mean simple), bought material and brought it home to a unskilled sewing mother. Due to my need to please my children I went to work Monday morning. I was able to sloppily put these dresses together for the most part and my sweet sister

in law (Tammy) finished up the velcro/zipper portion to hold them together. The Elf Party was a HIT. Although it took much longer to decorate our home than Buddy the Elf took in the movie, it looked fantastic. Meagan also summoned her kind and brave cousin to dress up like Buddy the
Elf for Pictures and the evening. Jordan was such a good sport and a big part of the evening. We enjoyed spaghetti with syrup, candy cane, candy corns, sugar, and syrup. We went through the tunnel and saw seven layers of the candy cane forest. It was such a good start to a best time of
the year.

Our next big event was Christmas Trees. This is something Sheldon dreads each year. It seems between lighting problems, stand problems, trees staying upright we have seem to encounter any and all problems that can happen with Christmas Trees. This year was going to be the winner of all winners. Not only had we purchased a real tree from Meagan's student council group. We were putting up two trees. But much to our delight, it went better than any year in the past. Two trees were up and ready for decoration in less time than it typically takes for one tree. I love Christmas trees and the light they bring into our home. I've always enjoyed the family tree. With decorations from all the stages. The pictures of children when they are young hung as ornaments, homemade ornaments, and ornaments we have collected as we have travelled. This tree always has such personality and memories. This tree we used for our presents. This is the first year we've had two trees and a few weeks before Thanksgiving a friend shared about their tree. They had a Christ tree with decorations about Christ and his life. I went over and saw her tree and took notes. Although I did not do all the decorations she did, all the decorations I have came from her ideas. Red bows with lillies representing Christ and his atonement, little books with pictures and a scripture representing the picture, scrolls with our favorite scriptures on them. stars, doves, homemade ornament of the wheat and tares, and a nativity a the bottom.

Traditionally we attend a Live Nativity that has been put on for many years in Las Vegas. They are no longer doing this and we were sad to see this event taken from our Christmas Season. So due to some prompting from Melodie, I decided to have a Nativity Dinner with the intent of the evening being performing the Nativity. Meagan requested live donkeys, we couldn't do that but

Bailee brought a donkey costume and carried each Mary in on her back. The evening was wonderful. We had several families over and after dinner we depicted the Nativity. Sheldon started out by reading Luke 2 and adding his own commentary "...there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be

taxed." then stating Caesar and Obama have the same plan. But from there he kept it pretty true to form. We had a Samuel the Lamanite (thanks to Elder Eyring suggestion), a Caesar and King Herrod (both played by Paul), angels, only 3 Mary's, one Joseph, baby Jesus, some shepherds, and the most ornate wise men I've ever seen. We sang songs (thanks Debbie and Mom Paul) and enjoyed the meaning of the season.

Edwards Christmas Party is a wonderful Christmas Tradition. We are so thankful to Uncle Arthur's family for continuing this tradition and inviting us. This year it was at Naomi's home and she did an incredible job hosting the functions. As we arrived the kids could decorate gingerbread men. We ate yummie soups and appetizers for dinner with delicious rolls. While the adults visited Naomi showed the kids "The Grinch Stole Christmas" cartoon. Then we had our program. A beautiful nativity. Then talents from each family. Then the favorite part of the evening a few Christmas carols ending with Jingle Bells and Santa came again. It is always a highlight. Santa knows each of us so well and treats us with such kindness and love. We are ever so grateful for this wonderful tradition.











Christmas Eve is a relaxed day. Typically bowling and a movie, but this year due to lack of movies available we spent double the time bowling. We always have so much fun with the Paul cousins who come. It's nice to relax and have a moment of unrushed.



Christmas day was a little different this year. The kids woke the normal time but Sheldon was on call and needed to get some of his patients home for Christmas. The kids were mostly patient and it was good, becasue I needed a little time to put a few things together that I hadn't got done the night before. We have started reading a Christmas story before we open presents. We did this again. Now that most the kids are older they like this tradition. Then it was off for the surprises. I love the stairs picutre we have every year. We enjoyed sharing presents with one another. My kids are so generous and thoughtful of us and their siblings. Debbie and Paul were on their way over for breakfast by the time we finished to we hussled upstairs to start. Since my parents have left I've tried to replace the breakfast they would make for us Christmas morning, I still haven't master it as good as my dad, but I'm making progress. It was fun to have the Freeman family who seemed to enjoy the yummy cinammon rolls, hash browns, omlettes, eggs, grits, toast, bacon (sorry Conner I forgot the sausage), next year I'd like to add gingerbread waffles. Typically I would begin getting ready for our Luncheon, but I opted out of this year -- I don't have a real reason, but I promise next year I will do our traditional Christmas gathering with salads and sandwiches, come as you want. Then we went and visited family in Green Valley and had a nice dinner with Keri & Jeff.

The Paul Family Gathering has moved to after Christmas to help accomodate everyone's schedules. Again it is nice, it doesn't seem quite as hectic as before Christmas. We love spending time visiting, playing with cousins, singing, and eating. Yes, eating, eating and eating. As we gathered Melodie brought a bingo game someone had given her for Christmas. We played a few fun rounds. Then two families shared their talents and presents. This year we had great talents. We began with the Bergquist Family sharing their Alvin and Chimpmunk Christmas--we loved it!!! Then Randy's family shared a song Jordan had written for them. I was sad I didn't have my video camera. Ahnalisse fiddled away on the violin -- it was fantastic. Then Christopher, Terry and Lorena sang "I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas" everyones favorite. We then headed in for our traditional ham loaf dinner. Conner announced he would eat a whole ham loaf by himself. (This may be the only meal of the year he does eat.) Then after dinner Jeff and Keri's family sang "Said Samuel within Five Years" the kids loved the "Hosana" chorus. Then Jeff shared a book he had written. But we saved the best talent for last. Sydnee, Loryn, Sarah, and Meagan all played songs (Sarah on a guitar), and then Sheldon and Meagan played a duet. This I did video with my camera.

After all of Christmas is over I just feel so filled with love. I truly know why God has said "The family is central to the creator's plan for the eternal destiny of his children." ____ Although we may be different and all unique in our own way as we spend time with family I understand more of God's love for me and all His children.