First winter's snow

We did not get a white Christmas but that was OK. It made things easier for all that needed to be done for the holidays. So just imagine how surprised we were to see snow this afternoon.

This first thing Autumn wanted to do was go out and play in it. I made her wait to make sure it was going to stick. Of course it is going to stick around she said. She said she had been praying for snow all week! The weather reports just said it was going to rain. When David called from work he said it was snowing there and had traffic all tied up in town.

They played outside for a couple of hours and came in freezing cold. It is still snowing outside a little and looks like at least four to five inches are out there in the backyard. I just love it when it does this and there is no where or anything important I have go do. Chad was so funny. He did not want anyone to "mess" it up with footprints or play in it. He says he just loves how fresh snow looks when it is so clean and white. I don't blame him. The first snow of the season is always magical!

A Very Different Christmas Eve

Christmas eve was very different this year. Don't get me wrong it was wonderful but different. When you are used to lots of kids and lots of chaos and lots of noise, only having 5 of those kids home on Christmas eve is just different. We had a wonderful time. When David got home we went out looking at lights as usual and doing some secret service projects we had planned. (Santa's elves were working over time this year;)) Then home and the making of hot chocolate and snowman donuts. We left one for Santa this year instead of the usual cookies and milk. It was so quiet. The children went right to bed and with no fuss they were asleep in no time. David and I did not know what to do with ourselves as everything had been ready to go for a week now. We watched a movie and then around 12:30 we set the gifts out. At 6:30 I got up to put the ham in but everyone stayed asleep until Ashleigh and Nick got out here. Typically everyone comes home and spends the night together all in one room. That did not happen this year so we had to wait for everyone to come over. The plan was to be here by 7:00 but by 8:00 everyone was finally here.

We opened presents, had a wonderful breakfast and then played and sat around and enjoyed each other's company.

Andrew left to get Luke and by the time he got back all the older children had left. We opened gifts with Luke and then they went home to finish their Christmas and David and I then did something we have never done before. We left to go to a movie! Just the two of us. That was a gift to ourselves. It was fun to go on a date on Christmas but kind of weird at the same time. The children loved it because they could play their new Wii to their hearts content. I don't even think they noticed much that we left for a few hours. It was nice to spend time with David. He has worked so hard this season - harder than past years - so he really enjoyed some alone time with me. But I do have to say it was a very different Christmas. I guess I never knew how it would be when kids were grown. I guess it is a sign of Christmas's to come. I will have to get used to it - but I am sure as more grandchildren come along a new tradition of things will settle in here at our home. I look forward to the change of things - but still no noise and no constant begging of the children to stay in bed on Christmas eve is just weird!

Happy Birthday Noah!

Yesterday Noah turned 14! All he has wanted for two years now is an electric guitar. He has been learning on an acoustic one that is Chad's. I wanted to be sure he was serious about this music thing and he has been. It is amazing how much he has learned from the books I got him and the Internet. This year he has been feeling a little left out as far as birthdays go. He talked to me a lot how he felt that it just got blended into Christmas. I don't blame him and we have tried over the years to make it special for him but he seemed so sad about it this year. I told David we had to do something really special and completely unexpected. I had told him a guitar was out of the question and to quit bothering me about it. He never did quit asking though. We got a great deal on this one so went for it. David did a treasure hunt with clues for him early in the morning during scripture time. He was getting frustrated until he saw what he had gotten! He was so surprised and David said he had never seen such a big smile on his face before. He literally played that thing all day. We had planned to go to zoo lights after dinner with Toshia and her family as part of his birthday. Well, when we got there only thousands of other people had decided to do the same thing. There was no parking and when we went to where the shuttle was there was over an hour wait for the the shuttle. We decided to go to Krispy Kreme and have hot chocolate and donuts. When I told him how sorry I was for not getting to see the lights he said, "What, this is so much better. I am warm, not having to walk all over and I get one of my favorite treats!" I guess sometimes what we think we are doing for them we are doing for ourselves. I guess I wanted the lights - oh well, he had the best birthday ever!!!!

A few catch up thoughts

Catching up on the last few weeks is something I have been meaning to do for a few days now. I have been very busy since the end of November. I flew to California for my niece's wedding on Thanksgiving. I went with Toshia and Jonathan and at the last minute Autumn got to go with us. We had a great time. The wedding was wonderful - the only exception I guess would be that it rained the day of the wedding. She had planned an out door reception but that got cancelled and moved to the stake center. For all the hurrying around getting things moved I felt it all turned out beautiful. We got to spend some time with family and catch up a little with nieces and their families. I had a great run with Kelly the morning of the wedding. I miss being closer physically to all of them but I am grateful for the time of technology and that I can keep up with everyone that way as well. Still nothing is quite the same as a face to face visit. After getting home I have been working on lots of projects and things for Christmas. I had aprons to make for a friends granddaughters. Five in all. Then the Relief Society progressive dinner to get ready for. A cookie exchange party to bake for and shopping to get done before the Weitzel family Christmas dinner. That will be held here this year. So on top of all of the trying to decorate the house (and clean) so it will be ready for all of the events of the season.

Two Saturdays ago we went to get our tree. We got a twelve foot one and put it upstairs this year. We have vaulted ceilings so I have to say it looks marvelous. The children did a fantastic job of getting it decorated. I seem to always let them do it - they have so much fun. I have stopped trying to go back when they are done and "fix it". It is their tree so I let it be. I get a couple of other trees to decorate the way I want so I am happy to let them have those memories.

David and I got most of the shopping done last Saturday. We made a day of it. We ended up getting just about all of it done and so now I have just a few presents left to get the the older kids. I have a couple nightgowns left to make and few presents for friends left to get or finish up. Hopefully all will be done this week. I have a few lunches planned with friends so some of it might have to happen next week when the kids are out of school. Last night for FHE we talked about our "service" for Jesus. The kids really took to it with very cheerful attitudes. Lots of secret service was going on last night before bed. Next week we will be giving out our "Christmas Jar". David, myself and all the children have been putting all of our loose change and bottle money in a jar to give away this year. The kids can hardly wait to see how much they have collected and who we will give it away to. It has been a fun project that we have worked on all year long.

This weekend is the ward Christmas party and our family has a big role in that. I think it is big - the kids are excited to dress up and be the nativity. Or should I say "activity" as Autumn calls it. Then Sunday night is the Weitzel family party. December has turned into quite the "activity" month for us. I love that the weather has been cold but not icy and snowy. I feels so much like Christmastime when it is cold. Although there have been some really hard things going on within our little family I am excited for this time of year and have a peaceful and hopeful attitude as I remember the birth of Jesus Christ and the great gift of love he gave to all of us. I am so excited for the next couple of weeks and the fun we are going to have!!!